He has been working at this field for years. Literally. A few years back, a friend of his was the head coach for the high school baseball program. They decided to begin a project to renovate one of the old baseball fields in town. When I was in school a few years ago...(no need to waste time with details)...our spring sports teams started playing out at the new sports complex that was built by the city. It was beautiful. And it still is. The coaches decided to make the old field in town as attractive to play on as the complex fields because our JV team played on that field as well. It was a huge stretch of a project that has taken them years to finish. And many hands have played a part in making something old, new again.
As Coach and I walked around the field today and admired all the hard work that has been put into this project, I decided I wanted to share a bit of my gratefulness with all of you. So many people have donated time and money to this project. And for what?
A paycheck?
Nope.
A piece of the money that will come in from this great improvement?
Nope.
No money will come in as a result of the work these people did. But so many hands contributed. What happens now?
Well, many kids will have the opportunity to not only play on a field that looks better, but they'll be able to be in the presence of people who cared enough to put forth a little effort. The dugouts were built by a very special man and his son. A friend of ours...and an important person to the community. His grandchildren will benefit from the work he put in for others. It is a blessing beyond what you can imagine.
The dirt work that was done by a local man, was done for the kids of this community. Because someone came up with an idea to better something in this town...and others wanted to take part.
The signs were made and hung up because people's businesses throughout town wanted to sponsor this project. To be a part of something that made the community better...and set an example for the young people of this town.
The fence posts and boards were put up by the coaches and friends. Their hands...their tools...their time...(the time that was spent on this project is amazing). Not because the coaches wanted a pat on the back, but because they wanted the boys to be able to play on a field they could take a little pride in.
The numbers on the fence and the gates were made by the high school welding teacher and JV head coach...on his own time. Because he cared enough to do it.
I realize, not every boy in this town plays baseball. And some kids will never step foot on the field, nor will they care to. But what they can see when they drive by is a sense of pride in a small town. In this day and age...it is hard to find people who will do something for nothing. It isn't impossible. I see good being done all around us. It is encouraging and gives us hope for our future generations.
In the movie Field of Dreams, there is a part that drives this point home...
Ray Kinsella: I did it all. I listened to the voices, I did what they told me, and not once did I ask what's in it for me.
Shoeless Joe Jackson: What are you saying, Ray?
Ray Kinsella: I'm saying? what's in it for me?
Life is like that. We think we are doing something for the right reasons only to find out through our disappointment in the end result, that we weren't really doing it for the right reason at all.
This field...
These people...
These coaches...
The end result...
is a way for a community to show pride and to believe in the sense that the desire to do good for the good of others is still out there.
So...to my sweet Coach....and to my brother in law Daniel...and to Ron Ellis...and to our friends David, Dustin, Jesse, Jeff, and Brian...to all the Dads who took pride in the program, and to all those who took part in not only bettering our old baseball field, but in bettering the community...
Thank you. From a baseball mom, coach's wife, and a member of this sometimes crazy, drama filled, political, yet still AWESOME small town.
Referee of 3
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