Sports:

Rejoice in the days of your youth.

(Ecclesiastes 11:9)

By one of those miracles of providence, I recently reconnected with one of my pro-athlete heroes. When his daughter discovered we were both at Lake Tahoe at the same time she arranged for us to rendezvous for breakfast. It had been near 50 years since he last played in the Big Leagues; and, some forty years since we last spent time together. Life, with all its vicissitudes, had separated us; but now, here we were, thanks to his daughter’s care, face to face.

One could recognize the face—the look, the smile, the laugh, the voice. It was him alright. Yet “time and chance” (Ecc 3—it’s all in Ecclesiastes) had taken its toll. Two old guys reminiscing the early days of church life when we gathered for worship in the multipurpose room of Amador High School. When we were young. That’s why the bible encourages us to “rejoice in our youth… before the days of trouble draw nigh when strong men are bent down” (Ecc 11&12).

At his major league debut, during the days of his youth with all his life before him, playing for the Oakland A’s, he hit a home run in Yankee Stadium. I remember him telling me about it—about how he couldn’t believe it, and how he looked in awe at Mickey Mantle as he passed first base. That’s something to rejoice about. Something like the one pass I caught playing High School football—or, maybe not.

I make too big a deal of sports—the Warriors or the 49ers or the A’s vying for a play-off slot. My only excuse is that the Apostle himself enjoyed sports. Seems he attended the Isthmian Games held just down the road from Corinth where he pastored for a year and a half. He tells us about the foot races: “Have you noticed how in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? … So do not run aimlessly” (1Cor 9). Paul noticed as well how these beautiful young athletes compete for a “perishable crown.” (9:25). It’s all so fleeting.

The Gospel tells us that in Christ we receive an “imperishable crown” fit for Glory. It’s a good thing. For the days of our youth are quickly gone. How was I to know, that within the month of our providential meeting, my pro-athlete hero would himself perish: “No one knows what is to happen” (Ecc 10). Who could have guessed? Maybe that’s why we spoke some about Jesus, and how it is that our Lord is preparing a place for us. He believed it was so.

Yes, but will we still play ball in heaven? I hope so. We will all be young and beautiful like that day Joe hit a home run over the right field fence in Yankee Stadium.