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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 many! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along to you, join the thousands of HeartTouchers.com readers around the world by sending a blank e-mail to: HeartTouchers-subscribe@myinjesus.com Visit our inspirational web site and read all the past stories in our archives at: http://www.HeartTouchers.com ____________________________________________ Can't get enough inspirational stories in your life? Would you like to send a unique gift to your friends and family? Then order a copy of the inspirational book: Straight From the Heart "A Celebration of Life" by Michael T. Powers for only $13.95. You can order by credit card at: http://www.booklocker.com/bookpages/michaeltpowers01.html Michael is an award winning writer whose stories have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines around the world and in the following books: Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Love and Friendship, Stories For the Extreme Teen's Heart, Stories for the Teen's Heart 2, Stories for the Teen's Heart 3, Heartwarmers, God Allows U-Turns Vol 1, God Allows U-Turns -- American Moments, Creating Emotionally Safe Schools, and in the upcoming books: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Story Collection, Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul, Chicken Soup for the Christian Teen's Soul, and The Miracle of Boys. Still not convinced? You can preview his book by visiting: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/michael_powers _________________________________________ 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." _________________________________________ MICHAEL T. POWERS www.HeartTouchers.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 _________________________________________ The copyrights to the stories that appear in HeartTouchers.com are owned by the authors and are used with their permission. We refuse to run stories without the author's permission and contact info listed after the story. We also refuse to publish stories listed as "author unknown." (All of which violates Copyright Law and the rights of the authors.) This e-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but please do not cut and paste the stories to be used elsewhere unless you have contacted and been given permission by the individual writer. Thank you so much for honoring the rights of those writers who graciously share their stories with us! __________________________________________ Video Imagery --Michael's Video Production Business "I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too. They said it was the best Christmas gift we could have given them!! You did such a beautiful job! They were so surprised and so touched--they really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the video too! Thanks again!" Kelli-- College Station, TX Let me make you a video from your photos! Check out my video production business by visiting: http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery/ AOL Users click here: Video Imagery ___________________________________________ Would you like to see your story in HeartTouchers.com? Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/guidelines/ ___________________________________________ "I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!" SUBSCRIBE: To become a HeartTouchers.com Member send a blank e-mail to: HeartTouchers-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: HeartTouchers-unsubscribe@myinjesus.com __________________________________________ Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm __________________________________________ A number of people have written to us asking what an EBook is, since our book is being offered in both print and EBook versions. An EBook is a book that can be downloaded and read right on your computer. The advantage of ordering the EBook is that is costs less, $8.95 (No other charges), as compared to $14.95 + shipping and handling for the print book. Plus you can download the EBook and begin reading the stories in a few minutes! EBooks are read via Acrobat Reader, which is software that most of you already have on your computer. And if for some reason you don't, it can be downloaded free of charge at the web site. So for those of you who don't want to wait for the print book to be delivered, check out this web site to order the EBook version of Straight From the Heart "A Celebration of Life." http://www.booklocker.com/bookpages/michaeltpowers01.html |
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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