Obstruction

(the call was correct…but unusual) 

Obstruction

The 2013 World Series isn’t yet over but it’s already been one that people will talk about for a long time.  The third game, for example, ended in a way unlike any previous post-season game. The winning run scored in the bottom of the ninth inning when the Boston third baseman obstructed the path of a St. Louis runner.  The interference was likely unintentional, but according to the rules it doesn’t matter.  Create an obstruction and the runner gets the next base; in this case home plate…and your team loses.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

One of the important facts about the passage above is the fruit of the Spirit is what grammarians know as a “collective singular”… one fruit as opposed to nine fruits. Each part is a characteristic of the Holy Spirit’s active presence in our daily lives and should be equally evident in the way we interact with the world around us.  In my case, at least, there is clearly an imbalance in how the fruit manifests itself and I am forced to conclude that I am somehow creating an obstruction. The interference is unintentional, but it doesn’t matter. My own pride, personality, ignorance, or something is preventing me from being all that I ought to be. 

How about we all take a closer look? And get out of the way before we cost our team the game!

Thanks for all you do.

Brian

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Volume 7, Number 25