Allen Hunt: Lesson from a No-Tell Motel

I think I just stayed in a No-tell Motel. I've been travelling this week, mostly in Chicago, and I am not very familiar with this area. So I booked an economical room online at a "hotel" that got good reviews.

When I arrived, they said I could not check in before 5:00 p.m. If I wanted to do so, it would be $15 per hour. Same hourly rate if I wanted to stay any later than 11:00 a.m. on check-out day too.

Upon entering the room, I noticed two things I usually do not see on business travel. Mirrors for three of the four walls. And an ocean-sized whirpool right in the middle of the room where usually there would be furniture. Also, the only refreshment offered at the "hotel" was wine by the bottle. Hourly rates, whirlpools for furniture, mega-mirrors, and wine by the bottle? Strange?

I made it safely through the evening (amen). But I learned yet again, that when you do not know where you're going, you can land yourself in some uncomfortable places. It's true geographically and it's true spiritually. Always best to have a destination in mind.

About Allen Hunt Allen Hunt is a former Senior Pastor of an evangelical mega-church. He became Catholic in 2008 and now partners with Matthew Kelly to serve as the Vice-President for Strategy and Content at the Dynamic Catholic Institute. Allen is a speaker, writer, and radio host on News Talk WSB in Atlanta. He is the author of Confessions of a Mega-Church Pastor: How I Discovered the Hidden Treasures of the Catholic Church.

Allen Hunt: Wear at tie. Try it.

BY ALLEN HUNT

My most memorable moment of 2011 may well have come on the day I spent in a metro Atlanta traffic court - with my daughter (but that's another story). When I say a day, I mean the whole day. Hundreds of people. Courtrooms were too small to hold the offenders so people were lined up around the outside of the building for hours in the hot sun just to get in - to face justice. I try to make it a habit not to visit traffic court very often, and now I remember why!

Two important lessons emerged for me in this experience:

1) Wearing a coat and tie makes a difference. In the crowd, I counted three men (myself included thanks to my dad's lessons installed early in my life) wearing a coat and tie. It never ceases to amaze me how differently you are treated when you are dressed nicely. Multiple people asked me throughout the day if I was an attorney (answer = NO!). But the sheriff's deputies looked far more kindly on those of us in suits than on those who needed to be asked to take their ball caps off. Same trick works at the bank and at the airport too. Wear a tie. Try it.

2) Patience and humility do not come easily. These two virtues are not my strengths. But a few hours in line, in the sun, and in a courtroom can be your friend. Our judicial system is a great leveler - traffic court reminds you that we are all created equal (and miserable) in the eyes of lady justice and her authorities. I do not particularly like to be taught patience and humility. But I have to admit, they are good for the soul.

About Allen Hunt Allen Hunt is a former Senior Pastor of an evangelical mega-church. He became Catholic in 2008 and now partners with Matthew Kelly to serve as the Vice-President for Strategy and Content at the Dynamic Catholic Institute. Allen is a speaker, writer, and radio host on News Talk WSB in Atlanta. He is the author of Confessions of a Mega-Church Pastor: How I Discovered the Hidden Treasures of the Catholic Church.

Allen Hunt: A Christmas reminder from my friend, Albert.

BY ALLEN HUNT


Merry Christmas! For my final blog post of 2011, allow me to give you a Christmas reminder from my special friend, Albert, who shared his favorite memory of Christmas past, as part of a tradition we had. Albert was a leader, solid in every way. I loved that man. 

He grew up poor, not different from anyone else at the time. His parents were sharecroppers, and hard work defined their existence. As the youngest child, Albert's older siblings cared for him a lot. He got 5 cents each Saturday to walk to town, see a movie or to get ice cream. He could not afford both. 

Each year at Christmas, he wished for the same gift - a bicycle. Each year it did not come. Instead, he always received the same gift - 2 oranges, a banana and an apple. When Albert was 9, he again wished to Santa for a bike. Albert asked his mother, and prayed to God, "Please bring me a bike." That Christmas, he woke up - and discovered, yet again, no bike had arrived. Just the same basket of 2 oranges, a banana, and an apple.

As lunch approached, his older sister, Ruth, a mill worker in the cotton mill in town came walking in the house. She worked hard to scrounge together enough to feed her own three kids. 

After Christmas lunch, Ruth said, "Albert, I brought you my present." Albert quickly ran outside to see - and there it was - a new red bicycle - salvation had come to a 9 year old boy! 

That bike meant something to Albert. It meant he had finally received what he had been hoping for for years. It also meant he had a sister who loved him immensely. Best of all, it meant someone really, really cared. So Albert did what any boy would do, he slept with his bike. For a whole year! 

May one of your gifts remind you that there is Someone who loves you immensely. Someone who really, really cares. 

About Allen Hunt Allen Hunt is a former Senior Pastor of an evangelical mega-church. He became Catholic in 2008 and now partners with Matthew Kelly to serve as the Vice-President for Strategy and Content at the Dynamic Catholic Institute. Allen is a speaker, writer, and radio host on News Talk WSB in Atlanta. He is the author of Confessions of a Mega-Church Pastor: How I Discovered the Hidden Treasures of the Catholic Church.

"When he quit giving . . . we knew something was wrong"

BY ALLEN HUNT

Aldred Pruden Wallace is an odd name for a man. His son, Peter, is my friend. Aldred lived his last 18 months in a nursing home, surviving on his small pension. He had no other possessions besides his wonderful, warm and generous spirit.

The staff loved Aldred and would do anything for him. In his final few months, dementia set in, and Aldred created scenarios in his mind. For example, one day The President had consulted Aldred for advice on foreign policy. But most of the scenarios revolved around money. He thought he had $200MM left over from World War II and he really wanted to bless his caregivers and friends at the nursing home.

So several times a day, Aldred would walk up to a caregiver, pull them aside and say quietly in their ear, ”I want to give you a million dollars because you’ve been so kind, so good to me.” The nursing home staff would chuckle when Peter came to visit, and say, “Your dad has been so generous with his money!”

But one day they found Aldred very quiet and withdrawn – out of character. He was like that for several days in a row. Then he died. Turned out he had had a stroke – and no one really knew it. The stroke had changed his personality.
The nurse said, “When he quit giving, we knew something was clearly wrong.”

God is the Supreme Giver. God the Father gave His most valuable possession; Jesus gave His life.  When you and I give, we grow to be more like Him. I hope that you and I become generous enough in life that when we stop giving, someone will say, "Surely something must be wrong!"

About Allen Hunt Allen Hunt is a former Senior Pastor of an evangelical mega-church. He became Catholic in 2008 and now partners with Matthew Kelly to serve as the Vice-President for Strategy and Content at the Dynamic Catholic Institute. Allen is a speaker, writer, and radio host on News Talk WSB in Atlanta. He is the author of Confessions of a Mega-Church Pastor: How I Discovered the Hidden Treasures of the Catholic Church.