Hitting Two Home Runs

HITTING TWO HOME RUNS in a road victory will help any baseball player make the headlines. But in 2000, Florida Marlins outfielder Mark Smith was not only a hero for his team on the field, but also on the drive home.

The reserve outfielder received a rare start in right field against the Montreal Expos, batting cleanup in place of Preston Wilson. After spending most of the season on the disabled list, the former Japanese League player belted a deep shot over the left-field fence in his first at bat. In his second plate appearance, Smith smashed a 415-foot homer to center. The two solo blasts provided all of Florida’s offense in the 2–1 Marlins victory.

Elated after his successful day at Olympic Stadium, Smith and pitcher Brad Penny flew back to Florida and drove home together from the airport. Suddenly, the pair witnessed a car drift off the road, strike a concrete culvert, flip over the median, and catch fire. Smith quickly made a U-turn and called the police on his cell phone.

When the ballplayers arrived at the wrecked car, the driver had kicked out the rear window but couldn’t squeeze out as fire raced from the engine. Smith grabbed the vehicle’s occupant by the legs, pulled him through the window, and dragged him 20 yards before flames completely engulfed the automobile. The driver, 21-year-old Henry Oliva, was hospitalized but released the following day.

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POINT Sports reporters sometimes talk about professional athletes having courage under fire. Was Mark Smith afraid when he saw that car on fire and a stranger’s life in danger? Absolutely. But in that split second, Mark showed courage. He didn’t allow fear to paralyze him. Instead, he exercised the kind of faith God gives.

It’s okay to be afraid. But the Lord God offers the courage to conquer fear—whether of fire, failure, or something else. Numerous times during his life on earth, Jesus commanded, “Do not be afraid” and “Fear not.”

Christ’s words hold true today.

GOAL! What makes you afraid?