With everything going on in Baltimore, it’s hard to find peace. The country is becoming divided over issues of race, police brutality, violence, voices not being heard, etc. This country is broken and peace and resolution seem far away. As things escalated in Baltimore on Monday afternoon, our country was pulled in separate directions even more. As peaceful protests went on, we also saw riots and looting. From the riots and looting, we saw Facebook posts and news casts of disagreement and anger. No matter the side that you take you can say that this country is becoming divided and peace is not present.
Tomorrow afternoon, in the middle of this city that has had devastation, they will have some peace. The peace will come in the form of a game. Tomorrow afternoon, in front of nobody but a few media personal, the Chicago White Sox will take on the Baltimore Orioles in a baseball game at Camden Yards. After two postponed games and rumors of moving the baseball series to a nearby neutral location, the two teams settled on playing ball in front of no one.
Tomorrow afternoon, in the middle of this city that has had devastation, they will have some peace. The peace will come in the form of a game. Tomorrow afternoon, in front of nobody but a few media personal, the Chicago White Sox will take on the Baltimore Orioles in a baseball game at Camden Yards. After two postponed games and rumors of moving the baseball series to a nearby neutral location, the two teams settled on playing ball in front of no one.
When you think about baseball, or any major sporting event, taking place in front of no attendees it makes you think. This is a huge disappointment for all the fans that had tickets to the game. It’s a huge disappointment for the Orioles players who lost all of their supporters for the contest. The game is sure to have an eerie feeling come game time. However I believe that peace can be found in this game tomorrow.
In a town that has been literally burned to the ground and is in chaos, there will be baseball. In the middle of a town, that has had turmoil and tears the past week, will have a group of grown men playing ball with the joy of a little kid. This game is going to be a game. It will have 50 men playing around in brown dirt and green grass. This game will have players from multiple country’s, states, and continents, and language coming together just to play a simple game. To me that is just a small bit of peace in the midst of chaos.
Hasn’t baseball done this for our country in the past? During the great depression baseball struggled but still pushed through to bring hope and joy into the lives of so many who were weak. Although MLB didn’t break the baseball color line until 1947, the game of baseball still provided entertainment for the fans and joy for the players throughout multiple generations. In 2001, when a country was crushed by an attack, baseball brought America together on a cool night on September 17th.
I’m not saying that baseball solves America’s problems. I’m not saying that tomorrow’s game will end the tension in Baltimore, nor should it. The only thing that solves these problems is communication with each other, action after communication, and faith and trust in Jesus Christ;however, I do think that baseball in these situations provide America a chance to stop the fighting, stop the arguments, stop the tension, and just watch a peaceful game played by grown men with a child’s heart.
The game tomorrow will be played with no one watching at the park. The players will be brought back to the days of the sandlot or the days of little league. Players will get a chance to do with they love with no pressure, no distractions, and no hecklers in the right field bleachers. Tomorrow don’t worry about the stats, score, or standings because in the middle of the city of Baltimore that is covered in chaos you will be able to find peace at the baseball field.
In a town that has been literally burned to the ground and is in chaos, there will be baseball. In the middle of a town, that has had turmoil and tears the past week, will have a group of grown men playing ball with the joy of a little kid. This game is going to be a game. It will have 50 men playing around in brown dirt and green grass. This game will have players from multiple country’s, states, and continents, and language coming together just to play a simple game. To me that is just a small bit of peace in the midst of chaos.
Hasn’t baseball done this for our country in the past? During the great depression baseball struggled but still pushed through to bring hope and joy into the lives of so many who were weak. Although MLB didn’t break the baseball color line until 1947, the game of baseball still provided entertainment for the fans and joy for the players throughout multiple generations. In 2001, when a country was crushed by an attack, baseball brought America together on a cool night on September 17th.
I’m not saying that baseball solves America’s problems. I’m not saying that tomorrow’s game will end the tension in Baltimore, nor should it. The only thing that solves these problems is communication with each other, action after communication, and faith and trust in Jesus Christ;however, I do think that baseball in these situations provide America a chance to stop the fighting, stop the arguments, stop the tension, and just watch a peaceful game played by grown men with a child’s heart.
The game tomorrow will be played with no one watching at the park. The players will be brought back to the days of the sandlot or the days of little league. Players will get a chance to do with they love with no pressure, no distractions, and no hecklers in the right field bleachers. Tomorrow don’t worry about the stats, score, or standings because in the middle of the city of Baltimore that is covered in chaos you will be able to find peace at the baseball field.