Exactly Where I Was Suppose To Be

Written by: Will Dugan

Throughout my college experience, I have seen God guiding me every step of the way. I may not have recognized how He was working in every moment, or been grateful for the circumstances I was in. However, looking back on it, He put me exactly where I was supposed to be throughout every step of my journey. In my time here at Lipscomb, I have been pushed toward Christ by teammates, the game of baseball, and the community. Which is something I could not be more grateful for.

I came to Lipscomb as a freshman after years of attending Lipscomb Academy, so I had a long walk across the parking lot. I've been a Lipscomb student my entire life, dating back to kindergarten. I was fortunate to have a Christian education growing up, and I believe it gave me a good foundation as I came to college.

Though coming to college, I would face some immediate adversity. I had my second elbow surgery in two years, and would have to medically redshirt at the start of my freshman year. Being new to college, trying to fit in and make new friends while also forming a community here, I found it tough not to be able to contribute the way I had planned before getting to school. Like many other athletes, I had to figure out my identity when I wasn't contributing to the team on the field, which was one of the toughest things I've had to do. As athletes, so much of our personal value comes from on-field accomplishments and production. I found out how quickly that can be stripped away from you.

Even coming back from my injury and after getting cleared, I really struggled to try to get back to the player that I was before. I had struggled to feel good throwing and even more so to throw strikes, which as a pitcher, is the most crucial aspect of our performance. I continued to struggle with this for almost all of my time here at Lipscomb. Over the past 3 years, I hadn't performed well enough to contribute as significantly as I hoped on the field.

Even though on the field, things hadn't gone as planned, what I was receiving off of it was changing my life. I realized I have had the most incredible support system through every difficulty. I found that God was placing people in my life who would show me where my value really comes from. I relied on teammates who had gone through similar experiences and showed me how God had worked in their lives, which ultimately led me to slow down and recognize how he was moving in mine.

Outside my team, I had many people who invested in me as a person, including coaches, other athletes, and students, as well as the surrounding Lipscomb community. What I was able to see was that none of their investment and care depended on how I was playing or what I could do for them, but on my value as someone made in God's image.

Another lesson God was teaching me was that I can contribute to our team in so many ways beyond striking guys out and throwing well. We have a saying on our team that we use all the time: "You should make yourself so valuable that your team couldn't fathom doing it without you." That has stuck with me as I've gone through college and will apply the rest of my life. Sometimes, the impact you are making isn't one everyone will see or recognize you for, but maybe you are impacting one person without even realizing it. I have been lucky to have teammates along the way whose example I try to emulate every day because of the impact they have had on me. Now, I know how much of an impact caring for someone can have because I have had others do that for me.

I've realized that the lessons God was teaching, and the people He put in my life, were exactly what I needed and came exactly when I needed them. As I go into my graduate year of baseball, I am able to hopefully use the lessons that I have been taught and help other guys on the team, young and old. Every step of my journey here at Lipscomb, God has been guiding me to be exactly where I am supposed to be, and I am excited for what this last year has in store.

Related News

Related Videos

Footer