Friday, February 25, 2011

Where Does Your Identity Lie

What's up everybody? So, two weeks ago I reported to Spring Training. I came in better shape than I've ever been in (as baseball players we are genetically engineered to say that every spring even when we're fat). But, I truly believe I was better prepared to play ball this year than ever before. This was supposed to be my year. Everyone I know, and don't know, was telling me this was my year to win the Cy Young. I had thrown 7 bullpen sessions in preparation to face hitters for the first time, and everything was going great. I honestly can't remember a time where my delivery and overall confidence in my stuff was even close to where it is now. But, God had different plans than all that for me this year. While facing hitters the first time I felt a twinge in my elbow, and long story short I am scheduled to have Tommy John surgery on monday morning. Season over, no Cy Young, no competing,...nothing. But, let me say this. I have learned more about myself in the last two days than in the last five years combined. Here is what I've learned...my status/success in baseball doesn't define me, not even close. I have been amazed at how much peace i've felt through all this. My wife has made that easy, as she has kept her amazing positive attitude throughout. Another thing I've learned is that I have been EXTREMELY blessed with some of the best friends and teammates a person could ever ask for. Before I left the clubhouse my teammates all showed me so much support it literally has been eye opening. I have been so much in awe of how fortunate I am that I haven't even had time to think about being hurt. Praise God for that.
Another thing I know is that I could not have done anything differently coming in to spring. My ligament had been partially torn twice before so it has finally reached it's breaking point. I'm okay with that. I absolutely hate the idea of missing this season with teammates. I think we have a real good shot to win the World Series. The group we have is really special, and I'll have my pom pom''s out in full force. But here's the deal. This injury, the one that makes me miss an entire year of baseball, has allowed me to stop missing what is right in front of me. I am blessed with an amazing God. A God who continues to teach me lessons in mysterious ways. I'm blessed with an amazing family. I'm blessed with friends who really care for me, and I have felt it this week. And I'm blessed with teammates that started out as friends and have become family. I believe this to be a test from God, and it has opened my eyes. I believe I can still greatly impact God's Kingdom from this disabled list. And if any of you people who I just bragged about catch me slippin....please slap me around. Thanks for reading.

my identity?
-adam wainwright ...follower of Christ

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey adam, my name is jonathan white. I'm lance and dayna chapmans nephew. I've been a big fan of yours since lance started hunting with you but this post just earned a ton of more respect from me. And this is coming from a die hard cubs fan so its not easy for me, haha. Its nice to know that there are still athletes out there who are willing to take a stand for christ even in the face of adversity. I'll be praying for you through your operation and rehab and how you come back better than ever next year, except against my cubbies, haha.

Eric Chiz said...

Adam, I know your a busy person and I know your going through a lot right now with surgery coming up, But i just wanted to say thank you for this encouraging blog. I'm Eric Chiz and I play baseball for North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro NC. I was recently throwing a bullpen and felt the same twinge in my elbow. I was just informed that I have a completely torn UCL in my elbow, requiring Tommy Jon surgery to repair. The last couple of days have been the hardest days of my life, I have been so angry with God and asking why this has happened. I have been praying constantly for God to show me peace and to give me closure. I know he has a plan that I'm not supposed to understand. I just wish I had better understanding of the situation. I had shoulder surgery back in October of 2009 and rehabed back and beat the odds. This past fall while fall practices, I was throwing harder than ever. I was so excited about this season only to injure my elbow causing my season once again to be taken away. When i saw that you had also injured your elbow I thought to my self that if he can stay positive then so can I. I believe that God uses times like these to test our faith, So thank you for being a brother in Christ and staying positive. Proverbs 27:17. You are an Iron Man for Christ sharpening men like me. Thank you again and good luck with your surgery. I will be praying for a quick recovery.

Stacey Moore said...

Adam, Just by reading the two comments above it is evident that, while on the DL or not, you are impacting God's Kingdom. I honestly teared up when I heard the news about your elbow, and while it was partially because this loss means less winning for my Cardinals, the tears were more for the long road ahead of you. Praise God for his blessings of peace and support! Can't wait to see you take the mound again, but until then know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Stacey Moore

Unknown said...

