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by Phil Callaway
A recent cover of Time asked, “What Scares You Most?” How would you respond? Hundreds of phobias were listed including Arachibutyrophobia, which is fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth! My dog has this fear, but I do not. However, I do experience the number one fear among humans—speaking in public.
Ten years ago just after the release of my first book, the phone rang. I answered. “Phil, we would like you to speak to our high school graduating class,” said a sweet voice from a nearby school. “You went to high school once, so we thought you’d have something to tell the graduates.”
“Um…” I stammered, “I would rather crawl across molten metal in a loincloth.” No, I didn’t say that. But I did say, “Well…uh…let me think about it for a minute. There, I thought about it. I can’t. I just get too nervous. My lips quiver. My knees knock. My liver hurts. I drool. But…um…thanks anyway. Please call me again. In about four hundred years.”
The lady managed a polite laugh before hanging up.
I set the phone down, noticing that my knuckles were sweating. I’m no preacher, I thought.
The calls continued to come. “Phil, would you come and speak to us.”
I told each caller the same thing. “I can’t. My tongue gets swollen. My mind goes blank. What if my kidney explodes?”
One night I went home and told my wife about it. She said, “Honey, do you remember in Scripture where God used Balaam’s donkey to talk? Maybe He could use you?”
I think it was intended as a compliment.
That night I got on my knees and said some simple words. “Lord, whatever you want I am yours. Whatever you want, I will do. If you can use a guy like me, that’s truly amazing.”
A week later the phone rang. “Mr. Callaway, I’m in charge of a group of ladies. We’ve been reading your book and laughing ourselves silly. Would you come and make us laugh?”
I stood there with the phone in my hand, thinking about her question. Ever since second grade when I stood in the corner under a pointed cap making faces at my fellow classmates, I knew I could make people laugh. I seemed to view life a little differently than most. Perhaps when God handed out the spiritual gifts, He gave brightly wrapped packages with golden lettering on them, spelling out words like “Teacher,” “Preacher,” “Encourager,” and “Ordained Plumber.” Marvelous gifts, those. And maybe He smiled when He came to mine. The box said “Warped Mind.”
And all the angels rejoiced.
I said yes that day to the lady on the phone. I think I surprised us both. But that night I understood why. I had been reading the Bible through in a year (sometimes I make it, sometimes I don’t) and I had just reached the book of Exodus. When Moses, later to be dubbed The Prince of Egypt stood before a burning bush, he heard God’s call and winced. “Wait a minute, Lord,” he said. “Not me. I stutter. My knees knock. I drool.” And the Lord said, “That’s okay. I can work with that.”
And He did.
I took great comfort from the story of Moses when I got up to speak to that gracious group of ladies. I was nervous. My knees knocked, I’m sure. Perhaps my liver hurt a little. But they laughed. And I found myself thinking of what I had written in the front of my Bible a few days before, while I should have been listening to the sermon: “Moses stuttered. Sarah laughed. Jacob wrestled. Abraham lied. Rahab was a prostitute. David liked rooftops. Jonah was down in the mouth. Jeremiah was depressed. Peter was afraid of death. Matthew worked for Revenue Canada. Lazarus was dead. Zaccheus didn’t measure up. I guess You can use me too, Lord.”
Today, believe it or not, speaking to thousands of people a year is one of the most rewarding things I get to do. Not because I’m so wonderful. But because Christ’s power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians tells us so.
I haven’t lived all that long, but it seems to me that God continually chooses the most under-qualified to do His work. Perhaps it’s because they know they can’t do it by themselves, and they never forget Who deserves the credit.
How about you?
Is there something rewarding you’re missing because of fear? Remember that fear is the little darkroom where negatives are developed. So face that fear, prayerfully. You never know what God will do. And when good things happen, never forget Who gets the credit.
~ Phil Callaway is an award-winning author and speaker, known worldwide for his humorous yet perceptive look at life. He is the best-selling author of fifteen books including Laughing Matters, Who Put My Life On Fast Forward?, I Used to Have Answers…Now I Have Kids, Making Life Rich Without Any Money, and Honey, I Dunked the Kids. Phil's writings have been translated into languages like Polish, Chinese, Spanish, German, Dutch, Indonesian, and English (one of which he speaks fluently!) (Read an article about him.)
*Article used by permission
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To read more about life balance, check out Who Put My Life on Fast Forward?
Visit Phil Callaway's website
Order a Phil Callaway book online
Check out Phil's book, Golfing With the Master where Phil demonstrates how you can enjoy the great game of golf while enriching your life. A great Father's Day gift idea!
Phil Callaway is editor of Servant magazine, and the author of 15 books, you can visit him online at www.philcallaway.com
