Tag Archives: Wilmington Blue Rocks

Empty

Air Supply, a popular soft rock group from Australia was in its prime during the 1980’s.  One of Air Supply’s greatest albums, Love in Love featured three classic songs which made the top 100 billboard charts.  The highest, All Out Of Love, reached number two in the early 1980’s.  After reading through the lyrics, this song refers to an individual who is tapped out, unable to muster the strength necessary to love.  Essentially, this soul is empty.

I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things, Isaiah 45:7.

This week I attended a Wilmington Blue Rocks game, a local Class A minor league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.  My sister’s company usually rents out one of the boxes or suites so I enjoy spending the night with family.  However, on this particular night the ballpark was empty.  While the full capacity is over 2000, there might have been two hundred people sitting in the stands.  Normally, the heat of summer would be an excuse, except it was 80 degrees with little to no humidity.  Either people are too busy, don’t have the extra money to spend or are simply empty, losing their love for America’s summer pastime.

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint, Isaiah 40:31.

Baseball is not the only thing in life people have grown cold toward.  The stress to provide for your family, struggle to fit in and the worries of each day can suck the life out of individuals.  Thus, people like me endure periods of feeling numb.  Though psychologists may call this depression, I think sometimes in life, people need to sort things out on their own.  When the malaise ends, you can snap out of it.  However, don’t be surprised when someone you love is quiet for a while until emptiness is replaced by joy.

by Jay Mankus

 

Random Acts of Goodness

In the movie Evan Almighty, a weatherman feels led to run for congress.  After winning the election, Evan Baxter moves to Washington D.C. with a lofty goal, to change the world.  Through a series of unusual events, God calls Evan to leave his office temporary to build an ark.  In the end, God was teaching Evan a life lesson, taking time out of his busy schedule for a random act of kindness.

Micah 6:8 has a similar theme: to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.  If you follow the golden rule, do unto others as you want others to do unto you, you are acting justly.  When you forgive a co-worker, friend or family member for something they have done, you understand what it means to be merciful.  Finally, when your life takes a u-turn in an unexpected direction, but you remain faithful to the Lord, you are beginning to walk humbly with God.

Yesterday was one of the most rewarding days I have experienced this year.  As I laid in bed last night, the reason was simple, random acts of goodness.  I talked to the manager of a local 7-Eleven, who was struggling to get one of her workers to show up for her shift.  I mentioned I was a teacher for 10 years, opening up a great conversation about young people today, setting goals in life and taking responsibility for your actions.

Later on, at a Wilmington Blue Rocks minor league baseball game, I scrambled to get a foul ball that came near where I was sitting.  As soon as I caught the ball, my daughter ran up the steps, I gave her the ball and she hugged me.  Like a scene from a movie, I was blessed by the feeling that I received for a random act of goodness.  Seize the day by living out Micah 6:8 today!

by Jay Mankus