by Napoleon Hill
Available in 122 free installments
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Now Vaus was eventually released from the Army; he married and moved to California where he set up an electronics consultant business. One day a man known simply as Andy came to Jim and outlined a big idea for beating the races with an electronic device. Within weeks Jim was deeply involved with the underworld. And he was driving a nine thousand dollar car. He had a fine home in the suburbs, and more business than he could handle.
One day Jim had an argument with his wife. She wanted to know where all the money was coming from, and he wouldn't say. So she started to cry. Jim couldn't stand to see his wife cry. For he loved her. Jim's conscience bothered him. Because he wanted to humor her, he suggested a ride out to the beach. On the way, they got caught in a traffic jam: hundreds of cars were pouring into a parking lot.
"Oh look, Jim," said Alice. "It's Billy Graham! Let's go. It might be interesting."
And still trying to humor her, Jim went along. But shortly after he sat down he became emotionally disturbed: It seemed to him that Graham was talking directly to him. For Jim's conscience bothered him so badly that it seemed he had been singled out. Graham's text was:
"What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?"
Then Graham was saying:
"There's a man here who has heard all this before, who is hardening his heart. With pride he stiffens his neck, and he is determined to leave without making a decision. But this will be his last chance."
His last chance? To Jim the thought was startling. Perhaps he had a premonition. Or perhaps he was ready. What did the preacher mean?
Graham was giving a call to come forward. He wanted people to take a physical step that symbolized a decision. What was happening, Jim wondered. Why did he feel like crying? Suddenly he found himself speaking. "Let's go, Alice." Dutifully Alice walked to the aisle, and turned as if to go out of the tent. Jim, who was following her, caught her arm and turned her around.
"No, dear," he said. "This way... "
Years later, after Jim had changed his life completely, he was giving a speech in Los Angeles. And then he told of his experiences with the underworld. He told about the day of his decision, on which day he had been instructed to fly to St. Louis on a wire-tapping assignment. "I never reached St. Louis," he said. "I found the courage to reach my knees instead."
And in his speech Jim told of his blessings and how he had thanked God for them, asked for forgiveness, had tried to neutralize his wrongdoing, and stressed the application of the Golden Rule.
After the lecture, a lady came up to him and said, "Mr. Vaus, I think you might like to know something. I was working in the Mayor's office at the time you were supposed to go to St. Louis. On that day a teletype was received from the FBI. It said, Mr. Vaus, that you were going to be met in St. Louis by a rival gang. And shot dead."
A recommended formula for getting rid of guilt. Your own "last chance" may not be as dramatic as this. But there is a wonderful lesson in the story of Jim Vaus, nonetheless. How was Jim able to get rid of his guilt feelings? He did it by following a clearcut pattern. It is the pattern all of us can follow.
... First of all, you listen as you hear advice, a lecture, an inspirational sermon that could change your life.
... Then you count your blessings, and thank God for them. Feel sincerely sorry and ask for forgiveness. When you realize your blessings, it isn't difficult to become sincerely sorry for the wrongs you have done. And truly to repent Then you will have the courage to ask for forgiveness from God.
... You must take the first step forward. This is important because it is a symbol through a physical gesture that you make in the direction of a changed life. When Jim walked down the aisle, he was making a public announcement that he had become sorry for his past and was now ready to change his life.
... Also, you must make amends by taking the second step forward: begin immediately to right every wrong.
... And then the most important step of all: apply the Golden Rule. This should be easy. For now when you are tempted to do wrong, that "still, small voice" will whisper to you. And when it does, stop and listen. Count your blessings. Picture yourself in the other fellow's place. And then make your decision to do what you would want done if you actually were in his position.
