Pursue Truth

In the 2012 Women’s College World Series, Alabama had just beaten Oklahoma to win the National Title. Coach Patty Gasso of Oklahoma asked me to come down on the field and address the team after this huge loss. What could I say to a team that just lost the National Title? The truth. As we sat there on the field with Alabama in a winning dog-pile beside us, the truth was spoken. The truth was that losing is hard and hurts. The truth was that “you have shown an entire country who you praise when you win.

Now, you have the chance to show an entire country who you praise when you lose.”

And they did exactly that; when they lost in 2012 to when they won in 2013, the team put Jesus front and center in their press conferences and interviews, knowing that every blessing that doesn’t turn into praise turns into pride. 

As athletes, we are told that our talents and abilities in sport should be the central focus and truth of anything we do, but that is a lie! The truth is we should make a platform for Christ and Christ alone. When we pursue Christ, we will find truth; we will find the truth of who God is, what God has done and who God has called us to be as Christian athletes.