Teaching Team
Elul: Objects In The Mirror are Closer Than They Appear
As we have now entered into the days of Elul, it is time for a baseball analogy. I have long argued that the Biblical calendar actually has a parallel in the baseball season. For example, the start of the season and opening day take place in the spring, the same time the Torah kicks things off with Passover. After Passover we begin the long journey of working out what we have started, not unlike the baseball season. It’s a long summer of the daily grind of games, trying to stay on top and keep the team healthy. With HaShem the fall means repentance and judgment. If we make it (and we always do with Messiah) we proceed to the big party at Sukkot. For baseball the fall means the playoffs and eventually the World Series. If a team makes it all the way, it’s a big celebration, too.
So what about Elul? How can I stretch the vacuums of my mind and find an analogy for this? Elul is our time of repentance and preparation. It’s the home stretch. What we began in the spring is about to come to an end. We must put our full effort into staying the course and often make corrections for mistakes along the way. So it is with baseball. August, and particularly September, is where teams buck up and try to stay strong. If you are in first place you make sure you keep winning. If you are not and you want a chance at the Series, you’ve got to quickly right the ship and push forward strong.
Hang around me long enough and you’ll find out that I’m a Red Sox fan. But I’m not a Red Sox fan as much as I’m not a fan of the Yankees. The Red Sox are in first place right now but their “Elul” is getting tough and the Yankees are catching up. Last week on one of my favorite websites for Red Sox news, they had a picture of a rear view mirror from a car with a Yankee symbol in the middle. Underneath the Yankee emblem was the familiar phrase, “Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.” Yikes!
During Elul we should ask ourselves, “What’s getting close in my rear view mirror?” Most likely if we take a good look, it’s sin. Sometimes we get overconfident when we have progressed through a tough time and make steps forward in our spiritual walk. We’ve got to stay strong and not let our guard down. Let’s all make this a time of change and strengthening. This is Elul and it’s time to step up to the plate.
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Visitor Feedback:
Hahaha you guys with your Baseball analogies, İ remember the post developed by the İsraelı Baseball League; Hilarious. Yet as a European İm waiting for some analogies to Football(Soccer):)
Again keep up the good work, every post is being appreciated more than you can imagine.
Blessings!
Daniel | August 20, 2007 2:26 PM
That picture in the rearview mirror represents the ghost of 1977/78, and Bucky Dent is at the wheel!
From a strictly spiritual perspective, I think the Yankees offer a better example for the saints to emulate. No matter how rough it gets, keep playing hard and keep your eye on October!
MJ
Yankee fan
***Toby's Comments: Ouch! I did not know we had "dark siders" on this blog. If the Yankees offer a better example what happened in 2004? :)
MJ Belko | August 21, 2007 8:49 AM
Cards fan here. What kind of analogy can we deem from the trades that often are made in order to get to that illusive Word Series?
-Jay
***Toby's Response: Maybe turning away from the yetzer hara?
JAY | August 21, 2007 11:40 AM
I really appreciate the objects in the mirror analogy. I think it is a greater picture of the Appointed End Times as it is so true “Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.” So let us keeps our eyes on the road (the spirit realm), the destination of the journey(Yeshua's emenant return) is just ahead. Listen to the built in navigation system (the Holy Spirit)and pack as many guest as we can into back seet. And don't forget to fill up on plenty of oil (the anointing oil - sanctifies us). We wont get far without being well lubed, we wouldn't want any of our parts to seized together, they need to be set apart.
Dawnita Carslon | August 21, 2007 12:02 PM
2004 was a fluke! A fluke, I tell you! Wasn't there a lunar eclipse the night the Red Sox won the series?
As for trades to get to the World Series, I liken it to the wise virgins who made sure they had enough oil in their lamps!
MJ
MJ Belko | August 21, 2007 2:02 PM
Just remember, three strikes and you're out of the game! Thank HaShem He doesn't have those rules!
EAJ
Elizabeth Janicki | August 21, 2007 2:39 PM
Amen and amen, EAJ!
MJ
MJ Belko | August 21, 2007 4:59 PM
Daniel - I agree. I'm a football (soccer) fan myself. A good analogy to compare is the concentration it takes no matter line you play on the pitch. A lapse in judgement or a moments lack of concetration can cost severely. Just as there are no timeouts in football (soccer) - neither are there timeouts in our spiritual walk. Since the matches are so long with no real breaks - it is easy to go into a lull. Like football (soccer) we have to have endurance in our walks and be alert at all times.
Kareem | August 24, 2007 11:27 AM
Just like the Yanees of the 40 and 50's who finally gave the Dodgers their [only] chance to win in 1955. So the Yankees gave the Red Sox their [only] chance in 2004.
***Toby's reply: You guys are brutal. See you in October.
sffs33326 | August 24, 2007 2:24 PM