This Inspirational Coach Gives the Ultimate Gift

The Wake Forest baseball coach Tom Walter who has donated a kidney to a freshman player, has also given the gift of inspiration to players, and to others hearing about his incredible, selfless act.

When Walter learned his outfielder, Kevin Jordan, suffers from a disease that can lead to kidney failure, he stepped up to offer his own when there was no match in Jordan's family. 

How many times have you heard coaches say their team is their family?  Walter not only says this, but takes it to heart making the ultimate sacrifice, most would only give for blood relative, if at all. 

Walter feels Jordan was courageous having decided to enroll at Wake Forest despite his illness, not knowing anyone on campus, and becoming a sick teenager away from home having to be in his room on dialysis.

Imagine the scene when the coach walked into the locker room one day to inform his players that he was about to donate a kidney to Jordan,  a 19th-round draft pick of the New York Yankees last June. The team broke out into applause, astonished the man who tells them they are a family, shows them beyond words.

"I wanted to help this young man," Walter, 42, said.  "When we recruit our guys, we talk about family and making sacrifices for one another. It's something we take very seriously.  

The lesson of compassion and selfless giving Walter has shown Jordan and the team, is something they will never forget not only playing baseball, but in the game of life. 

The Right Thing to Do. Would You?

Kansas City Royals pitcher Gil Meche is retiring at the age of 32, walking away from $12.4 million dollars if he plays another season.

Meche feels with his injuries and state of health, that he would not be able to play at his full potential, and staying in the game to get the $12.4 million is wrong.

Given that Meche has already made $40 million for playing for the Royals, still it is a noble decision that few people would make.

It comes down to this. If you were in Meche's shoes would you take the money, like some players have done, knowing you could not live up to the $12.4 million paycheck?

We're not talking about taking the money to survive or to support your dreams, which you may be doing now.  But would you take the money if you really didn't need it?

Obviously Meche has asked himself this question.   Some of us would not even think that taking the money is wrong, because deep inside we know that doing the right thing, and staying true to our souls is the right decision.  But we don't want to entertain that notion if it means turning down $12.4, which takes courage.

In this economy, it would seem to make sense to take the money and run, even if we were financially set like Meche.  However, he is playing the game of life to win 

the ultimate score.  His soul.  Most will never understand that.

Meche knows that when the roar of the fans is over for him, and he looks back over his life, 

he like all of us, will have to face the end of life questions.   "Did I live my life authentically?" "Did I love?" "Did I help others?"  "Did I live my best life?"  "Was I true to myself?" 

"Our job in this lifetime is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it. "

~ Steven Pressfield, "The War of Art"

Trevor Hoffman-" I Gave 100 Percent"

Pitcher Trevor Hoffman, baseball's all-time saves leader, has decided to retire at age 43.  

Hoffman told the Associated Press, "What I'll take away from it (playing baseball) is I have no regrets. I went at the game 100% and didn't leave myself with any questions.  I got the most our of what I was given."

Can you say that for your life?  Have you been living your full potential?  If you haven't, start now.  Start today.  

Giving your full potential is living life fully.  This goes for giving yourself fully to your loved ones, as well as your job or career. 

Many of us lose the very ones we love because we have not fully been present for the significant other in our life. How many people find themselves divorced because they weren't aware that their spouse was unhappy? 

Or, maybe you wonder why you have been passed over for a promotion.  Often because we don't like a job, we give only half of ourselves.  Beware, others are watching and hearing that you are not doing your best, even our friends.

So, when you network to get a better job, your friends and co-workers who may know of a great opportunity for you, won't tell you, or recommend you.  They are not putting themselves on the line for you because they know you have been "half-stepping."

Give fully to whatever task is before you, and don't forget.  That applies to your loved ones too.

See Hoffman's retirement announcement: