1st half :: On the Field

 Being a Christian athlete has not been the easiest time for me but through the difficult moments it has been my relationship in Christ that has made me a stronger person. My relationship with Jesus has helped me to handle the pressures of being a Christian athlete. Without maybe knowing it, being a Christian athlete we are  in the spot light more than we know. People are always watching us both on and off the field,  waiting to see if we slip up.

 On the playing field how we act towards our team mates, referees and coaches is very important. Growing up playing basketball I was always one of the better players on my team so my team mates always looked to me for leadership, sometimes though i didn't handle this well. When playing in high school my attitude on the court towards others was terrible. I would shout and yell at my team mates and referees, I was basically a hot head. In life I was saying I was a christian but not acting like it on the basketball court, I was being hypocritical by saying one thing and doing another.

 As a Christian we want to depict Christ like qualities such as compassion and leadership. I was not doing this on the court therefore not setting a good example as a Christian athlete, making it easy for non believers to ask what is the difference between he and I. As I finished up high school and got ready for college, God really challenged me about my attitude on the court. He showed me that its not only important to act like a Christian off the court but also on it.

 One verse that helped me was,1 Timothy 4:12, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."  God really showed me that by acting the way i did on the court I was making it easier for individuals to look down on me as a Christian. He really challenged me to make a commitment towards change. Even though we may be young we can still set an example for believers and non-believers around us even on the playing fields. 

As an athlete I realized the opportuntiy I have to be an even bigger example by using Christ like qualities on the basketball court too! I began praying during my quiet time into this and before games I would spend a couple of moments praying too, this way before the game I would focus on bringing my Christ like qualities onto the court too. Through my prayer and quiet time God really spoke into this struggle and worked on me displaying Christ like qualities on the basketball court. Not only did my actions on the court start to reflect my Christian values, it also allowed me to enjoy playing the game even more! Today my relationship with Christ has made me a stronger person on the basketball court and the example I want to be to others around me.