09/03/2026
A friend wounded me with the truth.
Within 48 hours, I walked into my director’s office and said:
“I need to leave my job.”
At the time, I was serving as a pastor. I was also traveling to speak and writing books on the side.
From the outside, it may have looked like I was doing exactly what I was called to do.
But my friend and coach, Chet Scott, saw something I did not want to face.
He called and began asking questions:
“How’s the church going?”
“Are you happy?”
“Is your wife happy?”
“Is God happy?”
I had quick answers for the first few questions.
The last one exposed me.
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
Then Chet stopped being polite.
He told me I was encouraging everyone else to live a big life while I was still afraid to step fully into my own.
Then he gave me a line I have never forgotten:
“You can’t take the Ring and stay in the Shire.”
In other words, I could not choose the adventure and cling to the comfort.
His words were not polished.
They were not comfortable.
But they were faithful.
Scripture says:
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Proverbs 27:6
We often confuse friendship with constant affirmation.
But a Truth-Teller cares more about our calling than our comfort.
They are willing to risk a moment of tension to keep us from spending a lifetime betraying who God created us to be.
Chet was not trying to tear me down.
He was confronting the gap between the message I was sharing and the life I was living.
It hurt because it was true.
Within 48 hours, I told my director I needed to leave. That painful conversation helped set me on a new path of writing, speaking, building companies, and helping other people become Souls on Fire.
Recently, I shared this story on Primal Shots with Kavin Mistry MD.
And yes, Dr. Kavin asked me to drink shots on his podcast.
They were healthy shots.
But the conversation hit much harder.
Who loves me enough to tell me the truth?
And who needs me to become that kind of friend?
We may forget conversations, but we’ll never forget searing clarity.
Who needs clarity in your world? Will you be a Truth Teller?
