My 2018 Inspiration Awards

 Once again, another year is coming to a close... which means...it's time for my annual Inspiration Awards! This is a summation of the people and moments that deeply stirred or inspired me during the year, modeled after Barbara Walters' long-time program "Ten Most Fascinating People" that usually ran at the end of each year. Instead of highlighting celebrities as she did, I choose to highlight some people who are perhaps less well known but equally as influential and amazing. 

 In past years, I've included a couple of extra categories which will not be featured this year due to the experiences that make up this year's list. However, I hope that you still find my somewhat shortened run-down heartwarming and meaningful. 

 Here now...my 2018 Inspiration Awards...

Courage Award

 In the past, this award has usually been given to an individual who exhibited extraordinary bravery in the face of great suffering or hardship but it is being awarded this year to a collective group - people who showed amazing resiliency when fear would've been an easy choice. I am proud to present this year's Courage Award to the incredible residents of south-central Alaska who, following the recent devastating earthquake on November 30th, rallied together in ways that are often unheard of in our modern world. 

 Countless stories have emerged of neighbors helping neighbors, of strangers seeking every way possible to lift one another up, of random people showing up to clean up others' houses or local businesses, of concerned community members performing acts of kindness in effort to ease the burden of those who didn't fare well. Through this disaster, the world has gotten to witness the spirit of Alaska - and it is strong! 

 Considering the severity of this earthquake, it is truly a miracle that nobody died or was seriously hurt. And it is equally as amazing that there was no incident of looting reported in the area as local businesses and residents tried to clean and piece their lives back together again. This residency is a testament to the Alaska way - we pride ourselves on being community-oriented, on not knowing a stranger...especially in a time of need, of always looking out for each other, and of picking ourselves up with things get tough. It takes a strong person to live here and, when you get a bunch of those people walking through a tragedy together, you're bound to come through alright. 

And so, without further adieu, I present the 2018 Courage Award to my fellow Alaskans. You are my people, and you are resilient! I am so proud to belong to this place and to share this great state with such strong people like you. 

Perseverance Award

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Serviceman of the Year Award

 Jonathan and Laura Grant had been married for nearly five years. Jonny was a Navy SEAL who did some of the most daring missions in the entire U.S. military. Assigned to Fort Bragg, NC Jonny was a combat medic instructor who taught others how to save a life. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever think his own life would need saving...especially not on the battlefield. The 35-year-old was en route to offer medical assistance at a fire when the driver of his vehicle lost control. Jonny, who was in the passenger side, suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to the hospital. Externally, it didn't appear that he was severely hurt but a closer look internally revealed that he had bleeding on the brain. Soon after arrival to the hospital, Jonny slipped into a coma. Due to the severity of his head trauma and brain injury, doctors gave him only a 10% chance of survival. 

His wife, Laura, rushed to the hospital after receiving the phone call from a nurse. It was hard for her to process the truth that her husband might die. A dedicated Pilates instructor, Laura put her work aside to attend to the needs of her husband. And, most importantly, she put her faith in God and held out hope for a miracle. Almost three weeks later, it seemed like God had heard her prayers...

 One day, while at Jonny's bedside, she suddenly felt her husband squeeze her hand. From then on, she began to believe that the story of their lives wasn't over just yet. Doctors remained cautious, and it was unclear if he would ever walk or talk again even if he lived. Until he completely woke up, nobody would totally know. A few weeks later, though still unconscious, Jonny was transferred to a rehab hospital in a nearby state to begin further treatment and medical intervention. Laura walked away from her Pilates studio and moved into a hotel near the new hospital and began to put her knowledge of fitness and Pilates into Jonny's recovery...all the while hoping to facilitate some of his healing using some of her own techniques. Over the ensuing weeks, Laura would faithfully massage Jonny's feet and legs everyday, stimulating circulation and praying all the while for his full healing. About a month after being transferred to the new hospital, Jonny showed signs that he was aware of his surroundings and the doctors were able to declare him "fully emerged from the coma" two months after his accident. The mere fact that he had regained consciousness put him in the "lucky 10%" doctors said. But the fact remained to be seen just how far Jonny would actually progress and recover. Could the SEAL fight and win the biggest battle of his young life? 

