This past Sunday I attended a group gathering organized by a good friend of mine for the purpose of connecting, sharing and supporting our personal life journey and to more fully awaken to life’s possibilities, while discovering blocks that may be holding back fulfillment. The gathering took place early in the afternoon. That’s the time I am usually playing baseball with a large group of men. It’s something I really love, so in some respects I was lamenting missing the Sunday baseball activity.
As a kid I would play baseball for hours and hours, sometimes only with my older brother, but often with the neighborhood kids. It was always exhilarating running after, stretching towards, throwing, catching and hitting the ball. Sprinting to the bases or scoring a run was always exciting.
The spiritual gathering at my friend’s house was completely nourishing. There was a beautiful openness and sharing among the group of about twelve people. I felt blessed to be part of a group that respected what each person expressed, holding open the space in a non-judgmental way. The honesty of expression and listening was heartfelt. While everyone was leaving I noticed a drawing of a boy about 8 years old on the organizer’s kitchen wall. The boy has a gleam in his eyes, a playful and confident grin and a relaxed innocence that exuded life’s potential of infinite possibility and fun. I questioned my friend if it was a drawing of him. He said indeed it was, that it was drawn from a photograph. He expressed that he had it there to remind him of the openness, joy and passion of that time in his life. We both expressed we wanted to get back to that childhood feeling in a permanent way.
As drove home after the gathering I reflected that though I missed my cherished baseball playing, the gathering had been an absolutely a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I also continued to reflect upon how open and wonderful life had felt as an 8 year old and realized that playing baseball was always a reminder of that. I said a silent prayer affirming to attract more of that feeling into my life, combining it with all the wisdom and maturity I had acquired as an adult.
The following Monday morning after the gathering I was driving to a community college where I teach painting and photography classes, as I needed to pick up some paper work at a college office. I was driving up a hill where there is an elementary school up ahead. I looked to the right to see a kickball on the wrong side of the playground fence starting to roll down the side parking lot. It was beginning to pick up speed to where the hill begins to get steeper and segues into the street. There was a mass of dispirited children pressed up against the fence watching the ball about to disappear out of sight.
In a flash decision, I quickly steered my car onto the shoulder, threw it in park and pulled on the emergency brake. Leaving the car running I sprinted a good distance to my right, hopped a few curbs and lunged. Just in time, I scooped up the quickly gaining speed, rolling kickball up with my right hand to the sound of wild cheering from what seemed to be about sixty children on the playground. I then turned in fluid motion and threw the ball about forty feet. I first I thought it would not clear the fence, but indeed it did to the delight of myself and the ecstatic children. As I was jogging back to my car all of the children were still cheering loudly and yelling “THANK YOU” over and over. I never heard so many people yelling thank you at the same time! As I was opening my car door I shouted back “YOU’RE WELCOME! In my mind I wanted to shout back “THANK YOU” as well because even though I did not get to play ball on the previous Sunday, I unexpectedly got to play on Monday! And not only did I get to play, but I made a stellar fielding play to adoring, cheering fans.
As I continued my drive to the college I suddenly and amazingly realized that all the children on the playground were about 8 years old! The thought took my breath away. Everything in life is so connected and on purpose. This was an example for me to continue to trust all is well. I was in deep awe and so thankful. I felt Spirit reply, “You’re welcome.”
As a kid I would play baseball for hours and hours, sometimes only with my older brother, but often with the neighborhood kids. It was always exhilarating running after, stretching towards, throwing, catching and hitting the ball. Sprinting to the bases or scoring a run was always exciting.
The spiritual gathering at my friend’s house was completely nourishing. There was a beautiful openness and sharing among the group of about twelve people. I felt blessed to be part of a group that respected what each person expressed, holding open the space in a non-judgmental way. The honesty of expression and listening was heartfelt. While everyone was leaving I noticed a drawing of a boy about 8 years old on the organizer’s kitchen wall. The boy has a gleam in his eyes, a playful and confident grin and a relaxed innocence that exuded life’s potential of infinite possibility and fun. I questioned my friend if it was a drawing of him. He said indeed it was, that it was drawn from a photograph. He expressed that he had it there to remind him of the openness, joy and passion of that time in his life. We both expressed we wanted to get back to that childhood feeling in a permanent way.
As drove home after the gathering I reflected that though I missed my cherished baseball playing, the gathering had been an absolutely a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I also continued to reflect upon how open and wonderful life had felt as an 8 year old and realized that playing baseball was always a reminder of that. I said a silent prayer affirming to attract more of that feeling into my life, combining it with all the wisdom and maturity I had acquired as an adult.
The following Monday morning after the gathering I was driving to a community college where I teach painting and photography classes, as I needed to pick up some paper work at a college office. I was driving up a hill where there is an elementary school up ahead. I looked to the right to see a kickball on the wrong side of the playground fence starting to roll down the side parking lot. It was beginning to pick up speed to where the hill begins to get steeper and segues into the street. There was a mass of dispirited children pressed up against the fence watching the ball about to disappear out of sight.
In a flash decision, I quickly steered my car onto the shoulder, threw it in park and pulled on the emergency brake. Leaving the car running I sprinted a good distance to my right, hopped a few curbs and lunged. Just in time, I scooped up the quickly gaining speed, rolling kickball up with my right hand to the sound of wild cheering from what seemed to be about sixty children on the playground. I then turned in fluid motion and threw the ball about forty feet. I first I thought it would not clear the fence, but indeed it did to the delight of myself and the ecstatic children. As I was jogging back to my car all of the children were still cheering loudly and yelling “THANK YOU” over and over. I never heard so many people yelling thank you at the same time! As I was opening my car door I shouted back “YOU’RE WELCOME! In my mind I wanted to shout back “THANK YOU” as well because even though I did not get to play ball on the previous Sunday, I unexpectedly got to play on Monday! And not only did I get to play, but I made a stellar fielding play to adoring, cheering fans.
As I continued my drive to the college I suddenly and amazingly realized that all the children on the playground were about 8 years old! The thought took my breath away. Everything in life is so connected and on purpose. This was an example for me to continue to trust all is well. I was in deep awe and so thankful. I felt Spirit reply, “You’re welcome.”
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