I feel that I owe the teachers of Topeka USD 501 a debt that I could never pay. Especially my 7th grade typing teacher. If it wasn't for her, you wouldn't be reading this right now. In the summer of 2001, a teacher and football coach from a high school in Derby Kansas contacted me. He'd been receiving my daily inspirational messages and asked me if I'd come speak to one of his classes. Feeling my heavy debt to the teachers in Kansas, I accepted his invitation and set aside a date in October to visit with his class. Finally, I'd be able to give something back and make a payment on my debt. I notified my brother who lived near by and asked him to pick me up at the Rose Hill airport. I was thrilled he would have a chance to see his "little" brother talk to and inspire some kids. As we all know now, the events on September 11, 2001 changed every thing. Including private aviation. I was able to make it to Rose Hill Kansas in October for my commitment. My brother picked me up at the airport and took me to the Derby High School, where we were treated to lunch. The Coach informed me of a change of plan and that I would be talking to the High School, not just 20 to 30 students in his class. I hadn't prepared a message for a group that big and was sure my brother could tell, this was not what I had volunteered for. I talked to all those kids that day, I improvised on my feet. I did the best I could, but in the end, I was disappointed in myself that day and the talk that I had delivered. That following Sunday, I took some time to talk to my friend and Sunday school teacher Zig Ziglar. I explained what had happened to me that week. Zig listened to my story and I'll never forget what he told me afterwards. "Tim" he said, "Let me tell you a story. I was in Columbia, Missouri some time back. I had to deliver a speech to a group. The night before, staying in the Hotel, I got sick. I managed to make it through the next day. It was not one of my best. I was feeling lousy, but I was there to do a job. So, I worked hard and did the best I could. That night, I'd made another commitment to go and talk to another group. Oh, Tim, let me tell you. I really didn't want to go. I'd made the commitment, so I showed up. I knew then I shouldn't have gone. I got on stage that night. I felt really bad. Of course, not as bad as I felt the day afterwards. Much like you're feeling now. I really felt like I had let them down. For many years, I felt that way. Regretted that night. Then a funny thing happened a few years back, I was talking to another group. After I'd finished, I was signing books for the crowd. A man came up to me. He looked me in the eye and told me that he'd heard me speak that night in Missouri. Tim, a cold shiver ran down my back. I prepared for what he was about to say. Instead, he said... Zig, your speech that night in Missouri turned my life around. Tim, I was speechless. I didn't know what to say to him. For years I'd been feeling bad about that night. Then I realized that God had put me there that night. That man needed to hear my words. Even if, they weren't the words said the way I thought they needed to be said." I looked at Zig. I could see in his eyes what I often feel in my heart. The paychecks that come in words from God. A simple thank you. A story of how the work we do because of our faith, changed a life. It was definitely a Zig moment. He continued: "Tim, God put you there. Never second guess where you're supposed to be." Only Zig could pick up a man, with his words and make you feel like you could fly again. Zig and I would talk from time to time. I always expressed how much I appreciated his insight. His dedication to his faith. He would always brush it aside. I don't know if he never learned how to accept a compliment or if it was just easier for him to brush it aside and act embarrassed. I prefer to think it was just his humble way. His servants heart. His big heart trying to give enough people what they want. For those of you who knew Zig, you know that look on his face he got every time he shook a person's hand. I often tell folks it was his way of recharging his batteries. The energy he got from a handshake. It propelled him. He loved people. Of course, he loved Jean and God more, but he truly enjoyed meeting and talking with people. My true pleasure knowing Zig was not his Godly advice, but watching him shake those hands and seeing that smile on his face as he was doing what he loved. Zig told everyone: "You can have everything in life that you want if you just give enough other people what they want." Now that the final chapter of his life has been written, thousands of people around the world are telling their stories of how Zig gave everything in life... to everyone. Inspiring them, changing their lives and picking them up... so they could fly again. As for me, the debt that I owe to Zig, is bigger than the one I owe the teachers in Kansas. Hilary "Zig" Hinton Ziglar Nov. 6, 1926 - Nov. 28, 2012 Comments are closed.
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