By Brad Locke
April 29, 2005

(AgapePress) - Sometimes it's good for adults to revert to childhood.

What with all the 'roids, riots and reefer seizing the sports page headlines, it's enough to make me want to retreat to that long-lost cocoon of bliss I once enjoyed as a young athlete, when my biggest concern was how to get rid of all my Dale Berra cards. I wish to again view sports through a lens of wonder and unabashed joy, before I knew athletes were overpaid and uncivilized, before I knew they didn't play the game for the same reasons I played.

Blissful ignorance wouldn't solve any problems, of course. But a childlike perspective (not to be confused with childlike behavior) by all involved could return sports to a more honorable state.

Players: Instead of insisting on more money and treating a game like a business, be thankful that someone's paying you to play in their really cool backyard. Instead of acting like losing is the end of the world, find a way to smile from the sheer joy of playing. Instead of working so much on getting better and breaking down film, take an off-day to be with family or just to be lazy. Instead of talking up your own greatness, lavish praise on all your teammates who make it possible for you to succeed.

Owners: Instead of jacking up prices every year, play more doubleheaders. Instead of milking taxpayers for new stadiums, give the current confines some atmosphere. Instead of having a quick trigger finger with your coaches, cultivate a family-like environment.

Coaches: Sleep in for once.

Fans: Instead of playing in fantasy leagues, collect and trade (but don't sell) baseball cards. Instead of yelling obscenities at players, sit back and savor the memories you're making. Instead of calling a radio show, pore over box scores in the morning paper.

Media: Instead of making conflict the focus of every story (guilty!), find those magical moments sports so often provides (even at the risk of being a little corny). Instead of trying to make yourself equal to, or better than, the athletes, be a little in awe of your subjects. Instead of being hyper-critical of coaches and players and owners, be giddy about being inside the ropes.

There's nothing wrong with letting that inner child run loose, even if it's only in your mind. Being childlike is a reasonable, even laudable, response to much of what life yields. In sports, in love, in raising children, sometimes a youthful perspective is what makes the most sense.

In fact, it is vital that the most important aspect of a Christian's life be approached with the trust only a baby can possess. In Matthew 18:3, Jesus informs us that "except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." We often find ourselves too caught up in arguing theology and living legalistically. We often make the Gospel more complicated than it really is, or set unbiblical standards in our mind that automatically drop other Christians into sub-categories inferior to our own belief system.

This isn't an endorsement of simple-mindedness or naïveté. Having a childlike outlook doesn't mean ignoring bad news; after all, Jesus doesn't tell us to ignore our sinfulness. What it means is to lay aside all our pride (as adults are prone to obtain it in bulk) and anxieties and realize that, in this world, we'll always be spiritual infants, and that we need God's guidance as a child needs from a parent.

Theology and righteousness are worthy pursuits, but if they're sought after like an athlete seeking a fatter contract, then someone needs to go sit in the corner.