A B C

snopes · #1 15 September 2007, 04:33 AM

My words are not mine most days. They just appear in my mind, on my computer screen or on paper and I share them. I sat in a meeting recently listening to others around me speak about all the challenges in life. The group was made up of men and women of various ages.

One middle aged man wondered out loud why God had not permitted him to be successful.

I stood up and said, "Success is as easy as A B C."

I then walked out of the room.

Of course this stirred the conversation and caused a number of people to laugh at the simplicity of my statement.

I waited outside the door and listened.

"He has no idea what he is talking about!"

"Nothing in life is that simple!"

As I turned to walk away I heard a voice, "Sir! Pardon me."

I stopped and turned toward him.

"You caused quite a discussion in there."

"I always do," I replied.

"I couldn't let you go without an explanation," he said. "You said 'Success is as easy as A B C" How can that be?"

I then pulled a small scrap of paper out of my jacket, walked over to a nearby table and scribbled something on it.

"Out of all those people, you were the only one who showed interest in the possibility. It's a reflection of today's society. We are made to believe that unless something is complex, multi-layered and expensive, it cannot be of any value. Something simple is not worth pursuing. That is except for those who know the truth...like you," I said.

I then handed him the note, smiled and walked away.

Before he opened the paper, I left the building, crossed the parking lot and got into my car.

I waited and watched the nearby window. He appeared there smiling as he held the note up and waved.

This is what I wrote,

"You are "A" child of God. You will "B" successful when you "C" what He sees in you."

"A B C"

Artemis · #2 15 September 2007, 04:37 AM

And here I thought God was taking a page from "Glengarry Glenn Ross."

Eddylizard · #3 15 September 2007, 04:40 AM

Quote:

I stood up and said, "Success is as easy as A B C."

I then walked out of the room.

A message so clear, so obvious, so meaningful that you do not feel you have to remain to explain it, unless someone accosts you in the car park.

and "D"ont "E"ver "F"orget "G"od "H"ates "I"diots.

"DEFGHI"

Cervus · #4 15 September 2007, 04:45 AM

Always Bring Cookies.

One-Fang · #5 16 September 2007, 03:18 AM

How did he know that while he was leaving the building, crossing the parking lot, and getting into his car, the guy hadn't opened the note yet?

As religious as the message is, I basically agree with it anyway. A large part of success is simply believing that you CAN do what you're trying. Confidence. Whether you get it from "seeing what God sees in you" or you find some other avenue from which to feel confident about what you're doing.

Unfortunately, while I agree it's a large part, it's not the only part. So yeah, success is a complex thing.

Avril · #6 16 September 2007, 03:28 AM

You can do or be whatever you want to do or be!

Unless... you want to fly by flapping your arms, or become a ladybug, or...

Um...

You can't do or be whatever you want to do or be.

One of my college classes spent a semester on that sentence. It's one of many reasons I hate studying philosophy, and probably will until my dying day.

Avril

queen of the caramels · #7 16 September 2007, 05:05 AM

Arrogent Bastard Creep!!

#8 16 September 2007, 05:39 AM

Always Bite Croutons

#9 16 September 2007, 09:35 AM

If the story was told from a third person perspective it might have worked. But it comes across as "I am such a bad ass". I made people find Jesus! Hell-yeah! The first person just kills it.

And yeah, the "ABC" is even weaker than the math junk from a month ago.

DawnStorm · #10 16 September 2007, 12:50 PM

...easy as 1 2 3.

We'veBeenHad · #11 19 September 2007, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avril

You can do or be whatever you want to do or be!

Unless... you want to fly by flapping your arms, or become a ladybug, or...

Um...

You can't do or be whatever you want to do or be.

Avril

Yep. You remind me of a couple demotivators, too -

http://www.despair.com/potential.html

http://www.despair.com/incompetence.html

The writer of the OP comes across as a jerk. First of all, what the heck kind of meeting was it that was so diverse and that he could just walk out of for no reason before it was over? AA? In which case the conversation to follow was more like "Uh-oh, he's on the sauce again." Why the hell did he walk out if he was just going to stand outside listening, and hoping someone would follow?

"You caused quite a discussion in there." "I always do."

So he always makes a cryptic and profoundly stupid statement and then walks out? Does he always stand at the door and listen too? The people who stayed inside were the smart ones. Ignore him and he'll go away eventually. He obviously just wants the attention. Anyway, God hates leetspeek like "B." I missed the part where Moses' tablet said "I B the Lord your God. Don't C any graven images."

How stupid.