Character Update! After serving 6 years and 11 months in prison, my BFAM (Brother From Another Mother) Sean McGuirk, has been released like a slingshot releases a stone. In other words, society would assume my friend’s life and circumstances would have pulled him backwards never to recover, but in Gods economy, sometimes you have to go backwards before you can be propelled forward.Since his release about a month ago, Sean has wasted no time in pursuing a dream that he carried with him while in State Prison. In fact, I witnessed Sean wake up daily to work on the reality of this dream. It all began within the first 18 months of Sean’s incarceration, while alone in a dark cell, he just so happened to “randomly” turn on his TV, where an interview was being conducted by an accomplished triathlete, Shane Niemeyer. The topic was this guys redemption, from being down and out (suicidal), to turning his life around via a new addiction: training as a triathlete.  He went from being hopeless to hopeful.This story sparked a fire in my friend Sean’s soul. Subsequently during this time, Sean had just been notified that his mother, Margaret, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.  In prison, bad news from the outside world can cause one to be buried alive in depression. The walls already physically “throw dirt” on your emotional man, so anything added to that pressure can surely cave you in. But by the grace of God, Sean began to lace up his state issued boots, where he vented his emotions in running around the small fenced-in courtyard. Round and round Sean would go, with a passion to honor his newfound conviction. Eventually Sean was transferred to Mid-State Correctional Facility, where he was housed with former NBA All-Star, Jayson Williams and myself. And it was there where a brother-hood was birthed between Sean and I, with Jesus being the main common denominator behind our friendship. Not to mention our ages, circumstances, and personality were extremely similar. Nonetheless, long and moving story short: Sean’s beloved mother passed away during his time in prison, leaving Sean with yet another gaping hole that only God could fill. And again Sean responded by training harder and longer each day in the prison yard. He would run approximately 60-70 laps in the yard, which would equate into 12-13 miles per recreation time. Many thought Sean’s “dream” of competing in Triathlons was farfetched and long off.  But God. And when you know God, you know miracles. Since Sean’s release from prison, he has competed in the prestigious NJ State Triathlon and actually was 3rd in his age group, placing 31 overall with 1200+ participants. And again, after a serious shoulder injury, my BFAM entered the Jersey City Triathlon last week, to not only win his age group, but he placed 9th overall out of 500. Not to mention, he was only able to get into a pool about 8 times in the training process for these races; yet with no formal training or a "tri-club" to work with, Sean opearted out of pure vision and passion.

I couldn’t be prouder of my friend and I am excited to see what more God will do with Sean’s life and this platform. Sean’s life verse is this: “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).Sean, my boy, you are doing just that; For God will make much of Himself through the individual who tells of His grace.