 Over the last year and a half, Laura has regularly posted updates on her husband's recovery via Instagram and Facebook. It was thanks to my encounter with her on social media that I first heard about this remarkable couple and their journey. At this point, while still wheelchair-bound most of the time, Jonny has made exceptional progress in recent months. He has been home now for a few months, and Laura is still overseeing and facilitating most of his daily care. A doctor who was willing to come do some experimental treatment on Jonny saw huge leaps in his recovery afterward, and Laura has continued the treatments. Jonny's speech is still a bit slurred, and he is re-learning most of his everyday motions and activities. But slowly, the miracle keeps unfolding. Jonny is walking up stairs with assistance, writing on his own (although his letters still look much like a kid's), and eating on his own somewhat...all steps in the right direction. 

 All this being said, this couple is receiving two of my Inspiration Awards this year: the Perseverance Award for both of their undying love for one another, faith in God's ability to heal, and fortitude to keep traveling this long road which is far from over. Also, Jonny is being awarded the Serviceman of the Year Award for his continued fight and example of commitment, albeit under far different circumstances than he ever imagined. 

 Thank you Jonny and Laura for believing in God, believing in each other, and never giving up hope in the midst of your on-going struggles. You inspire us all! 

Sportsman of the Year Award

 Nick Foles never guessed he'd have the year it's turned out to be. In the fall of 2017, Foles was the backup quarterback to the talented Carson Wentz on the Philadelphia Eagles football team. Nick had been in Philly before and enjoyed his time there before being traded away a few years back. Now, he was simply happy to be back and was loving the spirit of Christian camaraderie that existed on the team. He and Carson had become close friends, and he simply wanted to support Carson and the team as best he could. Then, the unthinkable happened...Carson got hurt while diving into the end zone for a touchdown, and his season was over. Nick was the next man up. 

 Even though the team had an exceptional record that season, sports annalists declared the season essentially over now that Wentz had gone down. Most people had forgotten about Foles and his experience in the NFL. Regardless of who was quarterback now, the Eagles were done, they said. But God and the Eagles felt differently. 

 In the coming weeks, a journey unfolded that confounded conventional wisdom. The Eagles won out the rest of the season, clinched a playoff berth, then went on to win their first-ever Super Bowl in franchise history! All the while, people saw an amazing display of support from Carson Wentz for his backup as he sat on the sidelines and could only watch and cheer the team on. It surprised people at the team spirit that was shown as they witnessed the two friends going over plays on the sideline together and talking through film in the film room together. This level of friendship was unheard of, they said. 

 During the Eagles historic run, many in the media tried to get Foles to say that this was "his team" now, that he was "the guy" and that he was "finally getting the respect" he supposedly deserved after his time of sitting on the bench. But Nick wouldn't go there. This team, he said, was still Carson's team. He was just trying to hold it together until Carson got healthy. But they didn't believe him.   After the Super Bowl, questions abounded as to whether Nick would opt out of the last year of his contract and sign a huge contract as a starter with another team "while his stock was still high." Jaws dropped months later when Foles revealed he would be staying for his final contact year in Philly as the backup! Since when had a Super Bowl MVP been happy to humbly go back to being a backup?! It seemed crazy to most...but not to Nick. As a Christian, he believed that this was God's story to write...not his...and that if God's plan meant going back to being a backup, he was completely fine with that. God was more honored by his service to his team and support of his fellow players than by his greed or pride in packing up for another gig as a starter. 

 I recently finished reading Nick's book Believe It, where he shares in greater detail about the incredible journey that led him to this point in his life. The thing that amazed me the most was his willingness to lay his own plans down for the sake of fulfilling God's plans. That is a lesson most of us spend the greater part of our lives learning how to do. Nick displayed it on the biggest stage in sports, and it brought glory to God and honor to the Gospel because of it. 

 Oddly enough, Nick is currently back as the starter again this season because of yet another injury to Carson Wentz. And again, Foles is steadily guiding the team through the last few games as they seek another playoff berth. 

 For his humble servanthood and grace under pressure and his willingness to put the God he loves on display in the most public of settings, I am honored to present this year's Sportsman of the Year Award to Nick Foles. Thank you, Nick, for showing others that the self-less way is still classy. 

Team of the Year Award

 My choice for the 2018 Team of the Year Award was an easy one. This year, I got to watch a display of sportsmanship and team spirit such as I've rarely witnessed when the team I work for, the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks, put together one of the most inspired seasons I've ever seen. It's always a challenge for summer baseball league coaches to blend together a group of individuals who have never met each other and make them form a team in just a few days of practice before the season begins. Usually it takes a game or two of learning how each other works competitively before the group starts to settle in and play like they belong together. Not this group. Not this year. 

