It's true, I of all people am stepping away from this great hobby. First I will say, this is not easy for me to even say and I still have to follow through with it. My love for this hobby is still as strong as ever, I know this process is going to hurt. I started collecting long ago when an uncle of mine owned a card shop in my local town. I have been involved in this hobby for the majority of my life, so actually going through with this is like losing a part of myself. I have never been in this hobby as a financial investment. It's always been done as another way to enjoy a sport and players I enjoy.
So you're probably asking why, why would he be leaving something he still loves and enjoyes so much? That answer can be a bit complicated or very simple, depending on how you look at it. For the past year or so I've have this thought in the back of my mind; "These cards don't matter in the bigger picture of life" and the question, "Do I value these cards more than I do the things much more important?"
At one point, I asked my wife "Do you see my card collecting as a bad thing?" and she said "No, I know you enjoy it and I see nothing wrong with it" Hearing that from here suppressed some of my feelings many months ago. Knowing that I enjoy it so much and knowing how much a part of my life it is, I continued.
Eventually, those thoughts crept back into my mind, almost to a point of conviction. Then came a clear confirmation this past Friday... I was listening to an interview between David Platt and Katie Davis (I'll explain who they are in a minute), by the end of it, the only thought I had was "I have to sell my collection, period."
If you don't know, I am a Christian, I admittedly haven't always been the best example of that throughout my time here but that is where my belief resides. With that in mind, over the past couple years, I, like many non-Christians as well, have grown very skeptical and uncomfortable with the "American Church". Now, all that is for another discussion... However, it was because of those feelings that I really began to seek out truth and tried to understand what the biblical Gospel really is (I'm still learning). In my quest, the more I learned, the more I felt it needed to change on my life. What good is it for me to learn and better understand things and not live a life that reflects that understanding?
So what does that have to do with card collecting? I see nothing inherently wrong with being involved in this hobby, not one bit. No part of me feels like card collecting is a "sin", don't think that's what I'm getting at here. With me, heres my issue... I have let this hobby get to such a place in my life where I value it more so than I do much more important things, even God. When something gets to that point in a Christians life, it's an idol, and that can't be. Another part of this is about Jesus' teachings on living a "simple" life and having a heart for giving. As I began to understand that more, I realized that all I'm doing is accumulating stuff, that's all it is, stuff. I finally realized that I struggle between how much I valued this hobby in my life, compared to how much I valued God. That is why I have to get out and why I have such a strong conviction to do so.
If you're a fellow believer in Christ, I don't know how this hits you. I am not saying you're wrong or doing anything against God for being involved in this hobby. If it's in a place in your life where you have a healthy control over it and it doesn't out-value God in your life, I see nothing wrong with it. What I will say is that, if you were asked to give this or anything for that matter, up for the sake of your faith, could you? If we have the same reaction as the "rich man" did when Jesus told him to sell all he had and then come follow him and we struggle with making that choice...then we know there's a problem. And that's where I am. I said it at the beginning of the post, walking away from this hobby is going to be painful. However, I know once I walk through this, It's going to be worth it when I come out on the other side.
Could I come back to this hobby one day? I can't answer that at this moment.
I told you earlier, I'd explain who these two people are... David Platt is the pastor of Brook Hills Church in Birmingham, AL and Katie Davis is a 23-24 year old woman from Nashville, TN who now lives in Uganda running an organization called Amazima. Platt is a man who has set out to turn the "American Church" upside down, or rather, right side up. I admire what God is doing through him and his life. Katie Davis has gone against the cultural norm, her parents desires and followed the instructions she felt God placed on her life. It's a truly amazing story and she is doing great things in the country of Uganda.
For this, I am not selling my collection as a means to gain the monetary value from it. The majority of what I bring in is going to be donated directly to Katie's organization, Amazima.
If you're interested in what really ignited such a change in my life, here is the full 54min interview between Platt and Davis (I find it worth the time):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZmWW_qL9Io
If you're not inclined to watch that, here is a short (3min) promo on Amazima and what they do:
http://youtu.be/jGyYsA62CxY
If you'd like any "teachings" relating to anything I've been talking about, let me know and I'll pass those along.
Lastly, my entire Photobucket is for sale. Every last card, so check it out and let me know what you need prices on.
PS. I don't own the Matt Ryan 1/1 anymore and all Bears stuff could be going to my dad.
http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd251/Gforce083TS/
First, I am sorry to hear that you are leaving the hobby. But I understand.
That being said:
If you have anything numbered 616/xxxx i would be interested in them.
While you and I have had our scraps, know this . . .
I loathe hearing stories of folks getting out of this hobby.
Yours is even more distressing.
I can not, and will not, criticize your decision, nor your
motivations (although that'd be an easy target for a
Heathen like me).
Just remember, the part that the hobby played in your
life and the fact that your decision is, indeed, reversible.
No more preachin' (not my bag o' tricks). Live well with
your epiphany and I'll be the first to welcome you back
if you decide that this wasn't a good call.
Your collections and posts are an everlasting monument
to your commitment and lust for the hobby. Be proud,
you have done well.
I stated earlier, no more preachin', so I'll quit now.
