Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Gal 6:7
In the summer of 1994, Sue and I took a 2-week vacation with her sister, Barbara, her husband Gerry and their 3 boys, Chris, Matt and Steven. We got in their van and drove the Interstate Highway System. We drove west to St. Louis, north to Green Bay and then back home. We made many stops in places like Canton, OH, Indianapolis, IN and Chicago, IL. The purpose of our trip was to enjoy the sights America has to offer and to visit as many sports venues as we could find.
Our first destination was Cleveland where we were hoping to see a Sunday afternoon game between the hometown Indians and the Chicago White Sox. We didn’t have any tickets but we planned on getting them at the game. We left Long Island on Saturday and went as far as Pittsburgh figuring we would stay over night and get an early start for Cleveland the next morning.
Unfortunately, the Pirates were on the road, but after settling down in a motel, we drove to Three Rivers Stadium in the hopes of maybe getting a stadium tour. When we got there, the parking lot was half full. Although it was the middle of July, the parking was abuzz with hockey. We landed in the middle of a summertime roller hockey tournament. Hockey nets were set up from one end of the parking lot to another and kids in padded uniform on a hot day were skating up and down on the concrete.
We walked around the stadium and along the Ohio River and when we had enough, we went back to the parking lot and prepared to leave. It was at this time that a coach of one of the teams approached us with a frantic request for something to drink for his players. The tournament had run out of water and his team was dying of thirst. Since we had just left home that morning, our van was packed with plenty of drinks and food. As you know, you can never travel too far with kids (or Sue!) without having something for them to eat or drink.
This coach was waving a $20 bill and was willing to pay more just for anything to give his thirsty players. We had boxes of juice packs for our trip and gladly gave him whatever he needed. He insisted on giving us money for it, but we wouldn’t take. He was just so grateful for drinks and couldn’t thank us enough.
The next morning, we got to Cleveland and went to the game. But, we were about to disappointed. In 1994, Jacobs Field, where the Indians played their home games, was a new ballpark and the Indians were a good team playing another good team, the White Sox, for first place in the AL Central Division. The game was sold out. No tickets were available, even all of the standing room tickets were sold. There was nothing. Nada. No way we were getting in to see the game. That’s what everyone thought. But, God had other plans.
My sister-in-law, Barbara, went to the ticket window and pour her heart out with the story of coming all the way from Long Island to see the game. Was there anyway we could get in? The ticket agent told her the game was completely sold out. Barbara said she needed 7 tickets. “7 Tickets?…Are you crazy?”, exclaimed the ticket agent. Barbara asked her politely if she would just check one more time. The agent reluctantly checked and a look of amazement formed upon her face. She couldn’t believe her eyes. She said, “I don’t believe this. There are 7 tickets available in same row halfway up in the second level between home plate and first base.” She continued, “these are great seats.” And they were.
To this day, I stay convinced that God had his hand in providing those tickets for us. I believe He showed us His favor that day because we showed Him to thirsty hockey players the previous day. Matthew 25:40 states, “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
We went on to have the best vacation we could ever remember. We still talk about all the things we saw and the places we visited. We saw one Minor League game in Columbus, OH and four Major League games including the Mets in St. Louis and the Yankees in Milwaukee. We visited the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame, took a lap around the Indy 500 Racetrack, went to the top of Gateway Arch and toured the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field (of course it was July so it wasn’t frozen when we were there).
But, on that Sunday in Cleveland, we were touched by the hand of God. 7 Tickets? … Are you crazy? No, we’re blessed. To God be the Glory. Amen.
7 Tickets… and that’s the Word of The Day.
