Light at the End of the Tunnel

 

Often most people are afraid of the dark. Unless it serves to some advantage, they'd prefer to live in the light. A child wakes up in the middle of the night scared and crying.  On Halloween the preference is to wear a scary costume at night.

While groping through life in the dark like walking through a tunnel, suddenly there is light. The end of a difficult situation is finally over. 

Remember the old western movies you saw on TV? The cowboy walks into a dark room, strikes a match, and lights a candle? Suddenly the whole room lights up. Wow! Hollywood performs miracles. 

As many of you know I am a Chicago Cub baseball fan. For many years we sacrificed not being able to see night games. The late Jack Brickhouse insisted that baseball was intended to be played during the day. That was a farce. Through commercial pressure we got lights and it changed the whole perspective about night baseball at Wrigley Field.  Baseball fans like to be entertained. 

In my previous newsletter I shared something about character building.  From a Biblical perspective, because I was born in sin like a lot of other people, I needed some help. I felt like I was living in a dark tunnel. Fortunately, for me and others, the Bible shared the solution to our problem. Today there is hope and I hope you feel the same way that I do. 

So there is light at the end of the tunnel. If you are experiencing some misery in your life don't give up. It doesn't matter what it is. Career, family, church, or whatever, keep moving forward because you may be surprised at what life has to offer.

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Building Blocks Toward a Better Future

 

The child sat on the living room floor staring at all the blocks. His or her imagination went wild with a lot of creativity. They could build anything they wanted and yes, tear it down and start over again. It was fun. Starting with small things they could build bigger and better things.  Nothing stayed the same.

The job market is a good example of building blocks for a better future. First we start out with an entry level position. Then, over time, we move into middle management before, if we're lucky, into top management and a CEO position. Through experience, education, and hard work, we may have a brighter future. Perhaps knowing people in high places might help.

Another good example is about the teenager who saw a pretty dress she liked. It was a navy blue dress that hugged her legs just above the knees, with a black belt, and went nice with her red hair and tan complexion. 

The problem was that it cost money that she didn't have. Raised in a poor family often made life difficult, but she was bound and determined to let nothing stand in her way. Odd jobs like baby sitting, shoveling snow, delivering newspapers, and more, was the answer. It was a proud day in her life when she got to share it with her mom and friends. 

Does money grow on trees? I wish it did, but that's another story. Over the years in my younger days I learned to fill an Apple cider jar with my loose change at the end of each day. Now, today many years later my wife Judy and I have an investment portfolio well over a quarter of a million dollars. The Lord is good. As life changes through the years we didn't have the opportunity early on in life to start an investment through our employer, but again thanks to the good Lord we were able to build some financial security.

Baseball is another good example about building blocks. Professional baseball players didn't just join a team over night. They had to work at developing their skills. Practice! Practice! Practice! Hitting a speeding fastball traveling over home plate required muscles and maintaining a mentally keen attitude. As a result baseball fans all over the world love to be entertained. 

Perhaps we don't think about building blocks as a major term in our life. But unless we're Superman and born on a strange planet with abilities far beyond most normal men and women, we have to start somewhere.

The thing I like best about life is building my faith and character. Reading my Bible and applying it's teaching to everything I do and say is my biggest goal in life. In the long run I am a better person and I hope you are too.

If you enjoyed reading this article and found it to be helpful in your own life, we invite you to sign up for our free newsletter and who knows, it might make your life so much brighter. https://aw1283c2.aweb.page/cornerlotsbaseball    

     

The Boys Played in Gym Shoes

 

 Driving down a winding road in a rural area where I live, I noticed a couple pairs of gym shoes dangling on an electrical wire. Kids without shoes will make some parents very angry. Does anybody have a forklift? 

The gym shoes are a reminder from pleasant memories in the past. As a blanket of snow covers our landscape it's hard to believe that there is anything like baseball, but there is.

The corner lot was paradise. Baseball was a passion. With nothing better to do with our spare time we gathered with friends and had fun.

There was nothing fancy about it. In blue jeans, sport shirt, and gym shoes, we played baseball. We improvised with cardboard bases, splintered bats, and tattered baseballs in the park. 

Following a baseball game we hustled over to Mike's Hot Dogs. Three blocks from Lincoln School we chained our bikes around some lamp post. Mike's had the best hot dogs in town. During lunch or after school it was our favorite hangout. 

Nestled between a bun a hot dog got smuggled with all the goodies–ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, and coleslaw. Coke and French Fries topped the lists. Talking with a mouth full was a big challenge. 

But it was winter and back to the reality of cold weather and snow. There was no way we could play baseball right now. Summer was a long way off, but there still was hope.

The ball traveled across the big room before making a cracking sound inside a baseball glove. Picking it out of a cozy spot which angered the ball, some nasty fingers returned the celebrity across the room in the opposite direction. Back and forth the ball went playing catch in the big school gym.

Like a row of dominos following a pattern, a dozen boys soon joined. No body wanted to be left out. Who says baseball is a summer sport? We must learn to improvise and satisfy our baseball appetite. 

Meanwhile, I satisfy my baseball appetite with stories from my newsletter. Join us and make your life so much brighter. https://aw1283c2.aweb.page/cornerlotsbaseball    

 

A Baseball is Like Gold

 

When I got up this morning I saw a blanket of snow on the ground. I suppose winter is here to stay. I've been waiting for summer ever since January 2nd, but it feels like it takes forever to get here. 

