^“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded”   (2 Chronicles 15:7, NIV).

          Steve was a professional baseball player. Steve was also my high school classmate and friend. Following a successful amateur career at Notre Dame, Steve was drafted in the sixth round of the 1983 Major League Baseball draft by the Cleveland Indians (now known as the Guardians).

          Steve held great promise as a pitcher. At six feet, four inches, Steve was an imposing figure on the mound. Opposing batters often swung wildly at his ninety-five mile per hour fastballs.

          Steve spent the greater part of his professional career in the minors, eventually retiring in 1986 from baseball at the double A level for the Waterbury Indians. Sadly, shoulder injuries prevented Steve from reaching his dream as a big-league pitcher. Steve was pressed into suspending his baseball career.

          The irony is that Steve’s decision comes amidst a culture that tells us to never give up. We are constantly reminded of the adage: Quitters never win, and winners never quit. The refusal to throw in the towel is drilled into our minds at an early age.

          Yet I wonder. Is there a difference between quitting and giving up? Steve Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics, claims that quitting has been the key to his success. Steve asserts that the longer you hang onto something that isn’t working, the more you miss out on future opportunities. Whether it be a shaky relationship, a job that provides for little advancement, or sinking more money into a property that isn’t paying great dividends, persistence may not always pay off in these instances.

          The fact is that quitting is sometimes not a bad thing to do. Additionally, quitting is not the same thing as giving up. The passage above from 2 Chronicles is a reminder that a reward is waiting for those who refuse to give up.

           In Steve’s case, quitting professional baseball led him into a coveted coaching career at the Naval Academy. Steve never abandoned his love for the sport he had played since he was a child. For Steve, quitting was a strategic move that redirected his passion and experiences toward yet another great opportunity. Ironically, quitting gave Steve a fresh start toward success.

           Quitting is never an easy decision to make. Knowing when to persist and when to quit is one of life’s most difficult dilemmas. Yet please recognize that choosing to quit is not an admission of failure. Quite the opposite. Quitting may just produce the run that wins you the game. Regardless of the decision you make, don’t give up. Keep on swinging for the fences. You never know what new ventures the ball might carry you to next.