You Never Know Who You’re Talking To!
Mark W. Pfeifer
Back in 1954, a 12 year old boy rode his prized red and white Schwinn bicycle with a friend to the Home Show at the Columbia Auditorium in Louisville, Kentucky. When the event was over, the boy discovered that his new bicycle had been stolen.
Distraught and furious, he reported the theft to a nearby police officer who just happened to be in area named Joe Martin. The young boy confessed to the police officer that he wanted to "whup" whoever had stolen his bike. Marting, who ran a boxing gym in the basement of a downtown building, responded to the boy, “Before you fight someone, you’d better learn how to fight.”
Martin invited the lad to come train at his gym. The boy, who had never boxed before, came to the gym and put on a pair of boxing gloves for the first time in his life. He showed immediate promise. His quickness, determination, and a big personality won the attention and respect of everyone in the gym. Martin began coaching him, and within six weeks, the young boy had his first amateur fight and won!
The interest that Officer Joe Martin showed to an angry kid who just lost his bike changed history. The passion the boy displayed the day his bicycle was stolen burned in his heart for decades. He went on to win six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles, two national Golden Gloves titles, an Amateur Athletic Union national title, a gold medal in the 1960 Rome Olympics and became a three-time world heavyweight champion, and one of the most iconic athletes in history.
You may have figured it out by now. His name was Casius Clay – or as he was later known – Muhammad Ali.
You never know who you’re talking to!
One of the things I’ve admired about John P. Kelly over the years is how he takes interest in nearly everyone he meets for the first time. You get the sense when you meet him, that he’s genuinely interested in you.
I asked him about that one day and he told me story after story of people he met who went on to do great things. What he did not mention, is how their lives were changed, maybe in imperceivable ways, because Kelly took and interest in them.
In our conversation, Kelly concluded telling these stories with this bit of wisdom at the end, “Don’t ever overlook anyone. Everyone has potential…
…You never know who you’re talking to!”
This is like the story I heard of a revival meeting in North Carolina. A teenage boy was invited to attend by a friend named Albert, a farmhand who had given his heart to the Lord and was encouraging people to join him at these meetings.
The young man voiced his objections because he had heard that the evangelist was a strong preacher who called people out of the audience. The thought of being singled out was terrifying. But curiosity won out, and after a little coaxing, he went to the meeting.
He was struck by the preacher’s passionate and uncompromising message about sin, repentance, and salvation. Over the next few nights, he kept returning to the meetings. At the end of one service, he responded to the altar call, walked down the aisle and committed his life to Jesus Christ.
That young man was Billy Graham.
The evangelist, Mordecai Ham, probably thought nothing more of this young man. He probably looked like dozens of other seekers at the altar. Billy’s friend, Albert McMakin who invited him probably didn’t know he was helping change the world as we know it. But it affirms this truth:
You never know who you’re talking to!
I know this from personal experience. Apostle Kelly’s genuine interest in Nicki and me when we first met him impacted our lives. The attention he gave us not only encouraged us but provided an example for us to follow.
My dad said something to me when I was a boy. He said, “Mark, you must respect every person you meet. Because they know something you don’t. And if you respect them and do not dismiss them, you’ll learn something.”
In a similar way, when I first started my education for ministry, something my dad never had the opportunity to do, he said to me, “Listen to every sermon that someone preaches. Don’t ever dismiss them. Because in every sermon there is something you can learn.”
My dad was a lot like John Kelly in this regard. He would take time for people, no matter how young or old, rich or poor, famous or infamous. One such young man that dad influenced back in the day was the son of a family friend, The name of this young man was John Maxwell.
You never know who you’re talking to!
Here are some of the things that Nicki and I learned from John P. Kelly and my dad when meeting people for the first time.
Assume this person will one day achieve greatness.
Treat them like you want to be treated.
Be present in the moment.
Focus on them and them – and them alone.
Show genuinely interest in them.
Ask open ended questions
Talk to them about their past.
Invite them to share their hopes, dreams and ambitions.
Listen to their stories.
Avoid talking about yourself the whole time.
Look them in the eye.
Find ways you can help them on their journey.
Offer your contact info for future connection
Listen to the Holy Spirit for bits of advice you can offer.
Encourage them in every way possible.
It’s like the story of a man known only as Mr. Butler who showed interest in a homeless man who was sleeping in his car. He gave this young man access to a shower, some food and a place to store his belongings. Mr. Butler learned of the young man’s hopes and dreams and encouraged him to never give up and pursue them no matter what. That young man was Tyler Perry!
You never know who you’re talking to!
So, the next time a young person approaches you…or a raggedy looking individual wants to talk to you…or an elderly saint stands near you waiting to speak to you…or a child smiles at you desiring attention, give yourself away.
Because that’s what we do.
We’re servants.
We’re called to help people fulfill their God-given missions – not use people to fulfill our own!
Because you never know who you’re talking to!