FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

This theme was very easy to pick as I shot these pictures, they came to life in front of me. There are many moments that are captured within them that are priceless. Understanding the framework that they lie in is simply the Diamond, the Baseball Diamond. On the field anything can happen. Each moment hangs in the balance of the next as they compile to bring an exciting, unorganized result to complete an unchanging finish that cannot be replayed. In the game of (soft) baseball you are being trained to react to what comes at you in all situations, both in an offensive posture and defensive posture. In both postures you are receiving a situation and given an opportunity to react to it for a positive or negative outcome. 

Much like the journey of life, as we choose to make decisions everyday that take us down one path or the other. Within this game there are priceless moments and lessons to be learned as each inning continues to build on the next. I captured those very moments in time. They will only happen once, this game will only happen once, the things learned and the results of the decisions made will only happen once. The pictures taken tell of the story that has been playing for me over twenty years of my life and the legacy that is following me. I love the game of baseball and it has been a huge part of my life as well as my heart. I started playing this game when I was eight years old and will carry it throughout the rest of my life. I give that passion, commitment and gifts that the game has taught and offered me to my daughter Rio. For her to take her passion, commitment, and gifts on the journey of understanding hard work ethic, team support, and how to overcome adversity through this game. In hopes that she would not just play this game to play but learn everything possible on how to play the game of life and succeed at them both. 

This is a part of my legacy, to pass on the very best of what I have learned through this game and my life to my child. To give her the best chance to find her gifts and use them to best of her ability as the game and life unfolds in front of her. I have allowed her to choose to play this game on her own will and I am very excited to watch her grow and learn more as the innings and years of life build onto the story of whom she will become. And one day get the opportunity to pass it on to her children.

FREEDOM

Freedom,...There are times when we have an idea or view of what freedom means to us. More often, what that looks like in other people's lives. But, when it comes to our own lives it seems a little fuzzy, blocked, and illusive. The question is, can you recognize if you have ever truly experienced freedom? It could be a quick an easy response to say, well I live in America and I am free in comparison to other countries in the world. To a certain extent I would agree, but living with the illusion of feeling free and actually being free is very different. Living in a country that is freer than others can seem like freedom in some areas, but in many is not free at all. I guess what I am getting at is knowing what it feels like with all of our your being, mind, body, and soul, to know and be free. Within each one of us there comes a natural instinct to want to be free and experience what true freedom is like, but are to afraid to actually go there and stay.

"Unmeasurable are my limits for I call you Father, unimaginable my potential for you have called me son."

WOW...that sounds amazing!.... Oh, but wait my reality is knocking... Yes,... "that is not possible"... and now that statement seems unattainable. What happen for that brief second? That glimpse of hope, that glimmer of faith, that this statement could be true... What does your reality say to this? What does your life reflect in this? I think so many times our intentions are so grand and or aspirations can give us wings, for a second, and then they are gone... Why is that? Our being, loves to dream and hope of something so much more greater then the way things really are. Our dreams, desires, and hopes are quickly popped and we watch the air in them leak out, feeling paralyzed not being able to keep them flying...

We have been created to Hope, to Dream, to be fully Alive, to Aspire and be Free...

Unfortunately, we live in a reality, a world even in America, that is far far from actually being free. Free emotionally, mentally, physically, socially, financially and even spiritually... We are waiting be to freed...but by whom or what? Living in the fear, doubt, guilt, shame and false identity can and will keep us enslaved. It is our own choice? Nevertheless, we stay comfortably in our slavery... it is familiar, almost safe... because of the unknown freedom that awaits gently. Could it be so, that we are afraid of freedom? Are we afraid of the unknown, it is easy to fear the unknown. Why would freedom be any different, if all you have ever known is how to live enslaved. How many of us know people, friends and or relatives that have spent time in jail or prison? I do. I have uncles, cousins, friends that have been told for so long that they are no good, losers, criminals, less then, and worthless. The environment of those negative words in whatever context can and have paralyzed the people I know to be the very thing they are not. But, have grown into them because it is all they know. The few times that they have gotten chances to get released on parole and get out of that environment, the sooner they find themselves back in it. Freedom is unfamiliar and they do not know how to respond to the unknown and so they go back to the safety in the lies.

We all have bills, debt, and obligations to be responsible financially. We want to live a life with nice things, a car, a home, a good job... but do they also come with a price? A job can be the source to getting nice things and its good to have a nice car and a nice comfortable home, and nice clothes... but at what price are you willing to pay for them? Even if that price is your very own freedom??? What are the things in your reality that have enslaved you from experienced true lasting freedom? What are the routines, patterns of thoughts, actions, and circumstances that you continually find yourself in that do not bring freedom, but reattach the chains of slavery?

Often, we resort back to our past to figure out where we first experienced not being enslaved as subtle as it may be. And more often then not, it begins with a wound. The absents of a parent, rejection from a father, abandonment of a loved one, lack of Love, abusive action mentally, emotionally, physically, and misdirected identity. When not dealt with these wounds become us, they can overpower and become a false identity as a victim without us even realizing it. Automatically giving the wound and the person the power to enslave us by carrying a unforgiven, bitter, hateful, vengeful, hurtful, angry, broken spirit. That power given was never intended to be given away, it was made to overcome and heal the wound, not to be given into slavery by unforgivingness. Forgiveness is never easy, but always necessary for our own freedom.

You see, the freedom that I am referring to is not just from stuff, things, people, or the debt of things that can easily consume us because of the culture we live, but more importantly the freedom that is offered through the Blood of Jesus Christ. The blood that sets the captives free...gives heart to the heartless, brings hope to the hopeless, Joy to the sorrowful, healing to the broken, brings courage to those who are fearful, strength to the weak, and love to the loveless. The Freedom that bring the dead to LIFE!

How can you live in freedom each day? How can you change the perspective and vision that doesn't allow you to become free? How can you forgive those you do not want to? Let go of the anger, bitterness, control, and fear? How can you take back the freedom and power that is yours through Christ?

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1).

YOU WERE MADE TO BE SOLELY FREE BY THE SACRIFICE OF LOVE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. BE FREE...