10/10/2003 03:49:00 PM by Rob

Open Letter to God Himself

October 19, 2003 A.D.

God
Throne of Creation
Heaven

Dear God,

I am not telling You anything that You don't already know, that next to You and my family, I love the Cubs most of all. It is wrong for me to put so much of my self-worth into the fortunes of the Cubs. But as You know, I am faithful and loyal, to a fault. I have had only one favorite rock band, one favorite brand of cola, one favorite toothpaste. I have had three favorite girls, but it was fully my intent to only have one, and You know that. And, I have only one favorite sports team, the greatest competitive organization ever, the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs are a big a part of me as any other cultural institution. I do not consider myself American, Irish-American, German-American, Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, Tall, Fat, or Dumb. I consider myself a Cub Fan.

Dear God, I beseech thee. By this weekend, the Cubs may gain entry to the first World Series of my lifetime. I have waited for this event longer than I have waited for anything before. Much longer than I waited for my true love. Much longer than I waited for Boston's third album. Longer than I waited for my driver's license, or my first pubic hair. My first conscious thoughts were about the Cubs, and probably a good portion of my last thoughts will involve them, too.

Dear Lord, I have known humility, and patience, and grace, and Grace, and I have known loss, and suffering, and pain, and misery. I have learned that it is how the game is played, that wins and losses are secondary. I have learned many of the heavenly virtues as a result of my fandom. It has not been a fruitless abandon. I truly am selfish, but I am not inconsiderate, my Lord. I promise I will accept my good fortune with dignity, and grace, if You would be so kind and so generous with Your offerings.

I know that a few mere baseball games does not deserve any of Your time, O Lord. Certainly the members of the other team believe in You, too, and do not deserve Your will against them. Nor do I deserve any favor on my behalf. I cannot express in words how shameful I feel to be praying to You over such as trivial thing as a NL Championship when people are thirsting, starving, infirm, unjustly oppressed, and abused, neglected, and dying.

Have I made myself appear small enough, O Lord? Good. Then please, please consider the joy of a NL Championship would bring to so many. O, not the ones who wear the hats and beat their chests, and loiter on Waveland Avenue during the games. But the truly faithful, the ones who blog, the ones who remember the bad times, those who have managed to forgive and love Ryno, Jerry Morales, Jose Cardenal, Jim Hickman, even Leon Durham.

I do not give of myself over some lame Old Style promotion, O Lord. I give of myself freely, because I believe and believe you have dominion over all things. For if we are graced with a Pennant, my Lord, I shall never curse or take your name in my blog or the Coven again.

I promise this, my Lord, Amen.

---