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Lessons In Memorabilia Part 2 |
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We all have significant items that for one reason or another we’ve collected. About four years ago I said, “The decorating in my office would be complete when I had four things in it:”
1. A good picture of “Happy Jesus” (This is what my wife and I called Bruce Marchiano in his depiction of Jesus in “The Gospel of Matthew.”)
2. An item of Cal Ripken Jr. Memorabilia.
3. A seat from “Old Tiger Stadium” in Detroit or some sort of meaningful Tiger memorabilia.
4. A few meaningful personal items.
As I said in part one there is not a whole lot in my office that doesn’t have some significant meaning to me. This is so that I never struggle to find something to inspire me. As much as I hate to admit it Jesus said, “In this life there will be tribulation.” He went on and said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” So when tribulation shows up and challenges my vision I have these items in my office to shift my focus and ultimately turn my sights toward my place of right standing in Jesus and off the problem or challenge.
One such piece is a limited addition ceramic figurine of Cal Ripken Jr. I am one of the biggest baseball fans in the country, maybe even the world. I just plain love the smell of the grass in the spring, the brisk temperatures for March practices, the challenge of a good pitcher, the bunt single, the amazing diving catch and yes, the home run. Baseball is a game of skill and patience not chance. A game in which being a persistent person can pay off. Cal was such a player. On Sunday, September 20th, 1998 he voluntarily sat out the final home game of the season, ending his consecutive game streak at 2,632. The streak spanned fifteen seasons, beginning on May 30, 1982. Hitting streak or batting slump he believed and proved that the best way to improve was to keep doing it. Many sports writers say that Cal was not the most talented player in the game, but he made up for it with shear bulldog tenacity. To me there is no one who personifies perseverance in my generation more that Cal Ripken Jr.
Perseverance is often an under appreciated quality in our society. Yet it is one of the most dominate characteristics of God. I always wondered where my dad got the phrase “Quitters never win and winners never quit.” I tried to find its origin in books of quotes, but always found the credit being given to some guy named “unknown.” When Paul addressed the Greeks he drew their attention to the statue they had for the “unknown god.” He preached Jesus to them, proclaiming Him as the one they called “The Unknown God.” Well I have decided that that quote must have been a quote about Jesus. He was the ultimate ironman, the most persistent man in history. He left his place at the right hand of God in heaven to become a man. He did the impossible: Lived a sinless life on earth. He overcame the overpowering urges of adolescence and remained sinless, He never drank to excess, walked in love with hypocrites like the Pharisees and apparent losers like the disciples. Inspired not just a generation in his region, but the world down through history. He took the most brutal beating ever given to man, because He loved mankind. Sorry, but most of us have no clue what perseverance is if we use Jesus as the measuring stick. “He truly pressed toward the mark of the high calling...” so much so that he didn’t even stay in the grave for more than three days.
Jesus—perseverance personified
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