Episode 18 - Politics and Faith

In our lives, we have different driving forces that help us get through things such as jobs, family, traumas, and just in general life.  In my life, it was my faith.  Not all of us are born religious, some of us embrace it later in life.  In this week's episode, my guest Scott Garret discusses his faith and how it grew over the years.  We also learn how his political career and faith intertwined.  One of the important lessons we learn is how he was able to stand strong in his faith despite many obstacles and even share it with many others in a world where many think faith is minimized or doesn't even exist.

Transcript

00:00.00
drnobodypodcast
Welcome everybody to another episode of the Dr. Nobody podcast with your host dr.. Nobody today we have Scott garrett who is my fatherin-law spoiler alert and today he's just gonna talk to us a little bit about his career and how his faith has played a role in it and what it you know. What it entails and things like that and I'm just going to ask him a couple questions here and there but Scott since ah, you know I want the listeners to really hear from you just give us a little bit about your backstory your bio and just feel free to roll it through.

00:31.18
scott Garrett
Sure and thank you Dr. Nobody for the opportunity to be here with you to discuss all this so when you talk about my career there. You really have to break it down into 2 categories. Okay, so my. First career and I guess you would say continuous career was as a lawyer right? So that is what I did when I got out of school and went to college and went to rutgers university and got my jd ah to become a lawyer so that that was my profession. Um, and then my other career we can talk about that too is my political 1 and that's where I was running for office or helping other peoples with their campaigns involved with all sorts of things. So I have you might say a 2 track career career is to talk about first 1 just for background. Let's say. The legal 1 so that's something that I knew I wanted to do since I usually say I was around seventh grade how old is that 7 eight nineteen ten Eleven Eleven or twelve years old I was in Junior high school I remember and people would say what do you want to do and usually. Have all sorts of strange things people want to be when you're in your junior high school I knew what I wanted to be right then and that was to be a lawyer. Um, and so from then on. That's what I aimed to be so I would get books out of the library about the law. Um, 1 of the first ones was the reader's digest book you and the law now it just comes to my mind. And so I would just focus on that when Junior high and high school and then went on to college I don't think they had what you call nowadays colleges have pre-law I think in them back in those days which would be 30 plus years ago. There was no such program. So if you wanted to be a lawyer. You usually be Kate. Study what I did which was political science and a minor in philosophy and minor in environmental studies. So that's my 1 career background and with that what I do I work for a number of different ah small law firms here in new jersey and here in the. My county where I live now First job was out actually working as a clerk for a judge and then from there working as in-house attorney trial attorney for insurance company is that's my whole legal career because that's 1 plate of information or background the other 1 is the political right. So politics was also something I was interested in at a very young age so probably same thing junior high um Junior high so Junior high I um, ah yeah, was involved in politics ran for something rather probably then.

03:19.84
scott Garrett
And put out a own little newspaper and Junior high put out a little what we used to call in the old days an underground newspaper in high school and I people use that expression anymore and then ran for office ran for school board didn't get elected and then. But else after the then ran for state legislature got elected and then ran for Congress. That's a nutshell I can give that in much more more detail than anybody wants to hear but that's my background and I ended up as I said in Congress How many years 14 years in congress 14 years in congress. Yeah, that. Little bit in a what's that 35 seconds or maybe twice at a nutshell history of Scott here. Yeah well you know when you're roaming when ruminating on such things.

04:02.13
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, it was definitely more than thirty five seconds but it was close. Um.

04:11.77
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, so how it's just interesting that you got into it really young. How did you know that you wanted to be a lawyer What triggered you? what it? What did you see a show or your parents told you like what it what was it.

04:26.97
scott Garrett
Don't think don't think it was my parents per se maybe it was tv you know today today as then seems like half the shows on tv Drama shows are either doctor shows hospital shows or police shows or law legal shows and ah. That's the case today I think and that was the case back in the sixty s and seventy s as wells growing up as a kid. So if I spent a lot of time I could probably figure out what it was I was on tv as the legal shows back then you know dramas on the property cat caught my eye. And don't know if there's anything more to it than that. Um, history was always done 1 of my favorite studies in school and what have you but I don't know I can't pinpoint to anything else I'm just saying hey I want to be a lawyer and it interested me was where my passion was at that point time. Yeah in politics alip politics ran yep.

05:17.93
drnobodypodcast
All right? Well was there any So I'm going ah on a sidebar I think there's a delay between you and I because I'm seeing I'm seeing like my audio because I'm tracking our audio cues.

05:22.27
scott Garrett
Good.

05:27.33
scott Garrett
Yeah.

05:34.62
drnobodypodcast
And I seen my audios coming in and then you come in a little bit after um, what I would suggest maybe in my help is turning off your camera feed I can turn it off I think I can turn it off for you. But I'll keep mine on so you can see like my body language if I'm going to ask a question or anything. Okay.

05:52.11
scott Garrett
Let's stay.

05:55.85
drnobodypodcast
Yeahp there you go that'll help with the bandwidth because I can see I'm tracking your stuff and that they're a little out of sync but it's fine I can fix it post-production all right? So I'm gonna I'm gonna go back to asking you the the questions all right here we go.

06:04.79
scott Garrett
Fact.

06:13.20
drnobodypodcast
So I guess my next question is then was there anybody in your career that helped mentor you or guided you throughout your journey from I Guess Tune your high school all the way up to being a congressman.

