Stephanie Pedersen: Focus of past Easter story now taking time to recalibrate

More people should take time to recalibrate.

That's what Blake Russell is calling this time in his life: a recalibration, a moment to reflect, set new goals and envision a future with a world of possibilities.

You may remember Blake from an Easter story I wrote about him in 2014. A former standout baseball player, he began doing drugs and drinking while at Central High School. His addiction led to several years in an Alabama prison.

There, he found more drugs, gangs and immersed himself in the prison life that took his addiction to the next level.

A few months before he was released in December 2013, Blake found Jesus and again immersed himself, this time in spreading God's word.

Sometimes when we write about people, folks ask me months later how they're doing. Blake is near the top of that list. He knows there are people who doubt his commitment to staying clean. He understands he put family and friends through hell, and it's harder for some to forgive.

I caught up with him this week, and he admitted that when he does something, he's usually 110 percent committed.

"In baseball, drugs and religion, I've gone 1,000 mph," he said.

For the first time since he's been out of prison, Blake says he isn't leading services or Bible studies. He recently left a job working and living in a men's home that focused on rehabilitating -- physically and spiritually -- men with addictions.

You may hear that and be worried about his next step. I certainly was. Downtime doesn't sound to me like a good thing for people struggling with addictions.

But Blake seems at peace now while he says he's waiting for God to open doors and show him his ultimate calling.

Last fall he thought that may have been a return to college baseball after he spent a few months at Chattahoochee Valley Community College, where he says he hit 88-92 mph after throwing for two months. But things didn't work out.

And that's brought him a peace he says he didn't have. For Blake, baseball was always a what-if question in the back of his mind.

For now he's working at John's Lawn and Garden in Phenix City, attending (not leading) church services and "recalibrating." He's also reconnected with two men he met in prison that have given their lives to Jesus.

One of them is the same man who once put prison tattoos on Blake, who has dozens. He's now helping him cover some of them.

So now Blake waits and listens.

"When you get rid of the addictions I had and ask Jesus into your heart, it opens your eyes," he said. "I'm redeemed. I have this feeling that I can do whatever it is I want. But being free also creates a fear of not knowing what's ahead."

He's sure God is preparing him for more.

"I'm trying to get myself ready for when He opens those doors that I'll be ready and willing to walk through it," he said. "But I also know there's adversity and am prepared for that, too."

Contact Stephanie Pedersen, senior editor, at spedersen@ledger-enquirer.com

This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 10:16 PM with the headline "Stephanie Pedersen: Focus of past Easter story now taking time to recalibrate."