Eye of the Beholder

My friend Zack posted a comment from a coach. That reminded me of a principal, long ago and far away, who invited me to do the opening prayer on the first day of school (obviously a while back). I arrived, and sat as he greeted the students.

Then he had a special word for seniors who would graduate the following May. "Now, I just wanta tell you, you'll be better off looking over the plow-handles at the back end of a mule, than going off to some college and getting their new ideas. Now, here's our new preacher in town to give us a little prayer."

Worst prelude I ever had! But he was sincere! Over and over again, he voiced that old sentiment: "Now, don't you get above your raising, ya hear!"

Sometimes the speaker reveals more than intended (applies to preachers, too, and sometimes things NEVER intended), and it convinces the "beholder" of something totally unintended.

Someone is always watching, always learning, and, in the case of the coach and principal above, someone is always walking away, in their mind if not with their feet. As leaders, two men intended to influence youth; maybe they never realized: in that moment, before the echo of their voice died out, the conversation ended. Period.

B