Whatever it Takes

This week, Walter Carr, a college student, was to begin his new job at Bellhops Moving in Alabama.  Experiencing car trouble the night before, he did not want to jeopardize his chances for the job, so after four hours of sleep, Carr awakened at midnight and set out to walk the 20 miles from Homewood to Pelham, where he was to be part of the team to help a family move.  Around 4:00 a.m., after walking about 12 miles, Walter sat down on the side of the road to rest his hurting legs.  Officer Mark Knighten spotted Carr and was soon joined by two other officers.  After hearing his story, the three officers took Walter Carr to eat breakfast.  During their conversation, he told the policemen that he had to make it to his first day of work.  “I didn’t want to defeat myself.”

After breakfast, Officer Duffey drove Carr to the home of Chris and Jenny Lamey where he was scheduled to meet up with the Bellhops crew.  After arriving at 6:30 a.m. and hearing Walter’s story from the officer, Jenny offered for Walter to go upstairs to rest until the rest of the crew were to arrive at 8:00 a.m.  Seeing that the Lameys were already in the process of packing, Carr insisted on getting a head start in helping them.

When the rest of the moving crew arrived, the Lameys and Walter went out to greet them.  The head of the crew, Shawn, introduced himself to Walter, shook his hand, and thanked him for showing up to help with the job.  Jenny then insisted that Carr tell the men what it took for him to be there that morning.  When he replied that he walked, she insisted that he elaborate more on his story.  Needless to say, the team was impressed with his efforts and work ethic.  Walter would indeed be an asset to the Bellhops Moving Company.

In the meantime, Jenny Lamey took the time to contact the Bellhops Moving CEO, Luke Marklin, and told him how impressed she was with Walter and what he had done.  Jenny also set up a GoFundMe page to help raise the $2,000 Walter needed to repair his car.

A few days later, Marklin called Carr and set up an appointment to meet him in person and take him to lunch.  While Marklin was driving from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Walter was walking 30 minutes to meet him at the designated location.  Unbeknownst to Carr, the Pelham Police, his co-workers, and the Lamey family were at a nearby hotel waiting to surprise and celebrate with him.  After lunch, when they arrived at the hotel, CEO Marklin handed over the keys to the SUV Ford Escape he had been driving to Carr stating, “Walter truly raised the bar.”  There were many cheers from his new friends and co-workers.  Jenny Lamey said, “He’s the poster child for no excuses.  He’s just got this deep faith, he wasn’t alone.”

There are so many things to appreciate and be challenged by in this story. 

* Walter Carr’s work ethic, his no excuses attitude, and his willingness to do whatever it takes to accomplish the task at hand  

* Policemen who see a young man in need, check out his situation, take him to breakfast, and offer a ride to the job site

* A family that appreciates the extra effort given by someone they are paying to help them move so much so that they contact the CEO of the company to express gratitude and appreciation

* A CEO who builds his company on trustworthy and faithful workers and recognizes and acknowledge their efforts

* Co-workers who admire and appreciate a hard worker

* People who rejoice with those who rejoice

This week, whether it’s persevering in a task, seeing someone with a need and doing something about it, listening to hear and respond to what someone is saying, taking time to thank and acknowledge someone’s effort, letting others know of someone’s great work, welcoming and including people you are working with, or rejoicing with those who rejoice, may I, too, be willing to do and be my best.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed.

2 Timothy 2:15

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:3

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Romans 12:15