Faith at bat

That may change.

I heard about Major League Baseball player Josh Hamilton from a co-worker and began to read about his journey of redemption from golden boy to cocaine addict to overcomer.

Hamilton, a Texas Ranger, was amazing during Monday night’s Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium.

He gave the crowd something to cheer for as he knocked the ball out “home run style” time after time after time. His talent on the baseball field is obvious, but his testimony of faith speaks louder than anything he can do at bat.

He was the top  pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball draft, but by 2002 he had been suspended because of his substance abuse. He spent years on the outside of the baseball arena looking in as he sought to overcome the addiction that had brought him low.

Hamilton stands out because he’s not ashamed to give God the credit for the  success he enjoys today.

According to one report his mission now is to be a “ray of hope.”

He appears to be on his way to doing just that.

Co-worker Pat Gilliland summed it up best:

“He didn’t win the derby but he did win– just by being there.”

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor