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Community Corner

Just Show Up

They say the world is run by people who just show up, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.

Well, Spring arrived, meaning baseball season is upon us and that led to the past week not being a great one at the Smith house.

My son made the first cuts for his middle school baseball team, but didn’t fare so well with the final cut, though he took it better than his parents.

From the outset, his goal was to make first cuts, because he knew the competition was fierce. Of course, I think he’s a great ball player and, in particular, an incredible catcher, but he doesn’t do as well in tryouts as he does over the course of a season.

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My mind wandered back to when he started playing baseball and he couldn’t hit the side of a barn at 20 paces. He improved enough to make a travel team and he really wanted to catch, but just wasn’t good enough.

He’d show up to practice with his gear and time after time, one of the designated catchers showed up missing a vital piece of equipment – his cup. So when the coach  asked for two properly equipped catchers, my son found himself running the drills.

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A few weeks later I arrived late to a game.  I watched for a few minutes and said, “Hey who is the catcher?  He is really good!”

My girlfriends turned and said, “Your son.”

I know it’s terrible but I actually went to stand behind him to make certain it was my son.  You can’t see anything behind that mask. But he was there and he was prepared and he got the chance.

Today, I am amazed at the number of people who just don’t show up and those who disregard the civil practice of letting someone know.  We are all connected and yet it seems no one takes the time to return calls, or Tweets, or emails or anything.

The fact is, we are only as connected as we actually want to be.  That’s just rude.

It doesn’t take much time to hit the “reply” button, or drop the RSVP in the mail. And when is the last time you or your kids actually wrote a thank-you note?  Remember parents, we set the trend. 

My husband and I talk with our kids about opportunity all the time.   You must work at something to be given the opportunity to play it, or act it, or be in it or on it. Then, if the opportunity is given, you have the power to accept it or reject it.

If you are not good enough, the choice will not be yours and you will be passed by.  Choice is the operative word here.  And in life, we let them know, is all about choices. 

I had a young lady in my choir and she really wanted a solo.  But she consistently missed rehearsal for parties, sleepovers, and other events.

She chose to show up somewhere else.  So the solos went to the kids who showed up.  Sometimes she would have been the best choice, but she wasn’t there and I couldn’t count on her to be there when it was actually time to sing the solo.

Through the rehearsals the other kids really improved, partly because they just showed up.

Incidentally, after the baseball tryout list was posted, another young man, who is very “popular” according to my son, did make the team.  He has been a close friend to my son in the past.

Well, he was staying for the first practice, and did not bring a jacket to wear over his shirt. It was cold and the practice was outside.

My son gave him his hoodie before he left on the bus to come home.  My son chose to do the right thing and accept disappointment with grace.

I need to pay closer attention to his example.  How about you?

Wrap your mind around that!

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