We had a good friend from college who was married some time ago, and at her wedding, her new husband's grandfather was in attendance. He was a baseball executive who had been in the California (Los Angeles, Anaheim, California - whatever banner they fly under these days) Angels organization. My father-in-law, Cindy's dad attended the wedding with us since he had gotten to know all of our college friends in the circle we ran in. Dad was in the sports' supplier business, once with Rawlings and then Dalco, and when he saw the groom's grandfather, he went and talked to him. Minutes turned to quarter hours turned to hours. They knew each other from several projects but had never met.
Dad grew up in east St. Louis and had a love of baseball and was fortunate enough to see that become full-time work. He met some greats who signed with Rawlings and worked trade shows with them (Mickey Mantle for example). As we were going through his stuff at his house, there were black and white photos and memorabilia of those times.
He kept his things in impeccable order and shape, so we were going through some records to find his DD214 (discharge papers from the military) to get the military honors at his burial. He clearly loved the Cardinals but had been a fan of the St. Louis Browns in high school (they are now the Baltimore Orioles). He clearly loved bowling too because there were numerous pictures. He met some greats in baseball and in bowling and had kept some memories of those.
In a folder close to the military papers was a folder of church papers. He married Cindy's mom in the mid-1950s and shortly after that he was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church there in Richardson (1957 and 1958 I believe). It was interesting to see he had kept the Baptism certificate and the Confirmation certificate in a folder with important papers such as the title to the house, the discharge papers, life insurance papers and other such items.
Yet both of those events are not just important, but significant events in our faith life. In one, the Holy Spirit writes our faith in our hearts and in the other the Spirit delivers the body and blood of Christ to us through the bread and wine. Dad's confirmation verse was significant for the day of his passing as we looked at it: "For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." (2 Corinthians 4:11)
Our faith is our life insurance given to us by Christ's death and resurrection. At this time of year, we remember our Christ and the love from God who sent his Son to save us.
Hope Men's Ministry
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