Adam, you truly are a man of God and your great faith is extremely encouraging. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and God bless you throughout your journey ahead.

Unknown said...

Adam,

Hang in there, man. My family had an opportunity to briefly meet you during your rehab in Springfield, MO. We haven't stopped telling the story since. Your wonderful sincerity, patience, stability, and genuineness was striking. It's rare to be able to feel that kind of strength and character from a person in such a "passing" and "fleeting" encounter. We were truly impacted. In fact, your autograph on a baseball has become one of our family treasures - and not just because you are an impressive ballplayer (although there is that!). Because an encounter with such an obvious man of God is memorable. "Iron sharpens iron, just as one man sharpens another." Your ability to play baseball this season has been significantly impacted, but your presence and integrity - your ability to sharpen other men - has only been improved. My only prayer for you that perhaps may not be offered by others is that you feel the permission to grieve this season. You are a man. You have an amazing testimony and experience to offer from your position - but you are still a man. Men must grieve. Our grief is a gift from God. It is a process that walks us through a growing experience like no other. As fellow believers, my family to yours, we love you. Walk with God, Adam.

- Kevin Reynolds (krcounseling@gmailcom)

Jimmy Mustion said...

Thanks Adam for this! I needed to read this as much as you needed to write it. God bless on you this journey. Praying for the fastest recovery in tommy john history.

Anonymous said...

You are the man Adam. Way to get your head up. Hang in there, I'm sure you'll come back stronger then ever. I made sure to wear my Wainwright jersey Thursday to show my support!

All the best!

Morganne Motos said...

Thanks for being such an amazing Godly example for so many people in this ungodly world we seem to live in. It is a joy to see someone use their talents to glorify God. 2 Cor: 8-9 reminds us that "We are hard pressed on everyside, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned;struckdown, but not destroyed." Keep looking for what God has for you during this time of trusting him. Thanks Adam, think of the extra time you can spend with those sweet girls!!! We will continue to cover y'all in prayer.

Morganne Motos

Anonymous said...

Waino! Huge Cards fan here, but bigger Jesus fan! You've got the right approach! I'm dealing with a spinal cord injury that resulted in me becoming a 'quad.' As a believer, it makes a greater testimony to not blame God...but Satan. Both are real entities, but let's [you and I] determine to not let Satan steal any glory away from our Savior!

waino said...

One thing about believing in Christ that is awesome.....there's no blaming. Only rejoicing. Why was I even given a life to live, or a story to tell? That is what I'm realizing. I'm pretty fortunate...period

Unknown said...

Waino, as a Cards fan it was sad news to hear of the ligament tear. I know that after the hard work you'd put in to have this happen was not what you had expected. God gives us blessings all around us to help encourage us as He walks through trials with us. Last November I was healthy and went in for a routine checkup only to have them find I had a cancerous tumor. Four weeks later I was doing chemo and radiation concurrently and facing a Christmas much different than I had expected.

Every day of this journey the family God has blessed me with has been a refuge to me, and He has sustained and comforted me through it all. I still have a surgery and recovery to tackle in the coming days, just like you. Between the doctors and His healing touch we'll be well and strong. God is always faithful, and I beleive both yours and my best days are on the other side of our respective trials. You'll be in my prayers.

Blessings,

Mike

Anonymous said...

Adam...my entire family are Cardinal fans but like you were are bigger fans of our Savior, Jesus Christ! Thank you so much for your witness here, on the field, and off the field. May God continue to bless you, your family and your witness for him. Our prayers are for a speedy recovery and back on the hill for the Cardinals and Jesus Christ! Your Brother in Christ, Rick Holman

David Fischer said...

I can only imagine the agony all of this has brought you. I pray your tears of sorrow may be planted in Christ's righteousness, that He may be your hiding place. From one who has had numerous surgeries but never facing the tempations you must face, I pray that Christ may bring His glory and beauty to shine in and through your life during this difficult time. God's Hiddnenness is not His absence. Because you united with Him in death, you will be with Him in glory. Ironically I am having surgery with Dr. Paletta coming up soon. I am with you in spirit. I will be praying for your knowledge of Christ may bear greater and greater of how wide and how deep and how long is His love for you during this trying time. I will always be a big fan of you on the field but a brother in Christ through all of life. God Bless, David Fischer

Anonymous said...

