I AM SECOND- Tech Style

UPDATED to include Baron Batch's blog. I check it out from time to time, he wrote about a mission trip recently,he's a pretty good photographer, and he has no idea I exist so I feel kind of creepy writing about him. Anyway, it is baronbatch.blogspot.com


I think it is about time for Texas Tech to start getting some positive attention. (Although I think much more will be out there in the coming days, weeks, months, and hopefully years. I, for one, am thrilled about our new head coach, more about that later.) I've decided to do my part, so to all my 5 readers out there... here you go, Baron Batch's testimony.




My name is Baron Batch and I am currently a senior at Texas Tech University where I play running back for the football team. I am not good at football, and shouldn't be playing right now. I draw all my strength from God and this is why I am second.
When I was in high school I was a hot shot, big headed, ego driven athlete who had one thing on my mind and that was football. At this point in my life I thought I was the greatest, I had many different colleges after me and I craved the attention. I ended up choosing to play my college football at Texas Tech.
When I arrived at tech I was consumed by the college life, I thought I had everything I needed and wanted, the drugs, the girls and parties. God was nowhere to be found in my lifestyle and actions at this point in my life. I always knew the stories that were in the Bible but never claimed them as something that were important to me.
On October 18th 2006, God got my attention and broke me down so he could begin to build me up. It was a hot Tuesday practice and I was in on a routine play blocking a linebacker and all of a sudden I was on the ground writhing in pain, screaming and crying like a baby. They took me and x-rayed my ankle and the x-rays showed I had broken my ankle in 2 places. I was devastated. I didn't know what to do. Everything I had identified myself and found myself worth in was gone in an instant. I was suppose to have 2 surgeries to fix the break. One to put in a plate and screws and another 6 weeks later to remove them.
When the doctors went in to remove the plate and screws they discovered that I had developed a quickly spreading bone infection called MRSA. The doctors didn't know what to do except remove bone from my ankle and get to clean bone. They ended up having to go in and operate on my left ankle 7 times in the time span of 6 months. At this point all the doctors believed the next step could possibly be amputation because they could not get rid of the infection that was eating away at my bone.
Doctors told me I would never play football again and I believed them. I was at the worst spot in my life, my friends who I partied with were all of a sudden not my friends and I had nothing solid to lean on. After my 7th surgery two seniors on the team came to my hospital room and asked if they could pray for me, it was strange to me because I had never really talked to these guys and they were my only visitors from the team. We prayed together and I started to go to small group Bible studies with them and church on Sundays.
I started taking baby steps to become a better Christian, one thing after the other. First went cursing and then a list of other things that I would do that I shouldn't of. I began to get in the word and I finally began to start praying and having faith that Jesus is who says he is. I started to realize that God had given me a platform to be a football player and I had spit on that. At this point I didn't think I would ever see the football field again. My small prayers began to become more bold and my faith grew every day.
I remember getting on my knees and having my first real conversation with God, the conversation went like this "God I'm sorry, I know that you blessed me and I took advantage of the things you gave me. God thank you so much for getting the distraction of football out of the way so I could find you and see you clearly. I have one thing to ask God, will you give me back football so I can do things the right way this time? So I can use my talents to not lift my own name and bring fame to me, but to glorify you. I don't know how this will happen but I know you are faithful and you know my heart and my intentions. I just want to please you, I just want to bring you fame. The doctors say I'm done, but you say you are the great physician and I am standing on this...Amen."
That was my prayer. Slowly my ankle began to get stronger, slowly my limp began to go away. The doctors were amazed and really had no explanation how my infection all of a sudden was gone and I was getting better. I remember the first time I jogged, my slow jog became a trot and the trot became a sprint. God had restored my ankle. I remember putting back on the football pads and going back to the thing I love but with a whole new perspective and purpose on why I was playing.
When I used to score touchdowns I would pound my chest and point to my number on the back of my jersey, trying to call all the attention to myself. Now when I score I only point up to the God that saved me, to the God that was faithful when I wasn't, to the God that chose to use me! I may score touchdowns and play in front of thousands, but truth be told I'm not that good and I play for an audience of one.
My name is Baron Batch and this is why I AM SECOND.