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April 20, 2009 - Assisting the Least of These Brothers of Mine

April has many memories for me.  It is a time to celebrate our wedding anniversary, the birth of our twin sons, and to praise God for the surgery that allowed me to continue life.

A few of our supporters have asked me why is Let’s Go Fishing Productions, a branch of our Outdoor Connection Ministries, still involved with Special Kids Day Programs and other events for disabled veterans and adults?   Certainly our current emphasis on men’s ministry and assisting local churches in reaching their communities presents more than enough challenges to keep our small team busy.

My desire to help folks with disabilities came from helping mom and dad take care of our disabled grandma who had to have both legs amputated.  Eventually my mother also became disabled.  Twenty-eight years ago my own experience in trying to recover from brain surgery, that rendered me disabled for a time, also imprinted a message of compassion for those with disabilities. I also think about my good friend Jeff Klippenes and his struggle with MS and realize that he and others like him may someday need my support. 

When I see the joy our ministry brings to thousands of people every year who participate in one of our six different events for the disabled, I’m excited to know that LGFP is helping to encourage others who can not participate in many different activities.  Jesus tells us, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matt. 25:40

Our Special Kids Day Programs continue to operate in the Bay Area because of a team of dedicated LGFP volunteers who work under the able direction of Taff Vidales to assist the participants with the various activities that make up this special day.  This year we are short of volunteers and need your help!  Please consider assisting with the program.  You don’t need to know how to fish, just how to love on some deserving people.

• Saturday April 18 - Christ Kids Program  Shadow Cliffs Reservoir  8-3   Lunch Provided
• Wednesday April 29 - Special Kids Day  Lake Chabot  8-1 Breakfast and Lunch Provided
• Thursday May 7 - Special Kids Day  Shadow Cliffs Reservoir  8-1 Breakfast and Lunch Provided.

The following is a story that speaks volumes into my heart about the kind of spirit our volunteers have during one of our events for the disabled.

 A Wonderful Choice

Don't know if it's part of someone's sermon or may have even happened, but it really doesn't matter, it will make you think. Whether you are religious or not, it doesn't matter - it's all about choices we make everyday.

"This will give you cold chills, but puts life into perspective! At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the school's 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.

"Everything God 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 God's plan reflected in my son?"

The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. "I believe," the father answered, "that when God brings a child like Shay into the world, an opportunity to realize the Divine Plan presents itself. And it comes in the way 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 will let me play?" Shay's father knew that most boys would not want him on their team. But the father 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 from his teammates. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, "We are 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 up 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.

At the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the outfield. Although no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be 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 bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base. Shay was scheduled to be the next at-bat. Would the team actually let Shay bat at this juncture 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 moved 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 toward Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have ended the game.

Instead, the pitcher took the ball and threw it on a high arc to right field, far beyond 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 was rounding first base, the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman for a tag. But the right fielder understood what the pitcher's intentions had been, so he 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. As 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 home, stepped on home plate and was cheered as the hero, for hitting a "grand slam" and
winning 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 the Divine Plan into this world."

God allows each of us opportunities each day to build a friendship bridge to someone in need.

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