Matthew 11:28: Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
From my perspective, I imagine it was difficult at times being Charlie Donovan. To always live up to the model he created both on and off the field. To know every time you stepped into the batter’s box, you were re-writing the record books.
Charlie is the Career Leader in Team Wins with 88 at WHS. He is also the Westmont Career Leader in all of these categories…
To an opposing pitcher, getting Charlie out once was worth more in stories then the actual game victory.
It must have been difficult to be Charlie Donovan…
To play with that kind of a target on your back. To have set such a standard that an out would pump up the other team and an amazing hit/play was just the norm. All the time playing the game the way it should be played with 100% effort, committed, respectful.
It must have been difficult to be Charlie Donovan…
He was what Baseball Scouts would be described as a 5 tool player: Hitting for average, hitting for power, lightning speed, cannon for an arm, rare defensive skills. And as I learned from the movie “Money Ball,” most Scouts would hope to find a ball player with 2 tools and then develop another. Charlie had all five. A true 5 tool player.
Sean Duncan, writing in the Illinois Prep Baseball Report wrote:
I first began to hear the name Charlie Donovan when he was in eighth grade. Paul Bunyon-like stuff. He can throw it 90 off the mound, but he doesn’t pitch. He can dunk a tennis ball. He’s the fastest kid in the state. I filed it away, but I wasn’t about to go chasing some eighth-grader around. The fall of his freshman year I saw Donovan at a workout. I double-checked the roster to make sure I was looking at the same kid. In my mind, I had painted a picture of this chiseled specimen, full of facial hair and accessories; you know, that kid that looks four years older than his peers and dresses like it too.That’s Charlie Donovan?
He couldn’t have weighed more than 145 pounds, probably 5-foot-9 in cleats. He looked like he was 12. He got in the box. The left-handed swing was clean and rhythmic, direct bat path, loose, easy hands. At shortstop, he moved fluidly, throws had more carry than the frame would indicate. Intriguing, but I allowed the cover to taint the book. Small kid from a small school…
But here is the crazy thing, he was a 5 tool human being. He was kind and respectful to everyone. Principal Jack Baldermann WHS remembers him in this way:
He was voted Senior of the month by his peers and the faculty He had a perfect discipline record He was truly known for his decency and kindness He seemed to appreciate everyone. Charlie was a leader and remarkable person.
(Oh, btw he graduated in the top 10 of his class.)
He set the bar high in all areas of life…
It must have been difficult to be Charlie Donovan…
I believe he understood early what most people take a lifetime to understand…that all of life is connected.
I never heard of Charlie being in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing (although there is a nasty rumor going around that he played ding-dong ditch once…)
As his legend grew he became some sort of a local celeb. Karen his mom, recalls a time in Chipotle that a group of young boys came in and sat down close to Charlie. They soon began to point and whisper, “That’s Charlie Donovan”.
People would come out to just watch him and all he wanted to do was just play ball, always being slightly uncomfortable with his status.
It must have been difficult to be Charlie Donovan…
The first time I saw Charlie play was his one and only year in the WYBA. It was at the Instructional Level where for most of the year it was coach pitch. But not when you had Charlie Donovan. I remember so vividly this little kid with a big smile and bigger ears throwing the ball so hard the catcher would fall backwards when it hit him in the chest.
Later I had the privilege of watching Charlie play for his travel team Gravel and Westmont High School. It was one amazing play after another. He would bring me back to my own childhood when baseball meant the world to me, he was a throw back player with out of this world talent.
He was always respectful to the game, teammates, opponents and to anyone he came in contact with.
It must have been difficult to be Charlie Donovan…
Because as we have learned, Charlie was weary and carried heavy burdens. Just like all of us at times in our life. I wonder if you are in a season like that today…?
The great thing is that the offer from Jesus is available to everyone: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Over the years I have had the privilege of sharing the love of Christ with Charlie in our formal church setting. I know he heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ when he attended YL camps. And piecing together what kind of a young man he was, it’s obvious the thumbprint of God was all over him.
So today I don’t mourn like those who have no HOPE. I will live the rest of my days living with the HOPE that I will see my friend on a diamond again doing what he loved to do.
That’s my HOPE.
My HOPE is in JESUS.
Is yours today?
JESUS IS THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
Find…Forgiveness of sins, eternity in Heaven, a full life on earth doing what you were created to do.
Have you given your life to Christ? Are you tired and weary of trying to reach a Holy God in your own efforts?
Do you need rest? You can find it in Christ. When you begin a relationship with Christ you begin to understand you were created for a purpose. Charlie had purpose in life, but got blindsided carrying heavy burdens which made him weary. It was a season in his life I’m sure he wishes he could have overcome. But he could not alone. He needed others.
Could we make a commitment to be present in the lives of the people we love? Can we commit to putting down or phones and stop tweeting, snap-chatting, liking, and commenting to simply be present for the people in our life?
I’m thankful today for the Grace and Mercy from a loving Heavenly Father that allows me to have another day. May I never take that for granted again.
I’m thankful that Jim and Karen have many years of memories of their boy Charlie. I’m grateful for the last four months they had with him, which can never be taken away.
I’m thankful for the forgiveness and love found only in the finished work of Jesus’ death, burial and his resurrection.
I’m thankful for my friend Charlie Donovan, whom I will miss for the rest of my life.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Rest in peace Charlie, rest in peace my friend.