Centerfield

Greetings Everyone,

Judy and I just got back in from a short vacation last night. It was a good but exhausting trip to Illinois to see family and friends. But now I find myself back in the routine with all the stuff I should have been doing, instead of going on vacation, piled up and waiting for me; two sermons to write, and a mental list of things about a mile long, including this weekly email.

We found out on our way home that Judy’s job with Gaylord Opryland Hotel has been terminated after 18 years. The end will come sometime this month. They hope to rehire in September; but for now, it’s time to sit back and see where God is taking us while filling out job apps and emailing potential contacts. I had this happen to me about 7 years ago to the month. God’s timing is pretty amazing. I mentioned awhile back that I had just gotten out of the financial hole that that period in my life created and not long after I wrote those words the floods came and our lives were taken in a totally new direction.

Speaking of the flood, I did finish rebuilding the retaining wall in my basement last week. My friend, Lowell, who is a missionary to Mexico stopped by on his furlough with his family and helped me do most of the work. I finished pouring the concrete inside the block and putting in rebar last week. Now all I have to do is shovel the mound of dirt back to the other side of the wall…maybe next week after I recuperate from vacation.

Anyway, Judy and I find ourselves at another crossroads waiting to see what bus will come and pick us up. Seven years ago when this happened it began a journey down the road that lead me back into the ministry after a 20 year hiatus. It will be interesting to see where this takes us.

Even without the change and loss it is a busy time for me. Publishing has been going crazy the last month or so. The third book is now available or should be in a week or so. I’ve been working on building a website as a tool to get the word out on the books and I’m preparing to begin to let people know about their existence – I believe in the outside world they call that advertising.

Last I heard, the book ‘Fidelity,’ in which I have an article, should be coming out anytime and I’m beginning to work on the sermon that I am to give at The Fellowship of Mere Christianity’s annual meeting in Brownsville, TX next month.

Those things are all big deals to me, if for no other reason than they begin to move me from complete obscurity to semi-obscurity. I think, maybe, when all this works it’s way through 10 more people will know a bit more about my passion for the word of God and for my Lord. That’s not a bad thing, but it is an amazing thing.

As I turn around and look back from where I am now, I see this building process going on like block being laid one at a time, line upon line. I built a lot in my early years that had to be torn down because it wasn’t on a good foundation, but even some of that, God used to prepare the foundation upon which he planned to build this thing called my life. I couldn’t have planned a weirder story that that which encompasses the wall building in my life so far. You talk about unexpected twists and turns, and yet every one of those twists and turns has brought me to where I am, where I am supposed to be.

I wouldn’t have done it this way. I wouldn’t have put all the twists and turns in there. I’m sure they’re great to keep the readers attention but they are not fun to experience first hand. My life may make a good read but I’m not real excited about the living it out part. And yet, there is something fulfilling about seeing the wall sloooowllyy take shape line upon line, one block at a time into this thing that never would have existed if I’d have had it my way.

I would have preferred achieve fame and fortune young so that I could retire early and get lazy. But reality is I find myself a millisecond away from 50 and just getting ready to reach my stride. I am in fact just about ready to enter the race while I have friends who are coming to the end of theirs. Who’d a thunk it?

Now, I’m not saying I’ve arrived. In fact, I may have just pulled up to the ball park. I’m not even sure I’ve put on the uniform yet. There’s a long way to go from being picked in the draft to putting on the world series ring. Time and circumstance, dare I say it, Time and CHANCE are big factors in how things turn out. Will that young pitcher blow out his arm in the first game? Or maybe the last game of the season just as you go into the playoffs? A lot can happen in season. I can’t say for sure but I think training camp may be coming to an end.

(A side note: I use the baseball metaphors because it is summer, and being old fashioned like I am, summer was (and should be) the traditional time to play baseball. I realize that we are still playing winter sports like basketball and Hockey (does the NHL playoff season last for all eternity?) but that doesn’t make it right!)

A lot needs to happen. I’m not even sure the roster is complete yet. Looking into the future I can’t even see anyone that’s draftable to take my place down the line. Of course 7 years ago I had already put myself in retirement and now I’m back on the field, so I know things can happen, will happen, in the blink of an eye.

But one thing I know is that I’m getting a whiff of spring fever in the air. I can smell the leather of the old glove as I pull it out of the closet. I can feel the bat in my hands. I want to put my feet behind the plate. I want to watch that big round ball come slowly to the plate with that high arch and beautiful spin and hear them call strike three as my old out of shape arms swing that 500 pound bat and my joints scream at me as my rotator cup shreds to bits, my back goes out, and I throw the bat to the ground just to end the torture. Welcome to senior slow pitch softball in my head. I’m too lazy and out of shape to even find a team to play on. So, the agony of defeat is only a mental image.

It’s a good thing baseball is a metaphor because it is a young man’s sport and such an existence is a dim memory for me. Thankfully the road we travel is not based on athletic prowess but on the grace of our Lord Jesus and his prowess for obedience. We play the game of life in him which is a good thing if we want to win. Jesus is our ringer and I’m glad about that.

All that being said, it is time for a new season. I realize that I spent sometime in the Mudville Nine, watchin’ the game from the bench. You know I took some lumps when the mighty Casey struck out. So say Hey Willie, tell Ty Cob and Joe DiMaggio; Don’t say it ain’t so, you know the time is now.

So, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today; Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today; Look at me, I can be Centerfield.

Time will tell if I can or not, won’t it?

Grace and Peace,

Brad