As I take time to reflect on the Haley Fagan and Auburn players' situation, my heart has become more and more broken. I have looked at this from a former collegiate athlete's perspective, a coach's perspective, and a spectator's perspective, but I have failed to look at it from the perspective of someone who is supposed to be faithfully pursuing the Lord. My first initial reaction was " SERIOUSLY" when I read about the Marajuana and drug charges that these three Division 1 NCAA athletes were facing. The former athlete and coach in me immediately thought about well-being of the team and the selfish decisions that would negatively impact Auburn's softball team and possibly even the entire athletic program. The decision that one person makes DOES impact the entire team. When you really love your team and your school, you would do absolutely anything to make sure that the chemistry of the team and the reputation of the school is not harmed in any way. Being a part of a team is all about integrity, honesty, self-discipline, honor, and sacrifice. I became a little angry when I thought back to the encounter that Haley Fagan had with the Florida coach, Tim Walton, about a month ago. While the nation was watching Fagan for that encounter, she messed up even worse. " She had it coming" was sadly my first reaction when I read about the news. I read posts and heard comments that sounded like "what goes around comes back around" or "she deserves it." While I do not agree with what these athletes did, and I do believe that they should face every consequence of their actions, the Holy Spirit began to convict me of the thoughts and comments I made and had about Haley Fagan. This led me to put my Jesus glasses on. I've always been curious about athletes playing at the Division 1 NCAA level and professional athletes and their faith. After Haley's encounter with the Florida coach I looked up her Twitter account. I wanted to try to see if I could pick up on her character and what kind of person she actually was. I was caught off guard as I read her bio on her account which says, "Proverbs 4:23". This verse reads, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." If you look at a picture of Haley's left forearm you can see a tattoo that reads "Audience of One." The "Audience of One" being God. If you look at her Instagram bio it says, "Jesus has my heart." Finally, if you look at her most recent tweets you would see that on Good Friday she posted, "He was crushed for our sins. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him. And by His wounds we are healed!" The one tweet that hit me the hardest was posted on Easter Sunday and it said, "auburn softball fans please wear white today.... we will be wearing all white uni for Jesus! #ResurrectionSunday." In all honesty, my first thought was "How are you going to post all these things about Jesus, yet still blow it 4 days after Easter? People are looking at you as a Christian and they are going to see you messing up and not doing what is good, pure, holy, and Christ glorifying." Then Holy Spirit overwhelmed me with conviction again when I looked closer at Fagan's mug shot. I saw a girl who is my age who messed up. I saw tears, fear, regret, and sadness. I saw a broken human being, just like me, who messes up, just like me. I saw brokenness in a broken person, who I am confident, truly does love the Lord. She just happened to stray away and stumble. I was reminded of why I so badly want to go into coaching, and I was reminded why I feel called to go into the broken places. I want to coach in broken places because of the broken people that I am bound to meet. I want to walk into that brokenness and use my brokenness to relate and empathize. I want Jesus to be able to shine through my brokenness to those who do not know Him and to those know Him, but have strayed away for a moment. I've dedicated the past five year of life to studying, learning, and being shaped into a coach who will coach broken people. I'm in this for the Haley Fagans'. Jesus is in this for the Haley Fagans'. Jesus in this for me. Jesus is in this for you. The one thing we all have in common is that we are broken and we are in need of of the grace and mercy that only Jesus gives. My prayer for Haley Fagan and for any other athletes who finds themselves in these types of ordeals is this: That God will keep their eyes off of the negative comments and ugly words from those who do not even know them. I pray that they point their eyes toward Him and keep them their. I pray that they do not carry their past mistakes around with them, but instead they use it to grow stronger in their faith and to impact those around them someday. I pray that they remember that they are loved by the King of Kings and the giver of chance after chance. I pray that their identity is placed in Him always, and that they remember as Haley said on Good Friday, it is "by His wounds we are healed!." I pray they remember that they truly are living for an audience of One and that is the only audience who will fill them with hope, joy, peace, and comfort, even in the hardest of times.
