A Lesson from a Con Man

Ten dollars was all I had but that was a lot of money at that time for a young teen. The traveling carnival was in town and I was ready for rides, food guaranteed to make you ill, and a few games of skill and chance. I decided to wander about the lot to see what attractions were most appealing.

When I came to the back of the temporarily leased property, I was beckoned to a booth by a bodacious little fellow who laid before me the challenge of a lifetime. For the huge wad of money that he held in his hand all I had to do was stand up a prone coke bottle with a specially designed stick. He showed me how easy it was. It would only take an investment of $5 for the chance at what looked like thousands. Where he got all of this money or why he was willing to give it all up to a kid never crossed my mind. All I could see were the riches that awaited me.

Carefully I picked up the stick and evaluated the challenge, reviewing in my mind the strategy that my challenger used. Cautiously I lifted the bottle with the stick and was within inches of victory when both the bottle and my anticipated wealth slipped from my grasp. A moan came from the crowd that had gathered to watch. I can only imagine the look on my face when that bottle hit the surface of his table. I do remember the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Lesson learned, right? Not so fast, partner. With a barker’s expertise, the con man convinced me that my failure was a freak accident and a second try would surely win the prize, an even bigger prize since it now contained my initial $5 investment. I was close the first time and the task seemed so simple. But the task was not the only thing that was simple. I was not even shocked at my second failure, only experiencing a fatalistic awareness of being twice fooled. Having lost all of my money did not cause me to lose my voice and the growing crowd seemed interested in what I had to say. That is until an extremely large gentleman appeared from behind the tent to inform me that it was time to, “Beat it, kid.”

I would love to run into those two fellows now. I would have a very forceful comment to make to them and it would come in the form of only two words, “Thank you!” The $10 I lost to these con artists was undoubtedly the best $10 I ever spent. For only $10 and a little humiliation I learned that the world is not waiting out there to hand you money. If it looks and sounds too good to be true, it is. It doesn’t matter how convincing the barker is. It doesn’t matter that the victory appears to be within your grasp. Greed will blind you to the reality of extreme potential loss. The riches of this world are often packaged in deceit. The only true riches are those that are stored up in His presence for enjoyment for eternity.

~~~

The current Studies is entitled "Be Absolutely Sure "

by David Berresford

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For Consideration...

"Bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate would be oppression." ~ Thomas Jefferson

A Yellow Raincoat &
Other Memories
A Journey to Hope

David Berresford’s first book is a collection of heart-warming true stories that takes us down the well-worn paths of his life: a life that has carried him from a two-room shack in West Virginia, to the farms of backwoods Kentucky, to the halls of a rural elementary school in Ohio. A minister, father, and retired teacher and school principal, David shares his experiences with parenting, ministering, teaching, and even grave-digging. His hilarious, insightful, and often poignant recollections invite you to take a thoughtful look at the places your life has taken you…then embark on your own journey to hope.    

Available at The Wooster Book Company or online.

Also available at:

Amish Door Restaurant and Village - Wilmot, OH

Ashland University Bookstore - Ashland, OH

Barnes & Noble - order online or at your local store

Borders - Fairlawn, Medina, and North Canton, OH

Carlisle Gifts - Walnut Creek, OH

Christian Homestead Bookstore - Shreve, OH

Gospel Book Store - Berlin, OH

Harvest Moon - Berlin, OH

Lion & Lamb Christian Resources - Salem, OH

The Wilson Bookstore at The College of Wooster Wooster, OH

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