Celebrational Essay

Celebration Essay of Josh Hamilton

By: Ryan Brouwer

       Many people have heard good and bad things about on of my favorite sport figures.  Mostly it was bad for the first three to four years that he played.  Then, he just quit baseball for a while.  But after he started playing again, you heard better and better things about him.

            Right now you’re probably yelling, “Well, who is it?”  So I will clue you in.  It’s Josh Hamilton.  At first, all I thought of him was that he was an insanely good ball player for the Texas Rangers but then I read his book, Beyond Belief, and found a new profound awe for him.

            I don’t really know him except that I read his biography and watch him play baseball.  I’m not related to him in any way except that we are brothers in Christ.  I have heard about him for several years, but have only known his past life and story for about a year.  He didn’t all out say this but his life spoke this out to many people, “Ask God to turn your life around sincerely and He will gladly help you do it.”  The reason his life shows that is because he was a drug addict and was killing himself with cocaine and the like.  A few stories about him is that after the MLB forced him to get to Drug Rehab Centers, against is will, and he couldn’t quit, even after he went to several center.  But then he realized what he was getting himself into and asked God to help him quit.  As soon as he did that he fell away from drugs, even though he felt like he needed them to live.

            I have learned that if you trust God to help you with something, even with the small things like arguing with siblings, God will help you get through it.  Also Hamilton helped show me that you can and should trust God with everything.  He has showed me that if I have a problem I’m not proud of, I should publicize it so others don’t fall into the same trap.  That is also a good way to get over the problem. 

            I haven’t really even seen Josh in real life, I haven’t even gone to a Twin’s game when they were playing the Texas Rangers, so we haven’t had any special times and/or events together.  Probably the closest to that would be the Home Run Derby he had with Justin Morneau, who is on our home team, the Minnesota Twins.  After Josh Hamilton beat the record of the most homers hit in one round, Morneau walked away with the trophy after he hit just 7 home runs in the final round.  But Josh Hamilton wasn’t a sore loser and even congratulated Justin and was happy for him because he knew that winning that earthly prize wasn’t in God’s plan for him, at least not yet. 

            I would like to help people get over their problems by telling them how I get over my problems, by asking God to help and, in doing that, to admit I was wrong.  Josh did this and he has had many people come up to him and say that they showed a family member and/or friend his story and it helped them get over their drug abuse.

            So now that he has been clean for so many months, Josh has peace in himself and shows peace to those in his life and everyone who comes to him for help.

            I haven’t even told you about everything good he has done so if you want to learn more about him, or just want a good book, go to the library or a bookstore and pick up his story, Beyond Belief.