LITTLE THREADS
In a book on sermonettes for children, I found an illustration on little threads. Stretch out a single thread with both hands and break it. It is easy to do. Do it with two threads. It gets more difficult. By the fifth and sixth threads, it becomes even more difficult. This is the way it is with a lot of things.
This is true with our bad habits. Have you ever walked into a room where not a single piece of clothing has been hung? Have you been in a home where two days of dishes have been piled up on the sink? Have you gone shopping at a grocery store and found trash all over, wrappings and disposable articles of every kind dropped by uncaring, careless hands? Have you seen little children in moving cars unprotected and unbuckled? Have you wondered where the extra fifteen pounds came from? Have you heard foul words coming from the mouths of people and thought, how disgusting? Like little threads, each action, each neglect, each item, though miniscule, will build upon another. From little threads can come such bigger ones.
How often we say, “One more won’t hurt.” A puff of smoke. Another drink. A little white lie. Another mile with the gas gauge at empty. Cheating a customer, a friend, or the government. A burst of anger. Skipping an appointment. Procrastinating on paying a bill. Not admitting an error. Not locking the door. Not arriving on time. Breaking a promise. Failing to pray. Polluting the air, the water, the soil, the ocean. Not locking the gate to the swimming pool. Leaving a child unattended for three minutes. A day without exercise. A day without God.
Imagine what change can occur from so little if each builds toward one thing more, one simple correction, with one helping hand. A simple prayer. One act of kindness. Five minutes of daily exercise. Positive thoughts even for the most despised. Precaution at ATM machines, crossing a busy street, walking a dark parking, driving on high speed freeways, swimming in whirling oceans waves. Learning a lesson from every encounter. Reading one book a month rather than none. Honesty even in the smallest business transaction. Believing in oneself. Learning to trust the trustworthy, being cautious with the untrustworthy. Giving thanks for each good gift. Putting trust in God.
From so little can come so much. Life is full of little threads. In each of us, there are multitudes of threads: threads of thoughts, threads of emotions, threads of energy, threads of memories, threads of human will. Each is linked to a Center of a system, a network, and a spiritual dynamic. On these we build our habits, our character, and our lives. Imagine where we would be when we build on faith, hope, and love, all to make life better for self and for others. Everything starts with a single thread. May they be silver threads.
May 31, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Why?
WHY?
A professor of philosophy had given his students an examination. The last question simply read, “Why?”
The professor passed only two of his students. One had written, “Why not?” and the other had answered, “Because.”
Some of life’s most profound questions are put in a single word, why. Why must people suffer? Why can’t I be like everyone else? Why do I have this disease? Why am I poor and unlucky? Why did mother have to die? Why am I a victim of the floods? The earthquake? The fire? Why is it that my son is missing in action? Why can’t we have a child? Why did I have to lose my job? Why was I raped? Why wasn’t I chosen? Why was I born in such dismal condition? Why can’t I choose my own death? Why?
Well, why not? We are all subject to the same. It rains on the just and the unjust. Life is not fair. There are as many circumstances as there are individuals. The law of probability just is: one out of so many will be affected no matter what it is. Nobody said life will be easy. Life is difficult. Everyone has a choice. Murphy has a point—when something can go wrong, it will. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. You didn’t care for yourself. You were warned. You knew better, but you did nothing about it. It’s genetic. The devil lurks in dark places. It was an accident. It was mere coincidence.
Well, because. Because the world is not perfect, but the world is arriving at perfection. Because each experience has a lesson in it for us. Because God wills good for those who love God. Because when we break nature’s laws, the consequence is decay, illness, and death. Because genes hold in them blueprints of biological life, physiological tendencies, and more. Because circumstances carry in them dynamics, consequences, and results all their own. Because the human character is still being transformed from lower to higher understanding, from selfish to unselfish intentions, from human to godly perceptions. Because everything has its time, its course and its purpose.
Furthermore, there are some things we cannot know. There are some things we need not know. And there are some things we will not know. So just live life in the best way you know how. Trust in the higher power of God. Search the inner knowledge which is Spirit given. Put on the Christ Mind. And you won’t have to ask, “Why?”
May 31, 2010
A professor of philosophy had given his students an examination. The last question simply read, “Why?”
The professor passed only two of his students. One had written, “Why not?” and the other had answered, “Because.”
Some of life’s most profound questions are put in a single word, why. Why must people suffer? Why can’t I be like everyone else? Why do I have this disease? Why am I poor and unlucky? Why did mother have to die? Why am I a victim of the floods? The earthquake? The fire? Why is it that my son is missing in action? Why can’t we have a child? Why did I have to lose my job? Why was I raped? Why wasn’t I chosen? Why was I born in such dismal condition? Why can’t I choose my own death? Why?
