I received this e-mail today from a friend at work. I've read the story before, but today it just kind of struck a heart string. I don't know if the story is true, but I hope that somewhere this happened because you just don't hear about these things anymore.
"What would you do? ... you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?
At a fundraiser dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, 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 a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled come into the world, an opportunity presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'So you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the dame is in the 8th inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.' Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted. In the bottom of the 8th inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by 3. In the top of the 9th inning, Shay put on a glove and plated in the right field. 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 I waved to him from the stands.In the bottom of the 9th 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, do 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 because 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, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least 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 game would now be over... 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 threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stand and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball .. the smallest guy on their team who now has his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head.Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circles the bases toward home. All were screaming and all spectators were on their feet. 'Run home 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.'
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.' So many seemingly trivial interactions between 2 people present us with a choice:
Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?
A wise man once said: Every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
I guess I like this because it really hits home. I don't know if I would be the one to let Shay play. I don't know if it was my choice I would have been that welcoming. It scares me to stand up sometimes to things or people that are different. Sometimes the road less traveled is the hardest one to follow.
If you haven't tried Ear Candles, you should. I didn't do it that night, but it seems like it cleans super well. I shall try it ... one day.
Working hard all semester really paid off. I think that we sounded fan-freakin-tastic! This year we sang in a CES Fireside, Saturday afternoon Conference and this dessert show. It was super fun...but I am SO glad that it is over and I have my Wednesday nights free again! Yeah!
Saturday night we went and saw the comedian Marcus. I've seen a few of his shows and he NEVER disappoints. If you get the chance to see him...do it! And he is even easy on the eyes! This show was particularly good because there was one person who didn't think a joke was funny and tried to get in a fight with Marcus! I few pushes from security and he was kicked out of the show. Poor Michael J Fox...you know that we are laughing with you, not at you!
ENOUGH SAID!
