............
This week was Justin Ray Harvey's Birthday. Justin is a true champion who reminds me of the martial lesson:
'When not interfered
with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. ....
This particular martial art law rekindles in me the memory of my childhood friend,
Grant. I do not know why we became such good friends. Grant could not play sports really, learn things as other children do. He never understood
things as other children do. ....
....
Where is the natural
order of things in my friend?' ....
....
'I believe that when
a child like Grant, 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.' ....
....
When I was 10 Grant and I had
walked past a park where some boys I knew from cub scouts were playing
baseball. Grant asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' ....
....
I knew that most of
the boys would not want someone like Grant on their team, but I also understood
that if my friend 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 I knew from my cub scout
pack and asked (not expecting much) if Grant could play. The boy, Steve Graham,
looked around for approval and then said, 'We're down 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 his leg braces Grant struggled over
to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, I watched with a small tear in my
eye and warmth in my heart. ...
....
In the bottom of the
eighth inning, Grant's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. ....
....
In the top of the
ninth inning, Grant borrowed my friend Steve's glove and played in the right field, in place of Steve. 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, Grant's team scored again. ....
....
Now, with two outs
and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Grant was
scheduled to be next at bat. ....
....
At this juncture, do
they let Grant bat and give away their chance to win the game? ....
....
Surprisingly, some of Steve's teamates looked to him but Grant
was given the bat by a boy I didn't know. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Grant
didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
....
....
However, as Grant
stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was
putting winning aside for this moment in Grant's life, moved in a few steps to
lob the ball in softly so Grant could at least make contact. ....
....
The first pitch came
and Grant swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward
to toss the ball softly towards Grant. ....
....
As the pitch came
in, Grant 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. ....
....
Grant 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, 'Grant, run to first! ....
....
Run to first!' ....
....
Never in his life
had Grant 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,
Grant awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the
base. ....
....
By the time Grant
rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball and 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. ....
....
Grant ran toward
third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward
home.....
....
All were screaming,
'Grant, Grant, Grant, all the Way Grant' ....
....
Grant 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! ....
....
Grant, run to
third!' ....
....
As Grant rounded
third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet
screaming, 'Grant, run home! Run home!' ....
....
Grant 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', boys
from both teams helped bring a piece of civility and humanity into this
world'. ....
....
I moved away that summer.
Years later, I was told grant died that winter, having never forgotten his being
the hero...
....
The crude, vulgar,
and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about
decency is too often suppressed. ....
....
We all have
thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order
of things.' ....
....
The defining trait
of a true Martial Artist and warrior is how one treats the least fortunate
amongst them....