Well, why not? We are all subject to the same. It rains on the just and the unjust. Life is not fair. There are as many circumstances as there are individuals. The law of probability just is: one out of so many will be affected no matter what it is. Nobody said life will be easy. Life is difficult. Everyone has a choice. Murphy has a point—when something can go wrong, it will. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. You didn’t care for yourself. You were warned. You knew better, but you did nothing about it. It’s genetic. The devil lurks in dark places. It was an accident. It was mere coincidence.
Well, because. Because the world is not perfect, but the world is arriving at perfection. Because each experience has a lesson in it for us. Because God wills good for those who love God. Because when we break nature’s laws, the consequence is decay, illness, and death. Because genes hold in them blueprints of biological life, physiological tendencies, and more. Because circumstances carry in them dynamics, consequences, and results all their own. Because the human character is still being transformed from lower to higher understanding, from selfish to unselfish intentions, from human to godly perceptions. Because everything has its time, its course and its purpose.
Furthermore, there are some things we cannot know. There are some things we need not know. And there are some things we will not know. So just live life in the best way you know how. Trust in the higher power of God. Search the inner knowledge which is Spirit given. Put on the Christ Mind. And you won’t have to ask, “Why?”
May 31, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Alms Giving
ALMS GIVING
By Dennis Ginoza April 17, 2010
From time to time, within us, there is an awakening, a new understanding. This occurred to me in Taxco, often known as the silver City, Mexico.
When my wife and I were on a trip through Mexico, we stopped to visit Taxco where a silver mine was discovered. The Roman Catholic Church built a cathedral over this site. Along the large square, there were many shops where souvenir items could be purchased. My wife was shopping and I was just walking along to people watch.
I came across a woman who reached out to me with her open hand, seeking alms. She was several feet away so I just by passed her and moved on. Then a man approached me, in my face, with his hand open for a handout. To satisfy the moment, I reached in my pocket and gave him a peso.
As I walked on, I happen to turn toward the woman, the one I bypassed. She had tears dripping from her eyes. I had helped the other, because he was straight forward, but not that woman. I felt inside of me the hurt I had caused by not reaching out to her in the same way. This was for me, a changing moment. Ever since then, I always carried pesos in my pocket for alms giving. I realized the point, alms giving helps the poor retain their dignity. Small as this gesture might seem, its deeper touch is sustaining the poorest in our society to retain their self-worth, their sense of dignity.
Years later, as I served the Calexico United Methodist Church located in a border town in southern California, I remembered that incident in Taxco. I was teaching a class in Spanish in Mexicali, Mexico across the border, a course entitled, “The Life and Teachings of Jesus,” to seven rehabilitated drug addicts now preparing for the Christian ministry. As I walked the streets of Mexicali to the class, I always had pesos in my pocket to give alms, especially women in the streets with their children, waiting and hoping for the smallest assistance. Little as this might seem, bothersome as it may appear, alms giving is God’s way of touching the heart of the poor.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:1-4, Jesus teaches us to give alms, quietly, without sounding trumpets and calling attention to ourselves. He derided the hypocrites who did this in the synagogues and the streets. Jesus teaches: “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
This teaching goes beyond alms giving. It is intended to shed light on giving. A few years ago, as I was serving a church, I received a call from the bank president. He said, “Rev. Ginoza, I have a check here for your church, for the amount of $4,000. I asked him, “Who is it from?” He said, “I can’t tell you. It’s anonymous.” “Is it from a member or someone from the community”? “I can’t tell you,” he said. It was the week of Thanksgivng.
Before I went to the bank to receive that anonymous gift, I wrote a letter to thank that person for that generous gift and how much it was appreciated. I mentioned that this was true giving and quoted Jesus’ saying, in giving “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” That gift was well needed at that time as the church had its financial needs. Till this day, I do not know the name of that anonymous giver, but God knows. A reward in heaven awaits that generous and kind giver.
What little good we share today, in the sight of God, it is long lasting and has an eternal measure. Our physical eyes cannot see the full nature of the Kingdom of God. Yet, while still living on this earth, I can tell you, I have witnessed the generosity of giving, the simple joy of having given, and the return of a greater joy that comes after giving. True giving comes from the heart. Giving without expecting anything in return has its own dynamic nature. Jesus teaches that those who have much, much more will be given them. This is a spiritual law of generosity.
