Don't Miss It - Day to Day

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A little more than a week ago, the St. Louis Cardinals played their season opener at Busch Stadium. It was an afternoon game, like many home openers in past Aprils. However, this one was special, as it marked the return of number 5, Albert Pujols.

One of my favorite sports figures of all-time, he’s an unbelievable hitter, good man, and someone who crushed my heart when he left. That whole leaving thing is a story for another day. What was important this day was that he was back for one more season, to join Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina in their swan song season. You can’t write this kind of fairy tale potential.

For a teacher and a coach, afternoon games are tough, but this was a 3:00 start, and I had to be in a van riding 45 minutes away for a tennis match. So as I sat in the passenger seat chatting with the driver, I pulled out my phone and brought up the game. The driver kept asking me what was going on, as this story for St. Louisans was epic.

Just before we got there, Albert came up to the plate with an uproarious ovation, rocking Busch Stadium. A few moments later he flew out, but I had seen it! This was something I didn’t want to miss, his first at bat back with the Cards, fantastic.

Last week for Palm Sunday, I sat in church and listened to the pastor preach from Luke 19:42.

“How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late…”

Jesus says this as he is riding into Jerusalem, and He is weeping. As the pastor spoke, he looked out and softly said, “They missed it.”

Wow, I’m not really sure what came after that, because the Holy Spirit was hitting me upside the head, like He does from time to time.

They missed it! Jesus wept because they missed the way to peace. Peace that only comes from the Lord. Peace that brings completeness and a oneness with Him. Peace that is irreplaceable and priceless, and they missed it. I’m sure my first thought was, thank God I’m not like them. I know who Jesus is and that He died on the cross and rose again.

Well, that’s true, but I still miss it all the time. I mean, really, how many times have I rolled out of bed and headed into my day only to miss everything the Lord intended for me. Days the Lord laid out for me with blessings and His peace, but I missed them. Days the Lord planned for me to show His peace to others, and I missed it!

This is what the Holy Spirit convicted me of as I sat there on Palm Sunday. That what the Lord wants is for me not to miss it day in and day out. That every single day, He has peace for me to receive, and His peace to pass on, and I often miss it. Things like anger, a lack of trust, busyness, impatience, and so many more hide God’s daily peace from my eyes and my heart.

As we draw near to the end of Holy Week and the resurrection of the Lord, don’t miss what it means. Don’t miss what is intended for me and you daily. Don’t miss the opportunity to show the world His love. Don’t miss Christ in your life every single day.

I made sure I didn’t miss Albert’s first at bat back with the Cardinals. How much more important is not missing what God has for me! As Easter is almost here, don’t just say, “I know Jesus rose from the dead.” Let this change the way you approach every day, and don’t miss it!