Holy Cow! He's outta here...

Here's a story that rings true of the Christmas season. It is a unique story of a baseball player...a very good professional baseball player with the Oakland A's organization. His name is Grant Desme.

Earlier this year, Grant Desme, walked away from a lucrative career in professional baseball to take up his cross for Jesus Christ. He is now studying and preparing for a new career at a Catholic seminary in Orange County, California.

Predictably, his decision to leave the seduction of wealth and fame for poverty and selflessness was head scratching to most. Why would one forsake it all for something that appeared to be so less?

In looking at the 2010 Baseball America Prospect Handbook that lists all the top minor league players, Grant Desme was ranked #8 in a talent rich Oakland A's farm system. The 24 year old 6'-2" outfielder with a strong arm and an even stronger bat was projected to be in the heart of the A's lineup in a couple of years. He was on a track for baseball stardom on a strong young team. But life got in the way. Jesus had other plans for Grant.

One day, after years of quiet prayer in trying to resolve his inner conflict of serving managers and owners versus serving the one true Lord, Grant walked into GM Billy Bean's office and told Billy, he was leaving baseball for the priesthood. A stunned but cerebral Beane said almost nothing until he said, "You cannot serve both. God speed to you, Grant."

His decision was sports scribes and bloggers fodder for the better part of that week in January. The why question was the first question asked repeatedly of Grant. Why leave baseball with so much talent and so much upside? With grace and purpose, he clearly and simply said, "Baseball is a good thing but I felt God was calling me to more. I love the game...truly I do. God gave me great ability to play the game I have always loved. But I'm going to aspire to higher things. Baseball is just a game." He smiled peacefully as he spoke.

During this past year, I have thought of Grant alot. His conflict. His decision. His faith. His future. And in thinking of him, I always arrive back to where I started, with Jesus asking me "to come, follow Me."

May you all have a Merry Christmas.