National Anthem

I  L-O-V-E  baseball. 

I'm so blessed to get to watch the entire battle between the Indians and Cubs, even if it involved a seven hour delay in the Seattle airport. Four of those hours were spent watching baseball so it wasn't so bad. We'll see how things turn out with the game tonight.

6 reasons baseball rules. 

1. I can process all that is going on without too much effort
2. The interactions between players is almost as much fun as the sport
3. I've enjoyed the wide display of gum chewing and sunflower seed spitting. Elijah gave us the helpful hint that it's best not to chew gum and sunflowers seeds at the same time.
4. Pitching is an artistic performance.
5. It's not a contact sport so each player models healthy family systems where they play their part without getting enmeshed in other's drama.
6. There is a child-like pleasure in the game that can be seen in the faces of many players.

One of the great things about baseball is the singing of Take Me Out to the Ballgame. The goal of singing this song is for everyone to sing along and encourage the players and crowd. It nearly brings tears to my eyes because you can feel the unity of the stadium in the solidarity of song. They don't necessarily use professionals to lead the singing because it's about the crowd not the leader.

There is something about being part of the spirit of a crowd that helps one understand the Holy Spirit. It is being part of something greater than yourself but which encompasses one self. Sorry, that's theology; we're talking baseball.

I grieve what we have done with the National Anthem. I'm not opposed to all the lovely performers who sing their little hearts out to great applause, except that's not the point of the National Anthem. 

IT'S OUR NATIONAL SONG. 

There's only a bit of irony that we've handed our national song over to soloists. The country that sings together stays together and we are definitely struggling with our national song.

Time for baseball. 

P.S. I had to include a picture climbing trees because we also miss that in Alaska. How do people remain on the ground with so many amazing trees to climb?