FOUL BALL

I watch at least 4 minutes of Professional Baseball each year and during those 4 minutes back in July 2024 I saw a foul ball go slithering out into the stands in the left field area. There was a father, grandfather (I suppose) and a boy of about 8-9 years old. A foul ball was hit right into the area where they were seated and in the blink of an eye the father grabbed it and handed it to the boy. His mouth dropped open so far you could see his tonsils dangling with his complete exhilaration. As the camera kept panning the scene the boy’s mouth never closed, his eyes were wide with the joy of wonder.

I became almost as excited with boy as he was with the foul ball. I couldn’t stop thinking of the Jesus statement: “I tell you the truth, you must change and become like little children. Otherwise, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). To live and not hold back, to fully embrace the moment and to put our complete self into what we are doing… what a way to live.

The difference may be that for the boy it was not a foul ball but the ball from the bat of his favorite professional baseball player and from his favorite professional baseball team. Yipppeee! The Kingdom way.

“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.” Jesus