The Washington Nationals begin
National League Division Series play today. There are great expectations across
the region for a run to the World Series. Nats jerseys, T-shirts, and hats will
be worn in the stadium today, and probably in a lot of offices, businesses, and
schools where they might not normally be worn on a Friday. Cindy has assembled
a Nats "trinity" of sorts on our fireplace mantle with Bryce Harper, Jayson
Werth, and Ian Desmond bobble-heads, and she was wearing a red Adam LaRoche
t-shirt as she left for school this morning. As she backed out of the garage,
she passed a red Nationals garden flag hanging in our front yard. In a stunning
reversal of personal perspective, she has become a baseball fan!!! Now, in the
interest of full disclosure, I'm not sure it would be truthful to say she has
become a baseball fan, but she has certainly become a devoted Nats fan. She
mentioned recently hat her dad would be shocked to know of her interest in
baseball these days because she used to give him such a hard time about his love
of the game. Too slow, too boring a game, she would tell him. I
remember going to games over the years in other places we have lived where she
would be rooting against the home team to tie a game in the ninth inning because
she didn't want the game to go to extra innings. And yet, now, she talks about
Stephen Strasburg's fastball, Adam LaRoche's home run swing, and Drew Storen's
triumphant return to the closer's role not as a detached observer, but a
passionate fan who lives and dies with every hit, pitch, and error. Yes, she
will tell you that college basketball is still her favorite sport, but Nationals
baseball is quickly becoming a close rival.
Being a fan of a favorite team is a sometimes wonderful, sometimes
agonizing thing. When the team is winning, like the Nationals have done this
year, it is easy to get excited when putting on the team colors. But when the
team doesn't perform so well, as was the case with last year's Nats,
well, that's a different story. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat
are captured quite well in the sports section of the Washington Post this
morning with two pictures of Drew Storen, one in celebration as he high-fived
Wilson Ramos after saving a game against the Braves just a few weeks ago, and
one of stunned disbelief as he sat by himself at his locker after blowing the
save in a game 5 playoff loss to the Cardinals in 2012. Fandom is pretty well
summed up in those two pictures. Come to think of it, our lives find parallels
there as well...highs and lows, wins and losses, joy and disappointment.
We much prefer to be the victor, but are wise to recognize that the spectrum of
life's experiences is broad and varied. As much as we learn from winning, one
cannot forget the powerful teacher that defeat can be as well.
Faith is a vital companion amidst life's ups and downs. As Cindy's dad was
her first baseball mentor, it seems appropriate here to include one of his
favorite scripture passages, the 121st Psalm. The Psalmist acknowledges the
need he has for help along the way, and says that he will lift his eyes to the
One who knows everything about him, even his coming in and going out. Here is
the assurance in the ever-changing circumstances of life that gives the person
of faith a foundation upon which he or she can build, no matter what may come.
"My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth," the Psalmist declares.. In
victory and in defeat, those are good words to hear.
Sunday, we will begin a series of messages on the theme, "Heirs of God's
Glory." We will focus on the blessings of relationship we share through faith
in the living God, and how we are to become better stewards of those blessings.
We will observe the Lord's Supper and celebrate the wonder of God's love.
Invite a friend to join you.
And of course....GO NATS!!!
Jim Abernathy
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