The family called, excited over a feel-good film they had just watched. My Sweet Al and I must see “The Hill” with Dennis Quaid.
“The Hill” is a 2023 American biographical sports drama film about baseball player Rickey Hill overcoming degenerative spinal disease to chase his major league dreams.
A movie about a young man with hopes and dreams. He had a gift for hitting balls. Not running with braces on his legs, but hitting. God gave him the gift and the desire; he was driven to achieve that goal, but everything and everyone worked against him. Hill’s dreams were dashed into the ground. His father, a good man, tried to prevent him from hurting his body. He believed Hill would follow in his footsteps, serve in the pulpit and preach for God.
Every step up the hill, his father stood with his big black Bible in hand, blocking his way. He wouldn’t give him permission to join the high school baseball team. He wouldn’t support him in any way or watch him play. The hill became harder and harder to climb. Why was his father so blind-sighted?
As I watched “The Hill” and the heartbreak he was suffering, I wailed like a baby. Loud, mournful, guttural sounds came from me. My Sweet Al looked at me as if a monster had raised its head. Maybe it had. I saw a well-meaning preacher bringing his family to what he thought was right and killing his son’s dreams.
I had no idea what brought the crying on. Had my own dreams been dashed by some thoughtless person? Had the things I pursued become a disappointment now in my later years? Did life stand in my way each time I tried to climb my hill? What did I want that I didn’t get? I had no answers. Maybe it was too close to home.
Surprised at this mournful cry, I must have some unresolved issues in all of this. I knew I had to talk to the Lord. He would give me wisdom and understanding. It might be a small thing, but it was hidden deep in my soul.
I saw his unmovable father, so religious and ruling his family with “thus says the Lord.” His father’s warped vision of a demanding God played into how he made decisions for his family.
His family was very obedient and respectful. No one pushed back, only Hill when he stayed after school for baseball practice.
In 1963, our family followed what we knew, very close to Pastor Hill’s views. We joined a hellfire, damnation church where the pastor brought his congregation under the law, and stripped away everything that represented the world to prepare us for King Jesus.
I signed a contract wherein I could teach. I agreed I wouldn’t wear shorts in public, dance, play cards or go to movies on Sundays. We had weekly potlucks, and entertained the pastor and other church members for many Sunday dinners.
Our pastor taught us to fear God. He preached works. We were young and gullible. How could we have a loving relationship with someone we feared? God was waiting in the wings to take us up His hill to calvary where Jesus hung on that cross so we could be set free to dream, to live out the abundance of His life He promised.
Rickey Hill managed to climb his hill with no help from his father. He overcame more than a degenerative spinal disease to pursue his dream of playing professional baseball.
I changed hills and learned about the hill of grace. I saw a loving God with so much grace. It’s a shame if people are sitting under the heavy hand of law with a stern and cold look at what they think is God. We did it for years.
God desires an intimate relationship with each of us. He begs us to know Him. This is one reason I have written a devotional.
I wrote about my bruises and disappointments in people, and how God was with me at every turn.
With His help, I have reached my dreams. The Holy Spirit is so powerful that He draws us and God won’t let us go until we reach the top of the hill.
Final brushstroke: God wants us to seek Him in spirit and truth. Don’t let shortsighted people dash your dreams. God is faithful to take care of them. God has put those dreams in our hearts and will bring them to fulfillment.
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