Run Home

We have just concluded another long and dramatic professional baseball season. I entered college as a broadcast major, and even now, I sometimes think about how I would call a home run as an announcer. Many famous announcers have their unique way of calling this most exciting baseball feat, and they have all inspired me.

As of now, my call would be, “Run home ___________ (then adding the name of the player who hit the round tripper because RUN and HOME are the essential words.)

I am focused on those two words because of the analogy that I believe baseball provides for life, faith, and spirituality. Picture life as a baseball diamond. When we get a hit, if we get a hit (I believe that is inevitable), we run to first base very fast. At the beginning of our lives and in our youth, we run a lot, and we are enthused by the wonder of life itself, and of God. We go into the adventure of life quickly.

Then, if we are fortunate enough or blessed by God, we make it to second base, which, interestingly enough, is the farthest distance from home. I have noticed that many people lose touch with the value of home in the next phase of life, or in the phase of life when we see ourselves as invincible. Standing on second base, we often lose touch with our eternal home with God, our awareness of the God who is our partner, and the home of God’s love. Many people get seduced into thinking that we get to the next phase of life with commitments in marriage and advancement in careers on our own.

Getting to third base is actually rare, but it represents a step toward home. Many people come in contact with the value and destination of home as they advance to third base. I have noticed that having children and grandchildren is like getting to third base. Many a baseball player has shared with me that they feel blessed to get to third when home becomes more in focus. Home then can be many things, such as the ultimate job or career, or the blessing of family, or our contentment with God who calls us home. Home can be a maturing in our spiritual lives and a fuller and more constant awareness of God’s love.

Holy Family is a home for so many of us. Newcomers are joining us and immersing themselves into the uniqueness, vibrancy, and welcoming of our community. Many of us have advanced to second base and perhaps have lost touch with the value of our community as home. Perhaps we have simply lost touch with all that takes place here and the impact of our community.

That often changes when something dramatic happens and the pastoral nature of our community kicks in. The classic example of this is when a loved one suffers, and we support people in their needs and prayerfully connect with the person and their family. Then, during the time of death, we celebrate a funeral and provide prayerful compassion and hope. This also happens when young people who have found a home here come back to celebrate their wedding, or when teens find a home in the midst of many things that make them anxious.

This weekend we celebrate the feast of a church in Rome, St. John Lateran Basilica, which is the Cathedral of Rome, and thus the Cathedral of the world. It is a symbol of unity. It is also an opportunity for us to celebrate the home that our community is to so many.

Please participate in just ONE conversation about our future here at Holy Family. I sincerely want your voice and feedback. There are six topics to choose from.  These have been carefully crafted by our Movement of Growth Leadership Team, and they are outlined on the white cards in our narthex. A conversation takes about an hour and a half and includes sharing your feedback and listening to the feedback of five other people.

I know that as we gather and listen to each other, and we as a staff LISTEN to your voice, that we will come in touch with the adventure of community that is our path to first base. Then we will advance to second base, where we as a home may become more aware of your needs and others who are a bit farther from us. I have already seen and heard of many in the conversations we have conducted thus far that we have and we can facilitate the adventure of getting closer to home.

Ultimately, we can RUN HOME and BE MORE. 

Thank you for participating in one of the conversations.