The Ever-Shifting Landscape

"The only constant is change." Heraclitus may have said that or something like it; sources conflict. And while I don't fully agree with the statement, it does highlight the ever-shifting realities we experience in life. And how hard they can be. One example recently on my mind is sports teams.

Last month, I talked about the 2024 Orioles. Since then, the MLB trade deadline has passed, and the Birds were quite active, trading for (or buying/signing) eight players. Since the MLB rosters are limited to 26 men, you can do the math on how drastically this has changed the team.* Screenshots below from fangraphs.com show their current roster (you can also find their depth chart per the MLB website). From there, you can see that 3/13 fielders and 5/13 pitchers are new as of June:

Pitching injuries drove many trades, with 7 Orioles hurlers currently sidelined:

I always find trades bittersweet. This year, we gave up a fan favorite and former all-star (Austin Hays) and a few prospects (including Kyle Stowers). Not the core of the team, but it's still hard to say goodbye. And it's hard to watch players you root for, and the team as a unit, shift around as the season goes. Change is hard.

But change is necessary. In baseball, work, church, or life, change happens. "For everything there is a season," as the Ecclesiastes writer states. I see this in my various activities all the time. Valued teammates, beloved friends, dear family . . . people come and go. Or people stay, but they change in marked ways due to age, infirmity, new life situations, and so on. What's the right way to respond? Perhaps it is as easy as Paul states: "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Enjoy what you are doing, and who you are laboring with, at all times. Know that it won't last forever. Don't cling too closely to a moment, but don't ignore/neglect it either. It's hard, but good.

*or if you can't, it's 30%