I'm a baseball fan. Looking at that little white ball with stitches on it like an appendix scar gets me excited for some baseball. 

A baseball is like a magic wand. In a baseball game it provides lots of action. People get excited following it all over the field during a game. At the end of a game some folks go home happy while others sad.

The pitcher stands on the pitcher's mound turning a ball around between his fingers behind his back until he has just the right pitch. Then, after going into a windup, he delivers the ball toward home plate. Fastball, curve ball, junk, or whatever, the batter is fooled and the fans love it. Munching on a hot dog and sipping some soda pop only adds frosting to the cake.

A bunt slowly rolls down the third base foul line and keeps the fans guessing. Finally it stops inches from the bag and the fans go crazy. 

The short stop makes his job look easy. Scooping up a fast moving grounder he flips to second where the fielder wheels around and throws to first beating the runner by an arm's length. Bingo! Double-play.Two out

A deep fly ball has the outfielder leaping the centerfield wall. A routine popup rest comfortably in another fielder's glove. The catcher flips off his mask, wheels around, and races toward the screen before play resumed.

The baseball was like a magic wand and everybody wanted to have one. Just look at all the people scrambling at a baseball game, fighting to get their hands on the celebrity. Get an autographed baseball and it's treated like gold. If you have one guard it with your life.

But it's winter outside and I have to wait just like everybody else. Meanwhile, I satisfy my baseball appetite with stories from my newsletter. Join us and make your life so much brighter. https://aw1283c2.aweb.page/cornerlotsbaseball    

What is Christmas?

 

When I think about Christmas lots of things enter my mind. All good things that are happy and upbeat. There are so many things that I don't think I have enough room on my paper to list them all. 

When I was just a kid many years ago the most noticeable thing was the snow. Yes I grew up in Chicago, but back in those days we had a lot of snow. Looking out of our living room window when we saw the snow we knew it was Christmas.

After bundling up, I hated putting on a snow suit, we were off to downtown Chicago to see the Christmas parade. Marching bands playing delightful Christmas music set the mood in cheerful hearts. Then there was a variety of floats along with celebrities like the mayor and movie stars. Standing with the crowd on the sidewalk was fun. 

Finally Santa Clause with eight reindeer and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer came and brought the parade to a close. Kids mixed cheers with tears because they didn't want to go home.

Next it was window shopping at several department stores. The problem was that I was a short little guy and adults crowded close to the windows. It was a losing situation for me.

But there was still hope. Eventually we went inside to keep warm. Without hesitation I headed directly for the toy department. I spent a long time in each toy department. Needless to say my mother was patient with me. Besides visiting with Santa Clause could there be anything more important than toys? Christmas was a fun time of the year.

So what is Christmas to you? Perhaps it's a decorated Christmas tree. Maybe gifts, delicious food, and gathering with friends and relatives. Could there be anything better?

If you enjoy upbeat conversation that will chase your troubles away, we invite you to sign up for our free newsletter at https://aw1283c2.aweb.page/cornerlotsbaseball. Meanwhile have a Merry Christmas.

What's on your Lists?

Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day. A time when friends and family gathered for fun, fellowship, and lots of food. The problem is that this precious time is taken for granted. 

While mother stays busy cleaning the house and preparing a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, other folks do the usual complaining. Living in American with the freedom to enjoy this celebration is a  privilege and should never be taken for granted. Shame on you if you fall into this category. 

My suggestion is that you change your attitude. List all the things that you can be thankful for. You may be surprised to learn that it is a long lists. Perhaps your lists is like mine: good health, family, a loving God, baseball, and more.

What is at the top of your lists? It should be God. Can you live without God? I don't think so. The death rate is one hundred percent. Eventually we will all meet God in heaven and live happily ever after.

But there are many other things to be thankful for. In the midst of living in a hectic world I enjoy a good baseball game. It feels upbeat. Also I enjoy collecting baseball cards. I have pictures of all the teams and am still working through trades to get pictures of all the players. Thank goodness for friends. With endless conversations we can talk about baseball all day until the cows come home which is never. 

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Is Baseball Dead?

With all the sports being played on a clock like football, hockey, and basketball, sometimes I think that a baseball game puts me to sleep. Do you agree? Have you lost your interest in baseball.

Fortunately there still is a lot of action in baseball and enough to hold a baseball fan's attention. A one run game, a spectacular play at the plate, and more, keeps filling baseball parks to over flowing across the country.

But wait, not this year. Covid-19 has left baseball parks empty during most games. No cheers with back ground noise. Only a recording to enhance our imagination. Otherwise it's like listening to a soap opera.

It appears like watching a game played on the clock will easily draw our attention. There is no doubt about it, people are sitting on the edge of their seat in the last few minutes or seconds of an exciting game. In hockey, for example, people enjoy the game even if the home team lost.

From my childhood many years ago I still enjoy watching a good old fashion baseball game. I'm from the old school. It's in my blood (DNA). Like eating Jay's Potato chips, I can't get enough of them.

Baseball remind's me of our baseball newsletter. It's free, entertaining, and filled with lots of good lessons to learn. Sign up today at https://aw1283c2.aweb.page/cornerlotsbaseball

Baseball is not dead. It depends on your point of view.. Baseball is in the eyes of the beholder. During the baseball off season look for some baseball alternatives like read a good baseball book, watch a good baseball movie, start a baseball card collection and trade with your friends, research your favorite player and write about them, and sign up for our free newsletter and share. People love to talk about baseball.