Up on My Soapbox: A Series of Inspirational Views of Life Through My Eyes

By Darryl C. Wilson Sr.

In this day and age, everyone has access to the proverbial soapbox—in just a few clicks from our social media accounts, we can make our voices heard. But how do we use our voice? Is it for negativity and selfishness, or do we use our voice for inspiration and hope? What if God was using our voice as a gift?

Up on My Soapbox is one man’s collection of inspirational words of wisdom from his own soapbox. Although author Darryl C. Wilson Sr. once used his soapbox for his own purposes, he rediscovered his faith and focused his observations back on what matters—his relationship with God. Reaching out to fellow prodigal children returning to God, Darryl shares heartfelt, encouraging, and sometimes humorous anecdotes and observations about the finding God in the everyday.

We never walk alone, and even when it seems like we have forgotten about God, he is always there with us. If you have drifted from God, or if you cannot seem to find him out there in the darkness of the world, then Up on My Soapbox can help you see how God is still there for you with the gift of his unconditional love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Nov 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781480870727

Darryl C. Wilson Sr.

Darryl Wilson Sr. is a retired police officer that attained the rank of Chief of Police. The majority of his career was spent in Criminal Investigation division. Darryl has been the lead case agent on multiple high profile cases ranging from homicides to drug smuggling. Darryl was assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. In 2009, Darryl was awarded Police Officer of the Year for the Southern District of Alabama. The United States Attorney Office nominated several of Darryl’s federal investigations for Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Case of the Year. In 2011, Darryl blew the whistle on a corrupt elected official who would later be convicted and sentenced to federal prison. Prior to his removal from office the elected official retaliated against and destroyed Darryl’s career. After a lengthy legal battle, Darryl gained his retirement. Today Darryl is taking his recovery and turning it in to a motivational story for all. If you would like to book Darryl for a speaking event or book signing you can reach him at the following email. [e-mail]

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Copyright © 2018 Darryl C. Wilson Sr.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Interior Image Credit: Darryl C. Wilson Sr.

Editor: Alanna Whitaker

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-4808-7071-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-7072-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018962600

Archway Publishing rev. date:  11/05/2018

For My Sons

Darryl Wilson, Jr and Cullen Wilson,

don’t ever forget the name you wear on the back of your jersey. Always stand tall even when you feel like you will crumble. May God keep you and bless you through all of your days. Know I love you more than life itself.

Dad

Philippians 4:13 (KJV)

I would like to give a Hats Off and a Shout Out to a few people for helping to make this book possible.

Johnny Joyner and Frank Bonner: You look up friend in the dictionary and you will find their photos. They’ve not given up on me and always remind me that God had not forsaken me.

Scotty and Kelli Scott, my pastors, sometime travel companions, brainstorm partners, realist, and at the end of the day, friends I would go down fighting for. The first time I met Kelli she told Scotty, we have to pray for him, and did so on the sidewalk. Many conversations later they are still praying. I have had the chance, in my short lifetime, to be around a lot of people that call themselves pastor, reverend, and preacher. Scotty and Kelli are the down-to-earth real deal.

My Dad and Mom who gave me life and love. They instilled in me a strong work ethic and belief that I could accomplish anything I wanted to. My mother has prayed without ceasing and I am living proof her prayers worked.

My brothers, Julius and Mike Wilson, for always encouraging me to never give up, and for leading by example in finding faith again in their own lives.

Virginia Huddleston met an old broken-down cop and saw something more in me than what I was seeing in the mirror. She became a friend, business partner, and confidant when I was at my worst, and she has not left my side. She has encouraged me to reach out for God’s hand again and to share my journey back to Him in hope of helping others. On a particularly bad day, I was mentally, emotionally, and physically drained. Virginia took me to a church. I sat next to her on a pew as she prayed silently. Virginia is the true meaning of unconditional love.

Foreword

Long before the days of electricity, public loud speakers, or mass media there was a town square and a soapbox. People would often stand on a soapbox and begin to orate to a crowd their opinion on politics, religion, the ills of society, or any other thing that crossed their minds. From this the phrase was coined up on a soapbox.

Darryl is known for his soapbox posts and anecdotes that are often homespun and always heartfelt. Through the soapbox stories you get a picture of Darryl’s life, family, career, ideology, and faith. Reading these stories, you also get a picture of Julius and Virginia Wilson, and the work ethic and values they instilled in their family and inevitably their baby boy!

I have often heard that life looks different depending on the lens you look through. We have a set of lenses in these pages that portrays life through the eyes of a son, brother, friend, father and poppy! It is like we are getting a behind the scenes look at the advice Darryl shares with his two sons and grandchildren. As Darryl would say, at the end of the day we all know his family and faith are the center of his life.

Pull up a chair, get a cup of coffee and enjoy these stories and truths as much as I have.

Pastor Scotty Scott

Gospel Way Church/Scotty Scott Ministries

Contents

Preface

Speaking from My Knees…

Standing behind the Pulpit

Speaking from My Heart

Glad I Am Not This Frog Anymore

Standing in the Back at the Diamond …

Coming from the Manger …

Exercising My Spirit …

Giving a High Five …

Reveling in Fatherhood …

Rewriting the Lyrics …

Running Against the Wind …

Smiling About My