Henderson signs with Carson-Newman volleyball
Coach Mincey writes her thoughts on Sarah Henderson a Carson-Newman volleyball signee whose life changed nearly three years ago when she was injured in a near-fatal accident.
By Shannon Mincey
Carson-Newman Volleyball
Coach Mincey writes her thoughts on Sarah Henderson a Carson-Newman volleyball signee whose life changed nearly three years ago when she was injured in a near-fatal accident.
Players stand out to me not only because they have strong athletic abilities but for who they are, what they will contribute to my team, and how much they will eventually make a lasting impression on me. It may be that way for most coaches, as if certain perspective players are a perfect fit and were almost chosen for me during my recruiting process. One player, Sarah Henderson, falls into this category. I saw Sarah play volleyball during her high school freshman club season and wanted her to commit to our program because of what I felt she could add to the Carson Newman volleyball team. She visited Carson-Newman at the beginning of her sophomore year on an unofficial visit and it seemed a perfect fit. I jotted down the following bible verse for Sarah. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Three years ago Sarah Henderson's mother accidently ran over her with a truck. Her mother, Lisa Robinson, couldn't see Sarah behind her as she was backing up. The family's driveway is steep with a big drop-off, which prevented Lisa from seeing Sarah as she was lying in the blind spot, waiting for a friend. She was on her back, looking up, listening to Gavin Rossdale sing "Love Remains the Same" into her iPod. Little did Sarah know, at the time, she was looking up to the One who would do just what Jeremiah 29:11 promises "prosper, give hope and a future".
On November 25, 2008, the day of this tragic accident, Sarah broke her ankle, several ribs, and collarbone, tore her acl and broke her entire lumbar (L1-L5). When Sarah was injured I didn't consider her playing ability as much as I poured my time into praying for her situation and keeping track of her progress. Our volleyball team prayed continuously for Sarah. I read daily of her progress through her caring bridge website. Her determination and faithfulness toward healing was impressive. Faithfulness to God is impossible, unless it springs from a trusting, believing heart! I realized it was Sarah's heart which caught my attention in the first place.
In the spring of Sarah's senior year, she visited Carson-Newman for a 'tryout' as I hadn't seen her play since her freshman year. I literally stood in tears as I watched her move on the court. I knew how amazing God was, however, seeing Sarah on the court reaffirmed in my heart what I already believed, that God is the ultimate Healer. If only we would slow down to look up and believe in his healing and remolding of our lives would we be able to remain faithful to His calling.
During her official visit, I invited Sarah to be a part of our team. By this time I had already recruited many players in her class (actually signed 5 on the early signing date). I shared with her that it wasn't her playing ability or who she was or what she had been through that took her opportunity to receive athletic aid. Sarah and her family were going to pray over which direction to take.
Shortly after her visit, Sarah hurdled through yet another incident. On March 3, 2011 she underwent an anterior lumbar inner body fusion - the procedure is done from the front and includes removing the disc between two vertebrae and inserting bone into the space created between the two vertebral bodies. The fusion in the L5 region was not holding and allowing the rod to move. The rod cracked and as a result she cracked her sacrum also.
I called Sarah and told her this incident didn't make me want her any less and not to lose hope. During my most recent phone conversation concerning which path she should take, I could tell she was on the fence with what to do barring this recent setback...literally standing at a fork in the road. Sarah shared she felt God leading her toward Carson-Newman and she really wanted to see if she could play. I was reminded of Jesus asking Peter to step off the boat toward him.
"Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." Jesus told Peter to approach him. Peter got out of the boat, walked on water toward Jesus. Peter, seeing the wind was afraid and began to sink. "Lord, save me!" he cried. Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," Jesus said, "why did you doubt?"
God calls us to be faithful and through that time of being faithful we grow into who He wants us to be. I told Sarah, if you feel God tugging your heart to be or do something you have to trust! You can always redirect your path, but your heart may always wonder 'what if' if you don't.
We can't doubt God's calling in our lives. Sarah had the tenacity and passion to allow God to mold her during her rehabilitation. Lying on her back during that tragic moment, Sarah and her mother cried 'Lord, save me!' and Jesus immediately reached out his hand and did just that! She made a miraculous recovery. Through her time in the children's hospital, Sarah redirected her career steps to pursing a Child Life Specialist degree being a light for those children and parents when all they may see at the time is darkness. Her mother is also working at the Levine Children's Hospital. Don't we love the word immediately! God heard Lisa's heart request help and immediately rescued them.
"No one is going to want me, I'm broken." Sarah said after her accident. Aren't we all Sarah! Faithfulness holds immeasurable blessings from the hand of God. Christian author Max Lucado's book On the Anvil defines how precious being broken and rebuilt is...
"There are tools on the junkpile: outdated, broken, dull, rusty. There are tools on the anvil: melted down, molten hot, moldable, changeable. There are tools of usefulness: sharpened, primed, defined, mobile. Some people lie useless: lives broken, talents wasting, fires quenched, dreams dashed — tossed in with the scrap iron, in desperate need of repair, with no notion of purpose. Others lie on the anvil: hearts open, hungry to change, wounds healing, visions clearing — welcoming the painful pounding of the blacksmith's hammer, longing to be rebuilt, begging to be called. Others are in their Master's hands: well tuned, uncompromising, polished, productive — demanding nothing, surrendering all. We are all somewhere in the blacksmith's shop. We are either on the scrap pile, in the Master's hands on the anvil, or in the tool chest." Sarah can be a refresher to all on how awesome it is to be in the Master's hands on the anvil.
Sarah Henderson, a 5' 8'' setter from Harrisburg, North Carolina, is excited about her future at Carson-Newman. "I love that Carson Newman is a Christian school and the atmosphere of the campus. When I went to visit I felt so welcomed and as if I was already at home," says Henderson
Coming from Hickory Ridge High School, Henderson is leaving quite a legacy behind her. She began playing volleyball at the age of eleven. Honored as a two-time All-Conference recipient and two-time Scholar-Athlete, Henderson earned both the Coach's Award and the title of Team Offensive Player of the Year. Henderson helped lead the team during her freshman, sophomore and senior year to the NCHSAA tournament (advancing to the third round in her senior season), three regular season conference championships, and a conference tournament championship in 2010.
To read an article from the Charlotte Observer on Sarah's entire story including meeting actor Will Smith click on the following link. Courtesy of Langston Wertz Jr.
