I Spy God

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not [merely] look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”   Philippians 2:3-4

Yesterday God gave us an amazing opportunity to spend the day at a Madison Mallards baseball game followed by the Rhythm & Booms firework show.  We were treated like royalty, watching the game from the Duck Blind which provided unlimited ballpark food, all the soda and beer you can drink and space to move around and relax during the game without being confined to a stiff plastic seat!

Then just in time for the best fireworks display in the mid-west, we were able to stake claim on some choice real-estate in the outfield!

A bit of fun before the fireworks!

It was sweet.

But early into arriving at the ball park, we heard that MLB’s Hall of Famer Paul Molitor was there signing autographs.  He would be signing until 6:30, so we decided to eat first and then head over to see him.  By the time we got there, the line was very long, it was 6:00pm and we were told that even if we got in line now, it wasn’t guaranteed that we would even get to meet him.  {gulp!}  But we decided to take our chances anyway.  We bought a baseball, stood in line and held our breath.

Based on knowing our luck, and the pace that the line was moving, I figured we might get close but was pretty sure we wouldn’t meet him.  So we prayed, asking God to get us up to him in time, and continued to move along at a snail’s pace.  The clock was quickly counting down and 5 minutes out they reminded everyone that Mr. Molitor had to catch a flight and must leave at 6:30 whether everyone got a signature or not.  {eeeek!} But we were almost there!  Just a few people away at 6:29 and my heart was racing.  “Oh please…” I whispered.

As we approached the table, Mr. Molitor stood to get ready to go but he extended his hand toward us to sign what we brought as they announced to the rest of the crowd that he had to leave and my son’s hat would be his last signature.

There were shouts of obvious disappointment and unbelief from the crowd behind us and immediately I felt badly.  Oh don’t get me wrong, I was (and still am) so thankful that God allowed us to reach Mr. Molitor and get his autograph, but what about the people behind us?  They wanted something signed too… just one thing… but instead, our large family got four.

It just didn’t seem fair.

Why is that?  Why do we feel badly when others are left out?  Why do we wish we could’ve done more for those who don’t catch a break, when we get one?

Or don’t you?

God made us so that we would love one another.  If we are formed in His image and He is love…then if we truly know Him, it is integrated into our very being to love.  It’s because of His love for us that we are able to love.

“The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”   1 John 4:8

But because of the lasting effects of sin, our desire to love is muddied, replaced with the idea based on selfishness and pride that we are more important and we deserve more than others.

But that’s a lie!  We can’t let the enemy fool us any longer!  If we say we follow Christ, then we must also say that we are willing to live the way He lived…

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus… who emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, [and] being made in the likeness of men…He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross… that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW…and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”   Philippians 2:5-6, 8, 10

Treating others the way we want to be treated, showing love and rooting for the underdog.