Perfection…

Ten year old Shaya's father prayed silently as they walked through the park. Shaya had a learning disability. "God, everything You do is done with perfection." he prayed, "But my child cannot understand things that other children do… My child cannot comprehend as other children do… Where is Your perfection?… Where is the perfection in my son, Shaya?" As they continued along the path, they approached a group of neighborhood boys Shaya knew who were playing baseball. They seemed to be having so much fun that Shaya asked his father, "Do you think I could play with them, Dad?" Shaya's father knew that his son was not at all athletic, and knew little about playing baseball, and that most boys would probably not want him on their team… But he also understood that if his son could play, it might give him confidence and a sense of belonging. Shaya's father approached the boys and asked if Shaya could join them. The boys looked at one another. One boy spoke up, "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 put him up to bat in the ninth inning." Shaya's father was ecstatic as Shaya smiled broadly. Shaya was given a glove and told to play short center field. In the bottom of the eight inning, Shaya's team scored a few times but were still behind by three.  In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shaya's team scored again, and now, with two outs, the bases loaded, and the winning run on base, it was Shaya's turn to bat. Would the team actually let Shaya bat and give away their chance to win the game? Shaya was given the bat. Everyone knew that it was all but impossible, because Shaya didn't even know how to hold the bat, let alone hit with it. As Shaya stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved a few steps closer to the plate, and lobbed the ball in softly so Shaya could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shaya swung clumsily and missed. One of Shaya's teammates stepped behind Shaya and together they held the bat, faced the pitcher and waited for the next pitch. The pitcher took a another step forward to toss the ball softly toward Shaya. As the pitch came in, Shaya and his teammate swung at the ball and together they hit a slow ground ball toward the pitcher. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shaya would have been out and the game would have been over. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball in a high arc to right field, far beyond the reach of the first baseman. Everybody started yelling, "Shaya, run to first!… Run to first!" Never in his life had Shaya run to first! He scampered down the baseline wide-eyed and startled. By the time he reached first base, the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman who could have tagged Shaya out, who was still running. But the right fielder understood what the pitcher's intentions were, so he threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head. Everyone yelled, "Run to second!… Run to second!" Shaya ran toward second base with all his might, as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases toward home. As Shaya reached second base, the opposing short stop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base and shouted, "Run, Shaya! Run to third!" As Shaya rounded third base, the boys from both teams ran behind him screaming, "Shaya! Run home!" Shaya ran toward home, stepped on the plate and all 18 boys lifted him up on their shoulders and made him the hero of the game, as he had just hit a "grand slam" and won the game for his team. That day, Shaya's father, with tears rolling down his face, saw 18 boys reach their level of God's perfection. And Shaya played a part in it. Shaya's father learned that when God brings a child like his son into the world, the perfection that He seeks is found in the people who reach out to him. ~Andy