Years ago at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or intellectually disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-meter dash. At the gun they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with relish to run the race and to finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry.
The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back . . . every one of them.
One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People are still recounting the story to this day.
Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course. "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle." -- Author Unknown
(From Sunrise magazine, June/July 2002)