There is a trophy on my bookcase that sticks out from the rest like a sore thumb. From time to time friends will ask me about it because of it's unusual nature. I proudly tell them I won it at the Santa Anita Firing Range on 12/19/85 for a "Falling Plate Match" shooting contest with revolvers. It's at that point that I feel a twinge of guilt and I usually don't elaborate any further. The truth of the matter is that one night after work a friend of mine and I stopped in at the range for a little target practice. I had never been there before. Soon enough I was talked into participating in a contest later that evening that the range was sponsoring, and paid my nominal entry fee. There were two categories of shooters. "A" Class, which was reserved for more expert and experienced shooters, and "B" Class, that was basically all the rest. Because I had never been to the range before, and they didn't know if I was a "ringer" or not, they placed me in the "A" Class, which was their policy. There were only 3 of us in that category. I actually shot pretty well that night and I somehow managed to take 2nd Place. I think the 3rd shooter was somehow disqualified? The problem was that there were over 20 shooters in the "B" Class and about 6 of them actually had better marks than I did. Only the first two in each category got a trophy. A better man would have turned his trophy over to the 3rd Place shooter in the "B" Class. Me? You already know the answer. I grabbed the trophy and practically ran out of the building.........
23 years later I'd like to tell you that I'm more mature and less selfish than I was back then, but I'm not so sure. I'm not sure I wouldn't do exactly the same thing today. After all, there have been times when I deserved something that didn't come to pass. I can rationalize with the best of them, and think of times when someone was promoted ahead of me that shouldn't have been. (One such time led me to quit Allstate Sales Management and purchase my first Agency, so I guess that worked out ok.) Or I lost out on a award because of an unfair circumstance or fluke. Just recently Michelle's soccer team, that I helped coach, came in 3rd in the U10 Girls Division instead of 2nd because of where we were placed in the draw. Naturally they are taking only the top two teams to represent the Region. So, such is life. It's not always fair, and sometimes we get what we deserve and sometimes we get what we don't deserve.
As I reflect on Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ, it occurs to be that I'm receiving a wonderful gift that I don't deserve. Unlike the trophy in my family room, I don't have to feel guilty about it. I don't even need to grab it and run out into the parking lot to make my exit. I just have to accept it............
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
Jon