To put this another way, whatever we plant will bear benefit when it is good. Whatever we give out will make a full circle. The good we share will be the good we receive. Generosity brings on generosity, kindness brings on kindness, and alms giving in God’s time brings out the true nature of God’s care for all children. The writer of Ecclesiastes also bears this out in this teaching: “Send out your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will get it back.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1)
We must remind ourselves, true giving, alms giving, anonymous giving, and simply giving in every way, must stem from the heart, its sincerity, its intention, and its expectation. The essence of this teaching is, to not seek for self, but for others. One theologian called Jesus, “a man for others.” Let us do like wise.
By Dennis Ginoza April 17, 2010
From time to time, within us, there is an awakening, a new understanding. This occurred to me in Taxco, often known as the silver City, Mexico.
When my wife and I were on a trip through Mexico, we stopped to visit Taxco where a silver mine was discovered. The Roman Catholic Church built a cathedral over this site. Along the large square, there were many shops where souvenir items could be purchased. My wife was shopping and I was just walking along to people watch.
I came across a woman who reached out to me with her open hand, seeking alms. She was several feet away so I just by passed her and moved on. Then a man approached me, in my face, with his hand open for a handout. To satisfy the moment, I reached in my pocket and gave him a peso.
As I walked on, I happen to turn toward the woman, the one I bypassed. She had tears dripping from her eyes. I had helped the other, because he was straight forward, but not that woman. I felt inside of me the hurt I had caused by not reaching out to her in the same way. This was for me, a changing moment. Ever since then, I always carried pesos in my pocket for alms giving. I realized the point, alms giving helps the poor retain their dignity. Small as this gesture might seem, its deeper touch is sustaining the poorest in our society to retain their self-worth, their sense of dignity.
Years later, as I served the Calexico United Methodist Church located in a border town in southern California, I remembered that incident in Taxco. I was teaching a class in Spanish in Mexicali, Mexico across the border, a course entitled, “The Life and Teachings of Jesus,” to seven rehabilitated drug addicts now preparing for the Christian ministry. As I walked the streets of Mexicali to the class, I always had pesos in my pocket to give alms, especially women in the streets with their children, waiting and hoping for the smallest assistance. Little as this might seem, bothersome as it may appear, alms giving is God’s way of touching the heart of the poor.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:1-4, Jesus teaches us to give alms, quietly, without sounding trumpets and calling attention to ourselves. He derided the hypocrites who did this in the synagogues and the streets. Jesus teaches: “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
This teaching goes beyond alms giving. It is intended to shed light on giving. A few years ago, as I was serving a church, I received a call from the bank president. He said, “Rev. Ginoza, I have a check here for your church, for the amount of $4,000. I asked him, “Who is it from?” He said, “I can’t tell you. It’s anonymous.” “Is it from a member or someone from the community”? “I can’t tell you,” he said. It was the week of Thanksgivng.
Before I went to the bank to receive that anonymous gift, I wrote a letter to thank that person for that generous gift and how much it was appreciated. I mentioned that this was true giving and quoted Jesus’ saying, in giving “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” That gift was well needed at that time as the church had its financial needs. Till this day, I do not know the name of that anonymous giver, but God knows. A reward in heaven awaits that generous and kind giver.
What little good we share today, in the sight of God, it is long lasting and has an eternal measure. Our physical eyes cannot see the full nature of the Kingdom of God. Yet, while still living on this earth, I can tell you, I have witnessed the generosity of giving, the simple joy of having given, and the return of a greater joy that comes after giving. True giving comes from the heart. Giving without expecting anything in return has its own dynamic nature. Jesus teaches that those who have much, much more will be given them. This is a spiritual law of generosity.
To put this another way, whatever we plant will bear benefit when it is good. Whatever we give out will make a full circle. The good we share will be the good we receive. Generosity brings on generosity, kindness brings on kindness, and alms giving in God’s time brings out the true nature of God’s care for all children. The writer of Ecclesiastes also bears this out in this teaching: “Send out your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will get it back.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1)
We must remind ourselves, true giving, alms giving, anonymous giving, and simply giving in every way, must stem from the heart, its sincerity, its intention, and its expectation. The essence of this teaching is, to not seek for self, but for others. One theologian called Jesus, “a man for others.” Let us do like wise.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Changed Lives
Changed Lives
By Tim Kimmel
In 1921 Lewis Lawes became the warden of Sing Sing Prison. No prison was tougher than Sing Sing during that time. But when Warden Lawes retired some 20 years later, that prison had become a humanitarian institution. Those who studied the system said credit for the change belonged to Lawes. But when he was asked about the transformation, here’s what he said: “I owe it all to my wonderful wife, Cattherine, who is buried outside the prison walls.”
