One Never Knows . . .
Back in 1993 when the first edition of Awaken to Good Mourning was published, the publisher arranged for Vanessa and me to have a booth at a grief conference in Houston one weekend. We went to the conference – didn’t sell that many books but had a great time meeting people.
Over the course of the conference, a rather spry elderly widow went from booth to booth collecting cards and talking to exhibitors. We had a delightful conversation. As she left she said with a twinkle in her eye, “I’m gonna get you to speak in Dallas.” I thanked her and said goodbye thinking to myself “How sweet. Not likely to happen, but very sweet.”
A few weeks later I received a call from the organizer for the Regional WPS (Widowed Persons Service) Conference. She indicated that their keynote speaker had to cancel due to illness and could I fill in (the next day). She indicated that the elderly woman I met in Houston had given her my name and recommended me highly! Hmmmm . . . I jumped at the chance!
The Opening Session was the following night (a Friday) and accompanied a dinner! I spoke then and conducted two break out sessions the next day. Unbeknownst to me but the National Director for WPS was in the audience that Friday night. Within two weeks I received a call from her office asking me to be the keynote for the National WPS Conference in Philadelphia in September! She said that she enjoyed my presentation so much she felt a larger audience needed to hear it. So in September I was in Philly for an entire weekend.
One month later, I received another call from her office and she asked if I would be interested in speaking to the International Federation of Widows Organization annual conference held in Washington D.C. the next spring. I was astounded! Really! Without hesitation I accepted! The following spring I had the honor of speaking to an international crowd. It was an amazing string of events – events that had their genesis in a chance conversation with an energetic elderly widow.
What have I learned from this? One thing for sure – maybe two!
First Lesson: The smallest and most innocuous of conversations can lead to experiences beyond imagination.
Second Lesson: Never turn down a chance to speak to an audience – no matter how small.
Over the years, I have spoken to audiences numbering in the thousands and audiences of two. Often, the gigs that produced two participants were ultimately more meaningful than the largest of the bunch! The only way I will turn down a chance to speak to an audience is if I am already scheduled or physically unable to do so.
I remember about a month after Christy’s death in 1989 that my friend and life insurance agent, Ted Cantrell asked me, “What do you WANT to do?” I responded, “I want to write, speak and teach.” As God gives me the strength and opportunity to do so, I will.
Next time you feel that a conversation or opportunity is “not worth your time,” please pause and consider the lessons I learned from this experience and remember . . . One Never Knows!
Peace!
Mark E. Hundley
P.S.
A side note to this story . . . I enjoyed visiting with my new “friend” (the woman who suggested I be asked to speak) at all three subsequent conferences. Each time we met, she would beam as she told the story of how we met. I smiled as well because of the joy she expressed – it also humbled me quite a bit. At the final conference in D.C., she told me that she had cancer. She didn’t falter in her enthusiasm for life, however. Not long after that final conference, I received a letter from the National WPS Director informing me of her death. Even in that final message, the Director mentioned how often our mutual friend talked about introducing me to them. When I heard of her death, I cried. I felt woefully unworthy of such accolades! SHE was the amazing one . . . not I!
