It’s Baseball Opening Day! Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Dan Venezia to share his experience of being drafted by the Twins and how the game influenced his conversion, and also Br. Patrick Bubel on the connections between baseball and theology. And Rita Heikenfeld shares her recipe for Hot Cross Buns ahead of next weekend’s observance of Good Friday. Plus news, weather, sports and more…
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A Baseball Prayer
God grant me wisdom, to tell a strike from a ball,
to know where to throw and never to fall.
Keep me always in the base line, running straight and true
and I’ll look for your sign, to stretch one into two.
God give me vision, to see every pitch,
so if a player needs help, then I will see which.
Let me always hustle, so I’ll be at my best
and take pride in myself, in sports and the rest.
God be my strength, when I throw the ball
when I’m far from home plate or against a wall.
So I never miss a base, please guide my feet,
bring me home safely, so my job is complete.
When I help younger players, let me always give praise,
so they’ll see you in me, in all of my ways.
God please guide our coach, to be fair and smart,
to teach us to be good, let it come from his heart.
Let me take a loss, just as well as a win,
to do any less, is surely a sin.
As long as I can play, let me make my parents proud,
as proud as I am, when they yell MY name out loud.
However my games end, let me always have fun,
and if Heaven has All Stars, I want to be one.
When my games here are over and my seasons are done,
let me play on your team just like your son. Amen.
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Dr. Andrew Sodergren is online at rwpsych.org.
Kevin O’Neill, co-creator of Building Blocks of Faith
Dan Venezia’s story of baseball and conversion is available to read for free at The Coming Home Network: The Sacrifice That Brought Me Home
