Father and Son

by Pastor Bill Heffelfinger

 “Draw near to God, and God will draw near to you.” ~ James 4:8

This isn’t a blog about sports. This is a story about a father and a son. Of course, you would be right if you are expecting sports to make an appearance.  Ken Rosenthal of Foxsports.com wrote a really good story about the new General Manager of the Cleveland Indians and his father who works for a sports radio station in New York.  You can read the whole story here. 

Unsurprisingly, this father (Mark) and son (Mike) bonded for many years over their love for baseball. In particular, they spent countless hours playing catch as the son grew from just a young boy in love with baseball to a young man who found himself working for a professional baseball team. Mark and Mike have taken the tradition of “having a catch” that so many fathers and sons (or daughters) have enjoyed through the years and have taken it to the next level.

As Rosenthal’s story tells, it began innocently enough, but Mark and Mike Chernoff have had a catch together at least once in every calendar month for nearly 30 years.  As their lives have become busier, it hasn’t always been easy. They’ve gone to some extreme measures to keep their tradition alive. But, they’ve prioritized it, and remain loyal to this special time together.

So, why am I writing about it here? Seemingly, this is a nice tradition, but what does this have to do with our faith?

It’s not an accident that God, the Father, refers to us as his sons and daughters. I think he allows us to fulfill the role of parent so that we could have a small glimpse into his heart. You see, Mark and Mike Chernoff have prioritized their time together. They’ve been willing to spend thousands of dollars on airfare, rearrange schedules, and suffer through having catches in the cold, all to have that special time together.

So, here’s the question. Do you prioritize a special time with your Heavenly Father? Are you willing to go out of your way, to be inconvenienced, to give up your own comforts to spend time with Him? How much does he mean to you? How much does your time with him mean? Is it a real priority or does it happen only at your convenience?  Your Father God is always ready for a catch. Grab your glove and head to the backyard. I promise, you’ll find Him there.