Mariano and Marianna

Yesterday afternoon Mariano Rivera put out the side one, two, three to become MLB's all time save leader.  I wrote a blog last week about when "God winks at you", basically talking about coincidences that may actually be God speaking to you.  I had one of these such moments in the summer of 2010 when I met a little girl at Grant's Basic School in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  Her name was Marianna, and instantly it made me think of Yankee closer Mariano Rivera.  It was the way I initially remember her name, however she would do something later that made her name stand alone.

But for now I want to talk about Mariano, or for the remainder of this blog I will refer to him by his nick name Mo.  Mo is the greatest closer of all time, but what is amazing about what he does, at least to me, is not the fact that he has a killer pitch that is almost unhittable, but the way he preforms under pressure.  The only time Mo enters the game is at the very end to finish it off.  His most memorable performances have been in the World Series, the most pressure packed few games you could ever play in.  He enters the ball game with all eyes on him and is basically told "don't screw this up, go finish the game".  Most pitchers don't want the pressure of having to get the last three outs and would crumble, but Mo thrives in these situations.

Part of the reason he has been so dominate, again in my humble opinion is his faith in Jesus Christ.  Mo has publicly stated that when he retires he wants to be a minister.  In interviews he has credited his success to God, even correcting a reporter who ask him how his career has improved since "accidentally discovered the cutter".  He went on to tell her that pitch was a gift from God.  He said once God spoke to him during a game, telling him not to worry about pressure I brought you here, and I will bring you through it.  He has scripture, Philippians 4:13 sewn into his glove.

You can say so what, but I like a guy who practices what he preaches.  He doesn't blame God on Twitter when the Yankees lose a game.  He doesn't point to the sky and shout when he strikes someone out.  He doesn't try to shove his faith down any one's throat, he just lives out his faith.  While so many athletes and entertainers use supposed faith as a way to gain fame, Mo uses his fame to help spread his faith.

Which brings me to Marianna.  The first time time I ever met here was during a VBS day during a Jamaica mission trip.  Her teachers talked her into singing for our group.  She stepped up in front her entire class and and ten Americans, and if you know anything about Flankers you know they don't see Americans everyday.  So with the pressure of singing in front of international strangers, her entire class, and her teachers this young lady stepped up and belted out the most beautiful version of "Jesus Loves Me", I've ever heard.

Just as Mo used his God given baseball talents to escape poverty, I hope Marianna can use her God give talent in singing to make a better life for herself.  If you've never heard Jamaican music you have no idea what you are missing.  The accent and the soul just makes for an amazing sound, and Christian music can certainly use another great voice.  So here's to two people who can handle pressure, mainly because they have the peace that only comes from serving the Lord Jesus Christ.