Sunday, September 26, 2004

Passing on the Spark of Love



Quoted from a forwarded email ...

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning
disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that
would never be forgotten by all who attended.

After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question.
"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is
done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other
children
do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural
order of things in my son?"

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay comes into the
world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it
comes, in the way other people treat that child."

Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were
playing baseball.

Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?"

Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on
their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to
play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging. Shay's father
approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play.

The boy looked around for guidance and, getting none, he took matters into
his
own hands and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth
inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in
the ninth inning."

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was
still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the
outfield. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just
to
be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father
waved
to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two
outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay
was
scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, would they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win
the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was
all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat
properly,
much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved in a few steps
to
lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact. The
first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took
a
few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball
right
back to the pitcher. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have
easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and
that
would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher took the ball and turned and threw the ball on a high
arc
to right field, far beyond the reach of the first baseman.

Everyone started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!"

Never in his life had Shay ever made it to first base. He scampered down the
baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!"

By the time Shay rounded first base, the right fielder had the ball. He
could
have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood
the
pitcher's intentions and intentionally threw the ball high and far over the
third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward second base as the runners ahead of
him
deliriously circled the bases toward home. Shay reached second base, the
opposing shortstop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base,
and
shouted, "Run to third!"

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams were screaming, "Shay, run
home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero
who
hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.

"That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face,
"the
boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into
this
world."

Sunday, September 05, 2004

Fit for Action

I've passed my IPPT! Hurrah! I've made the Silver timing by 2 seconds! Nothing to be proud of actually, but well, my efforts have paid off.

I've been putting in effort to run 3 times a week to get into shape. Seriously, it is not easy, especially since age is catching up with me. I'm no longer the 21 year old chap who can regain his fitness with a few weeks of training!

Alright, having another $200 in the bank, my next goal is to make the Gold standard by the next IPPT. Hope I can really do it!