At a fundraising 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 when a child like Shay, who
was mentally and physically disabled 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 I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were
playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do 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 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.'

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 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 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 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, 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 stands 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 had
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
circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay,
all the Way Shay'. Shay reached third base because the opposing
shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base,
and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!' As Shay rounded
third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet
screaming, 'Shay, run home! 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!

Would you have made the same choice if you were the pitcher and his team
mates? Are you confident enough in your life that you can freely –
and unconditionally – empower someone less fortunate than yourself?

Ego plays a very small role in an empowered life … what role does
yours have in your life?

About the author: Barbara Rose is a mentor, coach, teacher and
alternative therapist who specializes in helping people reach their
potential at all levels (spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical).
Please visit www.barbaras-library.com for a complete list of Barbara's
articles and books. To find out more about Barbara please go to
www.barbara-rose.name.