I was also good at talking, so I could usually calm down a frustrated or nervous pitcher, occasionally get in the head of an overzealous batter, and always have a good chat with the man behind the plate.
Even with everything going on in a game, I always made sure that the umpire and I were on good terms, because he was the one calling the pitches. I also made sure that he always had a good view of the plate. Most umps had their little ump-brush that they would use to brush dirt off the plate before each inning, but I would wipe the corners of the plate at least after every batter. I wanted the umpire to see just how big and how wide that plate really was, and maybe if there was a pitch just off the corner a tad that he would call it a strike, because after all that plate was clean and white and wide.
As we are coming into a season of Lent, I have been thinking about home plate a little more. Lent is a 40 day time of the year leading up to Easter Sunday (you don't count Sunday's in the 40 days because every Sunday is a ""mini-Easter" where we are celebrating our risen Lord). Most people think of Lent as a time to give something up, like chocolate or cussing. I know a lot of kids who want to give up school and homework for Lent, but I don't think that's gonna happen. Some people try to pick up something for Lent, like starting a good habit such as exercising or eating healthier. All of these are good things, especially the giving up homework idea, but they don;t really capture what Lent is about.
That's why I've been thinking more about home plate.
See, during a baseball game the plate gets dirty, there is dirt that is blown, kicked, and swiped onto it. Not because anyone wanted to intentionally cover up home plate with dirt, well, maybe there are some batters that want to do that, but that isn't the norm. Home plate gets dirty because there is a game going on, and there is dirt everywhere in the infield, and during the course of the game dirt gets on the plate.
The important thing for me as a catcher was to see the dirt and to get the dirt off when the plate got dirty.
Psalm 51 was written by David after a time that there had been a lot of dirt in his life. And with the help of a man named Nathan, David recognized the dirt. He also recognized the fact that he couldn't get rid of the dirt that was already there, and that he needed God to do that, but he also needed to keep other dirt from getting into his life where he was able.
"Wash me thoroughly...cleanse me" (Psalm 51:2)
"Purge me...and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7)
"Create in me a clean heart" (Psalm 51:10)
This Lent, allow God to create a clean heart and a right spirit within you. The word "Lent" comes from a Latin word for "spring", so maybe a little spring-cleaning is in order spiritually.
Let's have a clean plate and clean slate as we prepare ourselves during Lent. Not just that we are preparing for Easter, though that is part of it. But more importantly that we are prepared daily for the return of Jesus, that we are living our lives in line with what we say we believe, that today could be day! And that we are ready.
Live into a Holy Lent over the next 6 weeks, and know regardless of how dirty home plate may be, there is nothing that can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Because God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is God.
Grace&Peace this Lenten season,
Michael
Be Real. Be Loving. Be Involved.
