Tree of Choice Planted!
On Saturday November 10th, we planted a tree outside of Centerfield that we are calling the "Tree of Choice". Daniel Ratcliff from the 13U squad found us the perfect tree, a Golden Rain tree. We wanted to provide something at our fields to remember our brother Patrick Smith. Not to glamorize the choice he made but to serve as a reminder that there are always options and that choice does not have to be made. His teammates dug the hole themselves by hand, some of his ashes were spread, and we bonded together as a family to remember that none of us are alone in our struggles. We will always have one another. We shared this scripture together; “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV
Image Caption: Thankful for everyone who came and helped us plant this Golden Rain Tree. Patrick's family and his brothers from the 2026 squad and families shown.
What if it all works out?
I am sure a lot of you are like me and sometimes overthink things or worry about what could happen. We tend to focus on “what could happen if ……..”. Who knows how much energy we waste thinking about something that probably isn’t going to happen.
Here’s an old Chinese Proverb once written:
A man in a small farming village has a horse that dies. The entire town comes to help him and tells him they are so sorry and how awful it is that he doesn’t have a horse now. He responds with “Maybe, we will see”.
Some people in the village arrive at his house with a couple of new horses to help the man. He is met with responses like, “Isn’t a great blessing to get this amazing gift?” he responded with, “Maybe, we will see”.
The man’s son goes to take one of the horses for a ride and falls off breaking his leg. The villagers come to the man to help and say, “What a set back to your family!”, the man responds with, “Maybe, we will see”.
A week later, all young men are being called to go fight in a war for their village. The man’s son can’t be taken to war because he is physically unable saving him from this bloody battle and possibly saving his son’s life.
We never know what obstacles are going to be placed in our way to get us where we need to be. Sometimes those obstacles are incredibly painful, and we wonder are we strong enough to overcome them.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Truth is, none of us know what is going to happen. We can only learn from our past and attack the next step. We use a phrase, “OwnTheNow” often. Don’t dwell on the past, don’t worry about what’s coming, and just be in the current moment because that is all you are guaranteed.
Image Caption: In 2019, our 2026 kids started the season #1 in the state going 5-0 the first week. By the end of the season they were #36 losing several games by 1 run. The following year, basically the same players learned from that previous year and finished #2 in the state!!
So, our question to ask ourselves when we think things are going astray and we begin to let doubt and worry creep in, “What if it all works out?”
Asking ourselves this question could help us reframe how things are coming our way. “Maybe, we will see!!”
The parting question for today is:
What if it all works out?
Shawnee Christmas Parade
The parade committee is already at work getting us ready for this years Shawnee Downtown Christmas Parade on December 8th. Sweatshirts can be purchased from the link below. If you would like to join us, please contact Jason Conley and he will get you added to the team.
Image Caption: 2022 Parade really helped M-Pact and show our care for the community we are in.
We have been given many different testimonies of people within Shawnee that they really appreciated seeing M-Pact so represented in the parade and us showing our pride in this community. Please make sure you are a part of it this year.
Player Development Time
Book a "DirtDogBoy"!!
Never thought this day would come but we have many M-Pact players with their drivers license now! With that, some of the players are interested in giving lessons to the next generation of M-Pact "DirtDogBoys". Personally, I can't think of anyone better to share baseball knowledge and the character it takes to play for M-Pact than this squad of young men. If you are interested we are building a system to book the boys for lessons. For now, feel free to contact Coach Conley and he will fit you with a player that would mesh well with your player.
Final Thoughts
"With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose."
― Wayne Dyer, Change Your Thoughts
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