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*The Right Fielder* 11/20/02 ______________________________________ If you enjoy this free email service, I encourage you to spread the word to family and friends that we may bring inspiration into the lives of teenagers everywhere! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along to you, you can join Heart4Teen.com readers around the world by sending a blank e-mail to: Heart4Teens-subscribe@myinjesus.com Visit our inspirational web site and read all the past articles in our archives, and view the tons of resources we have there for teens! http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Teen_Stories ____________________________________________ Be sure to check out our other inspirational email list and web site! http://www.HeartTouchers.com To subscribe send a blank email to: HeartTouchers-subscribe@myinjesus.com ____________________________________________ I am sending this story out to both the HeartTouchers and the Heart4Teens lists. My apologies if you are on both lists and are reading this twice. I wanted to make sure that everyone saw this wonderful opportunity... Before we get to today's story by Al Batt, I wanted to share a writing opportunity with all of you... I received this from Nancy Mitchell-Autio and think it is one of the best opportunities to make a difference in a teen's life. I have already passed along a number of "teen" type stories from our archives to her, so she may have already contacted some of you. The deadline for the new Chicken Soup for the Christian Teen Soul book is around Thanksgiving, so you don't have much time to submit your stories... May God continue to bless all of you as you write... Michael *********** Editors are selecting stories for the book Chicken Soup for the Christian Teenage Soul®. The stories must be true, inspirational and 1,200 words or less. While a Chicken Soup story can cover just about anything, themes in this book will include love, friendship, forgiveness, making a difference, death and dying, courage, dating, relationships, tough stuff, learning through pain and going for your dreams. Deadline to submit stories is November 27th, 2002. Stories can be emailed to vromero@chickensoupforthesoul.com or faxed to Veronica Romero (805)563-2945 or sent by mail to: Chicken Soup for the Soul Attn: Veronica Romero PO Box 30880 Santa Barbara, CA 93130 Contributors whose stories are chosen for the book will receive a one-time payment for their story, a short bio in the book, and an autographed copy of the book upon publication. _________________________________________________ The Right Fielder By Al Batt There was a deep fly ball to right field. The batter had hit it well, but not quite solidly enough to get it over the fence. I watched the action as an umpire -- the only one on the field during a slowpitch softball tournament game. There was a runner on third base and there was only one out. I heard the third base coach tell the runner to take his time. Why would a coach ever tell a baserunner that? He told him to take his time because the ball was so well hit. And the coach told the runner to take his time because the right fielder had only one arm. That arm, of course, had a glove on it. I watched the outfielder catch the ball and the runner tag up at third. I expected there would be no play at home, but I positioned myself in case just in case there would be one. The outfielder caught the ball in his glove, flipped the ball into the air while in the same motion throwing his glove to the ground. He grabbed the ball out of midair and again in a single motion threw it towards home plate. The ball shot towards the catcher like a missile. The runner did not even bother to slide. It would have done him no good. The catcher was waiting with the ball. The runner was out by so far that he could have just as well been in the next state. He easily became the third out. The team in the field was made up of young players, former baseball players, who were involved in their first year of softball. They had talent, but they had a lot to learn. They were sorely lacking in experience. The team at bat was a veteran team. Their talent was evident in a rich history of success in the sport. They had made a number of appearances in state tournaments. To say that they had been heavily favored in this game was a given. As good as they were, the arrow thrown by the one-armed outfielder took something out of them. At the same time, it added a lot to the attitudes of his young teammates. The youngsters won the game comfortably in a huge upset. No one ran on the right fielder for the rest of the tournament. I heard coaches giving instructions before games that always included the words, "Don't run on the right fielder." The young outfielder went on to much success in softball. It was an honor and a pleasure for me to often play on the same team with the remarkable young man. He was never what you would call a power hitter. Home runs were not what he brought to the team. He was a line drive hitter. He was a pesky hitter. He was the kind who always came up with the big hit-the hit that would win games. He was the kind of whom it was said that he always brought his glove to the game. He was a gifted defensive player-a gift that was given after much hard work and concentration. Becoming a good player had not been a simple task for the right fielder. He was born with only one arm. It would have been easy for someone so interested in sports, as the young outfielder was, to feel a lot of anger and self-pity. He could have occupied a seat on the bench and asked himself, "Why me?" over and over again. He could have, but he did not. He not only