Fresh Start Devotionals

Generosity On his way to his 70th homerun during the summer of ’98, it looked like Mark McGwire just hit his 66th homer of the season, but the umpire ruled that Michael Chapes of Waterford, Wisconsin reached over the fence and caught the ball in bounds and ruled it a “ground rule double.” After catching the ball, Michael began to lose his balance. Instead of helping to steady him, Johnny Luna of Queens, New York took the ball from his glove right before Chaps fell into the pit behind the outfield wall at County Stadium. The umpire tossed Chapes from the stadium and officials gave him a $518.50 citation for trespassing. Gerald Digilio, also of Queens, brought Luna and three other youths with him to the game. They had a pact to split the proceeds from the sale of any ball they might catch. Digilio wasn’t about to give the ball back to McGwire since “He never came to Astoria to give us anything.” Greed doesn’t look good on anyone, does it? Their actions are in stark contrast with Tim Forneris, a 22-year-old groundskeeper who retrieved McGwire’s record-breaking 62nd homer. He gave Mark McGwire, the million-dollar ball, saying “I think I have something that belongs to you.” McGwire in turn gave it to the Hall of Fame to display beside Ruth’s and Marris’ record breaking balls. Forneris and McGwire, both displayed the kind of attitude Christians should have about their possessions. We do not hoard our treasure, we share it with the world realizing they ultimately belong to God. Jim L. Wilson, Fresh Start Devotionals (Fresno, CA: Willow City Press, 2009).