37 Comments
Tami Triolo
4/21/2017 10:16:32 am
Beautiful, wise and insightful words.
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Steve Howard
4/22/2017 07:36:37 am
All have fallen and come short of God's glory. What's amazing is how forgiving our Savior is We should be willing to do the same. I have also shown myself to be a Judas to my family and friends. To act like a heathern in my walk but God forgives. When these falls take place God will turn it in to something good and remold us like clay. She is in our prayers as well as the others that were involved. I pray the Auburn Family will help pick her up and be THE FAMILY. We say we are when our kids go to the university to get an education. There will be suffering but joy comes in the morning
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Monica DePriest
4/21/2017 12:13:18 pm
Amen, well stated and beautiful written.
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Louise King
4/22/2017 06:17:10 am
To quote Toby Mac: for ALL involved....lift yo' head...it ain't over yet....
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Deidre Jones
4/22/2017 06:19:16 am
True. We are all sinners and mess up. Love her through this Auburn family.
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ST
4/22/2017 06:53:59 am
there*
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Bill Young
4/22/2017 06:59:44 am
Very nice inspiring words ✝️ I know you can stumble, the Bible says we will stumble. I pray for everyone that stumbles that they will be strengthened in their faith and not focus on the past. Instead think of being stronger in your faith and moving forward in life with God each day, which now brings us 1 day closer to being with the Lord. May God bless you Haley Fagan and all that have stumbled. I will pray for all and the Fagan family.
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Heidi
4/22/2017 07:00:28 am
I have been saddened listening to and reading people's responses. Of course there will be unavoidable consequences for these girls. Hurtful words from strangers should not be one of them.
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Michelle Coker
4/22/2017 07:09:01 am
Very well stated! We have all made mistakes.. Some are publicized and some are not.. however God forgives us of our sins when we confess.. He can turn what Satan intended to harm us and destroy us for His good and His glory if we allow him too.. Praying these girls will do the same.
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Kim Jackson
4/22/2017 07:18:04 am
Boy if that doesn't put a new perspective on the way we look at things vs the way we SHOULD look at things ...Thank you for that ...It is such an eye opener ..God Bless 😇
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auburn softball fan
4/22/2017 07:30:05 am
Thank you. This is great. I pray that my first reaction will always be, Jesus. Multiple people have sent this to her to make sure she sees it. Thank you for administering the gospel in such a gentle way. You're going to make a great coach. Just keep Him the center.
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Mindy Bruce
4/22/2017 07:53:58 am
I sincerely appreciate your perspective in this article. As the mother of a softball player, I hate to see these young people ripped to shreds for a mistake. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit living within us to be our guide, our rudder if you will. When we listen to the Holy Spirit, yield to its direction, there is no way we can sit in judgement over others. Thank you for this article!
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Jackie Roberts
4/22/2017 07:55:01 am
Thank you for sharing these perfect words that the Holy Spirit laid on your heart. We all need to hear and accept this. There are no perfect people. Prayers for all involved. From the mother of a D1 Softball player.
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Susan
4/22/2017 08:02:43 am
Thank you for sharing!!
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Betty Schulze
4/22/2017 08:04:50 am
Beautiful words for a tough situation!! My prayers for the Hagan family to turn to God and He will see you through this. The Audience of One is all that counts. Learn from this and move on with His help!!!
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Jill Allen
4/22/2017 08:23:52 am
Beautiful and wise...appreciate your thoughts
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Leann
4/22/2017 08:24:25 am
Thank you so much to the author/coach who wrote this story. I had already made a judgement about Ms.Fagen and this situation. How foolish and judgemental of me and a realization I need to get back into Gods word and back to the basics of human forgiveness. My daughter played Division I softball and now is a college coach, I totally understand the pressures of the game and expectations of players on and off the field. Shame on me and thank you again for the article!
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Sara Crowe Park
4/22/2017 08:51:32 am
We are all sinners saved by grace. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive them.
