Posted on 08/14/2016 12:03:06 PM PDT by doug from upland
Superstar swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, nearly committed suicide two years ago. His athletic prowess and success had brought him so much attention over the last decade that sports media nearly worshiped him as a kind of god, but Phelps was struggling to find peace in his heart.
He felt empty inside and sought to fill his pain with drugs and alcohol, which sent him into a downward spiral. In 2009 he was suspended from swimming for three months after a photograph of him using a bong went viral, but that didn’t stop him from partying and living on the edge. In fact, things got worse, culminating in his second DUI arrest in ten years.
Phelps was at his lowest of lows. In the days after his arrest, he isolated himself and kept on drinking.
He admitted in an interview with ESPN, “I had no self-esteem. No self-worth. I thought the world would just be better off without me. I figured that was the best thing to do — just end my life.”
His gold medals couldn’t console him and he had no purpose to keep on living.
Providentially, his family and friends convinced him to check-in at a rehab center and deal with his demons. At first he was reluctant to open up, but after some time he accepted his fate and started on the path of recovery.
Phelps brought with him the book The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. It had been given to him by former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, and he not only read it; he began to share it with fellow patients. This gave him the nickname at the rehab center of “Preacher Mike.”
He thanked Lewis for the book, saying, “Man this book is crazy! The thing that’s going on…oh my gosh…my brain, I can’t thank you freaking enough, man. You saved my life.” Phelps explained in an interview that the book, “turned me into believing there is a power greater than myself and there is a purpose for me on this planet.”
Athletes kiss their medals, which validate their hard work, but can never love them back. Media accolades are a fickle wind. The love that grounds faith helps restore perspective. In addition to finding faith during rehab, Phelps recognized that much of his unrest was due to the absence of his father for most of his life. His parents He thanked Lewis for the book, saying, “Man this book is crazy! The thing that’s going on…oh my gosh…my brain, I can’t thank you freaking enough, man. You saved my life.” Phelps explained in an interview that the book, “turned me into believing there is a power greater than myself and there is a purpose for me on this planet.”
Athletes kiss their medals, which validate their hard work, but can never love them back. Media accolades are a fickle wind. The love that grounds faith helps restore perspective. In addition to finding faith during rehab, Phelps recognized that much of his unrest was due to the absence of his father for most of his life. His parents were divorced when Phelps was nine and to fill that void he went to the pool. Once water had been conquered, the ache showed itself.
When it was time for Family Week at the rehab center, Phelps reconnected with his father and it proved to be a healing time for both. They hugged for the first time in years and the experience helped Phelps move forward.
A few months after rehab, Phelps asked his longtime girlfriend Nicole Johnson to marry him. Now engaged, their wedding is planned for after the Rio Olympics. Shortly after becoming engaged the two found out Nicole was pregnant, and the recent birth of their son was another turning point for Phelps.
After receiving his son in a warm blanket, Phelps cried. “I just kind of stood there,” he told ESPN, “I didn’t think I would be emotional, but it all just sort of hit me: ‘That’s our son.’ And you suddenly have this new appreciation for what love really is.”
With the new responsibility of a family, tonight’s race could be his last ever. Phelps has said that he plans to retire after Rio. However, he recently said in an interview, “To have our first-born be able to watch — I’ll say this, just in case I come back — my potential last Olympics. Just so you guys don’t beat me to death if I come back, I’m just going to say that: To have him watch the potential last races of my career is something I look forward to being able to share with him.”
By the grace of God Phelps was rescued from the pit and brought into life. Phelps may not be perfect, but his newfound Christian faith has given him a new direction. His success still puts him on a platform, and the media continues to worship him like a god, but this time Phelps seems to have a better sense of who he is in the grand scheme of things, and what really matters. He understands that gold medals – no matter how many one can accumulate – have no power to save.
The other guy, the 35 year old who won the 50m freestyle after winning in 2000 had a very similar story. Fame is a difficult master. Unless you have stability, unless you have a power greater than yourself it is hard, especially when you are young and don’t really understand the world and what it is to be “used.”
That’s my point....why tell the downside side....Totally Unnecessary.
Google phelps and trannie’, I’m not making this stuff up.
http://guyhut.com/sports/michael-phelps-engaged-miss-california-nicole-johnson/
http://www.tmz.com/2015/01/07/michael-phelps-alleged-girlfriend-porn-movie/
Saul to Paul, let’s not forget, in Acts 9.. One of the Bible’s heroes is Ananius, who trusted God enough to welcome Saul, the persecutor of Christians, into the Christian fellowship because God told him to.
I didn’t read anything about Christ. Hopefully this is the faith he found or he’s probably going to find himself in the same boat somewhere down the road.
Oh, for Heaven's sake. Where on earth do you get your information?
Michael Phelps is a fine man who's come through a terrible experience and is now stronger, more mature, and wants to help others who are going through what he did. I greatly admire him and wish him all the best.
The ‘tranny’ was born with both male and female organs( actually no testicles). Phelps new nothing so how could he proud? You must have some serious issues yourself to slander someone like that.
IBTZ.
Wow - I had no idea.
God alone satisfies.
Praise Jesus.
Good post and that is the story.
Rick Warren is all about Rick warren part used car salesman part game show host
bump
Woo-Hoo, Jesus will do that for you, Michael, welcome to the fold!
“Repent and believe” - all that is necessary - in Mark it is short and sweet
Yeah, I was hoping he had found Jesus but was disappointed to see the name of Rick Warren included. Warren is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I hope Phelps finds a better mentor or heck just reads the Bible for himself.
Don't waste your time reading it. Warren speaks at Muslim conferences and states that allah & God are the same. Any theology he has is corrupted.
A bit off base...but I would suggest that any Christian spend a year in synagogue, and thus truly live a fair amount of the history from Abraham to Jesus, who frequently cited The Law.
did he “find” god before after the baby?
Don’t forget to tell the rest of the story. she/he was born without either testes, or overies. not really a cse of transgender.
Plus also considering that we are dealing with sports that have its big event every 4 years.
My vote is for Simone Manuel to carry the flag.
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