Sonia Marsh - Gutsy Living

Life's too short to play it safe

“My Gutsy Story” by Richard Potter

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A few years ago I volunteered to serve at a faith-based arts camp for Polish youth. Rafal, the camp director, met me at the Warsaw airport. As we drove to the camp, I asked what he had lined up for me to do for the week.

“We have six or eight campers who want to learn guitar,” he said. “So I thought you could lead an acoustic guitar workshop.”

Gitara akustyczna warsztat. WTF? I’ve played guitar for 35 years, but I’m no teacher. I can’t even remember how I learned! Did I really sign up for this? What was I thinking?

The next morning I walked through the campground to the gazebo where the workshop would shortly begin. Large rocks poked through a thin layer of soil, on which a carpet of pine needles had been laid by the branches waving overhead. The rising sun promised to chase away the slight chill in the air. Near the gazebo a sculpted lion’s head emerged from the ground, mouth wide open in a silent roar of triumph over the grave. It reminded me of Aslan, the lion-Christ-figure from CS Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia; I took comfort in the image and stepped timidly into the role of teacher. They don’t really need me here, I thought. But maybe I need to be here. Maybe this is what it means to “live by faith.”

The next morning Rafal encouraged all camp volunteers to tell our stories to our students. What role did faith play in the journey? My story does not make me proud. I grew up in a nice family that attended church every week. Dad taught Sunday school and volunteered with my Scout troop. Mom was the church organist and taught piano. I took piano for a few years, then played cello in the school orchestra.

At 14 I traded cello for guitar. Next I traded church and Scouts for rock and roll. I picked up smoking, then drinking, then marijuana, then cocaine. Like Pinocchio, I was living it up on Pleasure Island — and turning into a total ass.

One night an LSD trip went bad. I asked a friend to drive me home. He stroked the puppy in his lap as he drove. Suddenly my friend morphed into the Devil, and I became the puppy. Terrified, I opened the door to escape; but it was too late. Demons held me down.

In reality, I had jumped out of the car. My friend somehow delivered me to a hospital where I resisted restraint. My parents arrived as the LSD was wearing off. When they led Mom to my bedside, I couldn’t understand what she was doing in hell. My mom would never be in hell, I thought. But here she was, holding my hand. Had I been given a second chance?

The fractured leg and shattered shoulder blade would heal much sooner than my broken spirit. A Lutheran counselor said that my story reminded him of the prodigal son in the Bible. For the first time I considered the possibility that a Bible story had been written with me in mind. It was the first of many steps on the road to recovery.

The students were quiet as I finished my story. We turned our attention to guitars. At the end of the session, Natalia and Karolina asked if I would help them after lunch. Natalia was fascinated with classic rock and roll: the Doors, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd. I wondered, how can I teach songs like that to beginners?

Back at my cabin, I found the Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues” on my mp3 player. The girls were waiting when I returned to the gazebo. I showed Natalia where to place her fingers; Karolina followed suit. When they began to get the hang of it, I asked if they’d like to try Deep Purple’s “Smoke On The Water.” Oh, YES! They spent an hour practicing the songs.

“Omigosh!” Natalia squealed suddenly, bouncing up and down on the wooden bench. “I play Doors! I play Deep Purple!”

Yes, I nodded to myself. I know the feeling very well.

The arts camp ended with an outdoor celebration. By the light of a bonfire I said good-bye to new friends, taking pictures, collecting email addresses, and making false promises to stay in touch. There was a tap on my shoulder.

“Someone would like to say something to you,” said Rafal. Natalia peaked out from behind.

“Thank you so much for teaching me songs I love, and for sharing your story,” she began. “I have a friend in Warsaw…” She paused and turned to Rafal. “This is so hard!” Tears welled as she continued. “My friend smokes marijuana. Every time I visit she asks me if I want to try. She gives me pressure. I had decided that next time I am with her, I will try it. Then you told your story. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Now I have decided not to try the marijuana. I promise you I will not do drugs.”

