With the arrival of winter, it may seem a little late to write about the Blue Jays and the disappointing end to their 2021 season. But for Blue Jays fans who are now waiting for “next year”, and for the rest of us as well, here’s a little something to ponder as we wait for the new season to begin.
So, have you ever wondered what it is that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. writes with his bat in the dirt around home plate every time he comes up to bat? Apparently, it’s the word "Dios," which in Spanish means “God”. When I first heard this, I thought it was very curious, so I googled it and this is what I found on sportsspectrum.com.
“Throughout his rise to stardom, Guerrero has consistently given thanks and glory to God. In fact, every time he steps to the plate, Guerrero writes “DIOS” in the dirt. Furthermore, Guerrero’s Instagram posts often feature Bible verses and his bio begins with the words “God first.”
Recent posts include mentions of Romans 2:6, which says, “God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done,’” and Matthew 21:22, which says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Now, personally, I don’t think God is all that interested in who wins the World Series or even who hits a home run with bases loaded, but I have to think that God might sit back with a smile when he sees “Vladdy” writing “Dios” at home plate with his bat. You see, Vladdy is thankful to be playing a game he loves, to be living the life he lives, and he knows to give credit where credit is due. It’s what we call having an “attitude of gratitude” and we would do well to emulate Vladdy’s example through continual prayer and giving thanks to God for the chance to “come up to bat today” and to live this life we've been given. As Meister Eckhart once said; “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”
Let us pray…God/Dios, today I offer a prayer of thanks; a humble act of awareness and gratitude for the gift of this day, for the life that I have, for the blessing of community, family and friends, and for so much more. And so let my prayer be like Vladdy's; that before I go up to bat and do whatever it is I have to do on this day, that I may pause to write your name on my heart so that I will never forget that you are the source of all life and the ground of all being, and with you by my side, I am a winner already for I have been enriched forever by your grace. Amen!
