One of my favorite books of all time is The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. This was from a speech he gave, and you can also watch the video. Something Mr. Pausch said, “If I could only give three words of advice, they would be, ‘Tell the truth.’ If I got three more words, I’d add, ‘all the time.’” If you have the opportunity to watch it or read the book, I cannot express my love and admiration for his words and work, nearly enough.
Telling the truth, all the time, makes us who and what we are.
When I was a freshman in college, one of my Spanish professors was also my advisor. One day he called me to his office to give me information about an internship he thought I would be interested in applying for, with CNN. They were looking for bilingual students studying international relations and communications, my professor told me, and with my minor in political science, he thought I would be a good fit.
My brother and sister in law lived in the Atlanta area at the time, so this really did seem like the perfect fit for me. I could live with them for the summer and maybe the internship would turn into something full time, I thought.
If you have ever wondered what someone who truly lives with their head in the clouds looks like, please find a photo of me circa spring 1993; as I had just completed my first year in college and very much had a pie in the sky outlook. First of all, being in the CNN headquarters was an overwhelming feeling of awe. After my interview, they graciously gave me a tour. Over and over on the loudspeaker you would hear, “This is CNN,” from James Earl Jones’ booming, distinctive, baritone voice. I can still remember the chills I felt every time I heard it.
Once I was there, I was told what they were looking for in an intern was someone who could translate videos from Spanish to English. Psh. Piece of cake, I thought. Except they needed it, basically, in real time. Ha. I was not that good, yet. (I am still not that good!) “Do I fake it and try?” I wondered. But as they rolled tape, so to speak, I knew I was in way over my head. I was asked to put on a set of headphones, listen to the audio and translate. The gentleman interviewing me asked, “Can you do it?”
I thought about saying, “If you give me time to get acclimated, yes sir, I can do it.” But as I watched the hustle and bustle all around me, I also knew I would be fired, quickly, if I said I could do it. I looked at the interviewer and said, “I only understood about 75% of that tape, and would likely need to listen to it a few more times to get it, perfectly. I’m so sorry I wasted your time.”
This man was so kind to me. He thanked me for my honesty and asked would I like a tour? After we walked around, he shook my hand and I thanked him for the opportunity for the interview and he looked me in the eye and said, “Never lose your sense of honesty and integrity. It makes you who you are. Come back and see me when you are finishing up at school. I would love to hire you.”
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - John 8:32 (NLT)
Obviously my career path shifted, and I did not go back to CNN, but I wish I had stayed in touch with that man. What I saw as a grand failure in my inability to translate, rapid-fire timing, he instilled in me the lessons my parents taught us, and the foundation for which my faith was made: to be honest and tell the truth.
Can you imagine my humiliation had I lied and said yes I could do it? Only to start working there and fail, immediately? But I did not leave the interview ashamed or embarrassed for my inability to translate in real time, video clips from Central and South America. Instead, someone in a position of power and authority told a very young, soon to be college sophomore to never lose her sense of honesty and integrity. It makes you who you are.
I have messed up so many times in life; I have fallen short more times than I can count. But telling the truth is far more important to me than pleasing people. I am proud to watch Michala finding her way in the real world as she gets closer to finishing college, and how she values truth.
Our character tells people who we are. If we are students of Jesus, our character shows the world who our teacher is.