Music has a magical way of transporting us back in time.
For instance, at work I have a cassette tape of an old U2 song that always brings back good memories. When I hear the song “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for,” I am taken back to a summer night in 1988. I was in Baltimore to watch an Orioles’ game against the Texas Rangers with my then girlfriend (now wife) and brother. The game was awful and both teams were changing pitchers like there was no tomorrow.
It had become so bad that the highlight of the game was when a cat had run onto the field. Soon after, one of the teams was making a pitching change and as the discouraged pitcher left the game with his head down you could hear U2 appropriately singing over the P.A. system, “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.” No sooner did those words fill the air than a disgruntled fan stood up and appropriately yelled, “put the cat in.” I imagine it couldn't have done any worse.
This reminds me of another summer night in 1999. I was pitching for the men’s church softball team and I couldn’t find the plate. I, however, was not in jeopardy of being yanked, simply because we had no one else, but I almost committed a bigger blunder. In between one of the innings, I was greeted by my then six year old daughter who wanted to cheer up her dad. In her hand she had a bag of red Swedish fish and on her face a big smile, “Daddy would you like some fish?” In my frustration I said, “no” because I wanted to be left alone and then she started to cry.
I am not an overtly intelligent man, but every father knows that when your daughter cries you should listen and remedy the situation. So, of course, I told her I had changed my mind and those fish sure sounded good. Her tears suddenly dried up and a smile appeared as I popped those fish into my mouth. Strange, I can’t remember the outcome of the game or if my pitching even improved, because the next spring as I mentioned before my daughter passed away. The lesson I learned that summer night is that people are always more important than how you feel. On that evening, I didn’t find what I was looking for, instead I found something better.
“You can find whatever you're looking for, so decide what you're looking for.” ~ Seth Eisenberg
Swavel
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Every Now and Then
Every now and then we are reminded of what utter devastation truly looks like. This is how I felt on March 11th when Japan was hit by a devastating tsunami.
About a week ago, my wife and I watched an unbelievable video clip of a town in Japan that was hit full force by the tsunami. At first it was just a trickle, then a stream, then a river, then a moving wall of water. It took under five minutes for the full devastation to take place. Cars were being moved around like match boxes, boats were zooming by as they crashed into buildings and houses were becoming unhinged as the water’s massive power did whatever it willed. Here one minute, gone the next. It just defied logic.
It is amazing how one incident can alter the lives of so many. The number of people who have been confirmed dead or listed as missing in Japan has reached 20,000 people and is expected to climb even higher. If this wasn’t enough, still looming is the threat of radiation from the storm that ravaged the nuclear plant in Fukushima. Just a few days ago, I read of three scenarios and now of them appeared to be favorable.
The heartache is unfathomable. There is a story of one woman who escaped the rushing water, but lost grip of her daughter’s hand and has not found her since. Yet, I have seen a nation from what I can gather is handling an awful situation with grace and dignity. According to a news account, the Japanese in the waning days voluntarily turned off the electricity in an effort to conserve power. There were also reports of how the displaced people stood patiently in lines to receive rations and generally appeared to be thinking of others.
Tragedy can bring out the worst and best in people. “But we must keep on living,” said one citizen. Another survivor said, “I have come to realize what is important in life.”
For whatever reason, after we witness something so traumatic it always seems to make us stop and think. Every now and then we are reminded how truly fragile life can be and how in an instant it can all be taken away.
"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have." ~ Frederick Keonig
Swavel
About a week ago, my wife and I watched an unbelievable video clip of a town in Japan that was hit full force by the tsunami. At first it was just a trickle, then a stream, then a river, then a moving wall of water. It took under five minutes for the full devastation to take place. Cars were being moved around like match boxes, boats were zooming by as they crashed into buildings and houses were becoming unhinged as the water’s massive power did whatever it willed. Here one minute, gone the next. It just defied logic.
It is amazing how one incident can alter the lives of so many. The number of people who have been confirmed dead or listed as missing in Japan has reached 20,000 people and is expected to climb even higher. If this wasn’t enough, still looming is the threat of radiation from the storm that ravaged the nuclear plant in Fukushima. Just a few days ago, I read of three scenarios and now of them appeared to be favorable.
