Spring Training

For 29 seasons I served as the "spiritual caretaker" for the Toronto Blue Jays, working under the umbrella of a great organization, Baseball Chapel. That meant annual spring visits to training camp in Dunedin, Florida where I always welcomed that first "crack of the bat".

My friend Greg Asimakoupoulos writes about that very thing:

A Season for Starting Over

Spring training is a picture of grace

As mounds of snow begin to melt
some other mounds appear.
The spell of winter's wearing off.
Spring Training's finally here.

Though base paths still are mostly mud
and infield grass is brown,
I think that I can almost hear
those most amazing sounds...

The slap of leather, crack of bat
and feet stomps in the stands.
The vendors' cries, the ump's "yeer out!"
and cheering of the fans.

And though my team was bad last year
and finished up dead last,
with spring a new day dawns with hope.
Regrets are in the past.

And that is what the Bible says....
Grace offers brand new starts.
The old has passed. The new has come
with clean, forgiven hearts.

* "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)