 Almost from day one, they became like a family. They wanted to do everything together! They could hardly be apart from one another! In the first two games, they looked like they'd played together all year. It was truly remarkable. That unity took them to eighteen wins and the team's first-ever playoff berth. All through the season, I watched these guys support each other and sacrifice for one another, so it wasn't completely a shock that they went as far as they did. 

 The season ended several months ago, but I recently heard that the team, while disbanded, has continued to group text each other (sometimes several times a week) and play an active part in each other's lives. Their's is a love like I've hardly ever seen. And it's something I will cherish having been a part of. 

 I am proud to announce this year's Team of the Year Award recipients as the 2018 Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks. I am blessed to have met you guys this summer. You will always be in my heart. 

Book Of The Year

 Early this year, my mom suggested I read this book. While I was familiar with the author's story (former Olympic figure skating gold medalist, commentator, cancer survivor, etc), I was unprepared for the way this book's message would rock my world. I had known for many years that I had a defeatist mentality in the way I approached a lot of things, and I'd been working on improving in that area for a long time. But fear still held me back a bit. I just couldn't quite overcome my struggles to find that winning attitude in the way I lived my life. That is...until I read this book. Scott Hamilton challenges the reader to embrace the life they live with enthusiasm and faith, learning to edit your critics along the way, to not be afraid of failure and what it will teach you, to believe in your dreams with the utmost confidence, and to be joyful in the face of obstacles. It was the shove I needed to get beyond these limitations that had held me back for so long. My life was changed while reading this book, and I highly recommend it. It is, without question, worthy of my Book of the Year Award. 

 In honorable mention in this category, I also want to give a shoutout to this other amazing book I read later on the year. Author Bob Goff uses stories from his life experiences to show the reader how love can change anybody's life if we're just willing to be brave enough to live it out as Jesus did. This book compelled me to start looking for opportunities to love on people and show them the grace of the Savior in deeper ways. I encourage anybody to read this book who seeks to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a world that so desperately needs Him. 

Singer of the Year

 This year's Singer of the Year Award goes to Christian pop/EDM artist, Matthew Parker. While I am typically not a fan of pop-style music, Parker's creativity and musical talent have grabbed me in a big way this year. His compositions have helped me find my soul-dance in a way I was not expecting, and I have found music on all his released albums that I find attractive and interesting as well as fun. Taking contemporary scenarios and styles and putting theologically sound lyrics to them, I can best describe Matthew Parker as the Christian Avicii. I highly recommend any of his albums and, especially his two most recent ones, Adventure and Daydreamer. 

Thank you, Matthew, for putting your talents to use for the Kingdom. You are a musical gift. 

Movie of the Year

 The movie, The Road Less Traveled, had to be by far my favorite movie I've seen this year. I hate to do this to readers in recommending a movie that is part of an on-going series of films that date back over four years ago, but this one is really worth seeing. The series "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," first aired back in 2014 and has since become a Hallmark Channel favorite for many viewers, including me and my family. It is a continuous storyline about four individuals who work together and the journey they take over time in learning to love, live, and hope again. It is filled with Christian references and is one of the best series I've ever watched. This movie in particular struck a chord with me personally regarding some things in my past, and I identified with it in a unique and special way. I would highly recommend getting all of the DVDs (available on Amazon) and especially seeing this one. It would warm your heart. Just bring the kleenex when you view them, okay? 

Song of the Year

 I actually didn't discover my Song of the Year Award recipient until a few months ago, but I will go out on a limb and say that this isn't just the song of the year for 2018 but this has since become my life song. It is the story of my journey told in music, and I was shocked when I heard it that the singers/songwriters of Tenth Avenue North could know my story so well. Just maybe we're all fighting the same things?  

 It is a call to bring those things to light that "we've been afraid to say" and to let the "Light shine in" where the dark places have reigned too long. It has become a prayer of mine that is fitting to my life verse, John 8:12, which states, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in darkness but will have the light of life." All of us have secrets, but Jesus came to free us from the hold of those hidden things and to place His light of hope inside of us for all eternity. 

 Thank you, Tenth Avenue North, for this reminder to live the Light to a dark world and to let the Light deeper into the empty spaces of our own lives. 

Thank you to all of the people, moments, and experiences that inspired me this year. I hope you've enjoyed this brief list of what touched my heart in 2018 and perhaps are inspired to put down a few of your own.