Father’s Day Shopping?

For those of you looking for a good Father’s Day book, may I suggest Alan Williams’ book Walk On: Life from the End of the Bench. CrossPointer, Woodie Eubanks loaned me his autographed copy to read. It is an autobiographical account of Alan’s four-year attempt to walk on as a basketball player at Wake Forest University.

As compared to the book I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, this was a very easy-to-read book (one of those written on a third grade level). The athletes in your life would enjoy reading through the highs and the lows of a walk on athlete.

Williams includes many timely stories and quotes throughout his tome. The following quote from basketball legend John Wooden gives great insight into true success:

I always tried to make clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior. Until that is done, we are on an aimless course that runs in circles and goes nowhere.

Extraordinary words from man who won ten NCAA Basketball Championships.

Another highlight of the book concerns Williams’ relationship with his father. For those of you who read the book I will not give away the details, but Williams does something memorable toward the end of his collegiate career to recognize his father on national television. What makes it memorable is that Williams was a benchwarmer and a walk on and yet he still got his father TV time on ESPN.

Williams’ father would often leave his son timely notes of encouragement before or after great accomplishments. Hours before his first game at Wake Forest, Williams found an envelope from his father with an index card in it, which read,

“Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will succeed.”
Proverbs 9:16
“Success is where preparation meets opportunity.”

Williams’ book is about preparation. It is about discipline and determination. And, it is about success. Be careful when reading it, however, the success mentioned in this book cannot be measured in worldly terms. It is about another world’s version, the only kind of success that truly lasts.

Again, for those looking for a nice Father’s Day gift, I suggest Walk On. I also suggest you give a copy for any coach or athlete you know.