Thank You, Little League and Appaloosa!

Thank You, Little League and Appaloosa! You read that right.  This past month has allowed for much introspection in my life: How I have lived.  How I have loved.  How I feel the need to live and love out what is left.

Observing the amazing journey of our Front Royal Little League this past summer provided a wonderful opportunity to see the good that exists in our beautiful community.  It wasn’t about politics or religion.  It wasn’t: “I’m right!! You’re wrong!! It’s as simple as that!” It was a community that came together to love their boys and root them on.  It was a time for small-town pride on the national stage.  We all smiled for the journey.  As a former catcher, I still get goose bumps thinking about how proud I am of those boys.

This past weekend, my wife and I (despite terrible back pain) had the joy of experiencing the tenth anniversary of the Appaloosa Musical Festival, out at Skyline Ranch Resort.  The Fedoryka’s do an amazing job putting this festival together, as do Floy Bunning, her husband, and staff at Skyline Ranch Resort.

While I have heard Appaloosa referred to as the “Catholic Woodstock”, I (as a devout Protestant) never once felt anything but kindness and warmth from the crowd and vendors.  The strong sense of family and community was felt among many cultures, void (again) of politics, with an amazing focus on good music, fun, good food, and community.

My heart, and I believe our community, desperately need more of this, if we are to survive the years ahead, in a World full of division and vitriol.  Thank you, Front Royal Little League, and Appaloosa, for giving this beautiful community a chance to see how, together, we can thrive, as opposed to simply try and survive.  I hope to do better on my end.  🙏

Peace and Blessings to all,

Michael Sean Williams
Front Royal, VA

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