[Editor's Note: This is the sixth of a series of articles on the theme, “Being a Man of the Spirit.” The previous five articles in this series have touched on various aspects of “Being a Man of the Spirit.” This article is a change of pace from the previous ones and offers a lighthearted look at some rambunctious teenage nephews who are on their way to being men of the Spirit — and their impact on their uncle. Click here to find the first article, second article, third article, fourth article, and fifth article.]
I confess that I did not want to go to my mother’s house in Chicago for Memorial Day last year. In fact, when she called, I was all set to tell my mother that I had made other plans. You see, we are, as psychologists would say, a moderately dysfunctional family. We get along best when we’re not all in one spot.
I was thus determined to remain in southwest Michigan for the holiday when my brother in Florida called to say his two sons were planning to be at our mother’s for Memorial Day and wanted to take me to the Cubs game as a birthday present. This was completely unexpected. I am, after all, a die-hard Cubs fan, and I am quite fond of my two nephews. Before I knew it, I told my brother: “Sure, that would be great.” And you know what? It was great.
A Day of Pleasant Camaraderie
My teenaged nephews and I had a great time taking public transportation from the South Side home of the White Sox to the North Side home of the Cubs. We even had time for a mini-architectural tour of downtown Chicago, including a stop for meditation between Masses at the magnificent St. Peter’s-in-the-Loop Catholic Church. I enjoyed just sitting there in the hushed silence of that grand old church communing with God and my nephews. I prayed for them, and I’m sure they prayed for me. We then had a great time at the ball game, and we had the bonus of watching the Cubs win a cliff-hanger over the Milwaukee Brewers.
After the game we walked around the neighborhoods surrounding Wrigley Field, and we even had some telling encounters with some of Chicago’s “street people.” I was impressed at how well my nephews were able to handle themselves when confronted by one belligerent and obviously drunk fellow who demanded money from us. He subjected them to a long and involved story about how he had locked his keys in his car and needed to take a cab to some distant location, and so on, and so forth. My oldest nephew simply looked him in the eye and said, “Why don’t you just walk like we are? It’ll do you good.” Later, when we encountered those truly in need, my nephews did not hesitate to dig in their pockets and demonstrate some real Christian charity on the go.
Practical Lessons in Christianity
As great as the day before Memorial Day was, the day itself abounded with spiritual gifts. We began the day early by running the annual Memorial Day race along with my sister’s daughters. We ran for the pure pleasure of running, so we all had “record times.”
But it was after the race that my two nephews taught me some new tricks about the practical application of the Christian faith when some old family friends brought their son, whom we will call “Andy,” to my mother’s house to visit.
My oldest nephew and Andy are the same age, and they have known one another their whole lives, despite the fact that my brother has moved his family around the country over the years because of work. I had not really been a party to any of this, so it came as a pleasant surprise to watch my two nephews engaging Andy in the spirit of true Christian brotherhood.
I had prayed and prayed before seeing my family for some sign or moment of grace, and there it was in the form of three young men joking and joshing and having a great time. What made it all so wonderful was the fact that Andy was born with severe physical and mental challenges. I soon learned that Andy does not do most things quietly. If he sees an attractive young woman across the street, he hollers out: “Hey, pretty baby!”
Thus, to be with Andy in public is to be at all times on center stage with full lighting. And that’s not something I’m accustomed to doing. I prefer to describe myself as “a shy woodland creature from Michigan.” But God works through other people to get us moving on the path that leads to him, and he thrust my two naturally loving nephews into my life to teach me lessons about love and acceptance &0151; lessons that a whole theology library couldn’t begin to illuminate.
One Sacramental Moment after Another
As I shadowed my two nephews and Andy to first one park and then another and all around the neighborhood, I had the distinct impression that I was walking with Jesus and the disciples. Andy would see a dog behind a fence and loudly imitate the dog. The owners would stare at the four of us, and we would simply keep on walking as though everything was right with the world.
It was one sacramental moment after another. Even my mother and I managed to get along in a civil manner that day, which is something of a fairly major miracle.
God shed his grace on my family and me on Memorial Day, and the most telling evidence of his presence came in the late afternoon when we walked Andy down to the local school yard for some baseball. Obviously attracted by the fun we were having, my nieces and other nephew came along with us, and we made up our own game with all sorts of rules, like awarding the catcher of a fly ball one hundred points, and so on and so forth.
What it all came down to, of course, was Andy at the plate with my oldest nephew on the pitcher’s mound. Andy declared for the whole neighborhood to hear that he was going to get a hit, and it took all of us &0151; cheering him on and showing him how to hold the bat &0151; to get him to that sweet moment when the swinging bat connected with the pitched ball, sending the ball flying into the outfield. Hollywood’s best and brightest couldn’t have scripted a more golden moment than that. It was a hit that hit us all in the heart because it had God’s good speed behind it.
When I later told my spiritual director about the golden moment, she suggested I should maybe write it all out and share it with others. And so I am happy to offer this story of God’s peace in the hope that you and the “Andys” in your life will go forth and hit the ball into right field. Or left or center. Or even a grounder to first.
Many thanks to The Word Among Usfor allowing us to use this article from their April 2002 monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.
(Maurice Blumberg is Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men. This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at P.O. Box 86381, Gaithersburg, MD 20886 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org. If you would like to make a contribution to the NFCM, just click here.)
Reflection Questions on Page 2
Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. In what ways did the nephews seem to be “in tune” with the Holy Spirit?
2. The Holy Spirit often speaks to us through other people. In what ways do you think the Holy Spirit was speaking to the author through his nephews? What lessons was the Spirit trying to teach him about his life? What impact do you think it had on his life?
3. Why do you think that the hit by Andy in the baseball game was a “golden moment”?
4. Share about any “Andys” in your life. How have they impacted your life?
5. What do you think the following quote from the text means: “I am happy to offer this story of God’s peace in the hope that you and the “Andys” in your life will go forth and hit the ball into right field. Or left or center. Or even a grounder to first”? What steps can you take now to try to “hit the ball”?
