Ever since I was little, as young as 2 years old, I was in love with basketball. The very sight of one, may it be dribbled, thrown in the air, or standing still, excited my state of consciousness to levels I never imagined possible. Every step I take on the basketball court, my heart jumps a little; every move I make when I play makes my muscles stronger; every shot I take makes me much more confident than ever before; and every moment I spend playing basketball is a moment of my life well spent. All of my dreams involved that single sport that had seemed to devour every fiber of my being. But during all those years with only a ball and a rim on my mind, I never imagined that faith would lead me into carrying out an ambition that, for me, appeared unattainable.
I was different. My goal was to become a basketball champion. Yes, that’s correct. It was not graduating highest in my class or being the best public speaker of my batch. The championship was my target. That one thing was clear. The road, however, was not. The journey involved deadlines for reports, thesis submissions, and finished laboratory accounts. That made the travel harder. But faith kept me strong. It made me hold on to my goal while still accomplishing all of my requirements. How could this have happened?
God.
Yes. It was Him. The Savior, the Messiah, and the Father. The universal solution to all of life’s problems, may it be mathematical, physical, virtual, or spiritual. In Him I trusted, and in Him, I shall not falter. Faith in Him was the only resolution, and I believe that He never fails His children.
During my fourth year in high school, our basketball team reached the finals. My faith in God was soon to be fulfilled, 48 minutes away to be exact. Never did my faith grow stronger than when I saw that trophy sitting at the announcer’s table, inches away from our bench. Before I knew it, it was game time.
As usual, the sensation filled my blood. That first step made my heart jump; those physical moves made me strong; those multiple shots I took increased my confidence level; and that moment of my life was treasured. Yes, I did all those things because I believed I can do every single one of them. Faith was my offense, my defense, and my foundation for success.
As the game came to a conclusion, the scoreboard read, “Seniors 59 – Juniors 55.”
We were champions of the basketball world. We were at the center of the universe. Every step, every move, every shot, and every moment was cherished. I remember that time like it was yesterday when my teammates all cheered and laughed. People were hugging each other and congratulating another. But I was different, remember?
At the commencement of our victory, I prayed. I thanked Him for the strength in holding on to my faith all throughout my life. When I was weak, alone, afraid, beaten, hungry, and drained, faith in His love kept me going. Every step I made was because I believed He was behind me, ready to catch me if ever I fall; every move I made was because I knew He was there for me; every shot I made was because I trusted that He deemed me as capable of succeeding; and every moment of my life happened because He never lost faith in me, and I in Him. Yes, faith fulfilled my dream. Better yet, faith in Him fulfilled my dream. For that, I glorify Him.
Now, four years have gone since that memorable spectacle of my life, I still have faith as my inspiration. Not just because I ultimately became the Most Valuable Player of that basketball finals match, or the fact that I eventually graduated high school with honors. I’m very thankful for those, believe you me. It’s just because every time I see a challenge, an impediment separating God and me, I just close my eyes. In that instant, I picture a basketball, the very basketball God used as an instrument for my success, and the exact instrument I used to display the faith I have in Him. In my mind, I knew faith already had done his course.