WoW

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ti-hamiltongingerale101210

A few weeks ago the Texas Rangers clinched the American League West. Josh Hamilton is the center fielder of the Texas Rangers and chose not to partake in the celebration after the Rangers won the game to clinch the playoff birth. The reason he chose not to join in the celebration is this: He returned to baseball about 3-4 years ago after a serious bout of drug addiction. He was drafted first overall in 1999 and a few years later fell into drug addiction. He was suspended by baseball and continued to struggle. He has an amazing testimony that you can see on youtube if you are interested in the full story.

A few weeks ago I read an article that spoke on his choice to not join his teammates and how it was too bad his demons from the past kept him from joining his teammates. My initial reaction to that was,"No, too bad they did not realize that Josh and his sobriety is more important than some champagne and cigars!" I wondered to myself,"What would it have looked like if his teammates decided not to have champagne and cigars and did something else." That would have been one hell of a story and a beautiful glimpse into the Kingdom come. Some of the comments people made about Josh were flat out sick, selfish, and mean. I thought of 2 scriptures as I read the first article. One comes from 1 Peter 4 and I will give you the Bryan version of what is being said: The time already past was sufficient for you to carry out the lusts of the gentiles who pursued a course of sensuality, debauchery, drunkeness, carousing,orgies, drinking parties and abominal idolalitries. They are surprised that you do not run into the same excess of dissipation and they malign you. Another version says that they heap abuse on you. Another scripture was 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except was is common to man and God is faithful, He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide a way of escape so that you can stand up under it. I found that verse especially fitting. Faith day "just so happened" to be the same day that Josh had a decision to make: Partake of the festivities or choose the way of escape. Praise God that his way of escape was faith day. Come on now, faith day the same day?

At the top of this paragraph is a short story of what just recently happened. His teammates decided to have gingerale instead of champagne this time around. His team just won the AL division series and they considered him more important than themselves. Josh said,"It meant a lot to me. It just says a lot about my teammates, them understanding the sensitivity of my situation."

There is something about seeing other people sacrifice for other people that touches our soul. I especially like how most of these guys are most likely not following Jesus, yet they acted in such a way in line with the Kingdom. Someone on the team or a group of guys realized after the first celebration that they are a team(body) and having one guy absent was not acceptable. They sacrificed in order to make Josh feel welcome, loved, and included in the group. The celebration the first time around was not an intentional exclusion, yet I imagine that Josh felt excluded a bit by not being able to join. Sure he was able to join, but he would have been stupid to do so. Take it from someone who has been in a similar situation as him. It is wise to just not go.