The heartache is unfathomable. There is a story of one woman who escaped the rushing water, but lost grip of her daughter’s hand and has not found her since. Yet, I have seen a nation from what I can gather is handling an awful situation with grace and dignity. According to a news account, the Japanese in the waning days voluntarily turned off the electricity in an effort to conserve power. There were also reports of how the displaced people stood patiently in lines to receive rations and generally appeared to be thinking of others.
Tragedy can bring out the worst and best in people. “But we must keep on living,” said one citizen. Another survivor said, “I have come to realize what is important in life.”
For whatever reason, after we witness something so traumatic it always seems to make us stop and think. Every now and then we are reminded how truly fragile life can be and how in an instant it can all be taken away.
"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have." ~ Frederick Keonig
Swavel
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Close to Our Hearts
In a nutshell, this is why we feel called to adopt.
'For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ ~Matthew 25:36-40
'For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ ~Matthew 25:36-40
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Matter of Trust
God can. I can’t. God’s willing. I’m hesitant.
The above statement was a self-assessment I made about a month ago, not one I'm proud of, but I believe can have a happy ending .
Allow me to elaborate on the word, trust, which happens to be synonomous with the words rest assured, full confidence, and rely completely. So, here is the way God works with trust, if we don’t trust in Him 100% then we don’t trust him at all because he who hesitates is lost. With that thought in mind, there was a time when I was under the false impression that I completely trusted in God.
On April 29th, 2000, that guise disappeared when I received the news that my entire family had been in a car accident and that all 3 members of my family were being taken to 3 separate hospitals. .
As I was riding to my wife’s hospital, I started quoting Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” It was always so easy to quote before, but now it had become difficult to live. Later that night at my daughter’s bedside where she lay in a coma, God and I had it out. I told God to take me instead of my daughter or if he had to take her I needed a purpose for all this. All I heard in response was, “Do you trust me, Aaron? Do you trust me?’’
You see God has never changed, just my perception of Him. Throughout history many who followed God suffered, were persecuted, and some were martyred. My perception was if I did want God wanted, things would always work out for me. So when I got frustrated with God, it was my problem not God’s. He never hid the fact that there would be times when things would not go my way and there would be no explanation, just God asking me to trust Him.
Lately, I have been talking with God and this is what I have heard, “I will not fully invest in you, until you fully invest me.” God does what He wants, well He’s God. If I want to be aboard furthering His Kingdom, it’s His way or the highway. What I’m trying to do now is to get involved in what God wants me to do and then I can rest assured that I can trust Him. Anything else is just an epic failure waiting to happen.
I don’t have to trust Him, He doesn’t force me, but if I don’t it’s my loss because complete trust in God is a prerequisite. I agree with C. S. Lewis in the Chronicles of Narnia when he spoke of the God type character, Aslan, the Lion, “He's not safe, but He's good.”
So, as a matter of trust, I would like to alter my thought of a month ago. God can. I can't. God's willing. I'm with Him.
Swavel
The above statement was a self-assessment I made about a month ago, not one I'm proud of, but I believe can have a happy ending .
Allow me to elaborate on the word, trust, which happens to be synonomous with the words rest assured, full confidence, and rely completely. So, here is the way God works with trust, if we don’t trust in Him 100% then we don’t trust him at all because he who hesitates is lost. With that thought in mind, there was a time when I was under the false impression that I completely trusted in God.
On April 29th, 2000, that guise disappeared when I received the news that my entire family had been in a car accident and that all 3 members of my family were being taken to 3 separate hospitals. .
As I was riding to my wife’s hospital, I started quoting Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” It was always so easy to quote before, but now it had become difficult to live. Later that night at my daughter’s bedside where she lay in a coma, God and I had it out. I told God to take me instead of my daughter or if he had to take her I needed a purpose for all this. All I heard in response was, “Do you trust me, Aaron? Do you trust me?’’
You see God has never changed, just my perception of Him. Throughout history many who followed God suffered, were persecuted, and some were martyred. My perception was if I did want God wanted, things would always work out for me. So when I got frustrated with God, it was my problem not God’s. He never hid the fact that there would be times when things would not go my way and there would be no explanation, just God asking me to trust Him.
Lately, I have been talking with God and this is what I have heard, “I will not fully invest in you, until you fully invest me.” God does what He wants, well He’s God. If I want to be aboard furthering His Kingdom, it’s His way or the highway. What I’m trying to do now is to get involved in what God wants me to do and then I can rest assured that I can trust Him. Anything else is just an epic failure waiting to happen.
