Baseball Bags and Spiritual Bags
Having what we need
Today is the Opening Day of baseball in the MLB.
One of the hidden mysteries of baseball is what players bring to a game. Everyone knows they bring their bat, glove, and maybe batting gloves. Other than those three items, one does not know. However, while I played and coached baseball, it was amazing how diverse the items in the baseball bags were among players.
I had teammates who always had ranch sunflower seeds, others barbecued, and others who seemed to have old seeds from previous seasons. One of my teammates had enough eye-black for the entire team and probably the opponents. One of the players I coached always had Brisk Iced Tea. One teammate kept a baseball card of his favorite player in his bat bag.
I always had athletic tape to retape my bat or wrist. I also always had a batting glove for my catching hand. My teammates and I had winter hats and gloves, and some even had hand warmers for the earlier part of the season. Then, we had sunscreen for the high school playoffs in June. Pennsylvania spring sports are always enjoyable - from winter gloves to sunscreen.
I had a Catholic priest as my high school baseball coach, who read scripture on every away game. The Bible was an essential for his baseball bag.
Baseball players have a baseball bag that is ready with the essentials. Often, we use the term “bat bag,” but that is too limited - “baseball bag” is closer to the truth because baseball players bring more than just a bat to a game. Baseball players have what they need in their baseball bags.
Do you have a spiritual bag? Do you have a bag with the Bible, notebook, pen, the Catechism, or another spiritual read? If baseball players have what they need and items they may need, Christians should also have a spiritual bag.
Think about it this way: A baseball player keeps his baseball bag on his shelf at home, ready for practice and games. Similarly, at the time of prayer, one should be able to grab their spiritual bag and be prepared to use it.
For those who commute to work, a good place to keep the spiritual bag is in the car; keep it in the front seat, not the trunk. Another good place to keep a spiritual bag is at work. When a moment of anxiety comes, a feeling of being overwhelmed, the weight of being worn out, or frustration, find a moment in the busy schedule of work to grab that spiritual bag and converse with God.
The last recommendation is to bring the spiritual bag even when one does not think he will use it. Like sunscreen and bug spray for a baseball player, the spiritual bag comes in handy when it is needed.
I remember noticing that my teammates, opponents, and the players I coached always had one thing in common. Whether these persons were motivated or not-so-motivated players, younger players or older players, those who liked baseball or despised it, all of them had a baseball bag, which helped them.
Regardless of where you are on the spectrum of the spiritual life, I encourage you to consider what is currently in your spiritual bag or what needs to be in it.
Happy Opening Day of baseball!
Fr. Luke Daghir
