They only make movies about gunslingers

By Jeff Becraft

I am basically a gunslinger. Somebody asked me recently what that meant. Well, that means I ride into the OK Corral and then find something to shoot at.

I was talking to a young person recently who was getting ready to graduate from college and I asked him what was next on his radar. He said he wasn’t totally sure.

I encouraged him that when I graduated college that I didn’t have all the pieces together either. And that’s when I told him I was a gunslinger.  As with many things in life, our strengths can also be our weakness and I told him how sometimes that got me into trouble.

His encouraging response back to me was, “Well, they only make movies about gunslingers.” I responded, “Hey, I like that!”

All of us could attest to the truth of the statement that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  It’s not that I don’t plan… and some plans I have are even meticulous in detail.  But there are definitely people (like my wife) who are much better planners than I am. I focus more on principles and process… and then ride into the OK Corral and pick what is the best thing to shoot at.

There are quarterbacks in football that are gunslingers. Sometimes they are most dangerous when it’s actually a busted play. There’s a plan… and then the plan breaks down… and then the play is not going according to the plan. Now they are on the loose and they are looking to make something happen. Brett Favre used to be one of my favorite players to watch play because you didn’t know what he was going to do next… but he also used to drive his coach crazy.

There is a lot I continue to learn from my wife and others who are extensive planners… and that is a good thing.

But the next time the pieces aren’t all in place for you, or you might be frustrated with somebody that doesn’t have all the pieces in place… just keep in mind – they only make movies about gunslingers.

Jeff Becraft is the Interim Director of Our Place of Hope and the Director Emeritus for Youth Corps and has dedicated much of his life to helping shift the vision of people’s lives. Youth Corps is a life-changing leadership development experience that inspires high school students to be leaders in the Midlands and beyond. You can connect with Jeff at  [email protected].