“We are not made for a life where everything is taken for granted and static, but for an existence that is constantly renewed through the gift of self in love.”
– Pope Leo XIV
Over the last couple of years, we’ve tried to move birthdays from presents to “experiences” - things we can do as a family and hopefully remember for many birthdays to come. Considering Peter’s newfound love of baseball, we were fortunate to get tickets to see the Savannah Bananas (the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball) tour that happened to be passing through Philadelphia when Peter turned twelve.
My enjoyment of baseball usually begins and ends with the ballpark hotdogs, but the Savannah Bananas vs. Texas Tailgaters tour exceeded my expectations. All six of us loved it and we weren’t alone. Citizens Bank Park was full of 45,000 fans enjoying every minute. The silly choreographed dancing, the cool trick plays, the constant fan involvement… I realized about halfway through the game that no one seemed to care who was winning. At some point, the owner/inventor of banana ball came out and asked the crowd if they were having fun. As the noise level reached heightened decibels, he reminded the crowd that: “everything they do is for fans to have fun.”
It was a simple statement but one that any observer could tell was absolutely true for the people involved in the show and those who paid the price of admission. The players knew why they were there and so did the fans.
As we sat in traffic on our way home, I couldn’t help but think about how true clarity of purpose can drive people to action. While parishes and ministries like the one I serve don’t exist to entertain, am I clear as a leader about the fundamental purpose of why we are here? More importantly, do I authentically invite others into the mission that is, or the one I think they want to hear? With the influence and authority I have, how disciplined am I in making sure that everything we say and do is in alignment with who we say we are and why we proclaim to exist?
Peter and I tried to recreate several trick plays in the yard with little success. The Savannah Bananas may have seemed silly, but what they do night after night took some serious choreography and commitment. As we play whatever parts we are called to play this week, let’s be sure to remember what team we are on, why we are serving in the first place, and the One who ultimately calls us to this great mission.
CLI serves Church leaders, helping them rediscover their potential and forming them to be more intentional with those they serve.
CLI helps empower and energize Catholic leaders by providing focus and courage to engage the culture with an apostolic mindset.
CLI provides vision and hope about the future of the Church with a humble, yet strategic approach.
