I don’t know what I would do without the weekly men’s early morning Bible meetings that I’ve attended faithfully since 1988.

The meetings are all about developing relationships, becoming transparent and sharing about what God has done and is doing in your life. I’ve witnessed men freed from the bondage of fear, resentments, alcoholic abuse and illegal drug use, etc.

Presently, we have weekly meetings in LaPlace, Garyville and Paulina. The meetings last only one hour, and everyone is given an opportunity to speak.

A total of approximately 60 plus men attend the meetings each week. We share our strengths, hopes and personal stories, and are often reminded we are all a work in progress. God’s not finished with us yet.

Some meetings can also be very entertaining.  

A few weeks ago, the moderator’s subject was about handling rejection and maintaining a positive attitude.

My friend Gary Hickman shared about an experience he had in 1968.

Upon his discharge from the Navy, he and his wife Sylvia settled in California, where his first job was selling Kirby vacuum cleaners. At that time, Kirby was the Cadillac of the vacuum cleaner industry.  

Each salesman was given a vacuum cleaner to carry around and demonstrate. With all the attachments, it weighed approximately 40 pounds.  

Gary wasn’t doing too well, so his sales manager decided to go on cold canvas calls with him.

According to Gary, when they went to the first house a big, mean, rough looking man answered the door, cursed them out and told them to get off of his property.

Gary (I’m sure being glad to have survived without any physical harm) asked his sales manager, “What’s next?”

“Follow me,” the manager said.

They went around the house and knocked on the back door. When the man opened the door his sales manager said, “I’m glad you’re not as mean as the other guy that answered the front door.”

The man just laughed, invited them in and, over a glass of wine, they sold the vacuum cleaner.  

Gary didn’t last long on that job, but I think the lesson he learned was when rejected, one should step back, take a different approach, be positive and learn to persevere.  

If you have any questions, or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477 or e-mail: hkeller@comcast.net.