As Long as You Can

There’s an old Quaker story about a conversation between George Fox and William Penn. The conversation centered on Penn’s desire to carry a sword on his belt even after he had converted to Quakerism. In the earliest days of the movement joining the Quakers meant embracing non-violence, and so you can see why Penn was concerned he may need to lose his blade forever.

Yet, he didn’t want to. And so, as anyone may who is attempting to tease out the boundary line for what is acceptable what isn’t, he asked Fox if he could still carry his sword.

Fox’s answer? Carry it as long as you can.

I would have enjoyed seeing the look on Penn’s face upon hearing this reply. Expecting one answer and getting another, especially when the answer is presumably in one’s favor, elicits a kind of joy that is difficult to feign. Fox’s point was that Penn should respond only to the leading of the Holy Spirit when making decisions, and not lean on the advice or direction of others. Though we might quibble a bit with this advice due to its devaluation of communal discernment, we can certainly relate to moments of unexpected joy. Especially in the EFL. 

(Editor’s note: many historians believe this story to be hagiography, but for illustrative purposes its historicity hardly matters).

The first few weeks of the baseball season certainly usher in moments of joy, simply due to baseball games being played on a regular basis. After months of sitting through winter weather wishing for baseball season to begin, it finally does, and the sheer presence of it is enough to brighten any mood.

The beginning of the baseball season also brings with it many unexpected surprises in terms of statistical performances. Sometimes these performances are cringe-worthy, and you search for any semblance of proof that the mediocrity, and in some cases the downright putridity, exhibited by your team or your favorite players is temporary.

For example, the 2021 Boston Red Sox began their season by losing three straight games to tbe Baltimore Orioles – a team projected to win 66 games by FanGraphs, and even worse – the only team who, based on projections, has a 0% chance of making the playoffs. 

But this column this morning is not about those abysmal starts – and, in case you care, the Red Sox have reeled off 6 straight wins since – no, instead it is about those starts which are, for each of us, creating an unexpected joy which we hope will last much longer than 10 games, but if not, will be fodder for good memories in days, weeks, and months to come.

Though these performances may be chalked up to small sample sizes (SSS), they may also be season-long statistical studs (SSS). And, because all that matters at this point is how you feel about your players, YOU – yes, you! – get to decide which category your player(s) fall into.

And, like Fox suggested to Penn I might also suggest to you: believe it (carry it) as long as you can. 

EFL Standings for 2021