"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Paul to the persecuted at Philippi (2:5-11)

31 March 2011

Somewhere Between Hope and Despair

Baseball.  The first day of the season.  Pittsburgh fans everywhere note that “at least we’re tied for first!”  For one day.  Its a dark humor, the only time of the year the local team is expected to be at or above .500. 

Its a strange place where everything is fresh and new and yet, at the same time, the outlook does not look good.  A sense of expectation and dread at the same time.  The hope of heartache.

I admit that the Pirates are not my first love in Baseball, but I know the feeling of hope and despair.  For ten years my favorite team followed the same pattern.  It was only last year, which began with the same dark hope, that Reds fans saw any real fruit borne after the long dry spell.   The Reds show that quick turn-arounds can happen, even if they’re rare.  And so maybe there is a little more glimmer for Pittsburgh as I see this season.

But if Facebook is telling, the rest of the Burgh is not so hopeful.

The Reds play today.  Pittsburgh opens their season in Chicago tomorrow.  

Here’s to a fresh start.  A new year.  And even to the same old players, fans and managers that have made the past years what they were. 

Here’s to baseball.

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3 comments:

  1. Bruce RobisonApril 4, 2011 at 7:54 AM

    Your Redlegs look like the Nine to beat this season, no question, and it should be fun for you all summer long. I am as, well, realistic about the Pirates as any. But I like the way they've played in their first series in Chicago. Maybe they'll surprise us!

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  2. Free Range AnglicanApril 4, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    After last year's surprise from the Reds, I think the most exciting thing about the Pirates this year is that potential for a surprise. In the past, the Reds have started well and then tanked after the All Stars... but we saw last year with them that anything can happen in baseball. Buccos did look good in Chicago; its fun to see Pirates fans excited. After the long string of losing seasons, a big turnaround might just be what it takes to remind Pittsburgh that there is a third professional sport in town.

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  3. OlDaveJuly 31, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    Have you reviewed this post lately? TeeHee

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