Cubs and God

Thought I would share my weekend experience with you. We spent the weekend in Chicago with family and really had an awesome time. My brother Chris and soon to be brother in law Scott went to a Cubs game on Saturday, which was my first experience at Wrigley Field. What a great place! So much baseball history. Something I don't talk about a lot is that one of the things that I really enjoy is experiencing places or things with history. I get wrapped up in thinking about who has been there, who walked in the same place I am now walking. That kinda stuff. As I sat in my seat Saturday at Wrigley I wondered who had sat in the same seat I was sitting in. What great memories people experienced who had been to previous games. I know, maybe I put to much thought into it. But as I said, I enjoy it.
So where does God come in, you are asking yourself! Well I experienced Him in several ways that day.
The first was the weather, wow, what a beautiful day, blue sky, lots of sun, not to hot, not to cool, just right. We arrived at the game a couple hours early and I am always amazed at the real "community" that is found at sporting events. I mean, people sharing stories, talking about their week, high fiving, lots of smiles and relationship is taking place. Why? My theory is that people are gathered around a common cause, they are rooting for the same team, a common bond, they are fans. Which is another way I saw God, He designed us for relationship. You know, I wish the church was like that, don't you, could you imagine what it would be like if you just showed up on Sunday or whatever day and just shared time together, no agenda, just a common cause, rooting for the same team, talking about your week, high fiving, lots of smiles. Wow that sounds a lot like the "church" I read about in Acts. Hanging out at each others homes, praying with each other, sharing meals, fun, struggles and success. What happened...?
I enjoyed hanging out with Chris and Scott, talking and laughing, meeting new people. I met several people that day, Scott, Adam, Joshua, Mary, Jason all really nice people. Joshua asked me what I did for a living and I told him I was a missionary in full time ministry, he shared with me his journey with God, or in his case a lack there of. But he was honest with me and shared what he thought about God, he told me his brother was a believer but he just wasn't there yet. I just listened and let God work through me. Mary and Jason were a married couple with two kids, a boy and a girl they lived in the suburbs of Chicago. Jason asked me what I did after a few minutes of talking and I told him the same thing I told Joshua, he had a hard time understanding that because I was drinking a beer, he was under the impression that a "God person" wasn't allowed to drink. And we talked through that. He and Mary and I, over a beer, went on with our conversation and I asked Mary how Jason was doing as a husband (I tend to go deep not wide), she said some of the spark had gone away, they have been married 10 years, and he agreed. I asked him if he remembered what it was like when they first met and how he pursued her and called her multiple times a day and couldn't wait to be with her and how she responded to his pursuit. He did and I said to Mary would you like to be with that guy again and she just lit up in the afternoon sun. I asked Mary if she remembered how she used to "responded" to him when he pursued? She said "oh I used to be pretty wild with him". I said why do you say "used to". "Oh, I am just not like that anymore", Mary answered. I asked, why? No answer, I said you still are, IF you want to be. I suggested that she had made to many agreements about who she is now. It was a wonderful, rich and deep conversation, I have no clue if God through me was able to make a difference in their lives that day but I know that they are looking at each other differently and looking at God differently. I learned that people want to "go there" if you do. I think humans have a desire and an openness to God, to Jesus. I think as believers we keep our faith undercover unless we feel really comfortable sharing it or if we are in a "place" we "aren't" supposed to be. Jesus was always in places he wasn't supposed to be, sharing the Fathers love. I also discovered that people who have a couple beers in them are more open as well!
God is everywhere folks, Cubs games, pubs, church, etc. He resides in you as a believer and wherever you take Him and share Him with others you are doing your part for the Kingdom...