It's no secret that America is in the midst of a spiritual and moral crisis. Polls today indicate that most Americans are deeply concerned about the direction our nation is heading. The real problem is a critical shortage of people who care enough to get off the sidelines and are determined to make a difference. Sometimes it only takes one person to turn the flow from negative to positive.Take, for instance, Babe Ruth, the most famous baseball player of all time. The Babe finished his career in a slump, and according to one legendary story, he was jeered mercilessly one day in Cincinnati. As he made his customary trot off the field to the dugout, the fans began to yell obscenities at him. The booing intensified until a little boy jumped a fence and ran to his hero's side.
The child threw his arms around Babe's legs, crying as he fiercely hugged him. Moved by the young lad's display of affection and emotion, Ruth gently swept the boy upwards and into his arms. As they walked off the field, the man and boy cried together.
Suddenly, the hoots, howls and curses ceased. And the eerie silence was replaced by a thunderous ovation. Fans of all ages now began to weep. One small boy's courageous actions had changed the behavior of thousands of people.
I can't help but wonder how long the boy sat there listening to the cursing, angry crowd before he did something. Probably not very long.
And today, how much worse must our nation become before individuals are moved by compassion and conviction to get out of their seats and decide to make a difference?
As I pray for our nation and its families, I continue to sense that the battle will be won by laymen and women like you. As Paul says in Galatians 6:9, "Let us not lose heart in doing good."