Josh Hamilton

I just read the book Josh Hamilton: Beyond Belief. I'll be honest and say that I had my own ideas about what drug addiction looks like; they are people who are selfish and have no self control. After reading this book, I'm embarrassed by my assumptions. Josh's story is both compelling and gut wrenching. I know that many of us hear of these stories and chalk it up to another gifted athlete flushing a career down the drain. What we don't see is the story behind the story; several bad decisions that lead to one moment of weakness. From there it's a struggle with the demon of addiction. I think the rawness of the story is what makes me inspect my own life for any possibility of the "moment of weakness". I say rawness because Josh had it all, a pro baseball career and a new family and found himself at the bottom of the gutter. He was like any if us. He was addicted to crack and nothing was more important than that next hit. What I found inspiring about this story is the fact that that he turned the corner in his addiction when his grandma showed him unconditional love and never judged him. How many times do we look at someone less fortunate and pass judgment about how they got to their place in life? The other significant thing that happened was his turning to God. Specifically, he turned to James 4:7 which tells us to submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Haven't you seen it in your own life that when desperation sets in, God is there, and also a person of accountability? I have. It seem that when I need it, God sends me someone that truly cares about me and my circumstance. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the demon of addiction and the perseverance that can come when God becomes the center of your life. I was a Josh Hamilton baseball fan before but now I'm a fan of the man Josh Hamilton. God Bless