Last night had to be one of the largest upsets in all of sports history. Yet, many people missed it due to cable television limits and such. The Dominican Republic is the source of most of the real baseball talent today. The players they sent to the World Baseball Classic total over $400 million in contracts currently. From pitching to hitting, the team was absolutely loaded for this tournament. However, last night they needed to win a game or else be eliminated from the Classic in the opening round. You may not know that the Netherlands is far from a booming baseball pool of talent. The total salaries of that team is just over $400,000 total. Baseball fans would know most of the names on the D.R. team. Only two players from the Dutch team are recognizable. This tournament is probably as good as it will get for the youngsters from Holland and the area. No way could this rag tag group of players beat one of the greatest teams on the planet.

But after nine innings the game was locked in a scoreless tie. It was a loser goes home game. Sure the kids from Netherlands were often outmatched but they never gave up. In fact, the Dutch team could only muster up 2 hits over the nine innings. So the game went into extra innings. The next inning was scoreless as well. Both teams had chances but could not capitalize. The D.R. team would score in the top of the 11th on a fielding mistake in the outfield. They could bring in their big gun who plays for the Chicago Cubs and was also an All-Star last year. No way these inexperienced kids would come back in their half of the inning.

Would you believe that the Netherlands team began the inning with a double? Eventually the runner advanced and scored to tie the game. By now I was sitting in my chair taking in every pitch. My heart began pounding even faster. This was history in the making and it was my good fortune to be watching it live. The mighty pitcher of the Cubs made a bad throw so the runner moved on to third base. With two out, the incredible took place. A hard hit ball down the right field line scored the winning run for the Dutch kids. I yelled. I jumped up. I called my daughter in to watch. This was something almost biblical in proportions. It's not that my heart was locked into one team or the other. This game was on the level of the U.S. Hockey team back in the 1980 Olympics. Not many saw this baseball game but it will be one that is remembered for years to come.

Upsets are special because they tend to be very rare. Sports fans can recall other games where the expected loser would win the game. People who follow politics know the names of candidates who defied expectations in an election. For the fan they are moments of incredible excitement. Our team or player overcame the odds to win one. But they are still rare to be sure. These scrappy kids may not win much more in the tournament. But they left a moment to be treasured.

You do not have to live life as a constant loser. God wired you for more than that. He even promised that we could and would overcome the odds because of His presence. We can live with the wisdom of God in a world often chaotic. We can live with confidence in His purpose even when condition on earth change. We can open our heart with our praying to realize we are not alone when others dismiss us. We can know each day lived in His guidance is building a wonderful future. We do not have to be at the mercy of a world gone mad. When we know it's not about us then we are free to thrive consistently. It is still about God. He already won. We can discover that thrill of victory rather than drift in the agony of defeat.

Bro. Trey