Catherine Lawes was a young mother with three small children when her husband became the warden. Everybody warned her from the beginning that she should never set foot inside the prison walls, but that didn’t stop Catherine! When the first prison basketball game was held, she went… walking into the gym with her three beautiful kids and she sat in the stands with the inmates.
Her attitude was: “My husband and I are going to take care of these men and I believe they will take care of me! I don’t have to worry!”
She insisted on getting acquainted with them and their record. She discovered one convicted murderer was blind so she paid him a visit. Holding his hand in hers she said, “Do you read Braille?”
“What’s Braille?” he asked. Then she taught him how to read. Years later he would weep in love for her.
Later, Catherine found a deaf-mute in prison. She went to school to learn how to use sign language. Many said that Catherine Lawes was the body of Jesus that came alive again in Sing Sing from 1921 to 1937.
Then, she was killed in a car accident. The next morning Lewis Lawes didn’t come to work, so the acting warden took his place. It seemed almost instantly that the prison knew something was wrong.
The following day, her body was resting in a casket in her home, three-quarters of a mile from prison. As the acting warden took his early morning walk he was shocked to see a large crowd of the toughest, hardest-looking criminals gathered like a herd of animals at the main gate. He came closer and noted tears of grief and sadness. He knew how much they loved Catherine. He turned and faced the men, “All right, men, you can go. Just be sure and check in tonight!” Then he opened the gate and a parade of criminals walked, without a guard, the three-quarters of a mile to stand in line to pay their final respects to Catherine Lawes. And every one of them checked back in.
Reference: Stories for the Heart, compiled by Alice Gray, pp. 54-55
Questar Publishers, Inc. 1996
By Tim Kimmel
In 1921 Lewis Lawes became the warden of Sing Sing Prison. No prison was tougher than Sing Sing during that time. But when Warden Lawes retired some 20 years later, that prison had become a humanitarian institution. Those who studied the system said credit for the change belonged to Lawes. But when he was asked about the transformation, here’s what he said: “I owe it all to my wonderful wife, Cattherine, who is buried outside the prison walls.”
Catherine Lawes was a young mother with three small children when her husband became the warden. Everybody warned her from the beginning that she should never set foot inside the prison walls, but that didn’t stop Catherine! When the first prison basketball game was held, she went… walking into the gym with her three beautiful kids and she sat in the stands with the inmates.
Her attitude was: “My husband and I are going to take care of these men and I believe they will take care of me! I don’t have to worry!”
She insisted on getting acquainted with them and their record. She discovered one convicted murderer was blind so she paid him a visit. Holding his hand in hers she said, “Do you read Braille?”
“What’s Braille?” he asked. Then she taught him how to read. Years later he would weep in love for her.
Later, Catherine found a deaf-mute in prison. She went to school to learn how to use sign language. Many said that Catherine Lawes was the body of Jesus that came alive again in Sing Sing from 1921 to 1937.
Then, she was killed in a car accident. The next morning Lewis Lawes didn’t come to work, so the acting warden took his place. It seemed almost instantly that the prison knew something was wrong.
The following day, her body was resting in a casket in her home, three-quarters of a mile from prison. As the acting warden took his early morning walk he was shocked to see a large crowd of the toughest, hardest-looking criminals gathered like a herd of animals at the main gate. He came closer and noted tears of grief and sadness. He knew how much they loved Catherine. He turned and faced the men, “All right, men, you can go. Just be sure and check in tonight!” Then he opened the gate and a parade of criminals walked, without a guard, the three-quarters of a mile to stand in line to pay their final respects to Catherine Lawes. And every one of them checked back in.
Reference: Stories for the Heart, compiled by Alice Gray, pp. 54-55
Questar Publishers, Inc. 1996
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Baseball Spring Training in Arizona
BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING IN ARIZONA
February 28, 2010, by Dennis Ginoza
When I first thought about coming to Arizona to watch the San Diego Padres in their spring training, my knowledge about it was very limited. My! Have I learned a lot.
