A handshake that will last a lifetime

About a month ago my good friend Kate Hypes and her mom came to one of our volleyball games. Mrs. Hypes brought with her 13-year-old Ethan Dameron.

Together they watched us battle it out against our opponent. After the game Mrs. Hypes introduced me to her young friend and told me how enthusiastic he was about volleyball. I shook his hand, and I remember him telling me how it was great to watch men's volleyball because they don't have that in most parts of Virginia, and he really wanted to play when he got older. I could tell he was sincerely interested because he then told me he planned on coming to our next home game. But God had different plans for Ethan on that particular day.

Unfortunately Ethan would not make it to our next game, or any other game. Ethan, his father, and his brother were in a car accident on their way home from a Virginia State basketball game. Mr. Cameron and his other son were hurt badly, but released days after the accident. Ethan, however, was not going to be released in time to see our next game.

On that Wednesday night, we had a moment of silence for Ethan before we started our game. Little did we know that moments earlier Ethan had passed away. After Ethan had passed, Mrs. Hypes headed to the Damerons' home to get the house ready for the family's return. When Kate told me that her mom had found our volleyball schedule on the fridge and our program on a stack of magazines in the living room, I knew that Ethan had come into my life for a much greater purpose than as just a young fan.

Ethan was supposed to be in the stands on that Wednesday. He should have been there after the game to meet the team. Little did his family know, but he was there. He was in our hearts, our passion for the game, and our faith in God.

As an athlete you are not only playing for yourself. You are sweating for the crowd; for your friends, family, fellow students, community, and God. God brought us together for much more than just exercise. We play together, we pray together, and we experience life's gains and losses together.

Each of us plays with a purpose. Up until that Wednesday I had played for myself - for my enjoyment and fulfillment. I never thought that an acquaintance could change my outlook or that a simple gesture could hit me so hard. My heart and the meaning of the game have changed. Now I play with purpose and meaning. I play for a handshake that has touched my life permanently. I play for Ethan.