Let’s hear it for the Lancaster
Jethawks. (The Jethawks is the Arizona Diamondback’s minor league
team that Adam is the athletic trainer for.) They finished the first
half of the season in first place. This means that they are
definitely in the playoffs in the fall. Finishing the first half of
the season in first place was one of their goals when they began the
season.
Accomplishing their goal is indeed
good news.
The end of the first half of the
season is good news also for teams like the High Desert Mavericks
and the Bakersfield Blaze who finished in last place in the Southern
and the Northern Divisions respectively in the California league.
It is good news because they get to
start all over again. If they are able to win the second half of the
season they too will be in the playoffs.
Starting over again has to be one of
the great things about sports. Each season or each half of the
season as it is in the California league you get to start over.
It doesn’t matter that the Jethawks
finished the first half of the season with 18 more wins than the
Mavericks. As they start the second half they are on equal ground. I
am sure they also have equal goals, to win the second half of the
season.
As we approach the half way mark of
2004 perhaps we too should assess how successful we have been in
reaching our goals. St. Paul’s goal for 2004 is: Bring God’s
love to the heart of the community by pro-claiming that Jesus is
Lord, the Bible is The Word and His love is the way.
How are we doing? The answer to this
question depends on each one of us. What part have you played in
bringing God’s love to the heart of the community?
Have you played the role of the
spectator sitting in the bleachers and watching? As a spectator were
you encouraging and cheering on the team or were you pointing out
every error and criticizing the team’s efforts and failures?
Have you been an active participant
offering your spiritual gifts and talents?
Have you made as your own personal
goal the aim of bringing God’s love to the heart of the community?
Mid year is a good time to review and
renew your goals – whether it’s for school, work or family. Have
you made sure to include God in your plans?