I learned that the Padres share their Peoria Complex at 83rd Avenue with the Seattle Mariners. That was just the beginning of my learning. There are in total fifteen teams in eleven different sports complexes in Arizona. They are as follows:
Camelback Ranch-Glendale 16101 North 83rd Avenue, Peoria
Los Angeles Dodgers & Chicago White Sox
Goodyear Ball Park, 1933 South Ballpark Way, Goodyear
Cincinnatti Reds & Cleveland Indians
Corbett Field, 3400 East Camino Campestre, Tucson
Colorado Rockies
Hohokam Park 1235 North Center Street, Mesa
Chicago Cubs
Maryvale Baseball Park3600 North 51st Avenue, Phoenix
Milwaukee Brewers
Peoria Sports Complex 16101 North 83rd Avenue, Peoria
San Diego Padres & Seattle Mariners
Phoenix Municipal Stadium 5999 East Van Buren, Phoenix
Oakland Athletics
Scottsdale Stadium 7408 East Osborn Road, Scottsdale
San Francisco Giants
Surprise Stadium15960 North Bullard, Surprise
Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers
Tempe Diablo Stadium 2200 West Alameda Drive, Tempe
California Angels
Tucson Electric Park 2500 East Ajo Way, Tucson
Arizona Diamond Backs
Each of these sports complexes have multiples fields for training with one stadium for games played in the Cactus League. They are beautiful fields with green grass, large parking areas, athletic sport shops, indoor batting cages, pitching areas, administrative offices, and other facilities.
In the first few days of visiting the Padres, I gained new information. The early players that arrive are pitchers and catchers and coaches. Several days later, the full staff arrive, numbering some 70 plus players, many minor leaguers here for tryouts, to be observed and having the opportunity to train and perform with hopes to move up in the Big League. When the Cactus League begins, the teams will carry a roster of 40 players and when the Major League season begins, the roster will be set at 25 players.
Every day, I encountered someone new, a sports fan who made it to Arizona to follow his or her favorite team. These interactions added to my excitement and to the dynamic of the pre-season preparation. When I walked over to the Mariners spring training, the parking lot was full of cars, fans who support their team in the most enthusiastic way. I asked several people why this is so. I got several answers. “We love our Mariners.” “We come from wet, snow country.” Also, I observed, one Mariner was followed due to his celebrity status. On Ichiro Suzuki, one fan told me, “I love watching him. He has the best work ethic.” There were ten cameras with multiple crews of Japanese media. Whenever Ichiro moved to another part of the complex, the cameras followed him. There were two others: Ken Griffey, Jr., known for his power, son of Cincinnati Reds Ken Griffey and Cliff Lee, a pitcher who helped Philadlphia win the World Series in 2008 and he had just joined the Mariners.
I caught the Mariner excitement. I got me a baseball for $10.00 with the markings, “Seattle Mariners.” I hurried to a gathered crowd waiting to get an autograph. I had kept my Padre baseball in my right pocket, now the Mariner ball in my left hand. It was pitcher Felix Hernandez who was runner up for the Cy Young Award in 2009. I told him, “I am a new Mariner fan from San Diego.” He smiled as he signed his autograph. This was my first day at Arizona Spring Training.
My experience began to move toward different and interesting interactions. People are friendly, they all love baseball, and I found a comfort zone. One lady from Washington state told me about her excitement over a young player who led the Oregon State baseball team to two NCAA championships, in the College World Series held in Omaha, Nebraska.
His name is Mitch Canham, a superb catcher and hitter. He just lost his mother. Mitch caught the fascination of this fan. “Besides,” she told me, “he is good looking.” I later found out, Mitch is with the Padres, not the Mariners. As he walked from the field toward the hitting cages, I got Mitch to sign my Padres Ball. I wished him well.
On the second day, I walked up to the fence where the Padres were batting. I met Luis Fernandez. He told me, “I played in the Little World Series in Williamsport for Venezuela in 1977.” Wow! That was exciting. “It was!” he said. I told him, I wanted to get to Williamsport, but I only got half way. I told him I played on the Pony League Team from Maui, that won the state championship in Hawaii and played in the regional tournament in La Mesa California. We lost there, but I got half way to Williamsport. The love of baseball stays in you for a long time.
Luis is in business where he transports equipment and personal belongings for major league players. One of his clients is Oscar Salazar, infielder from Venezuela now with the Padres. Luis said to me, “If you wait, I’ll introduce you to Oscar.” He did. He said, “Oscar, I want you to meet my friend Dennis.” Oscar shook my hand, signed my Padres baseball and I had my photo taken with him.” What a day! Luis told me, one of his good friends is Luis Aparicio who played for the Chicago Cubs and now resides in Venezuela. Again I was impressed. Luis Rodriguez lives with his family in Florida.
One day, at the Padres complex, I met John B., a staff member working at the gates to keep order and help move the fans. He told me how he used to visit Ebbets Field and watch the Brooklyn Dodgers. That was a conversation all its own as I was a Brooklyn fan as a young boy in Hawaii. I asked John, “How did you get this job?” “I applied for it,” he said. This year they hired thirteen new workers and they work for a month and a half. Sounds like a neat job.
