what pope francis and yogi berra have in common
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“Respect the game, respect others … whatever background or whatever you are, it doesn’t matter.
Treat everybody the same, that’s how it should be.”
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Yogi Berra
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“The spirit of the world tells us to be like everyone else, to settle for what comes easy.
Faced with this human way of thinking, “we must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and for the world”
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Pope Francis
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Well.
I imagine not many people will discuss Yogi Berra and the Pope to make a point <or two>.
But this is enlightened conflict where anything goes <in order to make some point>.
I woke up yesterday sighing over the announcement of Yogi Berra passing away, and many of his words, and concluded my day pondering the words of Pope Francis’s first day in the USA.
Surprising to many … regardless of their public perception, their ideology or their own personal history … they both advocated respect for fellow humans.
One shared thoughtful thoughts thru some off the cuff musings.
One shared thoughtful thoughts thru some well crafted timeless words.
Aw.
Shit.
Let me cut to the chase … here is the thought both seem to advocate … ‘play the game and play the game with respect.’
The game being ‘life.’
We all have thoughts with regard to what a ‘win’ looks like but both simply focused on respect … and getting out there and playing.
Let me use some of of Pope Francis’ wonderful words.
<some of the following is the text of the English translation of Pope Francis 9/23 homily>
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“… life grows by being given away, and it weakens in isolation and comfort”
(Aparecida Document)
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“We are heirs to the bold missionary spirit of so many men and women who preferred not to be “shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security… within habits which make us feel safe, while at our door people are starving”
(Evangelii Gaudium)
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While he speaks from a place & space of faith and a God he believes in … his words should resonate with any and all of us.
We have a responsibility to participate in Life. We are the heirs of its spirit. We are the heirs of ‘right’ and if we do not play ‘wrong’ wins simply because we didn’t show up ‘in our isolation and comfort.’
Apathy & ignorance reigns if we prefer to be ‘shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security.’
Think about Life as you ponder these Pope Francis words …
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“… is something to be experienced, something to be known and lived only through giving it away, through giving ourselves away.
“The spirit of the world tells us to be like everyone else, to settle for what comes easy. Faced with this human way of thinking, “we must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and for the world”
(Laudato Si’)
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Look.
It is easy to do, and be, what others suggest us to be.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson suggested … in a world, and society, which is constantly trying to make you something other than yourself … remaining true to yourself and your purpose is the greatest accomplishment.
Well.
The only way to remain true to yourself is … well … actually … to get out there and give yourself away on occasion. Share the good stuff with the world and the more the world, and people, embrace the aspects as good & useful.
Not only do you better the world in some small form or fashion … you remain true to yourself.
Anyway.
One last thought on Pope Francis.
I am not a religious person … no one would ever deem to call me a man of faith … yet … as I watched the Pope leave his plane after landing in Washington DC I was moved. What was happening was bigger than anything that I thought or believed.
Here was a man who has faith. An unshakable faith and a wonderful sense of his path that he has chosen combined with a respect that others have chosen viable, different paths than his own calling.
People, many people, shout about the hypocrisy of the catholic church and the sometimes blind faith of its followers … they are wrong. I would suggest to them <albeit their roars of disagreement would most likely deafen me> that they simply do not understand. I know I do not understand … but I envy, maybe in some small way, what they … followers of faith, do understand.
People stop listening to some important things the Pope is saying because … well … one always fears what one does not understand.
For example … the headlines scream of the Pope’s socialistic point of view with regard to capitalism.
They are missing the point.
I don’t believe the Pope, nor Catholicism, is against capitalism … they are against boundless greed. The pope is suggesting that the good of capitalism has been hijacked by the bad of greed. And that maybe we need to temper our individual need for ‘more’ with a larger view of other individuals who actually ‘need.’
Shit.
I don’t write speeches for the Pope and nor could I easily pull something out of the bible to make this point … but I sincerely believe that is what he is trying to convey.
Respect the greater good.
Surprisingly … Yogi Berra, a humble talented man, and Pope Francis, a humble man of God, have this thought in common.
And it seems, at least to me, a good … no … great … common belief.
I seriously doubt Pope Francis would ever suggest that ‘life is a game’ <so, Pope Francis, please forgive me> but the point is you have some fairly smart, articulate people in the news the last several days suggesting we have a responsibility to actively play the game … and play it with respect for anyone and everyone.
I do not really think it matters if you like baseball … or if you are a Roman Catholic … other than the fact <unfortunately> if you are not … in today’s world … you have tuned out. You need to tune in and turn off your internal “why should I listen ? … I am not one of them therefore I know I will disagree.”
A baseball player advocated respect everyone.
A Pope advocated respect everyone.
And both encourages everyone to get in the game.
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