One Chance

"Hey, Sawyer!" Cameron called down the hallway to his friend. Sawyer opened his locker and waited as Cameron hurried to talk to him. "I've been meaning to ask you--do you want to play ball with my church team?""Some other guys asked me to play with them," Sawyer said, pulling books from his locker. "I'm gonna be the pitcher on their team.""But you should play on my team!" said Cameron. "We're friends. The guys from church really want you to play with us too."Sawyer slammed the locker shut. "Yeah, and if I do, they'll want me to come to church with them," he grumbled. "To tell you the truth, that's why I'd rather play with the other guys. I don't want to hear about all that church and Jesus stuff!"As he spoke, a noisy group of boys rushed down the hall toward Cameron and Sawyer. "Hey, Cameron," called the tall boy in the lead. "Sawyer here is going to be on our baseball team. Want to play with us too? We joined a Sunday morning league. How about it?""Thanks," said Cameron, "but I, uh…""He goes to church on Sunday mornings," Sawyer interjected."Cameron goes to church? Now isn't that sweet?" said a boy in a blue shirt, and the others began to laugh as they turned to leave.Cameron swallowed hard. "C'mon, Sawyer. Play with our team. Please? I think you'd enjoy getting to know some of the guys I go to church with."Sawyer shook his head. "This is my big chance to pitch. It might be the only chance I'll ever get.""Come on. Let's go!" called one of the boys. Sawyer pulled his baseball cap on and joined the others heading for the exit, laughing and joking.As Cameron stood in the quiet hallway, Sawyer's words rang in his ears like a loud echo: It might be the only chance I'll ever get. Cameron turned and started home. Dear Jesus, he prayed, I was hoping this would be my big chance to help Sawyer meet more Christians who could help him see what You're like, but it didn't work. Please give me more opportunities to help Sawyer know more about You and how much You love him. Please give him another chance to trust in You. -Susan I. Zampich