Have you seen this recent headlining notice? A renowned Hollywood actor sold two companies for nearly $2 billion in less than four years. “You can’t be good at something unless you’re willing to be bad,” he said.

Let’s hope this “star” used the word “bad” simply to suggest that risk-taking can pay off hugely. No one would disagree with that. But we all know the opposite can happen. High-risk investment practices can yield impressive gains, but they can also leave a person penniless, sleeping on park benches, starving, and scared while wondering where the next meal will come from, or if it will come at all.

So why choose the word “bad” to make a point about risk-return ratios? Is it because “bad” behaviors, like the scurrilous scoundrels who perform them, make the headlines that get our attention? True enough. However, they also attract the attention of law enforcement. The result could be a guarantee of three meals per day and a roof overhead, but uncomfortably sleeping behind steel bars. And that is “bad”—in the sense of “unfortunate”—for them and for the rest of us as well.  For example, thieves are “bad” social deviants who can achieve their 15 minutes of fame for armed robbery, but they will also receive a long incarceration that robs them of their freedom and is paid for by honest, hard-working, non-thievery, law-abiding taxpayers—which is most of us.

So, was this actor’s choice of words merely random? Apparently not because he also added, “…willingness to ‘be bad’ at something before becoming proficient is an invaluable leadership trait.” Really?

We all know WWJD means “What would Jesus do?” How about WWDD as in “What would the Devil do?” The chief of “badness,” Satan himself, would surely endorse the word “bad” in this motto. Becoming proficient at capturing souls who would be condemned to spend eternity in hell gained Lucifer the “invaluable” leadership trait that destroys everything of true value in human beings.

Holy Homework:

During this month of October, let’s pray the rosary every day in thanksgiving for Mary’s sure decision to be good-footed enough to crush the bad-tempter’s head.

Comments can be sent to FatherBobPagliari@yahoo.com