Play Ball!

Today is that quintessential American day, the opening day of Baseball.  In the tradition of the fans of generations past, most true-believers think that there team has a chance this year.  Well, maybe not in Cub fans, but just about everybody else.  There's something special about being able to start over fresh each year.  No matter how well, or how poorly, last year went, this year starts from scratch.  In life, most of us could use a fresh start from time to time.  Perhaps our career needs a restart, perhaps our finances, or perhaps it is our relationships that need to be revamped and renewed. 
In keeping with my firm belief that God must love baseball (you did see "Field of Dreams", right?), the Covenant that he made with the people of Israel contained this concept of starting over.  Every fiftieth year was a Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25), a year when all property reverted to its original owner and all slaves were given their freedom.  The purpose of the Law was to give those who had fallen on hard times a second chance.  No family would be down and out forever, and nobody's wealth could grow to great at the expense of his neighbors.  This may not make economic sense in the modern economy, but it certainly makes spiritual sense.  We've all spent time heading down road that lead to nowhere, and we've all done serious damage to relationships that mean a lot to us.  As Easter approaches, consider the opportunities that you have to reconcile to those whom you've hurt, and take the God-honored step of going to those who have hurt you and letting you know that you've forgiven them.  What grudge is worth holding on to year after year, what offense is worth the destruction that it does to our own souls when we cling to it?
Our God is the God of second chances, he gave one to Moses, David, Rahab, Ruth, Elijah, Johanh, Peter and Paul, just to name a few.  Why not imitate our heavenly father and be the people of second chances?  A new season offers new hope, and a new chance.  Go Tigers!