Sunday Meditation 15

‘So the last shall be first, and the first last’

Jesus wasn’t talking about Mike Piazza when he said, “the last shall be first, and the first last,” but the saying fits. The rest of that Bible verse applies as well: “for many be called, but few chosen.”

How so?

Because Piazza was picked in the 62nd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft as the 1,390th player — and he wouldn’t have been picked at all had his Dad, Vince, not been a childhood friend of Tommy Lasorda of the Dodgers.

How close were Piazza’s Dad and the Dodger manager?

This close: Cousins; plus, Lasorda’s the Godfather of Mike’s youngest brother, Tommy.

But bloodlines get you bupkis when you step into a batter’s box — and that’s where Piazza shined.

How bright?

This bright: 427 home runs (a record 396 as a catcher) with a .308 batting average and 1,335 RBIs.

Not bad … not bad at all.

What’s the point of all this?

From a secular standpoint, it’s a hope-giver — especially to any kid who’s been picked last at anything from dodge ball to the debate team: Piazza, picked in the last round, was picked as an All-Star 12 times. Piazza, picked last, picked as Rookie of the Year. Piazza, picked last, picked for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

And spiritually?

I can think of several memorable last-picks in the Bible. (The thief on the cross, for one.) But let’s go with this instead: 1 Samuel 16:11 (NIV).

Samuel, you may recall, was the son of Hannah. She’d been barren and prayed earnestly to have a child, vowing to dedicate him to the Lord. That son grew up to be the last great Hebrew judge, the one God used to anoint Saul as Israel’s first king. He also sought out Saul’s replacement, which led him to a sheep breeder in Bethlehem named Jesse who had eight sons.

Jesse thought so little of the littlest that when he lined up his children to meet Samuel, he left David out.

“Are these all the sons you have?” Samuel asked.

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel replied, “Send for him.”

And so, the ruddy runt of Jesse’s litter — an afterthought — was picked as Israel’s second king.

I’m waiting for God to pick me for something big, some day — even though I’m almost 70 years old.

Why?

Because God has been known to notice late-bloomers. After all, Moses was 80 when he encountered “The Burning Bush.” That means I’ve only another 10 years to wait.

How about you?

Jim Lamb is a retired journalist and author of “Orange Socks & Other Colorful Tales,” the story of how he survived Vietnam and kept his sense of humor. He has a history of being picked last. For more about Jim and his writing, visit www.jslstories.com.

ARCHIVE: Previous Meditations

Sunday Meditation 1: The Prodigal Son

Sunday Meditation 2: Ode to Jim Elliot

Sunday Meditation 3: House of Bread

Sunday Meditation 4: Run, Baby, Run

Sunday Meditation 5: When Jesus Prayed

Sunday Meditation 6: The Hebrew Alphabet

Sunday Meditation 7: Lost my Friends

Sunday Meditation 8: Jesus Saves & So Do Lifeguards

Sunday Meditation 9: Tim Tebow’s Dad & Me

Sunday Meditation 10: Coffee & Sweet Rolls

Sunday Meditation 11: What’s Love Got To Do With It? Everything

Sunday Meditation 12: ‘What’s Love Got to Do With it?’ Part 2

Sunday Meditation 13: ‘And Lead Us Not …’

Sunday Meditation 14: Smile, God loves you — and me, too

My Testimony: Stealing Psalm 40