Contemplate Hard!,
RGBII
I must say that I'm absolutely, positively, 100% SHOCKED to hear this! That said, I know you cannot argue with faith. As much as it stuns me to see you leaving the hobby, I'm glad you're leaving for the reason you're leaving.
We will be here if you ever change your mind.
Now, if you have any '10 Classics or Cowboys I might be interested. Just shoot me a list of what you have, along with prices.
Well Gary, the lord works in mysterious ways!
Good luck
Sad to see you leave the hobby, but I can understand with the explanation given. It goes hand in hand with "Do not seek out materialistic wealth but spiritual wealth.
I might be new here Gary, but understand your action to give up the hobby, wishing you the best!
Gary, I know how you feel in many ways. I too have taken a long break from the hobby and thought many of the same things u have. It was just taking to much of my time and money and for what? I cant even answer that to this day but i know once i left the hobby i have gotten much more of a "life". I hope no one takes that personally, but just as a teenager and young adult i realized their are some more important things TO ME. I still have many cards as well that i havent really decided what to do with yet but i am sure one day i will get an idea. Good luck in your ventures and as i like to think, it always works out in the end
with that being said, if you have any stafford or calvin autographs i would love to buy them off you for the cause. Lmk a price. Thank you!
Sounds like you have put a lot of thought into it Gary, which is the way to go instead of the "I'm leaving the hobby" and "I'm back" and I'm leaving the hobby" gambit. Everything in life is about priorities, and sometimes things you "enjoy" can get out of hand. Things change all the time, so one has to try and adjust at times (some things easier than others), and nobody but you knows what is "right" for you at this time. I've learned to never say never though, as that can come back on you sometimes, but then that is how we learn (which is a constant process). Too much of anything (even good things) can be a problem sometimes, so just don't go extreme at first until you know that's what is meant to be for you. But like Richard said I'll get off the soapbox, as what is right for one isn't the same for anyone else. As in one of the Eastern philosophy's, enlightenment is like the highest peak, many paths to the top and the path for me won't work for everyone (and may not for me either), so everyone has to find their own way there, as the folks down the mountain telling everyone where to go (or where they are going wrong) sometimes never get to the top or further up the mountain even as they get consumed with giving directions, and they can also divert folks from the path they need to be on which is counterproductive to the scheme of things.
Best of luck Gary, sounds like you have thought it thru and it is the way you need to go , which is the right approach (look before you leap) . And if you decide to come back sometime down the road, many of us loonies will probably still be here
Dwight
Sorry to see you leave.
However, each of us is blessed with Free Will.
You owe no one an explanation for exercising it!
God Bless you and your family!
Gary, sorry to hear this and glad for you. I think differently then you that if what you truly seek or beleive in is already in your heart, no building, book, etc. can change that or take it away. Yes I think I can and should do more, and sometimes I need reminded of that, especially when driving.
I don't know anything about David Platt, but I do know there have been some who preach, who talk a good game, until the true game is revealed. As I said I don't know this MAN, but an old saying goes "don't lay all your eggs in one basket". I guess what I am saying is if your motivation is for god, then make it be about god, not about a man who speaks about him.
I hope this goes as you intend and have nothing but good wishes for you in regards to this change in your life.
I'll be completely honest, I just had someone ask about 3 cards I thought I'd never let leave my possession, they're 3 cards I know I'll never see again should I find a way back into the hobby. This is painful, truly painful.
I'm not looking to live in regret though, and the bigger regret would clearly be, if I don't go through with this, what did I miss out on? That's something still to be seen as this process has just begun. I plan to keep everyone updated and this goes along.
I thank each and everyone of you who have commented and shared your thoughts. It means a lot to know that my love for the hobby has been felt here.
good luck man. If I had my job still I would see what i could buy unfortunately money is a little tight in terms of buying singles.
Proud of you Gary..i'm leaning toward dumping my stuff because I am just tired of the card hobby. I am rekindling my other hobby of comic books.
I'm sorry to see you leave Gary. But I'm honored that you're giving me first stab at your Ultimate stuff.. That's very cool of you.
You'll be missed my friend
I've updated my photo bucket and put everything (except for some lingering J Camps) in the For Trade/For Sale Album. Further organized by Autos, Patches & GU, Inserts and Rookies.
During this journey, I want to be the best steward I can be throughout the process. Meaning, it is my ultimate goal to best help my fellow true collectors add pieces they can truly enjoy and accept into their personal collections. To me, that goes hand in hand with also being a good steward of the money I'm bringing in, by allowing a majority of it to be willfully given to a much greater cause.
This isn't about me in the least.
I am sorry to see you leave, but I do wish you the best of luck on your new path!
Its sad to see another person leave the hobby. I myself am a Christian i go to a Mens group every sunday and have learned alot and still learning alot. I do feel on the other hand as long as something such as collecting cards doesn't take over your life and you still spend time w/ Your wife/ husband/ Girlfriend/ boyfriend..... it is ok to have. I also understand where you are coming from with the idol thing. I have though a few times do i have too much involved in my hobby. Then i think no. You need something in your life other than the everyday montomy to help you take your mid off things.