“Be strong,” I said. “Keep God in your heart.” We hugged, and off she went to join her friends, long brown hair bouncing in rhythm with her flowered peasant skirt.

“You see Richard,” said Rafal, “even in your fifties you can make a difference.”

“Thanks, Rafal,” I said with a grin. “I’m 46.”

Richard Potter with Rafal

As a musician I play by ear, and this often comes in handy, like when I taught Natalia and Karolina the Doors and Deep Purple. In life I catch myself playing by fear. I’m afraid to take risks, afraid that people will run away if I let them discover the real me. I pray for the fears to go away, but that prayer goes unanswered. In Poland I learned that courage is not the absence of fear; it is the presence of faith. When I live by that truth, the outcomes are absolutely amazing.

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Richard M. Potter is a freelance writer, musician, and consultant to nonprofit organizations. His writing has appeared in Leader To Leader, Children’s Voice, Advancing Philanthropy, and other publications. As a grantwriter he has secured millions of dollars to support various charitable causes, including a $5 million grant from the WK Kellogg Foundation to fund internship stipends for future nonprofit professionals. Richard blogs on purpose at www.richardmpotter.com. He and his wife of 22 years are the parents of two wonderful teenaged children. They reside in Kansas City, Missouri.

*****

Thank you Richard for submitting this positive and inspiring story about how in helping others, you also overcame your own fears. This is the first  “My Gutsy Story” written by a man, and  I hope this will be the start to many more. I hope you visit Richard Potter’s website and learn more about him and his writing. If you love memoirs, I know you’ll enjoy Shirley Sholwater, and her amazing blog 100 memoirs. Without her, I may not have discovered Richard, and he may not have submitted his “My Gutsy Story.”

 

(Please leave your comments below for Richard to answer. He will be over I’m sure.)

Sonia Marsh

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You have until Wednesday December 13th at 11:59p.m. to VOTE for your Favorite November “My Gutsy Story”

Winner of November Contest will be announced on December 14th. We shall let you know what prize was selected and ask for a photo. Hope you come back to see.

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HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN “My Gutsy Story”
To submit your own, “My Gutsy Story” you can find all the information, and our sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story” contest page. (NEW VIDEO) Submission guidelines here.

Comments

  1. Sonia Marsh says

    I am so happy you are the first man to submit a story that we posted on “gutsy Living.” Thanks for your inspiring story.

  2. Richard says

    Sonia, it is an honor and a privilege. Thank you for the invitation. As for the question of gender, could it be that I am the only man with enough guts to tell my story?

    GUYS, SAY IT AIN’T SO! Read the previous entries and submit your own gutsy story. You have nothing to lose, and we have everything to gain. As Steven Pressfield wrote in The War of Art:

    “Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.”
    Richard recently posted..The Found GiftMy Profile

  5. barbara says

    Very inspiring! This is just the best idea Sonia… I love it!

    Richard, you really got to the heart and soul of gutsy. Thanks for sharing.
    b

      • Steve says

        Richard, thank you SO much for opening your life up to the public. Many of us learn from the tribulations of others that have walked this Earth. I think you hit the nail on the head about men not having the guts to share their “gutsy” stories. I have more than one…I will have to learn to open up those stories by using “baby steps”. Telling one or two persons at a time until it comes more natural. I believe everyone has a skeleton in their closet, “life” happens and then you hope to learn from all that you experience. I just know that I admire the courage of the SC people that have been on our stage and opened up. Authenticity at work. Pray for me to have that same courage. Thanks again!

        • Richard says

          Steve, your comment brings to mind the book, Silence of Adam, by Larry Crabb, Don Hudson, and Al Andrews. On p. 21, Hudson writes, “In this book, we make much of stories. One of the major reasons for doing so is our conviction that we are a generation of men without stories….men who do not know who we are, why we are here, or where we are going.”

