Liminality

Baseball is America’s favorite pastime . . . and God’s!  Not really, but maybe.  Who really knows? It’s a game of anticipation, strategy and skill.  It’s a game that can’t be won by one player, but a lot can be decided because of one pitch, one play or one home run.  It’s a game of inches as well as chance.  And it captures the hearts of so many--including Jesus and God! Jesus undoubtedly loves baseball because he’s the“Natural.”  He’s someone with a sense of anticipation, hopefulness and strategy.  He continually demonstrates the skill sets required for both offense and defense.  He has solid eye-hand coordination as well as a coachable spirit.  He trusts his teammates and cheers them on when they boot a routine play.  He’s a leader, quick thinker and mentally strong player.  He knows the rulebook through and through.  He even knows when to burst on the scene with raw quickness and sheer hope.  He’s patient, skilled and has a knack for shutting down (and creating) momentum

The wedding party was set.   The three year-old, twin nephews walked down the aisle in their tuxedos ringing bells while their sister follows with flower petals dropping them one by one. But then he enters—the ring bearer.   With ring and pillow in hand, he sprints down the aisle spinning and throwing ‘em in the air!   He catches the pillow, drops it, then chunks it to the minister.   This frees him to run laps around the wedding party slaloming in and out making airplane noises! What seemed to be the perfect wedding was turning into a disaster.   Then out of nowhere the ring bearer’s father swoops in, grabs him and heads for the back door. But you better believe right before they crossed the threshold into outer darkness the boy screamed: “DADDY DON’T BEAT ME!” This would be the worst wedding story ever if it weren’t for Matthew 22.   Do you know this parable? God’s kingdom is like a king hosting a wedding banquet for his son.   He organ