The first knuckleball pitcher to ever win the Cy Young Award, R.A. Dickey poured out his life – every horrible detail and every amazing detail of it – in his book “Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball.”
It was a book that was on my to-read list (which depending on the day, could be upwards of 3,000 books), but it wasn’t the number one book I was going to read this summer. It was practically off my radar. Much like the last book I read, “The Wednesday Letters,” was.
I believe that one day my demise will be the bargain book bins that can be found at any store that sells books. My most recent discovery was the bargain book bin at the Kroger by home – and also where I work for the summer. On my break one day, I ventured to the bin. I perused. And then saw the hardcover book, complete with dust jacket with R.A. Dickey on the front. I knew that he had an interesting story to tell, I skimmed an article about him in Sports Illustrated a few months back. The book was priced at $6.00; I could afford that. My wallet was back in my department and I couldn’t buy the book right then so I hid the book in the bin so no one else would find it. When work ended, I walked to the bin and found my book still hidden. I grabbed it and headed over to the U-Scan. Scanned my Kroger Plus Card and then scanned the book – $3. I could really afford that.
Once I started reading I knew I was going to really enjoy it. The more I read, the more respect I had for R.A. Dickey and other Christian athletes who tell their stories. But to me specifically, it’s the baseball players that impact me the most. Before Dickey, it was Clayton Kershaw. Now I hold them both in high regard.
I am extremely passionate about the Christian organization I Am Second. I wear a bracelet every day. My car keys are on an I Am Second lanyard. I want people to ask me about what it means. I want to share my story with them. Why I chose to make God first in my life, why I chose to surrender wholly and completely to him.
Kershaw shares his story with I Am Second. He has a video on their website. Josh Hamilton and David Murphy both do as well. I subscribe to I Am Second email updates and earlier this week I got one saying that another baseball player would be sharing his story. I wondered who it could be. Turns out Albert Pujols is second. The further and further I got into R.A.’s story, the more and more I thought about how he needed to share his story with I Am Second and join the movement. Because a story like his is supposed to be shared with the world and not just through a book that not everyone will read. (Update: I just received an email from I Am Second about how R.A. Dickey is involved in their July baseball emphasis. I’m interested to see how exactly he’s involved, but so excited that he is!)
Dickey is extremely articulate and has a vocabulary of words that include some that even I had to look up. It comes with the territory as he was an English major at the University of Tennessee.
I am inspired by Dickey’s ability to share his story and the intimate details that he couldn’t share for so long. They remind me that we all have things we are ashamed of and sometimes the best way to move forward is to share them.
As the book drew to a close, I reflected on the moments that made me laugh, the ones that made me cry. Others made me “Oh” and “Awww.” I underlined phrases, boxed out paragraphs so that when I pick it up someday in the future I know what was important the first time I read it.
There were lots of passages that I’d consider extremely notable, but this one is one worthy of sharing right now:
I know my journey is nowhere near complete. The point isn’t to arrive. The point is to seek, to walk humbly with God, to keep walking and keep believing even though you know there will be times when you make mistakes and feel lost. You keep seeking the path, and He will show you the way.
I’m on a new journey heading toward Indianapolis and my dream of being a baseball reporter. And as I read more and more about these baseball players who are sharing their stories and their FAITH with the world I know that I will be comfortable.
I discovered my faith all on my own when I was an eighth grader. I attended youth group regularly from the time I started middle school until I graduated high school. I went on mission trips. I attended a Christian university. I keep a copy of my Bible next to my bed and meet with God daily. My mom calls me the prayer warrior of our family. And I remember what it means to be second. I keep God first and know that He has a very special plan for my life and it’s a journey I am so blessed to be on.