OPENING DAY

I love this time of year. Spring is probably my favourite season. The feeling of newness, seeing things coming to life, being reminded that summer is approaching. The Lord makes all things new, and spring is a beautiful reminder of that.

I am excited that baseball is starting up again. Baseball was the first sport that I fell in love with, and it still holds a special place in my heart. However, it's been tough these last few years for me because my appreciation for the game has dropped. I think it's a combination of me not being available to play anymore (I played all through elementary school and high school), the fact that my favourite team moved (the Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals in 2005, and it's just not the same), and the fact that the major leagues have ridiculous salaries, steroid scandals, and the same teams continually making the playoffs.

And baseball cards are unreasonably expensive now too.

Still...there's something special about being out on a ball field on a warm summer night. Hearing the hum of the lights above, the smell of the grass in the outfield, the crisp crack of the bat against the ball, the smack of the ball in a player's glove. The sights, sounds and smells of the game are wonderful. Going through a bag of sunflower seeds in a game is also great.

People who don't like baseball and claim that it's a bunch of fat people standing around and doing nothing have no appreciation for the game. It is such a game of numbers and strategy. With each pitch, you need to be ready to make the play- knowing, without a doubt, what you will do with the ball if it comes to you. If you're the pitcher, you're trying to figure out when the best time is to throw your best pitch, and hope that the batter isn't expecting it when you do throw it. If you're the batter, you're guessing as to what is coming at you, but you also have to do your best to keep the inning going.

Today is Opening Day in the big leagues, the first game of a summer full of games. Without baseball, my appreciation for spring wouldn't be quite the same. The sense of anticipation, of new hope, of new beginnings, probably isn't what it is without baseball. Do I worship the game? No (hockey might even be ahead of baseball now in terms of what my favourite sport is), but I have a deep respect and appreciation for it. Opening Day in the majors serves as a wonderful reminder of the special place that baseball holds in my heart.

Play ball!