When i was chewed up, spit out and booed off.....

4/4/2009, Saturday...

Here's a short story that brought me back to life, my faith, my dreams, and kept me going..... A story which is always there with me in my heart, my soul, my head and, and in my wallet..! A story about faith...

There was a skinny young boy who loved football. Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But being very weak as compared to other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever got to play.

The determined young man decided to hang in there.. who knows perhaps he'd get to play when he became a senior. All through school he never missed a practice nor game but remained a bench-warmer all through.His faithful father was always there in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.

When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team.Everyone was sure that he could never make the cut, but he did.The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always puts his heart and soul to every practice. He shared this with his father and he shared with him, his excitement. The persistent young athlete never got to play any game.It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big match, the coach met him with a telegram.

The boy read the telegram and became deathly silent.Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, " My father died this morning.Is it all right if i miss the match today ?" The coach put his arm around him and said,"Take rest son and don't even plan to come back to the game for some time."

The game began and wasn't going well. The team was trailing. A young man slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines the coach and the players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon. "Coach please let me play. I've just got to play today," said the young man. There was no way the coach wanted him to play in that situation.But, the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in.

Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes.This unknown boy, who had never played before was doing everything right. In the closing seconds of the game this kid intercepted a pass and dribbled all the way, scoring the winning goal.

The fans broke loose and his teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders.Such cheering you never heard. The coach came to him and said,"Kid i can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you?"

He looked at the coach with tears in his eyes, and said,"Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?" The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile,"Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and i wanted to show him that i could do it..."

I do know what 've i written and why 've i done that. I don't know if anyone can ever interconnect my (not sporadic) thoughts.I don't know if someone will ever try to. But do i care ?? ... i never did... and i still don't... and, i never will...

:)