As some of you may know, that is one of my favorite passages from the Tao Te Ching (#22): In yielding there is completion; in bent is straight; in hollow is full…

    And it came immediately to mind reading this story in today’s NYT: A Pitcher Who Surrendered, And Won.  It is a classic tale of the guy who hovered on the edge of the major league baseball, pitching for a year or so, then bouncing around from one minor league town to another and, finally, when it seems to late, he wins a spot with the New York Yankees and lives happily ever after.

    This kind of made-for-TV movie script often has a religious aspect.  And, in its real life version with pitcher Aaron Small, Christianity is evident:

"I didn’t feel like my heart was in the game anymore," Small said.
"I told him [his pastor]: ‘I’m just releasing it to God. I surrender. I’m tired of
doing it myself. Pray with me.’ I wasn’t looking for a sign. Just some
peace."

Small reached his apartment, took a nap and reported to
the ballpark. It was his day to start, but the lineup card had another
pitcher’s name on it. Bucky Dent, the Columbus manager, told Small he
was going to the Yankees.

 That notion of "surrender," of "giving it to God," resonates with the Taoist notion of "yielding."  For Christians, one yields to the will and wisdom of God; for Taoists one yields to the unknowable Tao.  In both cases, "fate" or "destiny," could be invoked, though for Christians "destiny" is predestined by a knowing God.  For Taoists destiny is not predestined, it is wide open with uncontrollable possibility.  But the similarity is there.

    Small seems like a thoughtful fellow.  He takes a broad view on the idea of divine predestination:

The simple moral, Small knows, is that prayer equals success. The
reality is more complicated, a message he tries to impart when he
speaks to church groups.

"He’s not saying it guarantees things
will work out the way you want," said Wayne Bryant, the pastor at
Clearwater Baptist Church, where Small volunteers every Wednesday
during the winter for a youth Bible study group.

"It’s that
moment of surrender when you say, ‘O.K., God, what do you want me to
do?’ He would have been totally at peace with not getting the call.
That’s the key. I don’t think he, in any way, wants people to believe
that just because you’re faithful, it’s going to always work out
perfectly."

 What matters is not which particular religious sect of philosophical school you embrace; what matters is "that moment of surrender." 

     In yielding there is completion…

     Now, maybe, the Yankees will give me that call…