I met Alan almost 30 years ago when we moved to San Diego and I was an
outside salesman. He was one of my accounts, selling high end cars as
investments. He had done very well as an investment counselor, but due to
health and hassle got out of it. He went to selling cars as an investment, one
of his loves, and soon became internationally known and recognized as a leader.
Trade papers from automotive to financial to the Wall Street Journal would
contact him on the market, and he always obliged. He only sold fine cars, high
end cars mostly with a verifiable history. I happened to be there one morning
when a 1 of 2 racing Ferraris was unloaded. Ash, one of his associates, had
supposedly raced one back in Australia in the 1950’s, he reached inside and
pulling back some wires, pulled out some papers he had folded and hid there some
35 years ago! Now that certification! His other associate was Bill, who had
raced with Paul Newman, that Paul Newman. As a racing partner he was friends
with Paul, and through contacts many would invest their money in cars with
Alan. Many times some cars would trade hands, and not leave the showroom, but
instantly being put up for sale again as the market was hot. Original Cobras,
open wheel race cars, Al Holbert’s Sebring winning Porsche-such was the
inventory at Alan’s. All verifiable.
But as he grew, so did the value of the cars, and he bought a building and
turned it into a fortress. A rather high end museum type fortress. With
security and limited access, he still kept the shop in a corner. He only sold
cars, restoring them tied up money and inventory, but he kept that small shop,
maybe the best supplied one in San Diego with a restoration expert on hand.
Just in case....which I kept supplied with parts and shop supplies. I always
stopped to visit with him when leaving, he always wanted me to make sure he had
everything he needed. He was top drawer all the way, first class among an
industry where honesty and integrity were ill fits. Alan was both, high
integrity with honesty. A refreshing man to work with.
But as high end as he was, there was a side to him not many knew about. He
had hired James, one of the first AIDS victims, gave him a BMW 2002 to restore
at the shop, and hired him to take care of the inventory, aka keep the cars
clean and the batteries charged. I got to know James right before he died, and
if not for Alan he would have died on the streets. But Alan and I became
cordial friends, he loved Theresa’s fudge, telling everyone “it is just like my
mother’s” and little gestures of friendship were important to him. Money didn’t
impress him, he paid cash for a $2 million dollar home on Point Loma on the
water, and his office was like the presidents of a major company. He drove a
365GT/B Ferrari with “VOTEGOP” personalized plates as his daily driver, and all
seemed well. But the pressures were growing again, and that’s where I met with
him one morning.
Checking in with him after a call one morning, he seemed down. He kept
some old file cabinets in his suite/office, and one had an ichtus fish on it,
the sign Christians used 2000 years ago. The same trendy one still seen today.
As I sat and listened, I saw inside the man, a man who loved his church, who
gave without hesitation. Who when a problem came up didn’t need to be asked, he
gave. But as we talked it was evident Jesus was missing. So we talked, he
asked I answered for about two hours. The phones suspiciously quiet, we sat and
talked about Jesus. Finally I had to go and asked him if we could pray, and he
gave me a puzzled look. “We can do that? You aren’t a priest.” And I assured
him it was scriptural, I did and do often and everyday. I suggested we sit on
the hearth by the fire place and we prayed. A very gentle prayer, and I saw
this man open up to Jesus. This mover and shaker moved by the Holy Spirit. We
shook hands, I left....God had changed both of us.
When working with the poor and homeless, I emphasize being rich does not
guarantee you hell, just as being poor doesn’t guarantee you heaven. Jesus is
the only way, his words are yes and amen when he calls you. And since God is no
respecter of persons, no title, position, financial or social position, or even
what you ride impresses him. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of
God, so God sent Jesus to reunite us, to be the way back to a relationship with
him. Because he loved the world, he gave his only son, his most prized
possession. And all he wants is you. Is that too much to ask? You see Alan
had the religion part down, and he did good things as the church taught him.
But they fell short of Jesus, and because of that he never knew him. Until God
sent me that morning. To answer questions, to share my testimony, to listen,
and to love. Alan had it all to the world, all except the peace only Jesus can
provide. He had all the success in the world, and many Christian attributes, he
just didn’t have Jesus. We prayed, I don’t know his heart, but God does. And
God loves him, and so do I.
One morning at Alan’s changed his life, like one night running on the beach
in Santa Monica did for me. When someone urged by the holy spirit shared Jesus
with me. I needed him, I just didn’t know it. And you do too, and now you
know. Caught in religion, but still lacking something? Reading the Bible but
not being filled? Overcome by emotions and stress? Are you the dog the tail is
wagging? Do you have it all yet have nothing? You need Jesus, and can be saved
right now. Turn to him as you are, admit to sin and admit you need him. Ask
him to forgive you and let the spirit of God make you whole. Give you worth and
value. You can be saved and become a child of God today. I was unprepared for
Alan that morning, God wasn’t. The spirit was willing, and even in my weak
flesh he moved on us. Life is not about us, but all about Jesus, and when we
give our life to him we have life. Everlasting. Forever. Which is a long,
long time. Alan was a Lazarus stepped over although he was rich. How many
Lazaruses do you step over? Rich or poor we all need Jesus. One morning at
Alan’s I will never forget.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com