          I encourage you to keep stepping forward, remembering your stories, and sharing them as often as you can. I can’t prove this, but I’ll bet that honest, authentic stories have a lot greater impact than preaching and finger-wagging.
          Richard recently posted..My Gutsy StoryMy Profile

    • Sonia Marsh says

      I get so much enjoyment from reading all the inspiring stories. I realize now how we all have something to share about our lives. You too Barbara. Can’t wait to read your memoir.

    • Richard says

      I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me, Stephanie; and if anything good comes from the work of my hands, all credit is due to the Author of happiness and hope.

      Thank you very much for reading and taking time to comment.
      Richard recently posted..My Gutsy StoryMy Profile

  8. Richard says

    Thank you, Becky. Sometimes I fall into the trap of thinking that if I just work harder at improving my skills, the guts will follow. “I’d like to enter that contest, just as soon as I a) take that creative writing workshop, b) read Stephen King’s “On Writing” for the 5th time, c) consult Strunk & White’s “Elements of Style” for the 105th time, d) take a nap (all this skill building is hard work!) or e) all of the above.” When I’m in that mindset, the opportunity usually passes me by.

    All this to say that you are absolutely correct. And no matter how much skill you have, it still takes guts to click “PUBLISH”.
    Richard recently posted..My Gutsy StoryMy Profile

  10. Shirley says

    I am so delighted that you have become the first man to tell a story of courage here on this great website, Richard. I enjoyed the opportunity to put you and Sonia in touch with each other and hope you will both continue to benefit from telling more stories.

    I can see why your story made a difference in the lives of the young girls you describe. You helped them learn a skill and something much more precious — to honor themselves and not give in to peer pressure.
    Shirley recently posted..An Exclusive Love: Author InterviewMy Profile

    • Richard says

      Thank you so much, Martha…my head is starting to swell a bit! But seriously, I’m only doing that which I ought to be doing, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. See Luke 17:10.
      Richard recently posted..My Gutsy StoryMy Profile

  17. Nezzy says

    Woohoo!!! Richard, what a wonderful job you’ve done here. I so enjoyed your very inspirational story.

    God bless ya man and have a magnificent day!

    Sonia…please drop by…I’m hostin’ a book giveaway. I’ll leave the door open and put out a tray of homemade fudge! Heeehehehe!!! :o)

    • Sonia Marsh says

      Hi Nezzy,

      Thanks so much for the offer and the homemade fudge. I’m in Palm Desert, CA and retunr home tomorrow. I shall visit you. Thanks. Sonia.

    • Richard says

      You are so right, Muriel. Part of being human is admitting faults and weaknesses, and extending grace to others in their humanness. Thank you for reading and taking time to comment.
      Richard recently posted..My Gutsy StoryMy Profile

  19. Warren Baldwin says

    Sonia, thanks for the heads up on the continuation of your excellent series, and thanks to you Richard for this inspiring story of your life. I’m glad we can make a difference in our 50s since, though you are not yet there, I already am 🙂

    Seems like your trip to Poland was not so much about teaching music as it was about teaching life. Music was the tool to pave the way for the opportunity to make a profound difference in a young person’s life. Job well done!

    Warren
    Warren Baldwin recently posted..A Father, A Son, And A GrizzlyMy Profile

    • Richard says

      Thanks so much, Warren. I just read your post on fathers and sons; great message! (especially at this time of year)

      Yes, music was a valuable tool during my visit to Poland. As it is a story from the summer of 2005, I too am now well into my 50s, and hoping for many more opportunities to make a difference.

      Thanks for reading and for taking time to comment. So when are you going to share YOUR gutsy story, Warren? 😉
      Richard recently posted..Joy To The WorldMy Profile

    • Richard says

      Think hard and fast, man, and throw me a life line! I’m treading water by myself in this sea of estrogen.

      (not that there’s anything wrong with estrogen… I’d just like a little company from the other gender) 🙂
      Richard recently posted..Joy To The WorldMy Profile

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