The month of February is
the shortest month of the year. Though it only lasts 28 days most
years, it holds several important events. For the
sports fan, February is the time when the Super Bowl takes place.
Ash Wednesday is on February 14 this year as Christians begin the journey of
Lent. For the romanctically inclined, February 14 is also Valentines Day when persons have license to
show their love for people that are important in life.
There is something else that happens in February that perhaps does get as much
attention as these other February events and it is this: the
beginning of Spring training for Major League Baseball. While
I certainly would not say that I am a good baseball player, I always look forward
to the beginning of Spring training knowing that means that
baseball season is not far away. One of the things that every
baseball player knows is fundamental in playing baseball is
this: keep your eye on the ball. If you take your eye
off the ball, you are apt to miss getting a hit or catching a ball.
There has been a lot
going on in the life of Church in recent years. For several
years, Church leaders have had to balance health issues
and church life and practice due to COVID. Should we have
worship in person or not? Should we have other church events
in person or only virtually? Church leaders have had to
educate themselves on health issues along with being experts in theology and
Biblical studies. For those of the United Methodist
persuasion, recent years have brought division that has led to
questions of whether each of us and our church will remain a United
Methodist Church or disaffiliate. In the midst of this time,
perhaps we in church leadership have sometimes taken our eye
off the ball and been distracted from our main focus which is this:
serving God and our neighbor for the transformation of the world.
Baseball players and Christ
followers alike, keep your eyes on the ball.
Maintain your focus. As someone
said many years ago, “let us keep the main thing the main
thing.” May God help all of us in His Church to keep
our focus on our mission to serve God and neighbor for the transformation
of the world. Have a joy-filled week- Pastor Randy Wall
PRAYER
-- O God, thank you
for your love for us and your calling to be your followers. Through the power of your Spirit, help us to
keep our focus on loving you and serving others; in Christ’s name I pray. Amen.
