A LESSON FROM MY BROTHER

BEN MYERS

1951-2010

Sometimes we only see a person clearly, when he no longer can be seen. I no longer can see my brother, but I see more clearly than when he lived. And, while I have long treasured the lessons I learned from Ben, now the treasury is rich, indeed.

Ben was a unique man because he, in some ways, never lost a childlike spirit. Ben cherished the experiences of our youth. One of the last memories we shared was about playing Little League baseball. It was through baseball that I learned lessons which serve me well.

Ben was small in stature. We recalled that Dad often called him "Peewee." Despite his size, he could really play the game. One hot, humid, south Texas evening, Ben stepped up to bat. This one time at the plate taught me the lesson I cherish most. It is a lesson about persevering through adversity.

On the first pitch, Ben hit a towering shot, pulling it foul over the left-field fence. The second pitch resulted in the same high-flying foul ball. Quickly he was behind in the count, 0 and 2. The third swing - another foul ball over the left-field fence. The fourth swing and the fifth swing were the same, except now the crowd was really getting into it. Sixth swing - yes, it was the same. The pitcher kept pitching and Ben kept swinging, but not yet in synch. The seventh, eighth, and ninth swings all yielded long, high foul balls over the left-field fence. On pitch ten - finally a hotter-than-pepper grounder skipped past the third baseman and Ben scrambled to first base.

Okay, like the movies, it would've been thrilling if he had powered a homerun over the center-field fence. But, this is not the Field of Dreams; this is reality. The lesson is about perseverence. Ben stepped up to the plate, kept his eye on the ball, and just kept swinging until he got it right. It was his perserverence which powered him towards standing proudly on first base.

But it takes more than only perseverence as one runs around the bases of life. Added to perseverence, Ben had passion. It was passion which drove Ben to second base and throughout his life.

Indeed, Ben was driven, but what was the driving force behind the perseverence and the passion? It was the desire to prove himself. The proving of his metal drove him around the bases of life. From the sting of a second grade school teacher who said Ben would always be just a "C" student, to the onset of diabetes at 13, and a motorcycle wreck at 16, Ben set out to prove he was more than a sickly, barely-get-by kind of guy.

He became an Eagle Scout. He taught himself to play nearly every instrument in the band. In college he proved that teacher wrong, earning commendation and awards for excellence as a student. The proving of his metal continued in running marathons and in 100-mile bike races. Whatever Ben pursued, it was his proving which drove him.

But, there is more which drove him. Ben knew that perseverence, passion, and the desire to prove himself were not enough. For what good are perseverence and passion without understanding the purpose? And, what good is proving one's self if it is not for a heavenly cause?

Ben talked about going to Heaven. It was the prize towards which he passionately ran. Yet, while running for the prize, he understood the purpose for running. Ben understood that we are not only prize driven, but purpose driven. We are called to run according to God's plan, setting our purpose in Christ's purpose.

The only way to dream of Heaven is to be purpose driven. The Apostle Paul in his desire to share obtain eternal life, wrote, "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. Paul, in his desire for Heaven knew there was a purposeful process towards attaining it. Paul sought the "fellowship of sharing in Christ's sufferings, becoming like Him in His death." Paul purposefully strove to become more like Christ until the day of "taking hold of that for which Christ took hold of (him)." (Phil. 3)

Paul also teaches us, "When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory. There is the purpose which leads to the prize of Heaven. When Christ is our life, God is pleased to give the prize to those who have persevered in the purpose of His calling. (Col. 3)

May we, like Ben, persevere with passion, proving the promises and the purposes of God. May we hold to all which God has purposed for us in this life while trusting Him for the glorious prize in the next life. Like Ben, we can look towards the Great Day Coming as a means not only to make it to first base, but to make it to second and to third base. And, finally, may we make it safely home.

I can see more clearly now. Thank you, Ben.