Baseball is one of my favorite sports. It takes great skill to play the game at a high level. The speed of the game and the competitive spirit of the athletes make it one of the greatest sports of all time. Baseball also provides us with many moments of great sportsmanship that shows what being a good neighbor is truly about.
I recently read about Weston “Wammer” Mazey and the kindness that was shown to Weston and his family. He is a freshman baseball player for his high school in Morgantown, West Virginia. Weston is from a baseball family. His dad is the head baseball coach for the University of West Virginia. During a game last year, Weston collided with a player from another team. It was a serious collision and caused significant injuries. In just one moment, Weston received a broken nose, broken bones in his face, and a traumatic brain injury.
Weston spent six days in the local ICU and was then sent to Atlanta to work on his recovery. It was a long journey. The young athlete worked hard. With the support of the people of Shepherd Center, a rehabilitation center for spinal and brain injury, Weston has made significant progress. He is even now back to the baseball diamond.
While in the rehab facility, Weston and his family made the decision to help the people who had helped him. They set a goal of raising $100,000 to give back to the rehab facility for research and other families who were experiencing similar situations. They launched “Team Wammer.” Before long, friends, family and baseball fans around the country were contributing to Team Wammer. They quickly passed their goal of $100,000. Soon, even opposing teams in the Big XII were making contributions. In just a few months, they have raised almost $150,000. They look forward to giving it away and blessing others.
Like the Mazey family, we all experience unexpected trials. Difficulties will be part of our lives. It is how we respond that makes a difference in the world. Often, trials will open our hearts to feel the burdens of others and open our eyes to see the struggles of our neighbors. The Mazey family experienced trauma and, during recovery, found a way to help others. We too can look to the needs of our neighbors, even in the midst of our trials.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