Adam good luck with the surgery. Cardinal nation will miss you. You are in all our prayers. It sounds like you have a great support system which is wonderful. so now all you can do is get better for next year and help the other pitchers out with the knowledge you have. great to see your staying positive, everything will work out in the end. and remember there is always something to learn from every event in life no matter how big or small. take care.


sincerely,
Craig Parkin

Unknown said...

I know what a special player and person you are; I have for a long time. I always follow my "team" and support them thru thick and thin. I'm impressed you are taking this like a real Christian would and I know you'll come back stronger than ever. I would be flattered if during your time on the DL you would honor me with an interview for my free Cardinal podcast. Contact me at redbirdpodcast@gmail.com. If not, I understand and wish you a complete recovery.
Freddie

Anonymous said...

Hi Adam,

Big Cardinal fan here. Praying your surgery goes well tomorrow and you recover to lead the Cardinal rotation for many years to come. The Cards are blessed to have great individuals like you on their team and you are blessed with a golden arm. May the Lord also give you the courage to handle this. In our homily today our priest focused exactly on this topic. Very timely. We will miss you greatly on the hill this year but your outlook of realizing there is a reason for all of this is a very good one. Best of luck and we look forward to seeing you again very soon.

Anonymous said...

HELLO MR.WAINWRIGHT,IT IS SO WONDERFUL TO SEE A MAN OF GOD NOT AFRAID TO GIVE GOD THE GLORY AND THINK THAT HE DOES ALL HE DOES WITHOUT GOD, YOU ARE TRULY AN INSPIRATION TOO ME AND IT HELPS ME BELIEVE THAT MY FAVORITE SPORT IN THIS WORLD IS NOT TURNING AWAY FROM OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, WE WILL MISS YOUR ARM BUT I AM GLAD TO HAVE YOUR SPIRIT WITH US THROUGH THIS SEASON OF CARDINALS BASEBALL YOUR BROTHER IN CHRIST, DONNIE GREENWOOD, GO CARDINALS

Anonymous said...

Adam I thank God for your witness to the team, your fans and the world. God will continue to give you the grace and peace as you walk in faith. We are being refined in our testing because God has our best interest and that is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.

Soup's oldest bro,
you are in my prayers--Larry

Anonymous said...

Adam,

I have been a redbird fan since I was little- I used to ride the RedBird express to the games in High School-- it is so refreshing to see and read about an athelete of your caliber-- the Cardinals have always been that to me-- even though I now live in Northern California, I listen and follow the RedBirds faithfully on XM radio.
My prayers for you to have strength go out to you and your family--- I too believe the Cards will have a great winning season..
Pooh Bear-- in Lotus

kevinedelbrock said...

Hey Adam, it's Kevin with baseball chapel in Houston. Powerful letter. Thanks for sharing it. I'd like to share it with our minor league guys this weekend. No matter the profession, our identity needs to be in Christ...He's the only thing that lasts.

suzola said...

God is awesome. You are awesome Adam. I will be there with you and your pom poms rooting for the Cardinals.

Randy Harris said...

Adam, God bless! I hope that all goes will with the surgery and rehab. Looking forward to seeing you pitch again. More importantly thank you for your witness for Christ. Randy

Hannah said...

It's great, Adam that even though you are out for the season you are still praising God for His goodness!! I am praying for you while you are recovering! It's great to have chirstian Ballplayers like yourself!!!! :) Can't wait to see you back next year-I'm a BIG fan of your's!!!! God Bless you!! :)

Hannah said...

Thank you so much for this post. It encouraged me to be thankful for the things I have and glory in Christ alone, not in worldly gain. It is so encouraging to see men like you taking a stand for Christ. Your great love for Christ is clearly evident and I appreciate that. I will be praying for you and your family as you go through this year but your positive attitude is a great example!