The Zebra Hunter
by
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It was the first day of training to become a platform assistant, or lay minister. Robert Marron, who was teaching the class, started by having me come up front and act as if I was going to give the lesson for church. Because of my professional speaking background, I thought that I would have no problem whatsoever. But as soon as I started, Robert opened his mouth and said, "Stop!" I was, of course, curious as to why he was being so rude, and so I asked, "What was I doing wrong?" His response was that I knew how to speak words from my head, but not from my heart. This statement was quite surprising because I am always honest and sincere when I speak, so I thought that I had been speaking from my heart. He said, "Try again." And so I proceeded to speak once again. Of course, this time my effort was not good enough for him, nor was the next time, nor the next time, nor the time after that. I finally said, "I want you to know that my ego is having a very hard time with your criticism, and you are really starting to piss me off!" The only other person in the room was the president of the church’s board of directors. She stated, "In this church, there is no room for Ego!" I thought of a few choice words to say to her; however, I refrained from doing so. After all, I was in a church! I asked Robert if he would show me what it was that he was looking for. His response was "Jack, you must be willing not to know!" I said, puzzled, "What do you mean?" He replied, "If you are willing not to know what it is you are going to experience next, you give yourself enough space to experience something new, and what you experience can be so much more fulfilling because the gift is from Spirit." Of course, this statement was quite intriguing to me because I had never had a teacher say anything like this before. I asked how one would go about being willing not to know. He said, "The first step is becoming aware of what your present feelings are. The second step is to transfer those feelings into the words being shared. The third step is to not be attached to the outcome." He asked, "What is it you are feeling right now, Jack?" I wanted to be completely honest, and responded, "I feel very sad, and I feel so much like a hypocrite because I have spent the past few years teaching self-esteem classes, but my own self-image is at an all time low because of the bankruptcy." He asked, "Are you the bankruptcy?" "No!" I responded, surprised. Robert then asked, "Then, why are you holding on to those feelings?" And my response was, "I don’t know why." "But if you did know, Jack, what would the reason be?" "I said, I didn't know!" in an irritated voice. Robert gently replied, "I know you said you do not know, but the question is; what if you did know?" My first reaction was anger, which had been my normal defense up until then. However, this time I did not act upon that anger. Instead, a flood of emotion washed over me. What was I truly feeling? Images of my childhood suddenly surfaced, and I began to see a pattern in those images: images of loneliness, rejection, criticism, and fear. Then, overwhelmed, I responded with tears, "I felt that when I was little, I did not get enough love." Boy, did the tears start to come then and I was helpless to stop them. It felt as if, for the first time in my life, I was getting in touch with my feelings. When I started to calm down, Robert responded, "Now, share your words using your feelings." I spoke, and it seemed as if each word conveyed a tremendous force. When I was done, Robert said, "Now you know what it is like to share from your heart." I carried a whole new feeling in my body throughout the rest of the lay ministry class.
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About the Book
“How did I have the nerve to teach others what I was struggling to rebuild for myself? How could I even face the people in my class and share with them what I believed to be a lie about myself?”
Those were the questions that went through author Jack Needham’s mind as he was grappling with the aftermath of his recent bankruptcy.
Despite his successful career as a self-esteem coach and the hard-earned respect from his peers, he felt like a fraud. His life was crumbling before his eyes, and he knew he needed to fix it.
How? He didn’t quite know.
However, Jack soon finds out that the universe had the answer all along. And all he really had to do what to open his eyes to the signs and follow each of them with an open heart.
It has been said that no one really knows why zebras have stripes. Some say that the stripes are used for protective measures to make it difficult for predators to pinpoint any one individual zebra in a herd.
Another thought is that the striping helps to keep the herds together, thus keeping them safer as a group than any one zebra would be individually.
In fact, studies have suggested that zebras are attracted by all stripes, even artificial ones.
But how do zebras fit into the lessons in this book?
When a humble caregiver, Jack Needham, finds himself caring for an AIDS patient in his last months of life, he learned lessons that made him look at life or death through fresh eyes.
This ailing man, frail at first glance, had lived a colorful life. He is a Zebra Hunter.
And as they continue co-existing with each other, Jack felt love and power so compelling, it overflowed and empowered him to change the lives of others as well.
“The Zebra Hunter” by Jack Needham is a story of truth, love, and compassion. It is a story that reveals the true spirit of possibilities that exists in each of us. It is a story that will help you see life differently, thereby allowing you to choose how you live differently.
And others agree:
- "Your story is told with a simple beauty that touched my heart. Jack, I just couldn’t put The Zebra Hunter down! As soon as I finished it, I wanted to read it again. Thank you for sharing this story." — J. Jordan
- “The Zebra Hunter is an example of how people, as well as experiences, contribute to making one stronger and ready to face those challenging hurdles. I truly enjoyed your book and look forward to reading your next one. I have read this book twice, and I am sure I will read it many times over.” — Debbie V.
- “Jack, it was a very special book. I found myself laughing, crying…all in the same chapters. Thank you for sharing what a special man Robert was and how much he touched lives. With your book, he will continue touching lives.” — Susan Weaver
- "Once I started reading The Zebra Hunter, I could not put it down… I was so moved and so inspired by Jack Needham’s tale of the Zebra Hunter. I highly recommend this book for anyone needing inspiration to find the courage to pursue their spiritual path! THANK YOU!!” — Bernice L. Ruhl, Ph.D.
Are you ready to join them?
“It is my hopes that the ‘Zebra Sense’ presented within this book will draw each and every one of us closer to each other within this herd known as the ‘human tribe’.” — Jack Needham
If you’re ready to live life differently, then let “The Zebra Hunter” teach you how!
About the Author
REVEREND JACK NEEDHAM JR.,CST
Jack has been training individuals in the art of self-awareness and personal growth for more than twenty-five years. He has trained in areas that include martial arts, sales, motivation, and self-esteem. Jack, an ordained minister, holds a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and is a hospice volunteer. He plays the Native American flute, and his first CD of original flute music, entitled Great Full Spirit, is currently being recorded.
As a certified Self-Talk© trainer, Jack brings to life the teachings of Dr. Shad Helmstetter, author of What to Say When You Talk to Yourself, integrating these teachings in all he does.
Jack is a Certified Life Coach© who assists individuals and groups in finding inspiration, creativity, and energy inside themselves to live the lives they were truly meant to live. As of this writing, Jack is accepting new clients who are ready to establish a stronger personal foundation and a balanced life. You can contact Jack for a brochure and a trial coaching session.
As a student and teacher of A Course in Miracles, Jack also works with teenagers and adults who seek guidance along their paths.
Jack has created a stress reduction program called Nature's Retreat®, where he guides individuals and groups on three-hour journeys in nature. He helps people find a balance of peace and harmony within mind, body, and spirit through gentle, stress-relieving and energy-filling breathing patterns.
You can contact Jack via e-mail at thezebrahunter@comcast.net or visit Jack’s website at www.mindsolutionsinc.com.