On March 7th, during the final home games of the SFA Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks, a miracle was performed at the William R Johnson Coliseum.  Granted, it may not be worthy of a movie directed by Cecil B. Demille, nonetheless, in my eyes, there was nothing subtle about this miracle.  It was profound.

What specifically was it?

I'll get to that in a bit, but first, a little background.

For over 20 years I've had the privilege of being the public address voice for SFA basketball and football games. It's a job I vastly enjoy, however, since I'm given a little more creative license for the basketball games, I have to admit that I have more fun in providing some flourish and exclamation to the roundball games. Growling out the names during starting lineups or vibrating the rafters following a game changing 3-pointer are absolute rushes.

I have missed a few games here and there through the years mainly due to scheduling conflicts; however, I have been blessed that my health has rarely, if ever, been an issue.  That all changed this year.

In mid-January, I came down with a cold.  As we all know, a cold can exhibit many different symptoms, coughing was most prevalent with this strain...lots of coughing.  So much coughing that I started to get laryngitis.  There are many ways that you can help treat a sore throat or a strained voice (hot tea, honey, some even say whiskey), but tops on the list is to rest your voice.  Keep talking to a minimum for a few days.

In my line of work (radio), that's very tough to do, and that was compounded by the fact that SFA had a long stretch of home games.  I didn't miss any time off of work nor from the basketball games, but you could tell my voice was suffering.  Thankfully, after a couple of weeks, I was able to give my voice a little rest, and I finally agreed to 'The Treatment'.

Vicks is a wonder.  Vicks Vapor Rub is to human ailments what duct tape is to fixing things around the house.  Sore throat, congestion, runny nose, arthritis, bad dancing, Vicks can heal it all.  I totally get Vicks and I have used it many times in the past.  However, my mother, who lives with us, takes Vicks to the nth degree, or as I like to call it 'The Treatment'.  This involves a slathering on the chest, a generous supply on the back, a slice of gel under the nostrils, and the finishing touch, Vicks on the soles of your feet.

That's where I had drawn the line in the past, I mean, what does a salve on your feet have to do with healing your voice box!?  But after reading several articles on the matter and listening to a doctor tell me to "do what you mom says", I gave into the treatment.  And it started to work.  How?  I don't know.  Maybe it's like boudain or chorizo.  How can something that involves so many questionable ingredients and processes taste so great?  Just don't ask any questions and enjoy.  I think Vicks works in the same manner.  You could ask the experts how this stuff heals so well, but the answer would probably involve someone saying 'I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you'.

Anyway, back to the story.  It was mid-February and I started feeling better and getting my voice back.  I was almost at a 100% nearing March when I got hit again.  Another cold with lots of coughing struck me. I don't know if it was a relapse or a different strain, all I know is that by the first of March my voice was shot.  Once again, the proper rest was out of the question.  I had numerous remote broadcasts for KICKS 105 coming up and the SFA basketball teams were closing their regular schedule with several home contests.

Every broadcast and every game for the next several days saw my voice worsen.  At first it was scratchy and then almost totally hoarse.  I tried my best to struggle through, but March 7th was quickly approaching and I had a decision to make. March 7th not only was the final home games for SFA basketball, it was senior night which meant I would be saying a lot more than usual, and I so wanted to do a good job for the young men and women basketball players who had sacrificed so much through their careers.  Not to mention, one of the largest, if not the largest crowd in Lumberjack basketball history was on hand to watch the Jacks play Sam Houston for the conference title.

That morning, I had to do a live four hour remote on KICKS and by the time it ended, it was obvious what little voice I had left had been used up on that broadcast.  I was done, but I hated to let the folks at SFA know that they needed to find a replacement with less than two hours to go.  So, I decided to give it my best shot, even though I knew that I would only have a whisper of a voice left. Even an emergency slathering of Vicks couldn't help me now.

Hold on...not Vicks...prayer.  "Lord", I thought, "Forgive me for not placing this in your hands sooner."  If it be His will, He will make this happen. I sat in my truck just outside the Johnson Coliseum that Saturday afternoon and recited the following:

"By the power of the Holy Spirit and by the power of the Blood of Jesus Christ, please heal my voice."

I then drank a sip of Blessed Water that I always carry in my truck and then I went inside, not quite knowing what to expect  when I first turned on the microphone.

loading...

4 p.m. came and it was time to do the starting line ups for the Ladyjacks.  I opened the microphone and started talking.  I've been announcing for 20+ years for SFA and this was most power and range I had ever had in my voice.  At first, I was nervous that the hoarseness would reappear in just a few minutes, but as the long night wore on, I realized that I was part of a miracle. My voice stayed strong and never wavered.  The next morning, I was hoarse.

There was no pillar of fire, no one was cured of blindness, Lake Sam Rayburn's waters did not part down the middle, but to me, this was still just as profound and exceptional.  One minute, I had no voice, then, for the next 6 hours, it was strong.  It was amazing.  It was a miracle.

I wrote this for two main reasons.  One is a promise.  I promised Jesus that I would give my testimony of this supernatural event.  Secondly, give Jesus a chance to work miracles in your life.  I mean truly throw your problems, fears, and tribulations into His hands and have the faith that He will work wonders.  Remember that prayer from earlier in this article, the Blood of Jesus Christ is extremely powerful.  He shed it for all of us.

I hope you had a wonderful Easter holiday and pray that you treat every day like it is Easter.  Wake up each morning knowing that the resurrected Christ is with you and ready to perform great works.

 

More From Kicks 105