there are no losers…

i heard about a fellow with a speech impediment – a stuttering issue. he went to apply for a job to be a door-to-door bible salesman. the manager did not want to hire him. he even told the guy. he really disrespected him. he said, “you can’t do it. you don’t have what it takes. you’ll fail miserably at this. you’ll make our company look bad.” but the young guy persisted, so the manager said, “i’ll hire you on probation.” after the first month, this guy was the top salesman. after the second month, he was still the top salesman. the manager said it must be a fluke. the third month, this guy set an all-time company record. so the manager brought the guy in front of all the other sales reps, and he asked the guy, “what’s your secret?” and the guy stuttered: “w-w-w-well, i-i-i, j-j-just go u-u-up t-t-to the d-d-d-door and s-s-say, ‘w-w-would y-y-you like to b-b-buy a b-b-bible or w-w-would you l-l-like me to r-r-read it to you?”

i would never tell you that story to make fun of someone. i never would. the reason i love this story is because the guy who had been overlooked is the guy who succeeds in the end. that’s why this is a great story.

there was a stutterer in the bible, and his name was moses. but GOD saw in him the next spokesperson for the hebrew nation. there was a guy in the bible who was flaky and undependable and his name was simon, which meant flighty. but JESUS said, i’m going to change your name. i’m going to call you petra, peter, rock because I see in you something nobody else can see.

has there ever been a day in your life when you’ve started the morning with this prayer, “LORD, help me see every person i meet as you do”? what would change in your day?

one of my favorite songs that Margaret, my wife sings is, in heaven’s eyes. there was a soloist who was singing that song. she had only gotten out one or two words when a woman from the audience on the front row stood up and before ushers or anyone could stop her she climbed the steps up the platform. the soloist looked at this approaching woman but kept singing this marvelous song. the woman from the audience walked over and stood very near the singer. it was obvious to those who were watching that this woman had some physical challenges, and there was an indication or two that she had some mental challenges as well. an usher started for the platform, and all believed it was to escort this person off the stage. but the singer waved the usher away and instead scooted next to the woman, who was just standing there looking blankly toward the audience. the soloist put her arm around the woman and kept singing. “in heaven’s eyes, there are no losers. in heaven’s eyes, no hopeless cause.”

what a message. what a message for that woman to hear. what a message for me to hear. what a message for you to hear.

just a thought from the front porch…