This Scene in a New Movie Stuck with Me

Lindsay Schlegel's review of Running the Bases, a new film centering on modern-day religious persecution, focuses on the hope the movie offers.

I love a good sports movie. We’ve just started to introduce them to our kids, starting with baseball films. Our school-aged and tween kiddos loved Rookie of the Year and Angels in the Outfield, and I’ve enjoyed sharing happy moments from my childhood with them. What’s more, sports movies are usually good for a life lesson or sense of encouragement. The new film Running the Bases is no exception.

High school baseball coach Luke Brooks has known tragedy, having lost his twin brother to a heart defect during a game of the sport they both loved. Soon after, Luke learns that he has the same condition and must no longer play ball. He despairs for a time, reeling from losing the person he was closest to, the sport he loved, and the future he thought was a sure thing. A grace-filled chain of events leads Luke to being a coach, rather than a player, and when we get to the real starting point of the action, we see and believe that this man is living the Lord’s will for him.

Over the course of the movie, Luke is challenged to maintain his convictions when it could mean the loss of his family’s livelihood. This is the macro picture, and it’s a compelling story to follow. But what struck me more about the movie are what seem to be the minor moments when Luke, his wife, his son, and others speak in favor of the Lord they serve with confidence and hope.

At one point, Luke’s son Josh, named for the uncle who passed before he was born, enters into conversation with a fellow teammate who doesn’t have a faith life, but is beginning to understand his desire for God. The other boy notices Josh’s Bible and asks why Josh reads it. When Josh says it’s a book about how much God loves him, the other boy asks Josh to show him what he means. Again and again, Josh turns to Scripture and reads aloud without hesitation, without fear of ridicule or rejection.

In the First Letter of Peter, we read,

Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. (1 Peter 3:15-16)

This is exactly what this young man does. The grace in his peacefulness and patience is almost palpable: Josh knows what he is about, knows who he is, and speaks with joy. It’s this joy and openness that, in turn, speak to the other boy, who chooses faith for himself soon thereafter.

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As I watched, I thought, where did this kid learn this kind of witness? How can I instill the same confidence and hope in my own kids? The rest of the movie gives the answer. Josh’s father, Luke, is tried again and again. He gets frustrated. He wants to give up. But with the help of his family and his community, he holds his ground. He recalls the gifts the Lord has given him and the promise he made to respond with gratitude.

His actions speak louder than words, though there is a moment when he has a particularly large stage, as it were, from which to speak. But it’s not only when all eyes are on him that Luke honors God. He, too, speaks of God’s love and mercy when the situation calls for it, when he has the eyes to see what the person in front of him is really crying out for.

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It’s these littler, seemingly minor moments that give Luke the strength to remain faithful when things get very serious. Just as we often see with the saints, it’s little acts of virtue, charity, faithfulness, and holiness that prepare a soul for the bigger battles. It’s these little things that pave the way to Heaven, whether that bigger stage ever comes or not. It’s these little things that I’m inspired to seek in my own life, so that I too can eventually say that I ran the race to win for my Savior and Lord, and so that my children have a good example front and center in their lives.

Running the Bases is a movie well worth watching with your family, especially if you have tweens or teens. The film is available now to rent and stream on Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, iTunes and Spectrum. DVD, Blu-Ray & 4K UHD are available now online at Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Amazon, and in stores February 21, 2023.

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