Is This The Key To Your Success, and The Real Meaning of Life?
This article was originally posted as a reply, within a wonderful new forum by Venerina Conti in which she interviewed Luella about her new e-book "The 8 Invisible Stains of Our Souls" http://stains.thecorner4women.com This is a new forum and Luella is the first of many professionals who will be highlighted so do go along and show your support, Venerina has an awesome team working together to bring you this latest forum.
http://community.adlandpro.com/forums/thread/510376.aspx
Because I liked it so much I thought I'd share it with you here within our BuzzTalk forum today, I hope you enjoy it....
Is This The Key To Your Success, and The Real Meaning of Life?
The quick story below is possibly the most uplifting and motivating I have ever read in my life as it highlights and reflects perfectly the philosophies of both Luella and myself. At the end I have a message for you. Do yourself a favor. Read this story when you can be by yourself, not when you have someone breathing down your back. Trust me. See you at the bottom....
Don't major in the minors.
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 I 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 team mates. 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 afew 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 the 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 knowhow 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 rightfielder 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 towards 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."
And now, a footnote to the story. We all have thousands of opportunities a day to help realize God's plan. So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice. Do we pass along a spark of the Divine? Or do we pass up that opportunity, and leave the world a bit colder in the process?
Hi I'm back.
Now wasn't that so incredible? The first time I read it, I missed something important. I don't want you to miss it. Shay had played baseball a number of times. Before that day, no one had gone out of their way to help him. He had never made it to first base before. Shay may never completely be able to appreciate what happened that day, even though it was probably the thrill of his life. The biggest thing that happened was that over 20 other kids got to experience what helping someone else can do for them. They got to feel the excitement that you can feel by putting yourself second, instead of first. The world was made better just then... from the ripple effect it had on them, and now that this story is getting out. And I too feel privileged to be able to share this story with you so that you can get closer to what may be “The Real Meaning of Life.”
I think “The Real Meaning of Life” is to help ease the burden of it for others... and feel that inner joy that helping others achieve their own dreams and goals can bring. Learning how to give to others with all of your heart, never asking what others can do for you but what you can do for them, this is the real "key to your own success", this is the fundamental underlying key to The Corner 4 Women's continuing success in all that we do. Luella May and TC4Women embarks on a new Journey helping young women in the real world through Tupelo's Juvenile hall, just another example of our dedication to helping others both on and off the internet, both in and outside of community forums. Building a successful business model is not just about making money, its all about having a genuine caring relationship with everyone you come into contact with. A business built on trust and understanding of others needs and aspirations will always be successful because it is built on a rock solid foundation.
Lots of Love and Peace, health and well being to everyone
John Elliott aka Oaky Wood & his partner Luella May co-founded http://thecorner4women.com that is now fully sponsored by http://dipetanesoutheast.com Probably America’s finest, non-toxic environmentally friendly fuel enhancer on the market today. Take our extensive free tour to learn more about Dipetane.