Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday July 21, 2006

For the first time in a little over sixteen years I attended a Triple AAA baseball game. Such relaxing used to be a regular part of my summer routine. To say memories flooded the old soul is right on the mark.

One thing was glaringly apparent; the ladies in church services all over America are dressed like fundamental Muslims compared to the scantily clad vixens cheering the home team on. I had a slight scare as the great blonde and my grandson were attending the gala event with me. One female, a mere child of about 25 climbed over us to get more beer, the wife sneakily said, "Alright preacher man what are thinking?" I gave it my best shot and was rather proud of the speed of my response, "Why, dear I was thinking of how many prohibition era gangsters made a habit of attending baseball games." She shot right back with, "I didn't know 'Legs' Diamond cared all that much for baseball."

It wasn't long before my thoughts turned to things spiritual as near death experiences are known to cause a person to think along the line of seeing Jesus face to face much sooner than planned.

Memories have a way of flooding the present with people of earlier times and bringing a surreal tint to them.

The last time I was at a professional ball game it was at the old stadium and Don Tyler was the chaplain for the team. Don has now gone to the big stadium in the sky. It is unknown as to whether he is ministering to ball players or not. He could be for some of the ones I have known will take more than a few prayers in the dugout to get it all straightened out! Don touched many lives over the course of his long and fruitful ministry.

Aside from many of the men with whom I played ball, none of whom I saw at this game, perhaps the last 16 years have moved them a near permanent seat in front of the TV, the most prominent face that came before me was another sainted Christian Joyce and I had talked with briefly at the last ball game. She was a farmer's wife and charter member of the church I formerly pastored and old enough to be sort of a 'big sister' to our family. Melvin, her husband had been killed in a terrible farming accident with an auger. When Dolphine saw Joyce she grabbed her and hugged her and a tear began to roll down her cheek as she said, "Please pray for me, the doctor says I have incurable cancer." In a few months she was with the Lord.

Strangely, at a ball game, the reality of the brevity of life hit me like a sledge hammer. This can be good as it sets you to thinking of the importance of taking care of the things that really matter the most in life. If I wait 16 years until I attend another ball game, it is unlikely that I will see anyone there whom I know. Therefore I need to keep in touch with them while it is still 'now.'

We did not see a person whom we know at this latest ball game. If I wait 16 more years, the only memories I will have may be only of gangsters.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit.

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