I'll never forget the moment.  It is as real today as it was almost 20 years ago.  It was the 18th practice during spring practice.  The 19th was in shorts and the 20th practice was the orange - white game.  I would be the starting left offensive tackle for the white team.  John Watson would be starting for the orange team.  I had a good spring and was the leading candidate to win the left offensive tackle spot for the fall.  A good orange - white game and my dreams would finally come true.  I'd be starting for the Clemson Tigers.  I was one excited college athlete going into the week. 

Practice was coming to an end, we only had a few more plays to go.  We we're working on throwing the ball allowing the defense to work on their pass rush.  Number one was going against number one.  In other words, the starting defense was working against the starting offense.  I was going against Michael Dean Perry, probably one of the best defensive linemen I've faced.  The ball was snapped, Michael Dean tried to go inside but I cut him off, he then spun trying to get outside.  Grabbing a lot of jersey I moved outside with him stretching out my right knee.  William Perry, (aka the fridge) was crashing to his right also.  The offensive guard and nose tackle we're blocking William as he drove forward.  William pushed forward one more time driving the guard into my right knee.  My knee felt as if someone had shot me along with a ear screeching pop.  And just like that my dreams we're taken away.  I laid on the field with tears in my eyes, not from the physical pain, but the pain inside.  I was furious with God.  He had just taken away my God.  I became bitter to my friends and family.  I was mad at the world.

I never started one game at Clemson University.  That statement bothered me for years after my injury.  It wasn't until April 12, 1987 that I realized what God was doing.  That was the day Christ came into my life.  I finally stopped running.  God had been knocking on the front door of my heart for years, but I kept on chasing my own dreams. 

Football had been my God, football ruled my life.  The really cool part for me is that I wouldn't trade my salvation for a mult-million dollar contract.  My dream today is to help Christ grow His Kingdom and not mine.  The sad thing is that if I had listened to Christ years ago who knows how God could have used me on the grid iron.

Point to all of this.  Listen to God.  Quit running.  There is nothing wrong with chasing your dreams, long as your dreams are His dreams.  I continue to enjoy the game of football.  But, thats all it is, a game.