Brett and I are on vacation in Gatlinburg this week. One of the things we like about Gatlinburg is the "Smokies" ball club. They are the Cubs AA team, so when we vacation here we try to catch a game and check out the new and upcoming Cub talent.
This year we checked the schedule and there was a 11:30 day game, YAY a chance to enjoy a game and enjoy the sunshine. We pulled up in the parking lot and surprise 50 big yellow school buses. A ball park full of 4th graders. Actually it was fun watching all of them. It was fun to see all the little boys with their baseball gloves. Why do boys bring their gloves to the ball park? The hope and optimism of catching a foul ball. There was a lot of hope at the ball park that day.
At one point when I returned to my seat there were three men sitting by Brett. I could never determine if they were all friends or if they were three generations of men enjoying a ball game together. But the one thing that did make me smile was the oldest one had a ball glove. Hope and optimism not forgotten.
What makes us lose our hope? Is it life in general? Is it the numerous games where a ball never came our way? Is it the words of the world, really your bringing your glove at your age? Do we just forget our glove as we rush out the door? Whatever it is our hope and optimism can diminish as we get older if we are not careful.
I am sure you have heard the story of the little country community who were in the middle of a summer drought. The church called together a prayer service to pray for rain. And one little old lady brought her umbrella. One woman had hope in her prayers, or at least had hope in the one she prayed to.
If you attend church with us have you ever noticed where Brett parks on Sunday mornings? That comes from one of those stories of expected hope. When we lived in St Louis our deacons were praying for God to send visitors to our church. One deacon Bob Porter told them if they were going to pray for visitors then they needed to leave the parking lot open for them. Since then Brett has always parked as far away from the door as he could. Hope in what God will bring.
What about your prayers and hope? Do you throw them up in the air and assume God will just grab the ones he wants or the ones he is willing to answer? Do you send up your prayers and hope, trusting in the one who answers, or do you leave your glove and umbrella in the closet gathering dust?
Job 6:8 "Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for."
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