|
Hello St. John’s Family,
The date had been circled on the calendar for months. As soon as the 2024 Major League Baseball schedules were released, I had looked for one series: the Phillies versus the Orioles at Camden Yards. June 14, 15, 16 were the dates… over Father’s Day weekend – a bonus. Tickets were purchased for the Friday night game. A perfect opportunity to spend time with my parents, watching two great teams compete in the best ballpark (in my humble opinion) around. Not even the insane traffic causing a 4 hour drive to Baltimore could diminish this night.
And we weren’t disappointed. A beautiful evening and an awesome game. There was a Schwarbomb to open it and a late Orioles homer to tie it up. Fans around us were chatting and taking in a great night, appreciating two similar teams: talented and hard-working, with players who support each other and play the game incredibly well. Both teams play the game seriously, yet do not take themselves too seriously (seeing the child-like enjoyment Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott receive from dumping water on the “Player of the Game” can’t help but make you smile). One can feel a palpable joy for the game of baseball when watching both the Orioles and the Phillies play.
On Tuesday, the world learned of the death of the great Willie Mays. Though I was too young to see Mays play in-person, I’ve seen many highlights and read numerous accounts of his extraordinary accomplishments. No one will dispute that Willie Mays was one of, if not the greatest baseball player ever. Yet amid all the stats, accomplishments, and accolades, there was something else about Wille Mays: the exuberance and flair for the way he played the game. Mays loved baseball, and baseball was his life. The game itself brought Mays unmatchable joy – joy that everyone who saw him could feel.
I sense the exuberance and joy so many saw in Willie Mays, and so many see in the Phillies and Orioles today, points to a longing we all possess. We all desire to invest ourselves into something that is bigger than us; something that brings us meaning and purpose. Something that originates from deep inside of us and brings us great joy as we engage in the task or activity. We all have a calling: something God has woven into us that we feel a need to pursue, aligned with the gifts and graces we possess to accomplish and extend God’s goodness. Often, we equate “calling” with a “job.” While that may be the case, it isn’t always so. Perhaps the best definition for calling that I’ve seen is from Frederich Buechner: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." Willie Mays saw that baseball was his calling, and he pursued that with his all. Many of you have pursued callings as well: teaching our children and youth; offering musical gifts; serving at local non-profits; crafting prayer shawls with love… just a few examples of the many callings I see lived out here at St. John’s.
As summer begins, I pray you will take an opportunity to reflect on the calling God is placing on your heart. Prayerfully consider how God wants to utilize the gifts and talents you possess to uplift and bless others… while blessing you with the joy of meaningful work well-done.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
| 
