C.S. Lewis From Skeptic to Seeker: A Journey into the True Myth

From Skeptic to Seeker: A Journey into the True Myth

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1). This verse captures the deep longing that defined my early years—a thirst I couldn’t name, a restlessness that haunted my soul. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” My journey from skepticism to faith was a path from a parched desert to living water, leading me to found Lettermen of the USA under God’s direction.

At Curry College in Boston, I spent two years as a self-proclaimed atheist. I leaned on reason, thinking it was my guide, but as Lewis noted, “For me, reason is the natural organ of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.” My intellect built walls, but my heart felt their emptiness. The city’s noise, the lectures, the laughter in the locker room—they were mere echoes of something deeper. Lewis described it best: “The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them … they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never visited.”

Everything shifted when I returned to Alabama and joined the Crimson Tide. Amid the sweat of practice and the roar of the stadium, God’s whisper broke through. It wasn’t dramatic—no blinding lights or booming voices—just quiet, like rain soaking cracked earth. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). I sought, and God answered, planting the seeds for Lettermen of the USA. As Lewis wrote, “The value of the myth is that it takes all the things we know and restores to them the rich significance which has been hidden by the ‘veil of familiarity.’” Faith wasn’t a leap into the dark but a step into meaning, guiding me to lead this organization.

This journey wasn’t about strength on the field but surrender off it. “My grace is sufficient for you,” says 2 Corinthians 12:9, “for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I learned true victory comes not from winning games but from yielding to grace, a lesson that fueled my calling as the “chief bottle washer” of Lettermen of the USA. Yet, as Lewis observed, “No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.” The fear of letting go of my old self was real, but it led to freedom and purpose.

Lettermen of the USA: A Divine Calling

God founded Lettermen of the USA, and I’m humbled to serve as its president, carrying out His vision to unite former collegiate athletes and coaches for a higher purpose. This isn’t just an organization—it’s a sacred fellowship. As Lewis said, “Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods. Certainly to me it is the chief happiness of life.” In this community, I see men sharpening one another, living out Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Through events like the Red, White & Blue Bingo Luncheon for wounded veterans, I witness faith in action. We’re not just serving; we’re vessels of God’s love, embodying Hebrews 10:24: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Leading Lettermen has shown me that faith is a team pursuit. Lewis captured this: “The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, ‘What? You too? I thought I was the only one.’”

Echoes of C.S. Lewis: The Myth That Was True

My story echoes C.S. Lewis’s journey from atheism to faith. He called Christianity the “myth become fact,” a truth that satisfies the soul’s deepest longings. Like Lewis, I

found the ache in my heart was a compass, not a curse. He wrote, “Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” For me, faith was like rediscovering those stories—not childish, but timeless. As Lewis noted, “A children’s story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story. The good ones last.”

Jesus isn’t just a doctrine to believe; He’s a Savior who rewrites our stories. Lewis said, “I wrote the books I should have liked to read if only I could have got them. That’s always been my reason for writing.” Likewise, God called me to lead Lettermen of the USA, weaving our collective story into His eternal narrative, redeeming every chapter. But it’s not always easy. Lewis reminds us, “Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.” Faith and leadership require surrender, even when it hurts.

Closing Word: From Testimony to Invitation

This isn’t just a story about football or finding God in Southside, Alabama. It’s about a God who chases us with grace, who called me to found Lettermen of the USA to serve veterans and communities through faith. Lewis wrote, “We all want progress. But … if you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road.” My about-turn led me to the cross, where my soul’s thirst met living water, and to the mission of leading this organization.

To anyone still searching, still panting for meaning, hear this: your longing is your invitation. As Jesus said in John 7:37, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” So come, drink deeply, and join us in this God-given mission.

Roll Tide—and Amen.