Casey at the Bat By Alisha Nelson

“…for the wisdom of [the unrighteous] wise and learned shall perish.” [1]
Defining wisdom is an elusive concept. Through the years I’ve been called “smart” and “intelligent” by many, I’ve receive several academic awards, I’ve won many competitions, I’ve been successful. But my dad was always there to remind me about the difference between my intelligence and wisdom. He was always looking at difficult life situations in a way I never thought of. Many times I would take what others had to say at face value. But my dad, he has an incredible ability to see consequences and flaws that I never even saw: he understood wisdom much better than I.

In the Bible, wisdom is given many different contexts and forms. I particularly like Nephi’s description of wisdom: “For the wisdom of [the unrighteous] wise and learned shall perish.”[1] This is the only time we see the phrase “wisdom” applied to those of the world. Like my dad has pointed out to me time after time through out my life, it is vital to recognize that those ‘of the world’ will make very persuasive arguments for their incorrect life-styles. These arguments are made persuasive by the fact that they contain flecks and pieces of wisdom. Recent political events well illustrate my dad’s point. The current gay-marriage activists understand the wisdom of indiscriminate laws. But that is only a small piece of a much larger puzzle. They do not recognize the incalculable consequences that will come from the destruction of the family unit. I believe it’s important to be prepared for these arguments, because like Nephi says, the people who use their wisdom for unrighteous purposes “shall perish” [1].

“…how slow [they are] to walk in wisdom’s paths!...they do not desire that the Lord their God should be their guide.” [2]

If defining wisdom is elusive; acquiring wisdom is much more difficult. I certainly possess little, if any, wisdom myself. So the bulk of my study on wisdom was directed how to acquire it. I found a phrase that helped me understand and narrow down the steps to discovering wisdom:

“Wisdom’s paths” [2]. This phrase is discussed several times in the scriptures; I wish to focus on three specific instances. And each provides a better understanding of how to obtain wisdom, and what the wise do to maintain their wisdom:

Firstly: “I [God] have taught thee in the way of wisdom” [3]. From this passage we learn that Heavenly Father promises to teach us in the “way of wisdom” [3]. And the best way to allow God to directly teach us is through the basics: daily scripture study, and prayer. While fragments of wisdom can be taught at schools, the majority of our wisdom must come directly from the source through personal efforts and desires. As we seek after that source, He will teach us the “way of wisdom” [3].

Secondly: “for he [God] doth counsel in wisdom over all his works, and his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round” [4]. Occasionally it feels like there is no right answer to choices in our lives, this is because Heavenly father trusts our judgment because we have received incremental amounts of wisdom over the space of time. In this passage it is pointed out that wisdom is found when we walk on straight paths. Heavenly Father, in his mercy, has given us a way to measure our own wisdom by simply asking ourselves ‘Are we on his paths? Are we doing what we know is right?’, and if so, we are on the path of the wise. We then can rely on our own acquired wisdom to choose our path.

Thirdly: “…after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths…[they] becometh an enemy to all righteousness” [5]. I think this scripture is powerful without my explanations. As we receive wisdom, and as we follow “wisdom’s paths” [5] we are expected to always put that knowledge first. Heavenly Father clearly gives us our punishment for not following the paths we know to be true, and properly applying our wisdom.

“See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom”. [6]
In conclusion, I wish to explain a piece of wisdom I have recently acquired. It comes from my grandfathers’ favorite poem. He was recently diagnosed with a fatal illness; he will not live much longer, and in response I re-read it, and received a merciful piece of wisdom from my Heavenly Father. I wish to honor that wise lesson he taught me, and explain what I have learned about striking out in life.

Casey at the Bat
The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day;
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play,
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought, "If only Casey could but get a whack at that —
We'd put up even money now, with Casey at the bat."

But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,
And the former was a hoodoo, while the latter was a cake;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat;
For there seemed but little chance of Casey getting to the bat.

But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,
And Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and men saw what had occurred,
There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.

Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
It pounded on the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.

There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile lit Casey's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt.
Five thousand hands applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
Defiance flashed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.

And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped —
"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one!" the umpire said.

From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore;
"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted some one on the stand;
And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.

With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the dun sphere flew;
But Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said "Strike two!"

"Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered "Fraud!"
But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.

The sneer has fled from Casey's lip, the teeth are clenched in hate;
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out.

The truth is here. We have access to all wisdom. But what will we do with that wisdom? Will we be like Casey, and ignore our chance to partake of that wisdom? If my grandfather has taught me anything, he has taught me this through his example: We have only one chance, and its here, in this life; work your hardest, pursue all that is good. Don’t strike out.

[1] 2 Nephi 27:26
[2] Helaman 12:5-6
[3] Proverbs 4:11
[4] Alma 37:12
[5] Mosiah 2:36-37
[6] Alma 38:11