An American Tradition: "Take Me Out to the Ballgame!"

Photo by Elisabeth Phillips

We joined nearly ten thousand people gathered at PNC Field to support the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders. Had a great time - despite the breezy cool temperatures. 

Besides keeping an eye on the game, I found myself doing a fair share of people-watching. The kids with Mohawk haircuts, the chummy couple sitting in front of us, the man whose wife made sure we knew he served in the military, the dancers who jived to the music, the constant parade of junk food addicts stepping up and down stadium stairways . . . . Americans, young and old, came out to celebrate Independence Day with a ballgame and fireworks.

Our time at the stadium represented more than a ball game. A young boy sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." Half-way through the game, we again stood to sing "God Bless America." We acknowledged veterans medaled with purple hearts and years of service. Old Glory blew in the breeze. Several times, the loud speaker blared Lee Greenwood's lyrics:

Photo courtesy of bing.com

And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the ones who died
Who gave that right to me

And I gladly stand up next to you
And defend her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the U.S.A.

And there I stood, wiping my eyes, indeed proud to be an American, grateful for freedom's ring.

America's traditions . . . her melodies of patriotism . . . her symbols and all they stand for . . . . Somehow they've reached deep into the hearts of ordinary citizens like me. 


By the way, the Rail Riders won the game with a walk-off home run on the last hit, a memorable take-me-out-to-the-ballgame moment! 


Which country claims you as a citizen? What do you treasure about being a part of this tradition?

Cross Country Musings

The whistle blows.  

Runners on the line hold their breath. 

Sidelines stop their chatter. 

Silence waits. 

The gun explodes.

 Runners bolt.  

A herd stampedes.

Parents cheer.

Another race begins!

Every Tuesday, we followed the Abington Heights Cross Country team from course to course. We witnessed the start, then criss-crossed the grounds to get a glimpse of our daughter and her teammates as they found their stride up hills and down, through the woods, and finally on to the finish line. Junior High ran 1.86 miles, Varsity 3.1. They ran hard. We cheered them all on, to the last runner in!

Records of competitive foot racing date back to 1829 BC with the Tailteann Games in Ireland. The first recorded Olympic Games took place in Olympia, Greece in 776 BC. There's something about the competition that's ageless. Who knows? Maybe Cain and Abel had their own races.

Life is a little like a cross country race. It's important to get a good start, to stay steady through the ups and downs, and then to finish well. We need people to coach us along the way, and there's comfort in a trusted teammate's encouragement now and then.

I find it interesting that the New Testament alludes to the Olympic games. Consider these words scrawled onto parchment in the first century:

Do you know that in a race all the runners run, 

but only one gets the prize? 

Run in such a way as to get the prize. 

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.

They do it to get a crown that will not last; 

but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

 Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith . . .

1 Corinthians 9:24, 25          Hebrews 12:1, 2

I'll never compete in a foot race again. But I'm going for the crown that will last forever. I want to run the race of life well. Even when the course gets muddy and slippery with uncertainty or I face multiple uphill challenges or I lose my way in the woods of difficulty. I'm grateful for coaches who give me tips on how to improve my race and others in my life who cheer me on.

 
May all of us run the race of life with endurance and grace.

Good season, Abington Heights. And special congratulations to you, Elisabeth. You worked hard and did a great job. Dad and I are Comet proud!! 

*Photos by Julie Mulligan