Today’s game of catch was also a day of catching up.
I have known Patrick since my freshman year of college at MSU. We met at the Baptist Student Union where we played ping pong and pool and foosball as well as attended Bible studies and worship gatherings. In those years, Patrick loved and played pretty much all sports, softball and basketball being among his favorites. He was a courageous slow-pitch pitcher who only took a few line drives off his shins, never anything off his face. In those days, we talked about faith and vocational callings. I felt compelled to vocational ministry and, as the son of a pastor, Patrick helped me think through that decision. Eventually, pretty much every conversation found its way to talking about girls. We both met our spouses through the BSU.
Patrick was a firsthand witness to Willie’s bat story (Day #77). He also watched me demonstrate the necessity for bike helmets on that same New Mexico trip.
“Do you remember getting flipped over your handlebar and landing in the brush?”
I do. I remember it quite well, in fact.
Today, Patrick and I played catch, sat in the van through a rain delay, and then played catch again. He hasn’t played softball for a number of years. I am not “in the ministry,” unless catch playing really is a divine calling?
There is no way 20-year old me could have imagined the weight and importance of today’s conversations — talking about parenting and schools and foster care. Our kids are closer to collegiate age than we are.
Facebook and social media are fantastic for quick inspirational quotes and a picture with a scenic view.
But for getting a deeper, more beautiful picture, for reconnecting with a friend and hearing his heart, for taking a break from all of life’s stresses and laughing at stories from another time, a game of catch is perfect.
Even in the rain.
