Last week, I was in Boston. One night after dinner, I was walking around Back Bay, just taking in the city. I saw a man, Jack from East Boston, sitting on a plastic crate rattling a cup of change. He looked like he could be any man I know. He wasn’t dirty, he was dressed decently and he looked young. I said to him, you are too young to be here on the street, he said, I’m not that young. He shared with me he was 41. I said, tell me your story, how did you get here? We spent a good thirty minutes together that ended with a hug and a hand shake. Jack had made some poor choices and boom, his wife booted him out, she and the three boys stayed in their home and Jack couldn’t afford two places. He was beating himself up for what he had done and lost.

Saturday, we had a men’s event at our church. 250 men came out to enjoy some BBQ and a good time together. We were all done, cleaned up and I was getting ready to leave, when I man walked up to me, I’ve known him from a distance for several years. He clearly had lost weight and I mentioned that to him. He said my wife of 27 years, left me 45 days ago and I don’t have any appetite. He said, I came here hoping to see you. He poured his heart out to me as many broken men have before. He has been humbled and broken. Now he is fully surrendered to the Lord. He told me, he always avoided me. He feared me in some ways. He didn’t want to open up to me and knew that is what I’m known for. He told me how poorly he treated his wife but how much he knows he loves her. Now, he wishes he would have sought help earlier but thought he could handle it.

I wish guys weren’t so stubborn and prideful. I wish we could see in our wives eyes the longing for closeness. I wish we could hear their heart’s cry BEFORE the bomb drops. I’ve had so many men over the years come to me in exactly the same way. Far too many times by the time they wake up, by the time they become willing to listen and work on their marriages, it is too late. The wife’s heart is closed and too many times it never reopens.

What if you lost everything you value in life today? What if tomorrow you woke up and it was still all gone?

How would you feel if after a few days it all was given back? Act like that today!

Blessings,

Scott