Why We Stand

     Life is full of surprises, good and bad. Our response to either can have a powerful affect on the matters at hand, on those involved, on whole communities. Tomorrow we come together to play softball. Yes, in the face of cancer, we will play games. Disease of any type would have us stand still, for it to take control of our lives, to control our hopes & fears, our emotions, to take control of our very essence. The trials and tribulations of life want us to stop in our tracks and remain frozen by fear. 

     My friend I refuse to stand still. Tomorrow, every time we swing the bat, throw or catch the ball, it will be an act of defiance. Fear will not rule us tomorrow, nor will the unknown future haunt or cast a shadow over what we do. The aches and pains will not deter the joy of playing a simple game. We will defy cancer and disease by LIVING! We will be more than mere biology. We will not believe "Survival of the Fittest", that lie would have us believe we would be better served by doing nothing, by simply accepting our lot in life without complaint. 

     We will fight, we will fight together and we will grow stronger as a result. We will fight for those weakened by the battle for we are not alone in this world.

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less....any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.

John Donne, Meditations XVIII

For every pitch, for every throw, for every catch, for every hit, run or out tomorrow we will lift our cries to Heaven. We will make noise tomorrow! And, by God's grace and His good will, we will take that strength into the future. We will remember tomorrow as the Day We Stood Together.