That Guy

I am "that guy".

You know "that guy".

He is smart, talented, funny and charming.

He is gifted, seemingly could do whatever he wants.

Everyone looks at him and says "wow, what potential."

He's the Ryan Leif or Aaron Carter with flashes of greatness but a life of disappointment.

And he is forever underachieving any of his dreams or the dreams set out for him.

In sports he is the classic 1st round pick that never pans out.  In college, he is the Magna Cum Laude that fails on the opportunities that lies before him.  In life he is the guy that excels in middle to low level career roles, but never becomes the man he could become.

Potential is scary.  Potential is powerful.  Potential holds the capability of becoming real.  Potential is the teeter-totter of life that can tip one way or another but rarely holds stable.

Potential is label we use to express hopes of future outcomes.  And a label pasted on others who fall disastrously short of expectations.

Within me is the potential, the possibility, the opportunity to become something or someone of greatness.

How does potential become reality?

For guys like me that seems to be the answer that is always just out of reach.

Most days, I feel like "that guy".

Missing it

Not gonna lie, I miss it.

I took myself out of the game by choice.  I was injured.  I was hurting.  I was in need of getting healthy.

But in my most honest reflection, I miss communicating and teaching.  I miss standing in front of the audience/congregation.  I miss the tinge of nervousness as you begin with a not so funny joke that you are hoping goes over.  I miss the look in the eyes of someone as the gain understanding and connect with what you are sharing.

While 99% of people would rather face a grizzly bear in a steal cage match, I love speaking!  But when this is who you are it is hard to deny!

I love conveying truth to people.  I love giving people tools to better their lives.  I love digging out ideas and presenting them in a way where someone says "I've never thought about it that way."  I love the creative process.  I love partnering ideas with music in an artistic marriage in that moment.  I love to draw pictures with my words and sell my paintings to eager listeners.

My healing process has been long and pro-longed, mostly by me. I have built my own roadblocks to my recovery.  At times thinking that staying away is the best answer.

Yet what I realize and know deep down is that what I am built, wired and birthed to do is teach and speak.  Hiding from that is like asking a lion to be a house cat.  Not a good plan!

In time this tame tabby cat will once again become king of the jungle and "you're gonna hear me roar."