DelMarVa FCA

After quite a "slump" my blogging returns with a few thoughts about a legend from our area, Harry Kalas the voice of the Philadelphia Phillies who passed away recently.

The aftermath of the loss of someone we had all come to respect caused me to walk down memory lane. I remembered the days when I would sit on our front porch with my father listening to a Phillies game on the radio. After dad passed when I was a nine year old boy, I recalled the hours I would spend throwing a tennis ball of the back of the house playing out every one of Harry's calls of a Phils game wishing dad was still around.

There were countless games my mother and friends would take me to in the old Veterans stadium. We would listen to the post game show on the way home and imitate Harry's calls of "long drives" that left the yard. So much good to remember about Harry and his legacy with the Phillies.

I recently found this quote in the paper regarding the man that Harry was: "So, what was it that made him so beloved?Start with this: "He treated everyone the same. Regardless of whether he knew you for 20 years or 20 minutes, he always had a warm smile and a gracious hello. Eventually, he became the voice of NFL Films, but no matter how big he got, he never ceased being supremely kind and generous."

It is an interesting thought that as much as we try to do good in our lives, we do not write our obituaries. Other people write our epitaph. The quality of our legacy is influenced greatly by our the overflow of our hearts, our spiritual condition and therefore our integrity, servanthood and character. "Guard your hearts for it is the wellspring of life". It appears that Harry apparently passed due to a heart condition. His heart certainly poured out a wellspring for all of us. So what is the condition of our hearts?

Vin Scully said:"He was not only a multi-talented fellow with a wonderful voice. He was a lovely guy. I mean, everybody liked Harry. The city of Philadelphia will just be in mourning because they loved him so much. I'm happy for him that his team was world champions last year, so he had the thrill of that."

What a blessing the Phils did win the Championship before Harry departed. But regardless of performance Harry's legacy was not about success, it was defined by significance. We make faith so complicated. We always want to "do" or accumulate results. Jesus made it simple for us, "Love me with all your heart, and second love others".

I remember early in my professional career placing results and my promotions above my people. I was willing to run people into the ground until I understood I was third (God, Others, Me). Championships, records, business results are great and a blessing but leaving the world a better place because you live is where the "sweet spot" is. Thank you Harry that winning did not define you. You brought the same passion to the booth even when the Phillies were losing. Harry was passionate about his cause and purposeful about his approach.

What will our legacy be? When the lights go off and the scoreboard does not matter any more what will people say about us? Did we live for results or to love people? Will we ever recover the time lost to our families that we pour into my career and chasing numbers?

Patrick Henry said,"I wish I could give you my most prized possession, my relationship with Jesus Christ, for with Him you have everything and without Him you have nothing at all."