Testimonies

How to spend my time?

Sports have always been my life ever since I was a kid. As a teenager, I began to play baseball year round. I would go to school, then practice for the rest of the day. Sports in California were so competitive that one really had to devote a lot of time and energy to it. When I was 13 years old, my family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. There, sports other than basketball were not emphasized. Still I spent my time utterly in baseball. I had team practices, private coaches, and also trained by myself. I enjoyed baseball to the uttermost; I could eat, drink, and breathe the sport.

My first semester at the University of Memphis, I joined their baseball team. I was so excited to be the only “walk-on”. However, being the only walk-on, I was given little respect by the team and coaches. I was the one chasing after balls that no one else wanted to get, throwing batting practice, running with the starting pitchers to keep them company. With this kind of treatment I was determined to prove myself. I began to train very hard and the coaches therefore took a liking to me. They spent much time helping me with pitching techniques. As a result I began to gain more respect on the team and more playing time.

However, due to all my time being on the field I had very little time to spend with other Christians. Lack of time was holding me back from going to any Christian activity; this included both weekdays and weekends. My love for God and the Bible was at an all-time low. During our parties, or in the locker room, or just hanging out with the other players, I began to miss my Christian friends.

One weekend we were in Florida and all my fellow baseball players were going downtown to have a good time and I had the feeling to stay in my hotel room. I got down on my knees and asked God what to do. I knew if I kept devoting my life to sports that my Christian life would cease, yet I didn’t know what my life would be without baseball. I talked to my parents and other friends, but no one gave me an answer of what to do. One person told me to make the decision based on the sense of peace. Within me I knew I had peace to quit. That Monday, I quit the baseball team.

I had no idea what to do with my time but I knew I needed help from other Christians. After transferring to the University of Oklahoma, I met with Christians on Campus. They gave me the help I needed, plus their time. Through being with them, as well as other Christians, I really began to love God and the Bible. Today I am so happy and joyful to be loving God and learning more and more to trust in Him.

Greg Rees