As both a member of St. Patrick's parish and a believer in trying to help others, I recall the late Fr. Flannigan, founder of Boy's Town saying these words: "No man stands taller than when he bends down to help a child" and Haiti has to be one of the many countries ravaged by disease and poverty-and of course the children are affected in the greater extreme. I also recall the words of my friend John Croyle, founder of Big Oak Ranch in Gadsen, AL-- John was a star running back for "Bear" Bryant at "Bama" in the late 1970's- had several pro offers, but instead, with the help of a brother athlete who turned over his first year signing bonus with the Washington Redskins to help John and his wife Ti start Big Oak Ranch "on a shoestring" and like the acorns that fall to the ground, Big Oak Ranch has also-- John is the person who said two things that I will always remember about caring for children: 1) "Patience is being patient when your patience runs out", and (2) "One hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car we drove, what sort or house we lived in, or how much money we had in the bank- what will matter is that we were able to make the life of a child better"--
Of note, at least to me, in my friend's last remarks is his choice of the singular- "A child" not perhaps children. I am "second guessing" John here, but I think he may have recalled the parable about the boy on the beach after a severe storm-- goes something like this: "On the morning after a huge storm from the ocean had pounded the beach, a man sees a young lad picking up starfish- damaged from the pounding waves--' Say there, Son, he says- don't you know you can't save them all?" "Yesire, that's true, but at least I can save ONE" was the lads' reply--
I belong to the FruitRidge Farms hunt club (where I will be hunting pheasants tomorrow) and they sponsor the "Hunt For A Cure" Cystic Fibrosis program, our European shoot for 22/Nov will be a benefit for that cause. And Chuck Connell, owner of the Tails A Waggin club near Marion, MI sponsors fishing charters for children-
I'm not surprised to read this about John Dunkle, even though we have never met- as our Aussie friends might say: "Good on you, Mate" Good indeed!!
