Walk by Faith

For a baseball fan like myself, the month of October means post-season playoffs and exciting games. “America’s Past time” is a game of tradition and one tradition that has been a part of major league baseball for a long time is the seventh inning stretch. But more recently in the tradition of baseball is the singing of “God Bless America” during the seventh inning stretch.

As I was watching the New York Yankees play the Texas Rangers in Yankee Stadium, everyone in attendance stopped during the singing of “God Bless America.” Yankee Stadium holds approximately 53,000 people and everyone reverently stopped to pay tribute- all the fans, the players, the coaches, and the people watching at home as the words of “God Bless America” were sung. But do we actually realize that these familiar words are a prayer? A prayer asking and begging that the God of the Universe to send His blessing upon our country. The God who gave us this land that we love but the land that is also so divided by sin, politics, war, religion, and human pride. This prayer asks for the guidance and protection of our country that is bigger than any person. We are asking for God to “stand beside us and guide us” because in our humility we realize that humans alone cannot direct the future of this country.

God can speak to us at every moment, even during a baseball game. And a question I asked myself as I watched this baseball game was “how much does a ticket cost to go to a Yankee’s playoff game?” Not only the money but think of the planning and preparation that goes into attending the game. And then once we are at the game there is so much excitement and the bonding that occurs among the fans. Every pitch, every out, every hit, and every run is celebrated with great enthusiasm! What about our faith? What about the Lord? Do we celebrate our lives and the blessings that God has given us with that same passion? Do we invest the same time and resources into our spiritual life as we do into a baseball game? These athletes are mere mortals and God is far greater! If someone looked at our lives from a distance who would they think that we praised?

Lord, help us to see you and praise you in our daily lives. Help us to put you above all things and recognize the great blessings in our lives. Stand beside this country and guide at as we seek to do your will. Amen.