It’s finally setting in that Spring Training is here, and this year I’ll be spending it in a way that’s very different from the way it’s been for a long time.

Our off-season schedule has been so packed with our kids’ sports practices and spending family time together that I haven’t had much time to think about this coming season, but before I knew it, I was off to Tampa for Spring Training.

It’s been a long time since I’ve gone somewhere new for Spring Training. This year I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and into the unknown. For the past seven years with the Cardinals, I became very comfortable knowing where everything was in the clubhouse, what the routine looked like, and who I would be playing alongside. Even when I started with the Cardinals I jumped in mid-season, so I didn’t have to enter a Spring Training without knowing my teammates. There’s only one other time in my life that I’ve experienced this sort of transition—when I was traded to Oakland at the beginning of the 2009 season. But all of a sudden, I’m the new kid again.

There’s a lot of unknown for me right now. What will my new teammates be like? How will the team Bible study look? What will it be like to play with this new organization and how quickly will I learn their strategies? I’m looking forward to learning from some of the veteran players such as CC Sabathia and Jacoby Ellsbury who have been around for awhile and have a lot of success. I’m also sure that I’ll be able to draw fresh energy and a new perspective from some of the younger players. As I learn from my new teammates, I also hope that I can be a mentor and encourager to many of them.

There are also unknowns for my family: What will it be like to live in New York? How will my wife and kids adapt? This is a completely new adventure for me and my family, which is both exciting and a bit scary.

You never really know what to expect until you get there; until you jump in and hit the ground running, you can only speculate about what the next season will be like. But one thing I am sure of is that God has prepared us for this change—He’s made it very clear that this is where we’re supposed to be right now. As we prayed for clarity about this season, we’ve had continual confirmation and comfort, knowing that this is God’s will for us. So whatever the year ahead holds, we are prepared for and excited about the new relationships, new opportunities, and new adventures that God has for us here in New York.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9

—Matt Holliday

Matt Holliday is a regular contributor of The Increase and will be providing monthly articles and opinions.

Check out Matt’s Increase profile here: http://theincrease.com/author/mattholliday/   

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