By now, I caught the gist of how things work. I would visit the Mariners and watch them practice. Then I would watch the Padres work out, or vice versa. I found where I needed to be where the players would sign their autographs. I got autographs of manager Bud Black, San Diego Padres, Tony Gwynn Jr. son of Tony Gwynn, one of San Diego’s favorite sons; Jerry Hairston who just joined the Padres from the New York Yankees. He and his brother Scott are now two brothers on the Padres.
On Saturday, it was Fan Fest Day at Peoria Sports Complex. The Mariners took the field for the first two hours, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., hitting, pitching, fielding as the fans watched from the stands. Hot dogs were not free, but for $5.00, you got the super deal, a hot dog, chips, and a drink. From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. the Padres took the field and did their batting and routines as well. Ken Griffey and Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners were knocking the ball out of the park. Then Padres Kyle Blanks was hitting homeruns as was Dusty Ryan, catcher and power hitter who came from Detroit.
At the fence behind home plate I met a young man named Darryl from Georgia. He was not a Braves fan. Surprised, I asked “Why?” When they traded power hitter Dale Murphy, he gave up on the Braves and became a Mets fan. I laughed because that’s what happened to me. I too gave up on the Dodgers when they traded Steve Garvey to the Padres. I became a Padres fan. Baseball can be a funny game. Loyalties change. Darryl told me where I can best be to catch the players for their autographs. I got more autographs including infielder, Chone Figgins, Mariners. From my right pocket I would get my Padres ball and got pitchers Luis Perdomo, Cesar Carillo; and outfielder Milton Bradley now with the Mariners.
If there is a baseball heaven, it’s in Arizona. There’s more baseball here than you have time for. And that’s the point. This is the place for those who love the game, who follow the players, who know what loyalty means. Of all the teams, Chicago draws more fans than any team; the Mariners stand a close second. They come in bus loads. Plus, Chicago's winter is a good reason to spend time in Arizona. At the Cubs field I saw that Greg Maddox is now on the coaching staff.
At the Fan Fest, Sylvia and learned that a college game was to follow at 2:00 p.m. The University of Kansas and Gonzaga were playing. I stuck around. I went over to the left field stands to watch the Kansas players warm up. This led to another interesting encounter.
A woman came by. I asked her, “Are you staff support or a mother?” “My son is in on the team,” she said. “He’s number 5, a first baseman, a sophomore.” Zach Elgie played for a high school in North Dakota. In his senior year, he hit 35 homeruns. The scouts came out to watch him. He was drafted by the Oakland A’s. The agent came to his home, offered him a bonus of $100,000. Zach thought about it. “How long does it take to make it to the majors?" He was told, “Nine years.” He decided to play college ball and enrolled at the University of Kansas, and get his degree first. His mother said, “That was a good decision.” There’s more to this story. In baseball, there is an excitement, but also a reality. It’s a tough business, and as Luis Rodriguez told me earlier, “It is a money business.” Not everyone makes it in this game.
In professional baseball, the beginning salary is $400,000. That is what I discovered with the Mariners and the Padres, in the year 2009. Ichiro Suzuki received $18 million. At the fence, as I talked to Luis from Argentina and Larry Rizzo who played in a traveling team in San Diego, all of us who, at one time shared a dream, and Larry said, “If I could play for two years and earn $400,000 each year, I could retire.” We all laughed as another day at the ball park came to a close.
When Kevin Costner’s Field of Dreams was released, it gave baseball in America a boost. For some, playing in the majors is a dream we all shared at one time, especially as little kids, and for others, it is a game that is still America’s past time.
Let me share another perspective. As I see the game of baseball in the larger perspective of life, especially in fielding faith, it makes me think of the day I was in the living room of Pam Chodola, at her daughter’s graduation lunch. Pam is the daughter of Duke Snider who played for the Dodgers in Brooklyn and in Los Angeles. I was having a conversation with Duke. It came to the topic about faith and serving God. Duke said to me, “Isn’t that what we are all about? Serving God.” Those words have left on me a lasting mark. So as one game ends, a New Game begins.
February 28, 2010, by Dennis Ginoza
When I first thought about coming to Arizona to watch the San Diego Padres in their spring training, my knowledge about it was very limited. My! Have I learned a lot.
