A terrible feeling

Dear Friends (and especially Dodger fans)

Even when we are speechless, it still helps to try to express our feelings in some way. I don't think that slogan from ABC's Wide World of Sports many of us grew up with  ("the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" ) is an accurate description of this picture of Clayton Kershaw. It is deeper and more personal. He described it after the game as a "terrible feeling. It really is."

It is a huge disappointment right now, but against the backdrop of eternity, of course, it is not even a blip on the screen. 

From all I've heard and read, Clayton Kershaw, more important than being a great baseball player, is a good man of faith who loves God and his family. He will get through this. I don't know what scripture has or will come to his mind, but the one that comes to my mind (taken out of its theological context) is Paul saying "Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13,14)

I wonder many players have been inducted into the Hall of Fame without a World Series ring? I hope Clayton is wearing one someday, but if not, he will still get the recognition he deserves. And of course God recognizes and loves all of us, even if we tried out and didn't even make the team.

Thank you Dodgers for a great season, filled with many magical moments which provided a happy distraction and temporary escape from other current events!

One bad pitch, one bad inning, doesn't define a season. And any one of our "bad days" does not replace all the good we still do and share with others. Of course sports uses the terms "wins" and "losses", "winner" and "loser". But in God's kingdom, those terms don't exist; we are all beloved children.  

And in the end, that's all that matters.

John