Brandon Holmes likes to keep an open mind. The former senior cross country captain at Union Grove High School in McDonough, Ga., recently had to shift his mindset in his sport when the initial intrigue wore off and actual running required his full effort.
Holmes, who ran track as well, started running cross country in seventh grade and initially found it to be a challenge. What started as a hardship, going through the grueling training of constant running, eventually eased into something more enjoyable once he discovered he liked competition and camaraderie.
“As Christians, we should realize our God is a loving, merciful God and He’s willing to forgive everyone." -Brandon Holmes
Part of the camaraderie of cross country is shifting the thoughts off of personal discomfort and focusing instead on others—encouraging teammates in practice and cheering them on in races. Holmes can attest that it’s a benefit when someone’s encouraging you to run faster—it can actually have a big impact on your performance level.
“Those people are the reason I would run every day,” Holmes said. “I wanted to keep going and never wanted to let down my coach. And it’s paid off because I actually feel pretty proud of the season I had.”
The team has a tradition before every race to circle up and pray, coming together with one common reason before the race. As a senior, he oftentimes led the prayer and encouraged and invited teammates to attend FCA.
He kept himself accessible to peers, conversing easily, though many share differing viewpoints.
“There are quite a few atheists and agnostics at my school who I tried to talk with,” he said. “I like to be open-minded about my opinions and try to understand them.”
Being open-minded and listening to others’ opinions isn’t difficult for Holmes. In middle school, he identified himself as an atheist, set against the thought of God. As he studied science at school, he decided the teachings at the church he attended didn’t make sense and stopped going. One Sunday in eighth grade, he tagged along with his parents and was struck by the sermon. Wondering if God does exist and, if so, how he didn’t want to go to hell, Holmes started to research evidence that pointed to God.
“I think God poured it on my heart to actually do that,” he said. “You should be educated about what you believe and shouldn’t believe in God blindly without knowing why.”
He became a Christian then, but didn’t fully live for Christ until his sophomore year at Union Grove when he starting going to FCA. He was the treasurer and transitioned into further leadership roles. Holmes wants his story to allow others to be more receptive to other opinions.
“Now that I found Him and got truly saved, it’s been a blessing to witness to other people,” he said.
Holmes’ convictions stick strong, and he shared his thoughts during Huddles, focusing on those whom others might easily cast off or be quick to judge.
“As Christians, we should realize our God is a loving, merciful God and He’s willing to forgive everyone,” he said. “We should want to be the same way and live like Christ.
Union Grove High School's cross country pre-meet prayer.
“Even when Stephen was dying and getting stoned, he said, ‘Father, hold not this charge against them,’ and I think that’s a really powerful thing,” he added. “He was willing to forgive them and not be angry towards them when they’re killing him. It’s the same as when Jesus died and said, ‘Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.’”
Sticking to the cornerstone of his faith, Holmes trusts God with his friendships and athletics.
“If something doesn’t go the way I want it to, I know God has something better for me in my life,” he said. “I try to live my life so people can see that Christ is within me.”
Holmes will keep urging people to receive those with counter-beliefs. He lives to understand where they’re coming from and keeps attention on simply communing with them.
He said: “If you’re talking to them and they’re open, just try to keep them in your life and don’t worry about anything else.”