As I write Thursday afternoon, Hurricane Helene has fortunately not brought the kind of conditions for us that will make it one of memory for Southwest Florida. And while I’ve only been with you a few months, I’ve heard enough about Ian and Irma that I’m with you in gratitude for that. As it continues to strengthen and head north, I know many of you join me in praying for those it will affect more severely in the North Florida, Alabama, and Georgia.
And while it’s of significantly less consequence or concern, I have to admit a personal frustration. The Mets and Braves series, with only one game in Atlanta played so far, has been delayed yet again. The last week of regular season Major League Baseball, with Wild Card standings on the line for both, and it’s all just hanging there…
The Mets have had an interesting season, but one that got off to a horrible start. Fun fact: the Mets have the best opening day record in baseball. But not only did they lose the first game this year, they lost the first five. At one point they were 11 games under .500, it seemed like the season was unravelling as early as June. As a Mets fan, there’ve been plenty of seasons that didn’t live up to the hype or hope, but come on… June!?
Then on June 12, Grimace threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Yes, that Grimace. The big purple blob that’s a McDonald’s mascot. And the team that had won only eight games in its last twenty won that one, and the next six. Went 12 and 4 to finish June and kept it up in July with a record of 17 and 10. Since then they’ve been playing great, and as fans sought rationale for the turnaround, Grimace became the unlikely mascot of a season turned around.
Another fun tidbit of the shift was calling up Jose Iglesias, since becoming an important part of the team who has also dreamed of performing Latin pop. His first big hit as Candelita – his stage name – is “OMG”, and while that’s a phrase often uttered in less than faithful ways, if you read the lyrics or watch the video it’s easy to see for him it’s a prayer of thanks, of hope, of peace and community. And the Mets have celebrated not just him, but the hope of his message, as “OMG” signs are everywhere among fans and the song now plays every time the Mets hit a home run.
Dig a little deeper and you’ll see a slew of amazing stories. Of teamwork, of players stepping up. Of calls from their leaders to ignore the “external noise” and remain accountable to one another. Of players who praise the manager for his patience and empathy.
But this is my favorite, shared by first year manager Carlos Mendoza. In the ugly months of the early season, his boss pulled him aside with this message: he was trusted. The team was trusted. What Mendoza heard was an invitation to let it flow, that those that mattered believed in him, and to take a winning attitude forward. In the training room, the weight room, the meetings… everywhere.
As the Mets have fed on that hope, the season has been a different story. It’s a joy to watch the team be a team – sadly not a given in a lot of professional sports – to turn around the season so dramatically, and be so close to finding themselves to playing in October.
And I’m reminded that God says something similar to us: you’re my child, I trust you, and I have hope in you. Ignore the external noise, trust in me. Go win this morning by being genuinely you. Rock the afternoon by being kind. Own the night by caring for yourself and your loved ones. Be victorious in the day to day, moment to moment, and what matters will come.
No promises on Grimace, but what matters will come.
-Ben