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4/22/2017 09:49:35 am
MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS ALSO OF THE TEAM AND THEIR COACHES. I AM SO GLAD YOU POSTD WHAT YOU DID. WE ALL MAKES MISTAKES AND HAVETO LIVE WITH THEM. A SIN IS A SIN NO MATTER WHAT IS IS. GOD SEES NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM. I WILL PRAY HARD FOR THOSE GIRLS.
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Don Bevilacqua
4/22/2017 09:49:47 am
Your words &insight on this are beautiful. You will be an AWSOME Coach
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Don Bevilacqua
4/22/2017 09:50:39 am
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Jan LeMaster
4/22/2017 09:53:52 am
Amen and Amen!
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Kim Hannah
4/22/2017 10:11:16 am
Wonderful words. Very hard for parents and family members, along with the girls, to hear everyone being unkind and judgemental.
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Eric
4/22/2017 10:38:33 am
Beautiful and Wise indeed!
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Maureen
4/22/2017 12:28:56 pm
Well said Coach! Amen Amen
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Rickey Honey
4/22/2017 01:09:25 pm
What is shameful is opposing fans <not all of them> have taken this as a way to try and make Auburn and these young ladies as evil but forget we all mess up in some way or another! Keep these young girls in your prayers! They are good kids!
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Frank Vickery
4/22/2017 04:48:43 pm
You must forgive to be forgiven.
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Steve Germany
4/22/2017 05:42:20 pm
I was once told that we all make mistakes, but it's what you learned and do with the rest of your life that counts.
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Kristie
4/22/2017 08:26:14 pm
Live in the now and love without boundaries. Practice Empathy.
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Kristie
4/22/2017 08:26:33 pm
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Lori
4/23/2017 04:29:11 am
You summed up our disappointment and hope all at once.
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Loretta Curtis
4/23/2017 05:24:00 am
Who among you will cast the first stone??? My God is a forgiving God.
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Fran latner
4/24/2017 07:36:38 am
Everyone is born with a God given Talent..What and how u use that talent is ur gift back to God..No One is perfect and God temps NOONE..but when we are tempted God always provides a way out..There is a reason for everything..Remember in order for God to forgive u,u must forgive urself...
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May
4/24/2017 05:21:19 pm
Blessed by what you wrote Kendall.
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Amanda Crowe
4/25/2017 02:42:50 am
Make God give you strength to use your testimony to change lives !!!
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Nancy Rankin
5/5/2017 06:25:12 am
I LOVE this piece for so many reasons ...As the mom of a D1 (although not in a power conference) softball player who is unmarried and had a daughter in August and is playing her senior season this spring I know..... we ALL fall short....some publically, some privately. My daughter is paying the price in a blur of motherhood, school, and athletics. It's tough. She made a mistake...but not another by aborting my beautiful granddaughter, quitting school, deserting her team or abandoning her dream of being a teacher and a coach. She/we felt that finishing what she started would set the tone for things to come.... You can make excuses or you can accept the consequences of your actions...because there are ALWAYS consequences to the choices you make whether you are 19 or 99...learn and move on or repeat....In our family we often say "it's bigger than softball" meaning the lessons you learn on the field and from being part of a team (from Little League to the Collegiate Level) are ones that will carry you through life. I hope the Auburn Softball girls, the offenders AND their teammates and coaches will overcome. As a softball mom my heart aches for them all.....
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jj
9/16/2017 01:52:57 pm
I pray people will stop claiming the name of Jesus instead of obeying him. People treat Jesus like a genie in the sky that that is supporting everything they do. They disregard his commandments and only call on him when they are in need. The message to the player is REPENT! Turn from your sin. Jesus said "Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but he who does the will of my father". He says "Why do you call me Lord but do not the things I say?". He says "And many on that day will say to me Lord did when not prophesy and cast out demons in your name? And He will say to the depart from me I never knew you". Satan and the demon in hell believe in Jesus. Tired of people claiming Christ nut do not follow him. Have no interested in obeying his commandments. Their life looks no different than the worlds. The message to people like that is repent. Turn from your sin and be born again.
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