Anybody Can Quit | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Anybody Can Quit | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dr. Michael Cochran
04/12/11
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

Ball-Peen Hammer got his nickname because he was practically bald by his senior year of high school and with a 42” vertical leap could throw the hammer down with the best of them. College recruiters had been canvassing every game for the past two years and it had basically come down to which elite program could sale themselves and woo this highly touted star into their program.

However, Hammer was torn between his love and desire to play basketball or go into the ministry. He had such a passion for missions and that desire grew stronger every day. “Here we go again,” he thought. Hammer woke up in the morning with the same reoccurring thought going through his mind. He had a decision to make and unfortunately it was one only he could make.

It was now mid February and the season was almost over. Hammer had signed several letters of intent that relieved some of the pressure and narrowed the field but still hadn’t committed to play at a specific school. Practiced had ran over and he was late for a bible study he headed up on Wednesday nights.

The glare reflecting off the snow-covered road from his headlights blinded him from seeing the deer standing in the road as he rounded the curve. Hammer swerved to miss and went into a tail-spin ending up over a forty-foot embankment in a creek bed. In a blink of an eye, not only was his knee shattered. The dreams he had nurtured, playing ball at the next level seemed to fade away into some lost memory.

Hammer decided to attend the University of his choice without a scholarship. Then rehab as a walk-on through their athletic department with a determination to regain full mobility and hopefully try out for the squad the following season. His dad had always said. “Son, winning is no more than this: To rise each time you fall.” That was always encouraging as a young athlete when things weren’t going so well, but never did it have as much meaning as it did now.

There were many occasions that Hammer could’ve thrown in the towel and given up, but he remembered the sign posted in his old high school locker room that read, “Anybody can quit.” It was short but said it all. Over the next year he hung in there, maintained his faith and stayed in touch with his dream and commitment. Actually enjoying the journey that laid between where he was now and where he was going. The next season came after what seemed to be an eternity and Hammer made the team. He wasn’t getting much playing time, but he continued to work hard to get his game back. After two years, his opportunity came and his persistence paid off. Hammer was having the “Outbreak” year that he’d often imagined as a kid growing up.

Hammer was certain for the next level when his college days were over, but remained faithful in his love for missions. He spent each summer doing missionary work in “Third World Countries.” And, knew that his basketball days were short in comparison to the plans the Lord had for him in the mission field.

Trust Him to carry you. Deuteronomy 1:31 says, “And you saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now he has brought you to this place.” (NLT)

The End

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.