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Let me introduce you to my new hero. Well, hero might be too strong a word, but he?s certainly an inspiration. And more than likely, you?ve never heard of him.

I read about Rick Short in the Washington Post over the weekend. His story was told in the June 10th issue in a wonderful piece by Dave Sheinin. About all I know of Short is from Sheinin?s article, but Short has given me a new boost of inspiration; a new understanding of what it means to follow your passion.

Short has played baseball professionally for 12 years. That?s not to say that you?ve ever seen him play at Camden Yards, and up until this past weekend, you couldn?t say that you had ever seen him play at RFK. He did play in Frederick, though, winning a batting title there in 1997.

In baseball, though, Frederick is not Camden Yards. Even though the two are only separated by about 50 miles, in baseball distance they are light years apart.

But Rick Short plays baseball, not for the fortune, because he?s never made a ton of money; nor for the fame ? you don?t find that in the minor leagues. He plays baseball because that is what he is: a ball player. I would call it his passion.

For 12 years, Rick Short has played ball in the minor leagues. Not once has he been up to the 'big leagues,' not even for what is called 'a cup of coffee' ? just a few games, maybe even some games in September when rosters expand and some games become meaningless.

According to Sheinin?s article, Short played 1,106 minor league games. And then, at the age of 32 (ancient in minor league baseball), Short got the call. At 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 9, Short got the word from the Nationals that he was being called up. After waiting all those days, weeks, months ? years! ? he was being called up to the major leagues.

Short is a fine player. His minor league batting average is .313 (and anything over .300 is considered very good). It just seems that Short has found himself in the wrong spot at the wrong time to make it to the bigs. There was always someone just a little bit stronger, just a little big bigger, just a little bit faster.

But this time, it is Rick Short that gets called up to the major leagues. And in his very first game, he is called upon to pinch hit.

It was the fifth inning. Friday, June 10. More than 28,000 people in the stadium. Short pinch hits for the pitcher with a runner on second and two out, his team losing to the Seattle Mariners by the score of 2-0. Short laces a single to left field, scores the runner from second and cuts the Mariners? lead to 2-1 (the Nats would eventually win, 9-3).

And then Rick Short sat on the bench the rest of the game.

And then Saturday, the Nationals? newest player, Ryan Drese, arrives, courtesy of a trade. To make room for Drese on the roster (teams are allowed to keep only 25 players most of the year), someone has to go.

Guess who?

Rick Short.

It was reported in the newspaper June 12 that Short was sent 'back down' to AAA New Orleans.

His major league statistics read like this: one at-bat, zero runs scored, one hit, one run batted in. Batting average: 1.000.

What do you suppose this kind of thing does to a person? What would it be like to sit and wait and wait and wait some more, just to make a dream come true? And then, to have it come true! To get the call, to get the chance!

And when you step (literally, in this case) to the plate, you make the best of the opportunity.

And the next day, you?re gone.

I?ve never met Rick Short. Someday, maybe I will. But what he has shown me, by all accounts, is something called 'following your passion.'

In the Baltimore-Washington Conference, we?ve decided to reorganize ourselves around what Bishop John R. Schol calls 'The Discipleship Adventure.' Part of that reorganization will allow people to follow their passion ? their calling ? instead of simply electing people or filling spots on this committee or that board, simply because we need warm bodies.

No, no more of that. Instead, we?re going to have more Rick Shorts. We?ll have people who have heard the call of God in their lives and who are willing to follow it, whether that is to teach, preach, heal, comfort, council, feed, clothe, or whatever.

The call is to be the best person God has created you to be.

How do you know it?s the call? I liken it to having a bad stomach ache. You ever get one of those upset stomachs where you know the only way you?re going to feel better is to vomit? You avoid vomiting because, well, it?s unpleasant. Instead, you try this, you do that, you drink this, you eat that. And nothing works. And so you give in. And then and only then do you feel better.

What is your passion? Where is God calling you? What is that pit in your stomach leading you to do/be?

It is in following your passion that you?re able to handle the bitter disappointment of Rick Short. One game. One at bat. Not even a sip of coffee.

Here?s what he had to say as he left Washington, back to the minor leagues.

'I?m not upset. Regardless of what happens, you can never take [Friday] night away from me. After 12 years of never getting a shot, this experience kind of renews your motivation.'

And in his hands were five DVDs that showed his one ? and so far, only ? big league hit.