A quick reflection on last night's baseball game, and a thought that comes from within.
Aaron's team played their last ball game last night. They ended up losing 5-3 but it was a fantastic ball game. Both teams played very well and played very hard. We were in New Athens, OH. Two plays that obviously stood out to me as a proud father:
- man on first, one out, Cadiz is rallying. A hard grounder to short is fielded cleany by Tommy Stewart and he tosses the ball to second. Aaron gets to the bag, grabs the ball out of the air with his bare hand. Almost in one motion he then jumps and turns towards first and throws a strike to turn the double play. Even while he was in mid-air, before he threw the ball, the opposing coach yells "what a fantastic double-play". Simply amazing to watch.
- late in the game Cadiz is rallying again and we are attempting to keep them close. Man on 3rd with one out. The batter hits a flair over the right side of the infield, close to first. Aaron takes off at the crack of the bat but doesn't seem to have a chance of getting to the ball for the catch. The 3rd base coach sends the runner from 3rd to score. Amazingly, Aaron gets to the ball and makes the catch. Even more amazingly, he then leaps and throws the ball towards third, seemingly without looking. Of course, the ball bounces one time right to the 3rd baseman covering. Double play. Phenomenal.
Why do I share these comments? Am I bragging about my son? Of course. But the main reason I share these comments is that I am blessed. So blessed. When I am in my last days and think about the joys of my life, there will be seminal events that make the list. But they will rank lower than the simple joys. Like these:
- a smile on my wife's face when I've done something to please her, or cracked a joke to make her smile. When I see her self-worth at a maximum, then I know that I am doing what I should be doing as a spouse and friend.
- an accomplishment by my children because they were prepared for the opportunity and then made the best of it. While this includes a baseball play or two, it also includes a softball play or two, a musical performance or two, a dance recital or two, a church activity or two, etc.
My fondest memories are populated by the look of accomplishment on the face of loved ones when they know that they have utilized their potential, maximized it, and humbly moved on to the next challenge.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Fathers
If a man could grow wings
And learn how to fly
Sail over the highest mountains
To the very top of the sky
If a man could have strength
A might that could overcome all things
A power to push through and advance
An eternal source of energy to go with those wings
If a man could have reason
A wisdom to choose what is right
The courage to take the right path
To go with his endurance and flight
If a man could be fragile
And dependent on his family and friends
And know that his travels, his will, and his knowledge
Were all due to the life of his children
Then that man would indeed have it all
And would have achieved the greatest of pay
The very moment he was first called Dad
And honored on Fathers' Day
And learn how to fly
Sail over the highest mountains
To the very top of the sky
If a man could have strength
A might that could overcome all things
A power to push through and advance
An eternal source of energy to go with those wings
If a man could have reason
A wisdom to choose what is right
The courage to take the right path
To go with his endurance and flight
If a man could be fragile
And dependent on his family and friends
And know that his travels, his will, and his knowledge
Were all due to the life of his children
Then that man would indeed have it all
And would have achieved the greatest of pay
The very moment he was first called Dad
And honored on Fathers' Day
Saturday, June 4, 2011
The Diamond
I have to admit that I am excited. Aaron makes his season baseball debut today. The season is half over but he broke his finger as the season started and was just cleared to play this past Thursday. We have been away from the diamond for a while. Aaron is a gifted fielder and I think his hitting is catching up. I'm anxious to see him back out there.
From Field of Dreams courtesy of IMDB:
"Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."
From Field of Dreams courtesy of IMDB:
"Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."
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