Reflections On A Baseball Game

I went to see a professional baseball game on July 4th in Denver, Colorado, which is the most American thing you could do. 

The Colorado Rockies were playing the Milwaukee Brewers. I naturally rooted for the Rockies to win because I'm a Chicago Cubs fan (who play in the same division as the Brewers).  

In fact, I went all in on the Rockies. The day before the game, I bought a cool jersey at a sporting goods store and a hat to match, and I arrived looking like I belonged with the home crowd. 

Baseball is a beautiful game to watch live.  There's just something about the experience that is good for my soul.  

The best hot dogs I've ever had at a ballpark were in Wrigley Field in Chicago, where I've been quite a few times.  My best experience at a game was in Fayetteville for a University of Arkansas game with my middle son and his friends.  

But to be at a baseball game on July 4th with tens of thousands of people on a beautiful day in Colorado was pretty amazing. 

There was a jet flyover by the Air Force right after the Star Spangled Banner was sung with gusto, and there was an organ that played all the ballpark favorites over the loudspeaker, I ate a whole bag of peanuts, and the Rockies won.  

After the game, there were fireworks, which was just the icing on the cake. 

As I walked out of the stadium, I watched the joyous throngs of fans (many wearing red, white, and blue gear in honor of the holiday) and recalled the shouts of "U-S-A!" at various game intervals, and I couldn't help but smile. 

On that gloriously beautiful July 4th afternoon, everyone forgot about politics, religion, and everything that seems to divide our country.  We reveled in a shared moment of joy over a truly American experience.  

Even the smattering of Milwaukee Brewers fans in the stands had a great day despite their team losing.  The energy in the space was positive and united around a central idea: We are all in this together. 

We need more shared experiences as a culture.  The isolation we became used to from the pandemic took a toll on us, and the after-effects of that continue to haunt us. 

This is why I am glad to be part of a faith community that gathers for worship and shared experiences in classes, social events, missional activities, and so much more. 

We are created to be in a community, and neglecting to gather as members of that community has an adverse effect on us all.  We can easily forget what unites us and draw ever-inward into our little worlds, apart from the shared experiences and stories that help us find connection with one another. 

If you are reading this, and you have taken a break from being part of your faith community for whatever reasons you might have, consider re-engaging.  If you don't have a faith community, try to find one.  

We truly are better together.  May it be so, and may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever. Amen.