Are You Going to Catch That Ball?

You are at baseball practice. Coach is at the plate with the bat and ball and he’s pointing at you. “Pouliot! I’m going to hit this ball to you, are you going to catch it?” The sun is bright and high between you and coach. Horseflies are biting you. It’s a hot day and you can tell you’re not on your best game. What’s your answer?
Of course, the answer is always “Yes!”. You would never shout back, “I do not know what the future will bring Coach, I cannot commit to this!” Coach is not asking you to predict the future; he is looking to you for your commitment.
Life is the same. If you make an agreement with someone, their inquiry to see where you stand isn’t about asking you to predict future; if there is a real obstacle and you need to adjust your commitment, let them know. But don’t hem and haw about unknowns that may get in the way of your agreement. Yes, the future is uncertain, but don’t let that diminish your resolve— answer “yes”.