Dear Letourneau family,
In the fall of 2001, I met an incoming freshman who was nice enough, but who possessed no particularly special qualities. As the fall progressed, this young man proved himself to match the impression I was given at the beginning, average, normal, middling. It is also worth noting that this student came to Letourneau University primarily to play baseball. While he knew the education was high-quality, the true level of quality did not register with him.
As fall turned to winter the first semester ended, and after a short break, the spring semester ensued. This point in time marked what the young man had anticipated, and had seemingly waited his entire life to begin; baseball season. It is entirely fair to say that he had been building towards this moment since 6-year old t-ball. He had grown up building his entire identity around being a baseball player, and he was good; exceedingly good some said as he played the game as a boy then as a young man.
As the season began he activated every tool and element of training he has accumulated in 18 years of life and he earned a starting position as a freshman. On some level you might say that all of the time and energy spent working towards this moment was paying off. The sacrifices, the commitment, the work, by anyone’s observation, seemed to be worth it. This young man was excelling at his craft. He had found his place, and earned his position. From the outside, this young man set a pattern to be admired.
In February 2002, the team traveled to Concordia University to play a three-games series in Austin. With the game tight, the sun shining, and traffic roaring from I-35 just behind Concordia’s old field, a ball that found too much of the plate, was blistered into the left-centerfield gap. The players broke, both possessing elite speed, both calling for the ball, willing themselves to cover the necessary ground to make the catch and do their part to protect their pitcher and their team.
Neither heard the other call out. Neither saw the other. Both felt the crippling impact.
The collision reverberated with a sickening sound of bone on flesh.
A silenced hush enveloped the crowd.
One player writhed in agony while the other lay motionless.
I awoke 24 hours later in the intensive care unit of Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, Texas. I awoke to my physician explaining to me that baseball was over, forever, that I would have to relearn to walk and talk, and that my brain had been severely damaged during a collision with the center fielder.
In one breath, I lost my ability to talk, to walk, and to play. In one breath, I lost myself. In one statement, I was stripped of my identity, of what it meant to be me. I was face-to-face with the crippling question of what it meant to be me without “me.”
How could I ever be, without me?
I came to learn later that in coming out of a near comatose state I kept repeating a single phone number, the number of by best friend, Jackie. When my mother thought to call the number, Jackie answered and learned the news. Being the incredible woman and person she was, she went straight to God on my behalf. Keep in mind that I knew who God was, but had never met, and certainly didn’t have any kind of relationship, nor care to; with my identity firmly somewhere else I had no need for any God other than myself. Despite this, Jackie took me to the throne in prayer and He saw fit to do what only He can do. She became God’s gateway for my salvation.
Four days later I walked out of the hospital, having a conversation on the way out. Three weeks later I was back on the grass with a glove on one hand and a baseball in the other. In those weeks God had done a stack of physical miracles in my brain, doing things that are beyond medicine and which could only occur at the hands of the Great Physician.
In the coming months the miracles kept piling up. God used my teammates, my classmates, my professors, and the staff at Letourneau University to rebuild my life, my mind, and my heart in a way that defies earthly explanation, stretches far beyond what I deserved, and which could only be done by His hand. Jesus used Letourneau University, in part, to establish the only identity I really ever needed; as His son. God placed me at Letourneau because He knew I would need it at a time when I was broken, helpless and hopeless. The Letourneau family were the hands, feet and heart of Jesus in my life. When I deserved nothing, He gave me everything I needed, and more.
And yes, I did marry Jackie, the love of my life! We have been married for more than 20 years, have two wonderful kids, and live a wonderful life. If you have the pleasure of meeting her or knowing her, then you also know that God allowed me to marry above my station.
My life is a testament to God’s grace to give us people that we didn’t even know we would need. Jackie introduced me to Jesus in a real way for the first time in my life, and God used my Letourneau family to guide me and grow me in my new identity. A child of the most high King.
I now have the privilege of owning and running The Small Business Law Forum, an advisory firm that specializes in law practice, consulting and coaching, and financial services. I have been privileged to build a company that offers to my clients a holistic approach to legacy creation, establishment, and preservation.
God’s grace is apparent in my life, and Letourneau is no small part of my story.
Thank you, forever,
Joshua L. Swain
