Barnabas File

I was surprised and appreciative (and a little flattered) when I received a call from the executive director of a non-profit organization in another city inviting me to serve as the master of ceremonies at a dinner they were sponsoring to honor a long-time friend.  The dinner was a fund-raiser for an organization with a worthwhile mission and my friend certainly deserved the recognition.  I thought this would be fun.   I would tell a couple of stories about my friend, introduce some folks, and enjoy the fellowship. When a letter asking me to buy tickets for the event arrived, I responded and then made hotel reservations for the weekend.  As the time drew closer for the dinner, I did not hear anything from the organization about the program.  A week before the scheduled dinner, I called and left a message for the executive director.  When she called back, she said, “Well, I did not hear anything back from you, so I invited someone else to do it.”...