The Beauty of Baseball

The Milwaukee Brewers won their first National League playoff game against the Chicago Cubs today.

It was delicious to watch for a dozen reasons, not the least of which everyone in Milwaukee hates the Cubs and their manager, Craig Counsell, a hometown boy, former Brewer player and then manager who snuck off to Chicago in the dark of night to make a deal to manage the Cubs. Every time he came out of the dugout today, the largely Brewers crowd booed him.

I know about booing. It’s very demoralizing.

The entire game, Counsell looked exasperated and dejected. Not taking the advice to “arrange your face,” Counsell looked bitter the entire time. It didn’t help that the Brewers got nine runs in the first two innings to the Cubs’ sorry little one. The famed home run hitters got beat by a team full of guys who hit base hits and start thinking about stealing second before they get to first. I love the Brewers. Can you tell?

But why talk about baseball when there is so much wrong?

Because the heart can only be so heavy. It hardens with weight. That’s why we’re urged to be lighthearted, to be joyful, and merry.

To root for the home team and celebrate their win. To be glad in this small moment. And wake up tomorrow and get back to work righting all the wrongs.

Game #2 of the five-game series is Monday night.

______________________

Photo by Jose Morales on Unsplash