On my travels recently I stayed in a Hotel as guest of the local church in which I was ministering. Usually the churches leave a basket of goodies for us to snack on over the stay. This particular basket was a health freaks delight. All kinds of unusual food I had never seen before including, “unsweetened and unsulfured pineapple rings,” the same “unsweetened and unsulphured mango slices” – to say nothing of the “antioxidant nut and berry mix.” The only thing I was game to try was the Pita Chips with Sea Salt. I may as well have eaten the mattress off the bed. I got to thinking that maybe my office had sent word ahead to the church so that they could work together to try and keep me healthy. Whoever was working on my behalf was definitely going above and beyond the call of duty.
It didn’t make any difference as room service opens a whole world of gourmet delights. All deep fried and delicious. NOW my point is this to all you do-gooders on the behalf of others. You cannot help a person until they are willing to help themselves. I have watched so many people lose sleep over wayward friends and associates, when the people in question are going full steam ahead in their own direction. Yes – we can be concerned and offer good advice, but to try to sabotage another person’s life under the guise of helping them, borders on control at best – and lunacy at worst. I want to be known as a supporter of people not a judge. A coach is a person who comes alongside someone when they are ready to begin training in ernest. To try to coach someone who will not even attend to the basics is a complete waste of time. My own golf coach in Australia gave me some warm up routines to do before I even attempt to swing a club on the practise range. I felt they were a waste of good time and energy, and unfortunately he saw me totally ignoring his professional advice. Feeling guilty I said to him that I must get another lesson – to which he replied – not until you listen and apply the last lesson. Stop trying to vicariously win in life for others. Be the best you can possibly be, and when they are ready they will ask for your assistance. That is the right time to get involved. Then they are ready to change. Until then – stop putting Pita Chips with Sea Salt in my basket and go back to real food that inspires a man to live life to the full.
