A Touch of Humanity

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, 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."

.

Relevant Pages

  • OT: Just a kids game played by kids for kids
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  • Re: OT - Two Choices
    ... The father continued. ... "I believe, that when a child like Shay, ... "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. ... much less connect with the ball. ...
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  • Re: OT - Two Choices
    ... The father continued. ... "I believe, that when a child like Shay, ... "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. ... much less connect with the ball. ...
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  • A Touching Story
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  • OT - Two Choices
    ... The father continued. ... "I believe, that when a child like Shay, ... "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. ... much less connect with the ball. ...
    (sci.med.transcription)
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