Matthew 20:1-16<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I was an L.A. kid. My favorite sport One Saturday, my dad took me and two Wrigley had a custom to let the local kids When a boisterous group of black kids commandeered It worked. We never heard another word. NOTE: This Wrigley Field was the minor league home of the old Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League. The Angels were the AAA farm club of the Chicago Cubs in the National League. The Cubs played in a much larger Wrigley Field in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard Matthew 20:1-16 I was an L.A. kid. My favorite sportwas baseball. The weather was always kindenough for a game. My friends and Iknew the batting averages and the earned runaverages of the … Continue reading
was baseball. The weather was always kind
enough for a game. My friends and I
knew the batting averages and the earned run
averages of the players in the PCL,
and all the major league stats. I followed the Angels.
It was always a treat to go to Wrigley Field
with my dad and watch the Angels play ball.
I never went without some friends from school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
of my friends to an Angels game. We sat near
the back of the lower section overlooking
first base. There was a section in front of us
right by the visitors\u2019 dugout completely empty.
These seats were the most expensive in the park,
but today, those ticket holders did not show up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
into the stands after a couple of innings,
just to fill up the ballpark. It was a neighborly policy
with the surrounding community in south L.A.
and it helped to boost the noise for the home team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the seats in the coveted section down below,
a man sitting near us began to grumble
about them in a loud voice. This same man
was telling his companion at the start of the game
how pleased he was with his seats at the ballpark.
He did have great seats, but it made him angry
when poor kids sat closer to the action.
\u2003
The man complained and muttered racial slurs
for two innings before my father finally
had enough. Dad was sure the commentary
was ruining the experience for me and my friends.
After one racist rant too many, my father turned
to him and said, \u201cHey, knock it off.
We\u2019re trying to watch the game.\u201d The man was caught
off guard, \u201cWell, it isn\u2019t fair. I paid good money
for these seats, and those kids don\u2019t deserve
the luxury box.\u201d Dad said, \u201cI heard you bragging
about your seats when you came in. You said
they were perfect. What happened? Relax,\u201d
he said gesturing toward the buoyant fans
in the stands, \u201cenjoy the game with the rest of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later, my dad explained it this way:
\u201cIt is a gift just to be there at Wrigley Field
where the sun is shining and the Angels are winning.
Be happy. It doesn\u2019t matter where you sit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n