I wish you all the best in your decision and hope things turn out for what you want now. Good luck.
G sorry to see you leave but I admire you for being so strong in your beliefs
I love you Gary!
Meant to post this the other day....
Taking my first steps:
I'm what, on my 24th day into this journey so far? It's not getting any easier... especially if you've noticed that I'm trying to host a group break. One, because I love the community and interaction it allows me to have with members here and two, because I want to bust some wax! With that said, should the break fill and happen, I'll be selling anything I "hit" and donating it to Amazima.
The past week in a half have probably been the hardest... the first package was tough, but I had my priorities and perspective straight (in my situation). However, I haven't been doing so well with keeping my perspective on this whole thing in recent days. Every time I'm going through my cards to find something to market or pull out ones people have asked about, I think "Man, why am I doing this...I'll never see this card again!"
A lot of you are probably thinking, "Well, stop selling it off man, you don't have to do this!" I want to agree with those of you who feel that way, I really do... but that's the trouble with it. Finding ways to justify keeping my collection based on my own fleshy feelings or other hobbyist defeats the whole purpose and belittles what I feel obligated to do.
Today, I'm trying to get my focus and perspective back in order. As much as I love my collection and collecting in general, it's not worth what's at stake. The money I'll be able to give away from doing this will have a far greater impact than keeping a pile of cardboard, fabric, and ink my closet. Along with the pure joy that comes from generously giving, what's more important here is that I keep my obedience to God. There is simply something in that, that goes far and beyond anything else on this earth. The biblical examples of what obedience brings can be found many times over, from Moses to Job, and David to Paul... Their joy is found in the Lord and nothing else, no amount of money, or material thing could hold a light to God and I've got to remember that.
This morning was truly a reminder of these things when I packaged and shipped off two of my most rarest pieces this morning. A 1/10 Montana/Rice/Craig Classics Triple Patch and my 1/1 J Campbell Rookie Auto...
The past few mail outs haven't been much easier!
Said goodbye to these babies...
Thought I'd never let this Williams go!
Jason Campbells Rookie PREVIEW Ticket 1/15... ouch
Then this...
Gary,
Good luck with your journey. God's will be done.
One of the toughest lots to send out the door...
Another BIG and difficult move today! My two Curtis Martin jumbo patches! One being a Patriots Logo Patch...something you do not find for sale or even see that often! I did get a pretty penny for both, so that helps a little.
This still isn't any easier. In one sense, I am now in a routine of selling and shipping, selling and shipping, that's make me a little numb to it all... but on the other hand, I know the time, effort, money and passion I've put into my collection and that's what makes this still so difficult to do.
Again, I've clearly laid out the answer to WHY I am doing this, so I don't need to say it all over again. This process has been eye opening for me though. And still, I don't knock this hobby or knock anyone passionately pursuing this hobby...if you love it, AWESOME! I know what that love feels like, because it's still in me. However, I have begun to see a paradigm shift in how I look at it. I think we all can agree, it's just cardboard, fabric and ink...throw in some acetate and hardwood floor from time to time...and in the big picture of life, relationships, humanitarianism, sickness, loss of loved ones, God, and several others, it's virtually not important.
I'm constantly being reminded of the greater good to come of this. How my reasoning behind this is much better than cardboard sitting in my closet. Honestly, I'm excited for the day to come where I sell my very last card and write the check to Amazima Ministries. That will be a good day!
But for today, I will miss these:
Sorry to hear you are leaving. But I understand where you are coming from. It's sad to hear that a great collector is leaving but at the same time it's great to hear the plan. Because of that reason I believe you are a much richer person(and not just becase you are selling your cards). Good luck to everything you do.
Sometimes I think about what you are saying, as my family goes to church every Sunday, I donate to the church, but even if I sold all my cards, my happyness wouldn't change for the love of anything, I have already done this, gave it up! For what's right, God work's in many way's, hears everything, see's everything my friend!
Deep inside there is a awsome person in you, whom God love's, one does not need to prove any more!
I'm gonna get the boot for this one, so be it! SORRY!
Been a while since I've done an update.
I'm still going through with this. I've been able to do a lot of sales on another trading card site, a long with what I'm still doing here. Has it gotten any easier? Perhaps a little. I say that because I've gotten into a grove of just moving things. If there's a day (which is rare) that I don't have at least one shipment to make, it feels strange. It's almost as if selling has become my new hobby so to speak.
Don't get me wrong, it's not easy to drop some of these cards off at the PO, no matter what I got from them. Those of you who are connected to me on Facebook probably know that. I find myself taking "trendy" vintage photos of cards I've become partial too and posting them on my timeline. That's when it hurts, right after that, I have to package them up and ship 'em out.
Also, I feel like I'm sitting on this mound of money (in poor man's terms) and I occasionally think about all the sweet, high end cards I could buy with it. Or I think about the cases of NT I could buy.... how fun would that be?! But again, this isn't about what I could do with the money. It's all about what this money will be used for once it reaches Amazima. As I said before, writing that check and sending it away will be what makes all this worthwhile!
And by the way... I'm down to only 8 autographes left! (Not including Jason Campbell or A&M stuff) This is insane!
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