Remember the earthquake? The one that happened before the start of the third game of the 1989 world series between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s…that earthquake. On October 17, just minutes before the start of Game 3, a 6.9 earthquake struck the Bay Area. The game was postponed for 10 days…and the series wrapped up on October 28. But that was not the most interesting part of the earthquake. Not only did it shut up Al Michaels for a while, the footage of the players warming up on the field revealed something very interesting.
Camera footage shows players, standing, looking into the stands. All of a sudden you realize they are not just reacting – they are searching. They are looking. Later, one of the players said that all he could think of was where was his wife and my kids, family, friends who came to the game? The one who came to be watched were now looking…looking for what really mattered, their loved ones.
The joyful season of Lent offers us a time to look…to re-flect…to see again, what really matters in our life. Our relationships matter. God matters. Make him a place. Our loved ones matter. Make them time. You matter. Hopefully it won’t take an earthquake to make us see.
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:27-40
