A year ago I wrote about the need for Christians to take a fast from politics. Tonight I write about my need to take a fast from watching sports. I honestly don't do it very often - with young kids there just isn't much time. But I admit to a huge weakness for the Steelers and a pretty huge weakness for the Mets. And today was a thoroughly lousy day on both fronts.
The Mets, as I wrote earlier, just sucked it up. But then my beloved Steelers did the same. It was a cruel, cruel 1-2 punch. I even tried winning at online Risk and lost at that too.
So tonight I pledge a fast from watching sports... and from reading about the Steelers online here or here or here or here or here...for at least the next 24 hours. :-)
1. a) To feel hostility or animosity toward.
b) To detest.
I hate the New York Mets.
I do. I feel hostility towards them. I feel animosity towards them. I detest them. I hate them.
They are in the midst of the greatest collapse in baseball history. Three weeks ago they were seven games ahead of any other team. Today they are losing 7-1 in the second inning of a game which, unless they win, will cement that greatest collapse because they will miss the playoffs. I hate the New York Mets.
I have followed them with varying intensity since childhood. And since childhood - save for a single year, 1986 - sorry Red Sox fans - they have disappointed me. You name the year, I can name the disappointment.
How bad has it gotten? It has gotten so bad that a Red Sox fan emailed me this week suggesting I root for the Red Sox. The Red Sox! A team so notorious for its failures that movies have been made about them.
Now I realize that I am not being rational. I realize that, at some part of my soul, I don't hate them but love them and am just deeply disappointed by them and that is leading me to these intense feelings of hate. I've thought about that in the past.
However, perhaps I have been wrong all of these years and I really do hate them. I can't write anymore, I need to go watch the rest of the game. Maybe they'll win. Wouldn't that be great?
Here is one from Larry. It is Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill. He writes that it is a thin place for him because "there is a hill in my hometown where a life-changing event took place for me, and I immediately identified with the song in its wake.
Here are the song's lyrics:
"Solsbury Hill"
Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night
He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing stretching every nerve
Had to listen had no choice
I did not believe the information
(I) just had to trust imagination
My heart going boom boom boom
"Son," he said "Grab your things,
I've come to take you home."
To keep in silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut
So I went from day to day
Tho' my life was in a rut
"Till I thought of what I'd say
Which connection I should cut
I was feeling part of the scenery
I walked right out of the machinery
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey" he said "Grab your things
I've come to take you home."
(Back home.)
When illusion spin her net
I'm never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette
When I think that I am free
Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
I will show another me
Today I don't need a replacement
I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey" I said "You can keep my things,
they've come to take me home."
Please continue sending your thin places to me at dkuoblog@mac.com
I'll be at the Baltimore Book Festival tomorrow, Saturday, on a panel talking about... yes!... faith and politics. It should be a good discussion. I'll be joining former Md. Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, PBS' Ray Suarez, and others at 1pm. Come by if you are in the area. Click here for more information about the panel.
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This morning a thin place of a different sort from Deacon Greg Kandra: Thanks Greg and thanks for your terrific blog too. Check out Greg's blog, The Deacon's Bench. Please continue to send your thin places to me at dkuoblog@mac.com....
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Did Adam have a belly button? He wasn't "born"...so? [Note - send me your random questions at dkuoblog@mac.com and i'll post the best of the best random questions on Friday afternoons]...
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Westgard Pass overlooking Deep Springs Valley, Eastern California, thanks to Doug who writes that he has spoken his "most articulate prayers" and had his "most vivid dreams" near here. (featuring Walela the dog)...
Celtic Christians had a term for those places or for those moments where the veil between heaven and earth was lifted or was thinner. They called those spots, those moments, "thin places." They worshipped there, they celebrated them. I'd like...
Welcome back to JWalking. As this week passes you'll notice some new features on the blog. One will be the appearance of a continuing feature called "Thin Places." That will be a daily picture, movie clip, song lyric (or song...
Happy Labor Day. I'm going to be off this weekend but will be back on Tuesday. And when I return it will be with many more posts every day and several other things including short interviews with interesting people. So...
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