Page 218 - The Millionaire Mindset

Epilogue

(Dr. Ken McFarland has shared this story throughout the world. He’s passed

on now, so I continue on his behalf. It’s my wish that this story touches you as much

as it touches me. I end many of my seminars and speeches with this story and thought it

fitting to end this book with it, as well.)

All attempts to bring about community spirit seemed to fail. Nothing seemed to

work in this small mid-western town. All the social groups tried, but not one of them was

successful at bringing the little community together – until Tommy McReynolds showed

up.

Tommy was a basketball superstar. He was a young man, but he could play

basketball like the pros. He set all the local, state and national basketball scoring records.

Tommy was hot!

He was so exciting to watch that the whole community would come to watch

him play. The community leaders were so impressed with how this boy could bring the

community together that they called him The Rope. They called him that because he was

the person who brought everyone together. He roped the entire community into this fever

pitch. Everyone was cheering for Tommy, everyone wanted to see The Rope.
Late one night, Dr. McFarland received a phone call at 3:00 a.m. The Rope was Today
dead. He’d been instantly killed in a car crash. is a
“How could this happen?” McFarland cried as he drove over to the McReynolds great
home. Everyone looked up to Tommy. All the kids loved him. He inspired everyone. day
“Oh, no, not Tommy, not The Rope?”

When Dr. McFarland arrived at the boy’s home, he was greeted at the front

door by the father, Papa McReynolds. They embraced and cried for several minutes. Papa

McReynolds took Dr. McFarland to the dead boy’s room and said something very unusual

as he opened his clothes closet.

“We have a saying down here,” said the grief-stricken father. “When we lose

one of our young un’s, we hang our dreams in the closet.”

“Oh, don’t say that, Papa McReynolds,” said his friend.

“Look, you must love me or you wouldn’t be here at 4:00 in the morning. But

Tommy isn’t going to school tomorrow. He won’t be here for turkey next Thanksgiving.
There won’t be any presents for Tommy this Christmas. I’m hanging my dreams in the
closet.”
Just then, Tommy’s younger brother Lance walked into the bedroom. Dr. McFarland
didn’t know what else to say, so he patted the boy on the head and said,
“You’re not going to hang your dreams in the closet, are you, Lance?”

Millionaire Theresponsecameswiftly.“No,sir.Thankyou,sir.”
Several years later, Dr. McFarland was invited to give a speech for the banquet

Mindset 213