Dear Rose Park,
I am the proud coach of the Holland Little League Giants baseball team. Our season officially started this past Saturday with our first game, but Simon and I have been playing catch since the ground first thawed. Almost every day after school, Simon asks to play catch in our lawn. Playing catch is one of my favorite things to do. It makes me think of my childhood and I always smile. As we toss the ball back and forth and fall into a rhythm, I naturally start to think about the church.
So much of what we learn is caught, not taught. Meaning, we learn it by being close to it, touching it, and experiencing it. For example, we can be taught about baptism from the Gospel of Mark, but we can catch baptism when we see the water, speak the vows, and hear the creed. We can be taught about holy communion from the Heidelberg Catechism, but we can catch holy communion when the table is present, the bread is broken, the cup is poured, and the elements are tasted. We can be taught about discipleship from a podcast or book, but we can catch discipleship when we spend time with one another, pray with one another, and unite with one another around a Kingdom vision.
This is all to say, who are you playing catch with? Who we surround ourselves with is so very important. If you don’t believe me, ask a parent with school-age children and they’ll tell you how much they desire their children to be surrounded by good friends. This concept goes beyond adolescence though, we all need to be surrounded by good people who want to play catch. The theology we learn from scripture and the sacraments die within us, if we do not embody them and live them out with those around us. So, who are you playing catch with?
As we transition into summer, would you prayerfully consider playing catch with a friend, a neighbor, or a family member because when we do, we’ll be drawn closer to each other as we’re drawn closer to Him.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark
Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash