During my many years as an industry player, I have been blessed to encounter scores of inspiring men and women. Some were iconic business figures who garnered fame along with their success, but most were just normal people who, inadvertent to their aura, lit up the lives and the path of virtually every fellow life travelers they encountered. They often attain little if any fame and are banished from posterity beyond the lifetimes of those that they touched in life. Then they become…anonymous.
Some years ago, I read about a movie that was being released entitled The Man in the Glass. It was a documentary about the legendary LSU basketball coach, Dale Brown. According to the producer, the film’s title was taken from a poem written by Dale Wimbrow. Curious, and always looking for fodder for my weekly email, I jotted down the title and its author and Googled the poem and its author. What I discovered was quite interesting and, I believe, worthy of sharing with you. It enlightens us to the only fame that matters.
First, I found The Official Guy in the Glass Website. It was created by Dale Winbrow’s children. Here are some excerpts:
Our father, Peter “Dale” Wimbrow Sr. wrote the poem “The Guy in the Glass” in 1934. It was published in the American magazine at that time and the copyright was assigned to our father. The poem has become also known, incorrectly, as “The Man in the Glass” or sometimes, “The Man in the Mirror,” but the thought is the same, the message clear…’you can fool the whole world down the pathway of years, but you can’t fool the guy staring back from the glass’
Since he wrote the poem in 1934 and it was published, it has taken on a life of its’ own and is usually seen as anonymous. Sadly some people have even taken to putting their name on it as their own creation. It escapes us as to why someone would falsely take credit for a poem about being honest with yourself. One fellow in Salt Lake City, Utah said he wrote it in 1946 and the list goes on. Others have badly misquoted the poem, substituting the word ‘self’ for ‘pelf’, ‘man in the glass’ for ‘guy in the glass’ and others have left out other parts. Each word was chosen by him carefully and has special meaning… His range was as broad as his sense of caring for mankind. His talents were many; songwriter, artist, writer, singer, painter but his biggest talent was truly loving everyone he ever knew. He left this earth way too early (January 1954 in his 58th year) and my sister and I have missed his counsel and wisdom every day since. It was the biggest honor of our life just to have known him…
We are immensely proud of his work and welcome any and all dialogue from interested parties. Our hope here is just to set the record straight and to provide the poem as it was actually written for any and all to use as our father’s gift to the world. Our father was the most gifted and caring person we ever knew…. he would have wanted his work to be a gift and so do we. All we ask is that you properly credit him somewhere in your publication as the author…”
With the correct title, with proper attribution, and in its entirety, here is the poem The Guy in the Glass authored by Peter “Dale” Wimbrow:
The Guy in the Glass
by Dale Wimbrow, (c) 1934
When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,
And the world makes you King for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that guy has to say.
For it isn’t your Father, or Mother, or Wife,
Who judgment upon you must pass.
The feller whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.
He’s the feller to please, never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear up to the end,
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the guy in the glass is your friend.
You may be like Jack Horner and “chisel” a plum,
And think you’re a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.
You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears
If you’ve cheated the guy in the glass.
NOTE: For those that may have struggled with the meaning of the word “pelf,” it is defined as money, riches or wealth, especially when regarded with contempt or acquired by reprehensible means.
This poem should resonate with us all, especially for those of us who feel uncomfortable in in today’s increasingly pervasive identity culture where others attempt to label or define everyone else, mostly in a pejorative manner. Because we are all human and fallible, there are times in our lives when we struggle with understanding what is truly motivating our actions. Are we acting to glorify ourselves or to glorify God in how we deal with others? Are we givers or takers? Are we the same person inside as the persona we create for others to see?
Based upon what he wrote and the testimonies of his children, I believe Dale Winbrow was a person of character and was true to himself. It is my fervent hope and prayer that is what the guy in the glass sees when I look him in the eye and I hope, pray and desire the same for you.
Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who recommends himself that is approved, but the one whom the Lord recommends. – 2 Corinthians, 10: 17-18
Have an AWE-full weekend!
William “Bill” Bacque