played, he played well. He was a leader and was named team captain. He kept the team loose. He was able to joke about his missing arm like another would joke about his bald head. He admits that he did not get much sympathy, but that was just the way he wanted it. He did not ask nor desire any sympathy. He had an inner strength that would not allow him to quit. When he set his mind to something, he accomplished his goal. He said often that he was not handicapped-far from it, he was blessed. He felt truly blessed because he was able to play a game that he loved. He has done well in life. Maybe his experiences in the game of softball helped him to be successful in other areas of life? Everything we have done in life brings us to the place where we are. I try always to remember the lesson the young ballplayer taught me. So whenever I begin to think that the cards are stacked against me; whenever I begin to feel that I am not going to be able to do what I need to do; I remember these words. "Don't run on the right fielder." Al Batt, © 2002 SnoEowl@aol.com Write Al and let him know your thoughts on his story! Al Batt is a husband, father and grandfather who lives on a farm near Hartland, Minnesota. He is a writer, speaker and storyteller. He writes a newspaper column. He does a regular TV and radio show, contributes to many magazines and newspapers, and is an avid birder. Al Batt 71622 325 St. Hartland, MN 56032 SnoEowl@aol.com _________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "The superior person stands erect by bending above the fallen. You rise by lifting others." Verse for the Day: "And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men." 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Kid's Thought for the day: "You can't always be first." Parent's Thought For The Day "Children are God's apostles, day by day sent forth to preach of love and hope and peace." Coach's Thought For The Day "Hustle is: doing something that everybody is absolutely certain cannot be done. Earning a position because you learned it first, or stayed with it when everyone else gave up. Getting other players to say yes when they have already said no. The sheer joy of winning. Heaven if you are a hustler, torture if you're not." Deep Thought For The Day: "When someone annoys you, it takes 42 muscles to frown, but only 4 muscles to extend your arm and whack them upside the head."UPCOMING TOPICS FOR ALL-STARS --The Youth Church of Faith Community Church in Janesville, WI If you are in 6-12th grade and live in the southern Wisconsin/northern Illinois area and would like to check us out, we meet every Sunday night from 6:30-8:00 PM at Faith Community Church which is located at 2931 Lucerene Dr. in Janesville, WI. (About 4-5 blocks south-east of The Skating Place.) Currently we have students from Fort Atkinson, Milton, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Orfordville, Clinton, Beloit Memorial, Beloit Turner, South Beloit, and Hononegah. E-mail me back if you have any questions about our weekly meetings or would like to come to any of our events that are listed below... We have way too much fun and then, most importantly, talk about issues that are relevant to you as a teenager. Here are our upcoming topics: All-Star Topics 11/24 -- "Feel the Noise" a candid discussion of your favorite music! 12/1 -- Teen Pregnancy 12/8 -- Abortion 12/15 -- What does the Bible say about alternative lifestyles? 12/22 -- Christmas Drama Presentation 12/29 -- Christmas Party at the Schwandt House! 1/5 -- Macho Man Project (Guys), Mentoring Modesty (Girls) 1/12 -- Going off to College ("I'm finally free to do what I want, right?") Core Group: 11/27 -- No Core Group 12/4 -- Tyranny of the Urgent 12/11 -- Time Management 12/18 -- Spiritual Report Card 12/25 -- No Core Group (Spend Christmas with your family) 1/1/03 -- No Core Group (Spend New Years with your family) 1/8 -- Friendship Evangelism Challenge 1/15 -- Friendship Evangelism Challenge Part 2 _________________________________________ UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS November 11/23 Chili Supper Fundraiser for our annual winter retreat at Fort Wilderness. Dinner at the church from 4-7 PM. Tickets $5 11/24 New Believer Class 5:00 - 6:30 PM at church. December 12/1 New Believer Class 5:00 - 6:30 PM at church. 12/7 Youth Leader Hot Seat 10 - 2 PM (Bring $3 for pizza and pop) 12/8 New Believer Class 5:00 - 6:30 PM at church. 12/9 Skating at Skating Place. ($3) 12/14 Salvation Army bell ringing at Woodmans in Janesville. Manning the kettle from 10 - 8 PM. 12/28 Play Station 2 Sports tournament at church from 1 PM - 8 PM. (Guys only) 12/29 Christmas party at the Schwandt House 6:30- 9 PM. _________________________________________ Author MICHAEL T. POWERS www.Heart4Teens.com "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 ___________________________________________ Would you like to see your story in Heart4Teens.com? Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here: http://www.Heart4Teens.com/guidelines/ ___________________________________________ "I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!" SUBSCRIBE: To become a Heart4Teens.com Member send a blank e-mail to: Heart4Teens-subscribe@myinjesus.com Then get ready to laugh, cry, and be deeply touched by some of the best stories on the Internet! __________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: Send a blank e-mail to: Heart4Teens-unsubscribe@myinjesus.com __________________________________________ Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm __________________________________________ |
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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