Skiing In My Underwear

The essential vice, the utmost evil, is pride. Anger, greed and drunkenness are mere flea biters in comparison. It was through pride that the devil became the devil.Pride leads to every other vice. As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people. C.S.Lewis

Having grown up on the largest lake in Minnesota I started skiing at a young age. I became adept at trick sking. From skiing no hands to beach landings it all became second nature. But, after having a back operation at 19 my days of skiing were reduced to once or twice a year.

So when all the managers were heading up north for meetings I specifically left my swim trunks at home so as not to be temped. Besides, I had a family to take care of and could not risk injury.

With the rev of the engine I jumped in the boat to do nothing more than spot for the driver. I watched in excruciating pain as I saw the others fail miserable. With each agent that wiped out I could feel my pride well up. In a matter of moments I was determined to show every last one of them up. Or in other words show off.

But there I sat in jeans and a T-shirt. Yet, nothing was going to stop me. I decided to drop my drawers and ski in my underwear. I reasoned I could start off from the dock, do a beach landing and not even get wet.

The only problem was that I forgot to survey the beach. It was all lined with boulders. There was no way around it but to drop down and get wet.

As I made my way up the narrow path to my cabin I looked like drowned rat. But with my skives drying in the wind I raced up the hill.

And then it happened. As I ran up the path down came my Regional Manager and the Vice President Of Franklin Life Insurance. With no where to hide I sheepishly held out my one hand to shake and used the other to cover up.

At the end of the year I was receiving the District Manager of the year award. As I walked to the podium to speak in front of 300 people I heard the Vice President say ' The first time I met Brad it was not your typical introduction." I must admit that this ranks as one of my most embarrassing moments.

Pride can raise it's ugly head
and send you to the sky.
A self indulging situation
that makes you feel high.

A tool Satan uses
to steal us from Christ.
It fills us up with self worth
and puts false meaning to our life.

Just put me in the fire Lord
so I might learn to grow.
Eliminate my pride
as I want to let Jesus show.

Brad Mcgill
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