After being in the military for just six months, I got into serious trouble and soon faced a court martial. Before my trial, my defense attorney arranged an interview with a team of military psychiatrists and they promptly deemed me to be unfit to serve in the military due to being diagnosed as a violent sociopath without a conscience, and they added that most serial killers are sociopaths. They said it was incurable and untreatable and I was promptly discharged, (which to a military officer amounts to my being forever disgraced and stigmatized as a loser).
Last night I spoke to a group of former military officers, (not exactly my stereotypical audience). The friend who’d invited me to speak told be beforehand that although it was entirely up to me, I might want to leave out the part about being kicked out of the military and instead insert the part about winning the huge military contract with our software company many years later.
I ignored his good advice and didn’t leave out even one gory detail of my military ordeal. Afterwards one of those fine officers, complete with haircut sporting closely shaved sidewalls going up to the top of his head which was crowned with a flattop, came up to me and said, “It took some courage to come in front of a group like this one and tell this kind of a story, and I for one am very glad you did. It meant a lot to me. Thank you for telling it like it is!”
Of course there were others who did not come up to me afterwards and I’m sure felt differently. As for me I stay true to who I am. I told them how Jesus Christ transformed my life and how I will forever be indebted to Him. I don’t care if someone is Jewish, atheist, Hindu, Baptist, Methodist, Muslim, or Catholic, my story is always the same and I say let the chips fall where they might. My story is real and so am I.
Many folks say that some things are better left unsaid, but the Bible tells us to tell the good news of what God has done in our lives. I told that audience that a medical condition that was purportedly incurable to mankind was cured by God. I am ashamed of my former depraved life, but very proud of what God did for me. I don’t know how I can tell one side of it without telling the other and still make people understand just how miraculous it was for God to transform my life.
I for one appreciate someone being a real person and not projecting some artificial, cleaned up image that they want others to have of them. Here at Honey Lake Plantation we are trying our utmost to build and earn a highly coveted five star Resort and Spa rating. We desire an impeccable reputation for good food, gracious southern hospitality, professionalism, and outstanding customer service.
Last weekend we had some doctors converge on the plantation and they hired our fishing guide to take their children fishing in pristine Honey Lake. Now when it comes to appearances, our fishing guide is deceiving. He is short and plump, (being kind), and he wears blue jeans that can barely contain his big belly. When I hired him I asked what his favorite subject in school was and without hesitation he said, “Lunch!” He nearly always has a camo cap pushed back on his head revealing tousled and unkempt hair. And he nearly always has a big smile on his face. He is witty as anyone you might ever meet, but he hardly needs his quick country wit, because one cannot look at him without at least smiling, if not outright laughing. He is as country as it gets and some might even refer to him as a redneck akin to “Larry the Cable Guy” or Jeff Foxworthy.
Even though he is quite young, (18), he’s already an accomplished guide, having gone out west to guiding school to complete his certification. In addition to being an excellent fisherman he is a state archery champion, accomplished turkey caller, and a whitetail hunter.
I was cruising through the lodge complex in my pickup truck and ran into the good doctors while he was out fishing with their sons. They waved me down and told me that they just had to tell me what my guide had told them. I held my breath, wondering what he had said this time. They’d quizzed him about his fishing skills and in the most southern of drawls his not so humble response was, “Wa-yell I don’t know ‘xactly how it all come ’bout, maybe it was my grandpa teaching me, or maybe I was just born that a-way, but to tell the truth, I could catch fish out of a septic tank”.
Could you please pass the jelly! This is not exactly five star Grey Poupon reinforcement for our five star rating. I was telling my son about this and he rolled his eyes and had a deep look of concern flash across his face. I could read his mind, “How would the Orvis and Trident Beretta fly fishing crowd react when they heard that line?”
I laughed and told him to lighten up. Our doctor friends absolutely loved him and thought he was hysterically funny. They were laughing as much as I was at his refreshing demeanor. Their kids loved him too. Not only did they have a great time, they caught 26 fish which he cleaned for them and they all enjoyed a great fish fry later that night.
If you don’t come to my Success Seminar I will tell you now: Be real – Be genuine Be honest – Be yourself! Don’t try to impress people by pretending to be someone you’re not. Most everyone desires honesty and real people, and those who don’t aren’t the ones you want to hang with anyway. Most of all never hesitate even for a moment to tell others about God.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!
2 Tim. 2:15
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.