They say to never meet your hero: it’s an idea that won’t pan out.  “Don’t do it,” Reason says, trying to protect the child-like heart within you.  “He or she will never match your expectations.” 

Doubt does the same, saying: “Your hero won’t be the same in your eyes ever again.” 

Caution also shuns the idea with its careful eye.  “Your hero is too high on the pedestal,” he says.  “He or she will fall off hard when you see them.  Then you’ll wish you’d have listened.”

And unfortunately, somehow, we know inside that these things might be true.  Heroes are human, aren’t they?  Something they do, something they say, some way they behave in real life might just rub us the wrong way when meeting our heroes in person.  After all, isn’t it impossible for he or she to live up to the fantasy held inside our Instagram-synthesized mindset?

So, given the opportunity, what would you do?

Would you meet your hero?

I did.

I admit it.  The deciding factor of why I traveled 496 miles to the Maranatha Christian Writers’ Conference in Norton Shores, Michigan, was to meet him.  To hear him speak.  To glean from what I might learn from his outlook, viewpoint, and experience as a Christian author.  Likeminded as myself (at least on paper) in many ways, I needed to see this man in person.  A Christian. A man of values.  A husband with three sons.  An archer. A voice of passion.  The already-made-it-as-an-author version of me.  And there, in person, in a can’t-believe-this-is-happening moment, I was a wide-eyed and nervous kid holding up a home run ball for a signature.  I’m smiling as I write this, knowing I was a starry-eyed fool meeting my hero for the first time. 

Charles Martin did not disappoint. He was as legit as one could be.

Listening to his first Keynote session, I quickly found out that the Instagram version of Charles Martin didn’t tell half the story.  I was blown away.  Yes, his books point people to Jesus.  I have been so blessed personally by the themes running through his fiction. 

Hope.  Sacrifice.  Healing.  Rescue. A light in a dark place. 

And yes, he writes incredible messages.  But what took only about 30 seconds to discover was that the in-house version of Charles Martin was authentic.  Genuine.  Real.  He was down-to-earth and relatable.  He matched and exceeded the version I anticipated.

The conference was wonderful.  I soaked it in.  I learned.  Tremendously.  Rubbing elbows with industry professionals is a blessing like no other.  To be able to have off-the-record conversations over lunch with those who have published top-selling books in the Christian market put me in a new place.  A place God began to stir.  A place that says, “I have you where I want you, Chuck.”  It was exciting.  Thrilling.  I couldn’t get enough.  And as the days of the conference went by, my nerves subsided.  Charles and I soon had conversations like men (I smile again writing this).  The kid named Chuck put his baseball away.  It was wonderful to be able to talk candidly.

But the experience made me think;

“what if” questions started rolling in my mind.

What if . . . someone drove to see me?  Seriously.  It’s a valid question, right?  What if someone would meet me tomorrow?  On the street.  At the grocery store.  In a crowded room.  And before that moment, they’ve only met the Chuck Carr they’ve read about online. The Facebook or Instagram-version Chuck.  The one they know had a brain injury and is inspiring people with words.  He or she already knows that Chuck.  They’ve read my words. They know Chuck has books printed.  Perhaps they have some. Perhaps they have a brain injury also. This Chuck is someone they would like to meet.  And they see me now. For the very first time.  In person. As silly as it sounds, they stand face to face with me.

But would they meet the Chuck they anticipated?

What if someone drove to meet . . . you?

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Not to inflate Charles Martin up any more—I know he wouldn’t want that (after meeting him I’ll testify he’s a very humble guy)—he’s a light in a dark place.  The words he writes are intentional words—he writes to point people to life.  And when people see the man behind the pen, they see . . . the same—a man who isn’t afraid to live Christianity in real ways.  One not afraid to be genuine.  Personal.  Authentic.

We don’t need any more high-minded and out-of-touch religious masters.  The world has plenty of those.  A hurting world needs authenticity. 

When what we preach meets what we practice, a world will notice. 

And that is what it will take to reach a hurting world.  The world needs real people.  Ones who are relatable.  Ones that are shining.  That don’t shine to be seen of themselves but shine so that they point the way for others.  To light a path.  A path to life.

My challenge to you today is to be relentlessly authentic.  Be the most authentic version of yourself.  Real.  Genuine. Isn’t that what the world is craving?  Shine your light in a way that others can’t help but be drawn to the authenticity you possess.

And if you do, one day someone driving 496 miles to meet you will walk away seeing Jesus as well. 

With—or without—a signed baseball.

To follow Charles Martin or find out more about his amazing books, click the link to his Instagram page here @storiedcareer.

By Chuck Carr