Us versus Them

Our Colorado Rockies lost Game 1 in the World Series this evening. In many respects, it was an embarassing loss (13-1). But, for those of us who eagerly awaited major league baseball in Denver and then saw how the dry air and altitude made pitching difficult for our home team boys, we thought we'd NEVER see a World Series in Denver. It's been a very fun run to the World Series over the past month! The fact that many players on our team are Christians and that the team seems to be populated with a bunch of very nice guys is a plus.

One thing I notice about myself (any many others) is that when the Rockies win, we love to say things like, "We won! Our pitching was great! We dominated!" However, many times, when the Rockies lose, we tend to say things like, "They lost! They stank! Their batters just couldn't get anything going."

Notice how when the Rockies win, we all want to associate with them and BE one of them. WE'RE the ones who won. When they lose, we want to distance ourselves from them. THEY'RE the ones who lost.

What if God operated this way? He would never admit to being associated with us. Thankfully, He takes all of us whom He has redeemed, and He ALWAYS ties Himself to us, regardless of our foibles, problems, missteps, strikeouts, and errors. Even when we consciously try, we can't fathom His love for us when we are so steeped in sin. He always acts as if we are a winning team, when, in reality, we can't even get out of the locker room. Actually, we wouldn't be alive if it weren't for Him. We certainly wouldn't know how to swing a bat if it weren't for Him. And if we hit a home run, He's the one who carries the ball out of the park.

Two Choices, Worlds Apart

I received this e-mail today from Colorado Right to Life:

"Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) is planning on breaking ground on a new 50,000-square-foot baby death camp on November 1, 2007. They plan to relocate from their current location, 20th and Vine Street, to the old Stapleton Airport area in northeast Denver. This new 4.2 million dollar mega-killing center is slated to begin operating in August 2008."

Here is the e-mail I just sent to a Denver city councilperson:

I have learned that Planned Parenthood is soon to begin construction of a new building at Stapleton. If this is true, I am extremely dismayed for two reasons.

First, Planned Parenthood doesn't promote much planning when it comes to parenthood. Nowadays, they are more known for providing abortions. The planning of parenthood should occur BEFORE one becomes pregnant. Aborting a baby is not planning. It is the ending of a human life.

Second, our son entered our family through adoption. He was born in Korea, and came to us, via United Airlines, landing at the old Stapleton Airport on December 19, 1994. You can see how the Stapleton site has a special place in our hearts, for it's where our hands-on parenting began on a chilly winter evening.

Have you ever thought that there are only two letters difference between the words abortion and adoption? Just two letters difference, and yet they are worlds apart in their goals and realities. I would like to continue to think of the Stapleton area as being a place of fertile ground for uniting and creating families, not a place where families are torn asunder and lives are ended.

I am so upset, I can't even think of a proper title for this post.

And to think, this is the eve of our daughter's eleventh birthday. Another life saved through adoption.

And So Can You!

Early this evening, I attended a candidates' forum for our town. Audience members submitted questions which were then answered by the mayoral and city council candidates.

After returning home, I joined my family in watching the Colorado Rockies baseball team play their wild card tie-breaker game on TV. The game was forced into extra innings, and things looked pretty grim when the Padres scored two runs in the top of the thirteenth. To make matters worse, the Padres' 'closer' is very good and I must admit I thought it was all over. But in the bottom of the thirteenth, we scored one run. Two runs to tie it. And then the runner on third slid into home plate on a pop fly to score the winning run. The Rockies won the game!

These two events reminded me of a children's book, In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, by Bette Bao Lord. In the book is a wonderful speech given by a school teacher to her class.

"In our national pastime, each player is a member of a team, but when he comes to bat, he stands alone. One man. Many opportunities. For no matter how far behind, how late in the game, he, by himself, can make a difference. He can change what has been. He can make it a new ball game.

"In the life of our nation, each man is a citizen of the United States, but he has the right to pursue his own happiness. For no matter what his race, religion or creed, be he pauper or president, he has the right to speak his mind, to live as he wishes within the law, to elect our officials and stand for office, to excel. To make a difference. To change what has been. To make a better America.

"And so can you! And so must you!"

Thank you, Lord, for the many ways in which we can make a difference. Thank you for Your Son, who made the ultimate difference. And, dare I say it in the same breath.....GO ROCKIES!!!!