Friday, February 16, 2007


Michael Broussard Service, Ind. Hall, Feb. 7, 2007
Sometimes we are like the little boy who was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball & bat. "I’m the greatest hitter in the world," he announced. Then he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed. "Strike One!" he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said again, "I’m the greatest hitter in the world!" He tossed the ball into the air. When it came down, he swung again and missed. "Strike two!" He cried.The boy then paused a moment to examine his bat & ball carefully. He spit on his hands and rubbed them together. He straightened his cap and said once more, "I’m the greatest hitter in the world!" Again he tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed. "Strike Three!" "Wow" the boy exclaimed, "I’m the greatest pitcher in the world."
Ron Sellers used this illustration as he spoke of Michael Broussard who passed away recently. Micheal was one of those special Impact members that maybe very few know about, but those who got to know him were greatly impacted by his servant heart and his positive spirit. He was an encouragement to his community volunteering on various activity committees at Independence Hall. "He was always there to help," said one of his friends at the assisted living facility. "Even though he had to cart around his own oxygen tank, he would never let me attempt to carry a card table when we were setting up for something." That is one of a lifetime of examples. No matter the burden he already had to carry, he was looking out for others.
My brother Micheal was part of my Sunday routine. He stayed in the same spot during the Sunday lunches, and it was just part of my rhythm to pass by Micheal, squeeze his shoulders and say "How's it going?" He always had a positive response and a warm smile. The oxygen tank he carried around didn't slow him down. The massive growth on his nose may have hindered his breathing, but it didn't hinder his desire to help. His physical and material situations were no match for his spiritual situation. He was a child of God who served in his community, chose to be apart of the Impact family, and grew and served alongside us here. We will miss his presence and we will miss his spirit, but we are grateful for his ability to show us how to see past what our first glance hits and focus on the blessing and opportunity thatis in the reality before us. Micheal Broussard did not strike out in life. He was an all-star to those who knew him.

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