I don’t have to trust Him, He doesn’t force me, but if I don’t it’s my loss because complete trust in God is a prerequisite. I agree with C. S. Lewis in the Chronicles of Narnia when he spoke of the God type character, Aslan, the Lion, “He's not safe, but He's good.”
So, as a matter of trust, I would like to alter my thought of a month ago. God can. I can't. God's willing. I'm with Him.
Swavel
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Every Fan
This is a lark I know, but I entered a contest sponsored by Major League Baseball called “Dream Job” where the winner gets to report on baseball every single day for the entire season. Don’t laugh too hard, here it is:
Hi, my name is Swavel and welcome to Major League Baseball’s first edition of Every Fan.
Baseball is a game of redemption. I know what it’s like to lose because in my first 2 seasons of Little League my team lost every single game. Then in my third year, I caught a fly ball in right field that won the game. As I watched the All Star game that same evening, I can remember feeling like a million bucks with the game ball still in my hand. For one night, I felt like an all star too.
Baseball is a game that brings families together. My first date, with my wife, was to Baltimore to watch Cal Ripken and the Orioles play the Detroit Tigers. I, also, fondly remember my dad taking the time to play catch with me and come to my games and now, I in turn, have taken every chance to do the same with my kids. If I am to win this dream job, it would go a long way in helping my family and I bring our third daughter home through adoption. I firmly believe that everyone and I mean everyone should have a family.
Baseball is full of stories: from the past, present and future. Who can forget Lou Gehrig’s “Luckiest man Alive” speech or Carlton Fisk waving his home run fair or George Brett going ballistic over the pine tar incident or my favorite moment form the past, Cal Ripken breaking Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game mark.
Baseball is full of current stories as well. Since I work and live in the Philadelphia area, my “Plead the Fifth” segment will chronicle every pitch the 2011 Phillies rotation makes. Then, there will be a piece called “Getting it Right” that will focus on a different player every day. And of course, there will be the daily highlights and scores from around the league, called “Need to Know.”
Baseball is full of stories waiting to unfold before our eyes. Who knows what could happen this year? Will Zach Greinke be unhittable again now that he is with the Brewers? Will the Giants defend their title? Will A-Rod regain his old form? Will the Phillies play the Red Sox in the Series? Will Miguel Cabrera be able to succeed despite himself? I don’t know, but I would love to find out all this and more, together with you every single night.
So, here at Every Fan I promise you this, a season you will not soon forget.
Hi, my name is Swavel and welcome to Major League Baseball’s first edition of Every Fan.
Baseball is a game of redemption. I know what it’s like to lose because in my first 2 seasons of Little League my team lost every single game. Then in my third year, I caught a fly ball in right field that won the game. As I watched the All Star game that same evening, I can remember feeling like a million bucks with the game ball still in my hand. For one night, I felt like an all star too.
Baseball is a game that brings families together. My first date, with my wife, was to Baltimore to watch Cal Ripken and the Orioles play the Detroit Tigers. I, also, fondly remember my dad taking the time to play catch with me and come to my games and now, I in turn, have taken every chance to do the same with my kids. If I am to win this dream job, it would go a long way in helping my family and I bring our third daughter home through adoption. I firmly believe that everyone and I mean everyone should have a family.
Baseball is full of stories: from the past, present and future. Who can forget Lou Gehrig’s “Luckiest man Alive” speech or Carlton Fisk waving his home run fair or George Brett going ballistic over the pine tar incident or my favorite moment form the past, Cal Ripken breaking Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game mark.
Baseball is full of current stories as well. Since I work and live in the Philadelphia area, my “Plead the Fifth” segment will chronicle every pitch the 2011 Phillies rotation makes. Then, there will be a piece called “Getting it Right” that will focus on a different player every day. And of course, there will be the daily highlights and scores from around the league, called “Need to Know.”
Baseball is full of stories waiting to unfold before our eyes. Who knows what could happen this year? Will Zach Greinke be unhittable again now that he is with the Brewers? Will the Giants defend their title? Will A-Rod regain his old form? Will the Phillies play the Red Sox in the Series? Will Miguel Cabrera be able to succeed despite himself? I don’t know, but I would love to find out all this and more, together with you every single night.
So, here at Every Fan I promise you this, a season you will not soon forget.
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