Then (Jesus) said to his disciples, “The size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest. (Matthew 9:37-38, CEB)

This is a picture of me coaching a t-ball team three years ago. I’ve helped coach baseball now for about four years and, to be painfully honest, it’s not something I love. Which is weird because it should be. I love baseball. I love my son. Coaching kids should be a natural fit, but with each passing spring, I keep hoping that other parents will step up so that I can retire gracefully. I won’t go into all the details about why it’s wearing on me, but one of the little things is when kids beg and plead to play certain positions. This is a natural thing for them. One of the dads I coach with encourages this, as well he should. But for some reason, I don’t find it all that endearing or helpful. Enter this text from Matthew.

Oh, this text speaks to me. The harvest is big. Yes! The workers are few. Yes! Plead with the Lord for more workers. Yes! Yes! Yes! 

Folks are sometimes hesitant to take this attitude of prayer. I don’t want to seem needy. I feel like all I do is ask for things. I get that. I really get that because I feel that way, too. My prayers can be polite: Whatever happens, Lord, just help me roll with it. Jesus seems to be saying something different here. Plead with the Lord. Ask for what’s on your heart. Maybe Jesus would tell this modern-day parable: "It is as if an 8-year-old boy went up to his coach and asked to play catcher…”

I think I can learn something from these boys, after all.