I learned that the Padres share their Peoria Complex at 83rd Avenue with the Seattle Mariners. That was just the beginning of my learning. There are in total fifteen teams in eleven different sports complexes in Arizona. They are as follows:
Camelback Ranch-Glendale 16101 North 83rd Avenue, Peoria
Los Angeles Dodgers & Chicago White Sox
Goodyear Ball Park, 1933 South Ballpark Way, Goodyear
Cincinnatti Reds & Cleveland Indians
Corbett Field, 3400 East Camino Campestre, Tucson
Colorado Rockies
Hohokam Park 1235 North Center Street, Mesa
Chicago Cubs
Maryvale Baseball Park3600 North 51st Avenue, Phoenix
Milwaukee Brewers
Peoria Sports Complex 16101 North 83rd Avenue, Peoria
San Diego Padres & Seattle Mariners
Phoenix Municipal Stadium 5999 East Van Buren, Phoenix
Oakland Athletics
Scottsdale Stadium 7408 East Osborn Road, Scottsdale
San Francisco Giants
Surprise Stadium15960 North Bullard, Surprise
Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers
Tempe Diablo Stadium 2200 West Alameda Drive, Tempe
California Angels
Tucson Electric Park 2500 East Ajo Way, Tucson
Arizona Diamond Backs
Each of these sports complexes have multiples fields for training with one stadium for games played in the Cactus League. They are beautiful fields with green grass, large parking areas, athletic sport shops, indoor batting cages, pitching areas, administrative offices, and other facilities.
In the first few days of visiting the Padres, I gained new information. The early players that arrive are pitchers and catchers and coaches. Several days later, the full staff arrive, numbering some 70 plus players, many minor leaguers here for tryouts, to be observed and having the opportunity to train and perform with hopes to move up in the Big League. When the Cactus League begins, the teams will carry a roster of 40 players and when the Major League season begins, the roster will be set at 25 players.
Every day, I encountered someone new, a sports fan who made it to Arizona to follow his or her favorite team. These interactions added to my excitement and to the dynamic of the pre-season preparation. When I walked over to the Mariners spring training, the parking lot was full of cars, fans who support their team in the most enthusiastic way. I asked several people why this is so. I got several answers. “We love our Mariners.” “We come from wet, snow country.” Also, I observed, one Mariner was followed due to his celebrity status. On Ichiro Suzuki, one fan told me, “I love watching him. He has the best work ethic.” There were ten cameras with multiple crews of Japanese media. Whenever Ichiro moved to another part of the complex, the cameras followed him. There were two others: Ken Griffey, Jr., known for his power, son of Cincinnati Reds Ken Griffey and Cliff Lee, a pitcher who helped Philadlphia win the World Series in 2008 and he had just joined the Mariners.
I caught the Mariner excitement. I got me a baseball for $10.00 with the markings, “Seattle Mariners.” I hurried to a gathered crowd waiting to get an autograph. I had kept my Padre baseball in my right pocket, now the Mariner ball in my left hand. It was pitcher Felix Hernandez who was runner up for the Cy Young Award in 2009. I told him, “I am a new Mariner fan from San Diego.” He smiled as he signed his autograph. This was my first day at Arizona Spring Training.
My experience began to move toward different and interesting interactions. People are friendly, they all love baseball, and I found a comfort zone. One lady from Washington state told me about her excitement over a young player who led the Oregon State baseball team to two NCAA championships, in the College World Series held in Omaha, Nebraska.
His name is Mitch Canham, a superb catcher and hitter. He just lost his mother. Mitch caught the fascination of this fan. “Besides,” she told me, “he is good looking.” I later found out, Mitch is with the Padres, not the Mariners. As he walked from the field toward the hitting cages, I got Mitch to sign my Padres Ball. I wished him well.
On the second day, I walked up to the fence where the Padres were batting. I met Luis Fernandez. He told me, “I played in the Little World Series in Williamsport for Venezuela in 1977.” Wow! That was exciting. “It was!” he said. I told him, I wanted to get to Williamsport, but I only got half way. I told him I played on the Pony League Team from Maui, that won the state championship in Hawaii and played in the regional tournament in La Mesa California. We lost there, but I got half way to Williamsport. The love of baseball stays in you for a long time.
Luis is in business where he transports equipment and personal belongings for major league players. One of his clients is Oscar Salazar, infielder from Venezuela now with the Padres. Luis said to me, “If you wait, I’ll introduce you to Oscar.” He did. He said, “Oscar, I want you to meet my friend Dennis.” Oscar shook my hand, signed my Padres baseball and I had my photo taken with him.” What a day! Luis told me, one of his good friends is Luis Aparicio who played for the Chicago Cubs and now resides in Venezuela. Again I was impressed. Luis Rodriguez lives with his family in Florida.
