Jalapeno Factor

You will never remember just a “blah” person, any more than you will remember “bland” food. You remember a spicy personality, one full of inner heat, zeal, ambition, cheerfulness, that twitter which always reminds you of success...remembrance. Be known for something, even if it is for eccentricities, this writer is well-known for his eccentricities.

William Randolph Hearst was one's of the world's wealthest men, publisher and financier, he was a collector of fine art. There was a painting by a well known artist which he greatly desired, he told several galleries around the world to find it for him, price was no obstacle, “I want that painting”. Several called him and said they could not find it anywhere in the world, they had checked all the galleries, all the museums. Then, one day, the curator of a New York gallery called him at his California home. “I have found the painting!” Hearst, said “where is it?” The man said, “it is in your warehouse, you own it.” Eccentric Hearst also took credit for the sinking of the Maine in the Havana harbor. Prince of preachers, perhaps the world's greatest preacher since the apostle Paul, Charles Hayden Spurgeon speaking before a seminary graduating class said, “the most important thing for you to learn, is to learn to say 'no'. This is worth more than knowing Latin. It is important to say 'no' to overwork, to overeating, to the enticements of wealth and sin, to human foilties of sexual excursions, certainly pride.”

We are taught that to succeed we must be a “Yes” man. You will hear politicians tap-dancing around every political challenge. So afraid of offending someone, afraid to say “yes” afraid to say “no”.

Character determines destiny, a person of character has that inner heat of honesty, at the church house, courthouse, schoolhouse, or even at the White House. We see presidents and those who want to be president testing the political winds. You have a right to be you. There is something wrong with you if the holy spirit of Christ, in your life, does not determine you. The root of faith produces fruit of faith. Fear is the cataract of the mind, blurring everything you see or think. Courage erases fears, 90% of faith is just raw courage.

A chaplain in General Patton's army said, “in war, each man must determine within himself, that he, and he alone, determines the outcome of the battle.” Don't tell me you do not recognize the jalapeno factor, you recognize it in young people, not afraid to show their talents, enthusiastic about everything they do, unashamedly confident and competent, ready for the battles of life. There is that jalapeno factor, that burning inside, which gives sparkle to the eyes. The grip in the handshake, the smile of confidence on the lips, which is always the mark of excellence. These are the ones who stand head and shoulder above the rest of us. It takes courage with the first patient, it takes courage in trying to make the first sale. This is what Christ was a speaking of when he said “for God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7).