In Response

Musings of a Mariner

    ^ Best Mariner’s Shirt EVER

Very few things capture my attention and passion like baseball does. My family moved to the northwest in the middle of the Seattle Mariner’s shocking 1995 playoff run and we were immediately swept into the fanfare. Watching Ken Griffey Jr. track down a drive to the gap, marveling and Randy Johnson’s fastball and being in amazement at seeing Jay Buhner take a hanging curveball into the Kingdome’s upper deck. And of course all of this was tied together by the rich and father like baritone voice of Dave Neihaus. I still get, for lack of a better word, “giddy” when I head to any ballpark. I never lost my wonder, my child-like sense of awe when I see a big-leaguer hit a ball 500 feet.

Now you might be thinking, “Trevor. How foolish of you to be so passionate and crazy about a team that has never even been to the World Series!” To that I say, 1) get behind me Satan, and 2) Although I am more than well aware of my favorite teams woes and pitiful history, I refuse to be a fair-weather fan. I stick with it because I love it. I stick with it because sticking with it is the only way to fully appreciate the team’s eventual rise from the depths.

In the same way as it is with baseball, I really believe that it is frighteningly easy for us to unintentionally adopt a fair-weather attitude towards God. Most of the time, Christians can easily celebrate what God is doing. It is easy to worship Him because His goodness is so very evident in our day to day lives. When things are going well, it seems the only words that come out of your mouth are, “thank you Jesus!”

However, we have all been at a place where it is hard to see the positives; hard to see anything that was really worth getting excited about what God is doing. When things start going wrong, we can often blame God and all but write Him out of our lives. I can speak about this directly from experience. I’ve been there; the place where you’ve become convinced that you’re the modern day Job. God no longer seems like your loving father and sustainer, but rather a disinterested bully. If this sounds like the way you’re thinking, let me give you a few easy steps to fighting a fair-weather attitude towards God.

1) Remember - I know that at times, it can even seem difficult to find even one thing that can keep you on fire for God. But the never ending and all powerful truth is that if you have been saved, you always have something to celebrate about. Remember the times when God has been faithful and keep in mind that He never stops being faithful. Give it time. It could be that you’re not seeing His faithfulness because you’re too focused on blaming Him for everything.

2) Keep in mind that not everything that happens is God’s will, and God’s will isn’t everything that happens - God doesn’t want bad things to happen to you, but that doesn’t prevent them from happening anyways. The good news is that He will work all things together for the good of those who are called according to His purpose.

3) Better days ARE coming - Yes, it may in fact be one of the most over used verses, but Jeremiah 29:11 can really say a lot to you if you are in this situation. So much of my day to day hope comes from the fact that God has an incredible plan for me, and as long as I stay the course with Him, I can know that my best days will never be behind me.

The Mariners may very well be on their way to a season just as painstaking as the last two, but have no doubt that you won’t find me losing heart or hope for my team. I am with them, just like I am with God, when things are going well, and when things are pretty rough.