I know. I haven’t posted since 2014 when I retired. Well, I never really retired. I just changed venues.
I gave up my high school team, but I coached two years of college summer baseball. I helped win an AAABA national championship in Johnstown PA in August of 2015.
In 2017 I started coaching an American Legion baseball team, the Gonzales, Louisiana-based Gauthier Amedee Wombats. We had a good first year, making it to the State Tournament. Then, last summer, we made it to the American Legion World Series in Shelby North Carolina, and finished third.
It has been a great experience. I got to bring together my old coaching staff that I loved so much, I was coaching the game I love. Life was good again.
I am the first to acknowledge that life is good, because I also have found my Savior, Jesus Christ. I had been floundering for years after the Catholic Church denied my annulment in 2007. I always enjoyed going to church, but I was hurt. I thought I was religious, but I found out I was wrong.
I never studied the Bible. I was preached at, but never understood what serving was about. I never surrounded myself with men of Christ or found strength through them and The Word.
Then, my son, Daniel invited me to his church because he liked the Pastor. On my first visit I realized that he spoke to me. His message was exactly what I needed. There were a couple hundred people there watching Pastor Manley Miller of Celebration Church talk to me. Obviously he wasn’t just talking to me, but it sure seemed that way. The main message was to live through your bible, and serve others just as Jesus did. Celebration Church also stresses “Life Groups” surround yourself with other Christians to share with. My Life Group is a men’s group and they have helped change my life.
I shared my love for Jesus with this year's team. They understood my need to share, but I didn’t preach to them. I just shared.
I believe that Christ is in control and it has made me calm. I always pray for others, but my brothers said I need to let God know what I needed too. I wanted success for these young men, so I prayed for it. I knew that success would bring a degree of notoriety and I would use it for his glory.
I asked during the state tournament and began writing a daily blog on Facebook, expressing my personal faith. Soon we won a regional championship and were headed to the World Series. I wrote on my page daily, and the followers grew to around 100. It was awesome spreading the Gospel and giving a daily recap. I was spreading the word and it felt good. I was fulfilling my promise I made to Jesus during the state tournament.
My life hasn’t really changed, but my perspective is totally different. I now live to serve. I look for opportunities to help. I look at everything as a blessing, no matter how small or insignificant it is. I want to start a foundation to serve and I want to do it with people I love and trust. I want individuals who are blessed to trust us enough to distribute their donations to those in need. There are so many needs and opportunities to help the less fortunate.
Baseball is and always will play a big part of my life, but I'm beginning to see a different future for myself.
