This story kind of goes nowhere…kind of…

     In May 2013, I drove from Minnesota to Maryland and back.  It all started around going back to my high school football coach’s (Tim Ambrose) retirement party. On many levels it was one of the best trips I've ever been on, many stories came of this trip, but today I’m only going to share the one that kind of left me hanging, well at least until I saw the bigger picture.

     I was heading from a visit with an old college friend and his family near Philadelphia, on my way to Cumberland, Maryland.  It was a beautiful day and drive, western PA is mostly rural farm country, very similar to where I grew up, so it was very relaxing.  Well, we all have some rituals we perform on long road trips and one of mine is to not only fill the tank but also get one of those gi-normous fountain drinks of diet Coke for the ride.  It also doesn't take a scientist to understand that means I’m going to have to stop, basic biology right?  So after a while, I started looking for an exit to pull off and of course there weren't any because I was in the middle of nowhere.  About 10 minutes down the road I finally saw one sign for a gas station, but I was wary…you see the day before I saw one of the signs and pulled off near Baltimore and the station was like 5 miles off the exit, down 3 roads etc…(I personally think it should be illegal to post signs like this, I think I’m writing my congressman…)  so I waited to the last minute, “I’m not pulling off until I actually see it, not going to trick me again…” and right after I passed the exit, there it was behind the trees…(I muttered something I’m not proud of under my breath).  So I started to speed a little and the need got a little more urgent.  Then a few miles down the road there was a town with several gas stations, “Jackpot!” I thought.  As I was preparing to pull off I saw another sign that read “Rest Area 1 mile” I thought, “even better, I’ll go there instead” so I passed the town exit and headed to the rest area.  As I rounded the next bend my bathroom hopes were crushed.  The rest area was also a weigh station for trucks and was backed up a quarter mile, no entrance available for me.  (I muttered something else).  Needless to say, it was getting dire.  You know when you have to go bad, think you’re going to get to go, but don’t get to go, then oh no.  So I had to make a choice, pull over, risking a indecent expose ticket or go really fast and risk a speeding ticket…I chose to floor it.  After using all 5 cylinders of my 4 cylinder car, I saw what seemed like a carnival of gas stations, even one of those cool big truck stops!  As I pulled off the exit I noticed the exit number was 77.  You may only understand this if you are/were an athlete (and yes it makes me kind of a dork) but 77 is my football number so I immediately thought, “guess I’m supposed to take this exit.”

     After I raced into the parking lot, sprinted through the aisles of the truck stop and took care of my problem, I went out into the store section to browse.  So I’ll admit I have a problem right now, don’t judge, but I went right to the fountain drinks and filled up another 64 oz’er.  As I was filling it I glanced over at the couple next to me. He was an older gentleman, guessing in his 70’s, his wife looked to be in her 50’s and they were getting hot dogs off the self-service roller.  Then it dawned on me, the gentleman was Robert Duvall.  He was wearing a short brimmed flat cap pulled down (incognito) untucked shirt, jeans and cowboy boots.  I thought “nawww…it can’t be Robert Duvall, he wouldn't be eating hot dogs in a truck stop in PA, besides, no one else recognizes him or thinks it’s him.”  Now, I don’t get star struck, I didn't think much about it actually, but he kept looking at me, maybe he thought I’d give him up, I don’t know.  Either way, I waited behind him in line, neither the cashier nor none of the dozens of people recognized him.  As I left, I saw him and his wife off in a corner eating the hot dogs and as I step outside, I see the brand new Porsche Cayenne Turbo, I thought, “yep, it’s him” then I got in my car and drove over to the McDonald's drive through.  As I sat there waiting to get my order, I Google imaged Robert Duvall, and there he was with his wife.  They had just been at a fund raiser (where the picture was taken) to raise money for a children’s charity he supports.  Now at this point, the old Barrett would have just said “I knew it!” and that would have been it.  But the new Barrett, the one that tries to be obedient in every situation, looks up and says “I’m willing to make a fool of myself for you, you made it so I HAD to go here, the exit sign even said 77…okay, I’ll go introduce myself.” 

     I reeeaaalllly didn't want to, but I pulled out of line at the McDonald's and pulled back into the parking lot of the truck stop.  I got out of the car and started walking towards the entrance and at the same time they exited, meeting right before their car.  No one else was around, I’m sure I probably startled them at first (if you’re reading this and don’t know me, I’m 6’3 295lbs) and I asked, “excuse me sir, are you Mr. Duvall?”  he replied “yes, yes I am”  I apologized for interrupting their day but just wanted to let him know “Mr. Duvall, I just wanted to say thank you.  I know you do a lot of charity work and as a person that works with the hurting people in Haiti I know how important your time is.  You probably never get to hear thank you directly from someone on site, so I’m telling you, thank you for them, I know they truly appreciate your efforts.”  I think I caught him off guard, probably not expecting that.  Then I told him “and as a side note, thank you for making the movie Second Hand Lions, it’s one of my family’s favorites, I wish more movies were made for families and that his character reminded my kids of their Grandpa.”  He laughed and we began an extended conversation.  He asked me about what I do, I explained it all and in the end, we both thanked each other for what we did to help others.  He shook my hand and left. 

     Now, I didn't share this story with anyone for a while, it didn't seem to go anywhere and when I did, I kind of left them hanging, like there was something amazing supposed to come of it, like “then he cut me  a check for $100,000 to fund our program” or “hey, I’m heading to Cumberland too, lets hang out and become Buddies!”.  No, nothing exciting.  But I've come to realize that this is actually one of my most important stories, it marks a turning point.  I had swallowed my pride and was willing to embarrass myself in order to be obedient to what I felt God was asking me to do.  I had no idea what I was going to say to Mr. Duvall right up into the time the words left my mouth and in God’s perfect timing, I said “Thank you”.  I may never know why I was placed in those circumstances, maybe God knew I would be willing to give a word of encouragement to someone that needed it, a word of encouragement to a man, who in his fame, may not know people’s real intentions.  But I do know, after looking up and saying “okay, I’m willing to make a fool out of myself for you” He has given me opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to lift someone up, to speak life into someone.  He has also let me live out and through some really amazing experiences, some nothing short of miracles.  It’s like when I said “I’m all in” He said “Now I can use you.”

     Now, the question is, if the next time, you and I get that nudge will we listen?  The next Robert Duvall might be the guy with a flat tire, will we stop and help?  Or it may be someone needing prayer, will we pray for them on the spot?  Or it may be just a feeling that you need to reach out to the elderly neighbor, offering an ear and a cup of coffee. Just imagine...just imagine if we all became fools...  

     I hope you enjoyed this “God Story” and I hope I didn't leave you hanging.  I do want to share with you, if you haven’t seen them yet, our new promotional video for Sport Disciple and our new website, please take a few minutes to check them out.  We are also beginning our fund raising campaign for construction and program costs.  If you are able, we would really love for you to be a part of the Sport Disciple Team.  Below are links to the video and website as well as donation links.  We are 100% funded by people just like you and every gift is considered a blessing regardless of the amount so please prayerfully consider joining the Team.

 Our Goals & Needs:

·         Monthly sponsorship increase $4,000.  Please consider joining the monthly sponsor team, $20, $30 etc…

·         One Time Gifts large and small!  Total initial project, Phase 1, costs are estimated $110,000.  Phase 1 includes 2 regulation size fields, equipment building, concession, laundry facilities, pavilion, rest rooms, gym, 30,000 gallon cistern, shipping container with equipment donation + shipping costs and general infrastructure.

To learn more about the details or to become a sponsor please visit www.sportdisciple.com and to view the Sport Disciple video click here..