One day, at the Padres complex, I met John B., a staff member working at the gates to keep order and help move the fans. He told me how he used to visit Ebbets Field and watch the Brooklyn Dodgers. That was a conversation all its own as I was a Brooklyn fan as a young boy in Hawaii. I asked John, “How did you get this job?” “I applied for it,” he said. This year they hired thirteen new workers and they work for a month and a half. Sounds like a neat job.
By now, I caught the gist of how things work. I would visit the Mariners and watch them practice. Then I would watch the Padres work out, or vice versa. I found where I needed to be where the players would sign their autographs. I got autographs of manager Bud Black, San Diego Padres, Tony Gwynn Jr. son of Tony Gwynn, one of San Diego’s favorite sons; Jerry Hairston who just joined the Padres from the New York Yankees. He and his brother Scott are now two brothers on the Padres.
On Saturday, it was Fan Fest Day at Peoria Sports Complex. The Mariners took the field for the first two hours, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., hitting, pitching, fielding as the fans watched from the stands. Hot dogs were not free, but for $5.00, you got the super deal, a hot dog, chips, and a drink. From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. the Padres took the field and did their batting and routines as well. Ken Griffey and Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners were knocking the ball out of the park. Then Padres Kyle Blanks was hitting homeruns as was Dusty Ryan, catcher and power hitter who came from Detroit.
At the fence behind home plate I met a young man named Darryl from Georgia. He was not a Braves fan. Surprised, I asked “Why?” When they traded power hitter Dale Murphy, he gave up on the Braves and became a Mets fan. I laughed because that’s what happened to me. I too gave up on the Dodgers when they traded Steve Garvey to the Padres. I became a Padres fan. Baseball can be a funny game. Loyalties change. Darryl told me where I can best be to catch the players for their autographs. I got more autographs including infielder, Chone Figgins, Mariners. From my right pocket I would get my Padres ball and got pitchers Luis Perdomo, Cesar Carillo; and outfielder Milton Bradley now with the Mariners.
If there is a baseball heaven, it’s in Arizona. There’s more baseball here than you have time for. And that’s the point. This is the place for those who love the game, who follow the players, who know what loyalty means. Of all the teams, Chicago draws more fans than any team; the Mariners stand a close second. They come in bus loads. Plus, Chicago's winter is a good reason to spend time in Arizona. At the Cubs field I saw that Greg Maddox is now on the coaching staff.
At the Fan Fest, Sylvia and learned that a college game was to follow at 2:00 p.m. The University of Kansas and Gonzaga were playing. I stuck around. I went over to the left field stands to watch the Kansas players warm up. This led to another interesting encounter.
A woman came by. I asked her, “Are you staff support or a mother?” “My son is in on the team,” she said. “He’s number 5, a first baseman, a sophomore.” Zach Elgie played for a high school in North Dakota. In his senior year, he hit 35 homeruns. The scouts came out to watch him. He was drafted by the Oakland A’s. The agent came to his home, offered him a bonus of $100,000. Zach thought about it. “How long does it take to make it to the majors?" He was told, “Nine years.” He decided to play college ball and enrolled at the University of Kansas, and get his degree first. His mother said, “That was a good decision.” There’s more to this story. In baseball, there is an excitement, but also a reality. It’s a tough business, and as Luis Rodriguez told me earlier, “It is a money business.” Not everyone makes it in this game.
In professional baseball, the beginning salary is $400,000. That is what I discovered with the Mariners and the Padres, in the year 2009. Ichiro Suzuki received $18 million. At the fence, as I talked to Luis from Argentina and Larry Rizzo who played in a traveling team in San Diego, all of us who, at one time shared a dream, and Larry said, “If I could play for two years and earn $400,000 each year, I could retire.” We all laughed as another day at the ball park came to a close.
When Kevin Costner’s Field of Dreams was released, it gave baseball in America a boost. For some, playing in the majors is a dream we all shared at one time, especially as little kids, and for others, it is a game that is still America’s past time.
Let me share another perspective. As I see the game of baseball in the larger perspective of life, especially in fielding faith, it makes me think of the day I was in the living room of Pam Chodola, at her daughter’s graduation lunch. Pam is the daughter of Duke Snider who played for the Dodgers in Brooklyn and in Los Angeles. I was having a conversation with Duke. It came to the topic about faith and serving God. Duke said to me, “Isn’t that what we are all about? Serving God.” Those words have left on me a lasting mark. So as one game ends, a New Game begins.
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