Well, hello, my friends, and welcome to the Live Inspired podcast Monday Morning Moments with John O'Leary.

So a couple years ago, I had the immense honor of delivering the commencement address for the class of 23 at my alma mater, the old St. Louis University.

Go Bill of Kentz.

Now, believe me, the only person more surprised than I, that John O'Leary was a commencement

speaker, were the professors that taught me back in the late 90s.

As I watched the graduates, crossed the stage, filled with excitement and trepidation and

nervousness, and ultimately, I hope, hope, I could not help but think back to the miracle that appeared the night before my own graduation.

Let me tell you more about it.

So I never dated in grade school, never dated in high school, and the drought continued during my four years of college.

Graduation night, it rained. The miracle of love

finally appeared, people. Just shut your eyes and consider for a moment what she might have looked

like. You got her in mind? Do you see her brown hair? Brown eyes? Some of you even know her name?

No, maybe not. Think again, it wasn't that kind of love.

The love that appeared graduation night was not physical. It was not intimate. It was not the

beginning of a lifelong partnership. It was instead the incredible generosity of Jack Buck.

Following up one more time in my life.

After the fire, the months in hospital and John O'Leary Day at the ballpark, Jack and I had

kept our friendship over the years, and learning that the boy who had not any chance at all

surviving the fire, let alone learning to ride again, was somehow

now stunningly graduating university, Jack dropped off a gift for me.

At a dinner celebrating graduation surrounded by family, I was handed a beautifully wrapped

box with a short note in it from Jack Buck.

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