Finding and Losing

There is an old story about two friends who loved baseball so much that they were not sure at all they wanted to spend eternity in heaven unless they could play baseball.

They had an agreement that the first one who died would find a way to get a message back to earth, letting the other know whether baseball was in heaven or not. Sure enough one day John died, and of course, Jim grieved. He grieved for days. He was deeply saddened over his friend’s death. About two weeks went by, and then it happened. Jim was awakened in the middle of the night by the calling of his name, “Jim, Jim, Jim, wake up! This is John.” “John, where are you?”

“I’m in heaven – and I have some good news and bad news. It’s exciting, Jim. We do have baseball in heaven. It’s great. We play every day and there are marvelous teams, and tough, exciting competition.” “That’s great,” said Jim. “But what’s the bad news?”

“Well,” said John, “The bad news is, you are scheduled to pitch next Tuesday.”

It is beautiful to me that there are aspects of life that are so wonderful, so compelling that we don’t ever want them to end. It is beautiful when we find something that gives our life enjoyment.

One of the things I enjoy most in life is surfing – being out on the water in God’s creation gives me a sense of renewal and joy. And, I certainly hope there is good surfing in heaven! But I have also found that surfing alone is not enough to give life meaning or purpose or depth. Even secular philosophers like Will Durant claim that in order for life to take on meaning, it has to find a purpose larger than itself.

Jesus once told his disciples, that those who try to save their lives will lose them, but those who lose their lives for his sake would find them. That is a paradox and hard to get my mind around. However, I do find it to be true that there is something about sacrificing for others and giving of ourselves that is healing and redemptive. 

May you and I ever be looking for opportunities, small and large, to serve others. And in doing so, may we find that we are taking hold of the life that is truly life.

Let us pray: Dear God, give us eyes to see the world as you see it. Give us a heart to break at the things that break your heart. And then, O God, help us not to duck – but to act! Amen.