Vendor Writing: Remember the Goal

Remember the Goal

BY JEFFREY, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

There is a faith based movie I watched years ago with this title. A lot can be taken from it if you watched it.

Not a day passes by that the first thought I have is to say, “Good Morning Jesus,” “Good morning God!” I accepted the fact that I am actually part of the family. Then I head to 7-11 to my fill of coffee and my work begins as I enjoy spreading cheer.

In most sports should you take your eye off the ball, it could be costly to the entire team. This is the goal. Eventually everyone I encounter asks or figures out the source of the cheer. As I enjoy my morning with them, patiently awaiting sunrise. Then I usually feel the nudge to go down to the street and begin phase two of the day.

There are rules of engagement that I follow. Which help me “Remember the Goal.”

1. Enjoy the day while being myself.

2. Never take my eye off the ball.

3. Give people the opportunity to be a good steward with money by giving and helping properly.

4. Get as many people as possible to take the paper and read the paper.

5. Remove myself from the past should I feel myself unable to do the previous four properly.

There have never been two days the same. On two separate days people have walked to me extremely suicidal. I was able to stop this by being myself, both left my corner sober and having an entirely new countenance. One thanked me for being a good steward with what God had clearly given me, smiling as he left. Many have left in dismay saying, “I wanted to bless you with what I have, instead it was I who have been blessed, thank you for being here! My response usually is to thank them for helping me to be on my post. Getting people to smile and perhaps change the outcome of their day is awesome to do while remembering the goal. The money isn’t on the top of my list to do that day. It’s actually a by-product of keeping my eye on the ball. Some love to come by and get my breakfast, lunch or dinner. There are also those who have or want me to go inside the restaurant to eat with them. I am very joyful to speak to children and plant a huge smile on those innocent faces. Many come by and share a huge wave, perhaps a toot toot on the horn and smile as I remember them from such an encounter. Some help everytime they see me, some can’t. The feeling I get by the, “Hello, Jeff,” is great as it helps me to remember the goal. Usually as I show my Contributor badge properly I say to myself “Game on.” Because of The Contributor, and the support I don’t walk two hours each way for a free meal. I always have enough to buy things I want. I don’t stay at the encampment knowing the food delivery is shortly coming. I go and engage and get in the game, while being able to take care of my own needs.

In the days of old, the gladiators would use sport games to train for the times of war. Today our city of Nashville is clearly at war. Much bloodshed takes place in the streets where we live. Every time I hear an ambulance I wonder if they are on the way to pick up a casualty of this war. Gunshot victim, stabbing victim or worse yet a lifeless body. Even if by suicide is certainly a sobering reminder. Not everyone is called to be on the front lines. It is not the place to be lest you are called. Some are needed to help and be in the grandstand helping out, even if by giving you daily strength by cheering you on. My Contributor badge helps me to be available. Remember this. Even if you are sitting back enjoying a bag of popcorn watching all this take place, refusing to help such nonsense as you see it. No man can serve two masters you are being counted for or against. Should you refuse to use your gift of discernment you may be fighting on the wrong side or cheering on is just the same. A horsemen in the revolution is weighing in the balance every word, every action, yes, every in-action as well. Like it or not, you are engaged simply by being here. Having my name engraved in a brick wall on the pathway at Bicentennial Park doesn’t excite me at all. Knowing the horsemen has been handed the gold brick with my name on it to favorably tilt the scale does. As I dance on the streets of gold someday seeing this brick of gold will be awesome. I hope this wasn’t boring, time to rest the pen, put on my badge and go engage ! “GAME ON!”