Every game of catch is unique and special! That was especially true today. It’s not every day you get to play catch with your Bishop. Today I played catch with Bishop Julius Trimble of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church. If you’re not familiar with the United Methodist Church, he leads our church here in Indiana, which includes appointing pastors like me to congregations.
As I arrived at the Conference Office on the northside of Indy, I was surprised to find my bishop in all Cubbie blue! I didn’t know he was a Cubs fan and I have been wearing Cubs gear so much recently that I decided to wear my Southside Sox polo and local Indians cap. It was alright though, because Bishop Trimble and I share baseball loyalties. He grew up on the southside of Chicago and attended White Sox games at old Comiskey Park, but also cheered for the northside Cubs. Growing up in northwest Indiana and with my dad growing up on the southside of Chicago, I grew up a Cubs fan, but my first Major League game was the White Sox and Royals featuring my favorite player, Frank Thomas, nicknamed “the Big Hurt.”
Interestingly enough Bishop and I never played organized baseball. I asked Bishop if he ever played and like me, he said he played sandlot ball and a lot of games of catch. His youngest son played baseball though, so I’m sure that gave him plenty of opportunities to play. He shared that he had his entire family attend one game per month to support his son.
Bishop and I also serve in The United Methodist Church. He preached his first sermon when he was 16 years old and was ordained in the Northern Illinois Conference. He has served in Chicagoland, Ohio, Iowa, and Indiana. I’m thankful for his leadership in our Conference as he serves with deep faith, much prayer, and a gentleness and kindness of a pastor. Not only does he serve as our bishop; but he is also a preacher, author, poet, and social justice advocate who joined me and other clergy colleagues downtown to support mental health legislation in the Statehouse. Most importantly he is a husband, father, and now grandfather.
It was a lot of fun to play a game of catch with Bishop in front of the Conference Center Office. We broke up our day of meetings with a little play. I forgot to ask him how a big game of catch might affect his Cabinet, which is comprised of all of the Conference Superintendents across the state. Maybe it doesn’t have to be a game of catch, although I am playing with one of his Superintendents next week, but I bet a little play might bring some fun and smiles to their faces. I know it did mine today as we played catch.
Special thanks to Bishop Julius Trimble for the game of catch and donation toward my Gleaners fundraiser!
A quick update on the financial fundraiser for Gleaners. As of this afternoon, we are over $14,000. My goal is $15,420. We’re almost there!
If you feel moved to share a financial donation for my Gleaners fundraiser, use the link below.
https://give.gleaners.org/fundraiser/4739257
Get outside. Play catch. Find something that brings joy and a smile to your face.
Thank you for supporting Gleaners and following my 30 days of catch!