Thursday; March 16

I have been watching the World Baseball Classic this week. Not only am I a baseball junkie, I am fascinated by just how many great ballplayers there are from all around the world. I realize that there may be less than six degrees of separation between some players and the clubs they play for, but there are still a lot of people who are getting to showcase their skills and their national pride. Baseball has a long tradition in the Americas and it is as popular in the Latin American countries as it is anywhere. While there have been a lot of great ballplayers who have come out of these areas, one of the most notable is Roberto Clemente. The Puerto Rican put up some incredible numbers, but may be best known for being killed in a plane crash trying to deliver relief supplies to Nicaragua following an earthquake in 1972. The other day, I came across a Clemente quote, “If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don’t do that, you are wasting your time on this earth.”. Roberto Clemente’s lasting legacy wasn’t cemented by his abilities on the ballfield, his true greatness came from his willingness to help others.

What kind of legacy are we leaving? Are we banking on the fact that we will earn enough money to be remembered? Are we hoping we’ll write enough commentary on social media that we’ll change society? Honestly, the best way to accomplish something important is by helping others better themselves. No, we may never reach the status held by Clemente nor gain recognition for dying for our cause, but when we work to make lives better, we truly will be leaving people (and this world) better than we found it.

Think About It! 

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