I want to share with you a very real example of the impact that our daily choices makes on our future. This is a story of two close friends who were teammates on a football team. Friends who shared a view of a promising future in professional sports and also who looked forward to continued success during their collegiate career.

These two friends made separate choices last November. One chose to stay at home while the other decided to go hunting with two other friends. The hunting wasn't all that was on the list of activities though. These three drank heavily up into the early morning hours at which time they decided to go driving.

Jason Watts, the center of the Kentucky football team was the friend that chose to drink and drive. While driving he lost control of his truck and a horrible accident occurred. Watts and the other two friends were thrown from the truck and all sustained injuries. Only Watts survived. The other two, also legally drunk, lay dead on the ground.

Jason Watts went to court recently to face the consequences of his actions. He was remorseful. He wished it had never happened, but it did. All because of his choice. He pleaded guilty to two counts of second degree manslaughter and has been sentenced to 10 years in jail. His life is changed forever because of the impact of his choice that November night.

The other teammate is Tim Couch. He had decided not to join the friends that weekend. Tim was picked as the number one draft pick in the NFL. He signed a 7 year contract for a reported $48 million dollars, including a $12.5 million dollar signing bonus with the Cleveland Browns. His life is also now changed forever, in part preserved by his choice that November night.

The future plans for these two teammates were disrupted and changed forever due to these choices. The team had to face the next two games of the season without the services of Watts at the center position and also with the heaviness of mourning and grief. They lost these last two games. Off the field, one teammate went on with his plans to wealth and success. Watts faces jail and the loss of his dream to play professionally. Two other families clutch their memories of their sons who were killed that night, sons that will never touch a football again nor draw another breath.

So much can come from a set of choices.