Jim Collins - Uncommon Hope: One Team . . . One Town . . . One Tragedy . . . One Life-Changing Season.

Uncommon
HOPE

One Team One Town One Tragedy
One Life-Changing Se ason.

JIM COLLINS

Copyright 2016, 2017 Jim Collins.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a true story. It reflects the authors recollections of these experiences. Some names have been changed or omitted for various privacy reasons and concerns.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-7203-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-7204-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-7202-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017900820

WestBow Press rev. date: 06/01/2018

Kelly.

I wish nobody would have to experience the loss of a child, but if they do I pray they have somebody with your strength and love for Jesus walking with them on the painful journey, as you have walked with me. I know Michael is very proud of his momma bear, and so am I.

Jimmy,

There is no doubt in my mind Michael saw your amazing strength and felt your loving touch as you sat next to that hospital bed. I know Michael is proud of his big brother, and so am I.

Michael,

Time most certainly does not heal all wounds. I feel you with me, but miss you daily. You are always in our hearts, and I cant wait to see you again soon. I can only imagine

CONTENTS

The journey with Jesus that we call faith is not always what we think it will be, but it is a faith journey nonetheless. And journeys by nature are filled with victories and setbacks, ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies, and the many people we meet along the way. In fact, it is the people we meet along the way that become the most important part of the journey. This journey of life is about the destination, and the route we travel to get there, but mostly its about the traveling companions who walk with us.

Jim and Kelly Collins began as unlikely traveling companions for me because Jim coached the little league basketball team that always seemed to beat my sons team. Of course, by junior high and high school, our sons were playing on the same team and we spent a lot of time sitting on wooden bleachers watching their exploits on the court. It wasnt long before the Collins family was attending our church and would sit week after week in our services. I always noticed them because Michael sat with them and paid attention during the sermon! He actually tweeted stuff from my sermon, which is pretty rare for a young high school and college kid.

Actually, several of us parents from this unique set of friends who played ball together became friends and kept in touch with each other as our kids went to college and moved on with life. In fact, much of this book will tell of Michaels story of baseball and faith at Heartland Community College that we all lived together. We were thrilled to hear about the success of Michaels baseball teamand we were devastated to hear of the crash that would eventually take his life.

This is most definitely the devastating down of the journey, and I must admit that even as a pastor, its hard to come up with the words to express the sorrow, hope, and love that you feel for a family. But we were together through it all and beyond. After the funeral, I remember meeting with Kelly and Jim on different occasions trying to help them piece together the death of their son with their faith in God.

Its not easy, but what I told Kelly still rings true all these years later: Our good is not Gods good. He sees good from an eternal perspective and we look at good from our worldly view. As unlikely as it may seem, Romans 8:28 that says, we know that for those who love God all things work together for good is true even in Michaels death. As Jim was trying wrap his soul around everything involved with Michael, I encouraged him to write. In fact, I believe Uncommon Hope is one of the good eternal things God is doing that will live past the tragedy of the story.

This is the story of Michaels short but amazing life. Its a book about sports. Its a book about Jesus and faith. Its a story about the journey and the people you meet along the way. Im so glad that I am one of those traveling companions and I believe that by reading Uncommon Hope, you can be too. I pray it helps you on your way as it has helped me on mine.

Mike Baker

Senior Pastor

Eastview Christian Church

It was early spring, 2009. My son Michael was a junior at Normal West High School and the starting second baseman on the varsity baseball team. I was an assistant coach.

The lure of drugs, alcohol, and a multitude of other potentially bad choices was a constant pressure on these teenagers and our team.

I volunteered to lead a book study on former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungys bestseller, Dare to be Uncommon Finding Your Path to Signific ance .

We met on Sunday evenings during the baseball season. The sessions were open to all players on our varsity team.

Attendance at the sessions was optional, except for Michael. I told him it wouldnt look very good if he didnt participate in these sessions offered by his own Dad.

As we reached the conclusion of our study, we talked about legacy and how each of us would want to be remembered.

In our final meeting, I asked the players to write their own obituary.

They struggled with the assignment.

All the papers submitted, except for one, offered a simple list of bullet point items.

Some of the descriptions were serious; loving and caring, loving son and brother, someone to lean on.

Other characteristics noted were more humorous; dressed with style, played with swag, had gorgeous eyes.

Only one of the papers submitted was written in something even close to the style of obituary you might actually read in a newspaper.

It was Michaels.

Michael Collins, age 18, Bloomington-Nor mal

Michael was a good kid who enjoyed spending time with friends and fa mily.

His favorite sports included baseball, basketball and golf. His hobbies included fishing and other activi ties.

He was a strong believer in Jesus Christ and helped others look to follow God. He enjoyed making people laugh until he died.

PART I
The Hope

But those who trust in the Lord
will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like Eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

CHAPTER 1
Memories

That was a crazy week, Michael said, a smile beaming brightly across his young face.

Michael and I stared at the basement wall, a wall that had been turned into a shrine. The pictures, plaques, and framed newspaper articles commemorated the 2012 baseball State Championship won by the University High Pioneers. I was the head coach.