I grew up in a family that loved baseball. As early as I can remember, our Saturday afternoons were spent eating lunch on TV trays in our living room as we gathered around to watch the baseball game of the week. Growing up in Phoenix, we didn’t have a baseball team back then (or any professional sports) so my parents gravitated to the two closest teams to us, the Giants and the Dodgers who were both in California. They were also the only two teams we could hear on AM radio so it was easier to follow them.
As the family stories are told, we heard my father played minor league baseball with a team out of Kansas City. Although I haven’t ever been able to find any facts to that point, our father did tell us first-hand stories about playing against Leroy “Sachtel” Paige. I recall that mostly because it helped an all-female team win a long night of Trivial Pursuit when I was able to correctly answer the final question of “who was the first black pitcher in baseball”. (Yes, I’m still smiling about that one).
It’s interesting though how some things we are exposed to in our childhood stick with us and some others may not. For me, baseball stuck. My mom became a Chicago Cubs fan when Sammy Sosa was popular, so I spent many a game helping her cheer him on. Together we attended many Phoenix Giants AAA games over the years. I believe to this day that is one reason my boyfriend at the time became my husband. He went to all the games with us. (That’s a blog topic for another day).
For many years now Phoenix has had a professional baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. We’ve been fans and loyal followers for years now. If there’s a game happening, we are either at the ballpark, watching it on TV or listening to it. For Mother’s Day yesterday, I asked to go to a game. The first half was fairly boring but then all sorts of crazy things started to happen. At one point when the game was tied and in extra innings, our Manager had to put in a pitcher to hit and another (very well paid, high-profile) pitcher to run the bases. There was renewed anticipation, excitement and a bit of concern as the game unfolded. It all worked out fine, no one got hurt, but we did end up losing. And so it goes…
I share all this because I was thinking yesterday how much baseball has been and is still part of my life. I have a Diamondbacks jersey, several t-shirts, a visor, a backpack and yes, in all honestly a Diamondbacks personalized license plate that matches my email address, “win4dd”. So I guess you could call me a big fan and one that wants people to know it. As a result of how I’ve chosen to display that love of the game and our team, it shows and you could even say, it’s pretty hard to miss! Yet, I wondered, do people see that much evidence of my belief, following and exhibition of Christianity? That question REALLY made me think – and wonder. Just as an example, if I had the opportunity to experience something with baseball, would I chose that over something at church, participation in our small group, or something that had an “eternal perspective or outcome”? Do I have clothing, visors and other apparel that speak to my Christian walk? Do I get as (or more) excited about someone coming to Christ, a baptism or a heartfelt prayer as I do other “wins”?
I don’t mean that one has to be exclusive over the other. This was just my own self-check to ensure that I have and will continue to have my priorities straight. Although we loved the movie “Field of Dreams” and have actually been to the place in Iowa where the movie was filmed, (well, of course we have) I honestly don’t believe there is baseball happening in heaven. So, I need to be sure that while I am continuing to be excited over the next great play, or the next big game and hopefully winning outcome, that I never lose sight of what is most important – winning people for Christ!
My prayer for you today is that you take a minute to do your own self-check. What are you passions? What things do you get most excited about? What type of “fan” do people know you to be and why? And do they also know you as a Christian, just as much?
As Casting Crowns says… “Until the Whole World Hears”!
Until the whole world hears
And I pray that they will see more of you and less of me
Lord I want my life to be the song You sing
Until the whole world hears Lord we are calling out
Lifting your name up for all to hear the sound
Like voices in the wilderness we’re crying out
As the day draws near
We’ll sing until the whole world hears
https://youtu.be/o7qi2KlUffs?list=PL2FC426C7F31C885B