06:24.97
scott Garrett
Um, let me let me think um, not necessarily in so in the lower grades when I was a kid. There was a thing back in those days called boy scout explorers. Um, which maybe they still have today and that's like particular you were not really in the boy scouts but they have different topics if you want to go into those professions or what have you interest and 1 of them was law I think I joined that attended 1 meeting and they disbanded so I guess there was no mentoring.

06:59.69
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, unfortunate.

07:02.76
scott Garrett
Yeah, guess there was no mentoring there. Um, yeah, that was a case that comes to memory that was a odd situation where um, they had their first meeting I couldn't attend. There was a friend of mine who went there. Part of the group they were have this is maybe 1 of the first times I ran for office so I was going to be the head of it and and I couldn't be there so somebody else spoke in my absence for me and even though I wasn't there I won and I was elected the chairman of it.

07:34.79
drnobodypodcast
So.

07:40.16
scott Garrett
Unfortunately I think we lost our official guidance counselor type people who ran it and so we didn't actually end up having on the emr meetings but to your to your point was there somebody who mentored me in the law. No certainly not in high school per se and in College. No. Um, and then after that you just go into law school. So nope I guess um I can't think of any along the way I guess a.

08:07.27
drnobodypodcast
And nobody during your actual career during you know, being a congressman and um, any any points during that.

08:12.94
scott Garrett
Well in the lee on the legal side yeah on on the legal side as far as mentoring. No I mean you you go as you go through any career. Well maybe for me anyway, you would go through a career profession or there are people who will answer questions for you. A member might. My first job was with I won't use the name but a national syndicated type law firm where they sort of stick you in a um office you're there all by yourself. There's no other attorneys you have 1 so 1 secretary who. Is not really a paralegal or a legal secretary. They're just someone that the company hired and so there you are and people are coming in the door. Um, and you're sort of thrust into it situation. So it's what's an expression I can't think of it. You're you're under fire on day 1 so to speak and so they're mentoring. No but you certainly could pick up the phone as I did and just would contact call give a phone call to other lawyers who I happen to know or what have you and say heyy. What do I do here? What do? How do you handle this and they would give me some good.

09:24.60
drnobodypodcast
So.

09:25.47
scott Garrett
Sage of advice on how to handle this case or that case my first job as a lawyer was a clerk I told to mention that before and that was judge conforty I think he's retired from the bench now. Great great judge I think he was only on the bench that maybe the second year when I was working for him. Great professional person, great person and so he was great giving me advice in my first year as a clerk that's for sure, but along the way I guess now you would just rely on your own wits and and people you give a call to once in a while when you have a case and you say how do I handle this. Along the way course. But by the way that is if anyone is listening if if anyone who is listening to this. It says I want to become a lawyer 1 thing that you you do learn right away when you get out of law school is that law school does not prepare you for being a lawyer. They. They teach you all sorts of a plethora of legal theory and what have you but not the practical aspects of how do you run a law firm. How do you handle this particular case when you get to court and that sort of thing it may be different now they meet there. Think law schools now have more practicticums and that sort of thing and the practical aspects of it. But back in those days, you'd had you know you'd have tort law and contract law and constitutional law but not actually any courses on. How do you file the pleadings that you are going to engage in. When someone comes in the door and says hey I need you know I'm having a divorce case or something there. You have to call up and get advice from other people and say how do I do this? That's how it was back 30 years ago on how it is today or more than 40 years ago yeah

11:09.96
drnobodypodcast
I wouldn't be able to tell you either. But you know that's that's interesting. It's good that you know, definitely you just didn't you did what you had to do you had to pick up the phone and you're proactive about things and that's that's definitely a theme that's come up with a lot of other interviews just being proactive.

11:14.49
scott Garrett
Yeah.

11:29.36
drnobodypodcast
Even if there's a lack of mentoring or guiding guidance from anybody else. Ah, but how did you know when you were ready for the next level like for the next step so how did you know that you know after being a lawyer eventually you wanted to you know reach the.

11:31.39
scott Garrett
Um.

11:45.00
drnobodypodcast
Reach the next level of being a congressman and.

11:45.90
scott Garrett
Well I don't know that necessarily the next level certainly you could be a lawyer and never go into Politics. You can be a lawyer and be much more so successful at law than I was ah in the sense that you know I was a as it people describe it a small small town country lawyer. Although. Town's not so small anymore. Um, and that's all good. That's all fine. Um, and so that can be satisfactory in ah of itself. The politics was just something that ran alongside of it. It was I may have said at the outset something that interest me from an early age as well. So just as people have their vocation and advocation I had both as well with politics being something that interests me so how do I get into it. Um, you know a neighbor was running for office. And he needed somebody to work on his campaign and I said hey you're here I am and not only did I work on his campaign I ran his campaign not successfully but I ran his campaign. Um I had a great neighbor over the hill for me our farm was the next farmer and he was a. Somewhat of a local media personality. A bright guy a conservative guy who wrote several books and what have you and he would have these little meetings in his house for a while what he called hemlock society I think he called it for a while this goes back decades and most of he was oh. Older people adult I'll say adults who went to it you know and here I was the only teenager in the room because this is sort of these discussions on politics and philosophy and that sort of thing just all fascinated me so what was the question I digress again here.

13:35.71
drnobodypodcast
Well no, just how did you know when to get to the neck. You know that you wanted to switch over to be a congressman or go into politics.

13:40.69
scott Garrett
Yeah, so okay, yeah, so it wasn't necessarily a switch over. So 1 thing that someone in my family told me early on in my interest in politics was and this is it. This is the bit of advice I give to other people, especially young people who say they think they want to go into politics I say never make politics and your profession always have something else that interests you. So that when you fail as a politician and you will fail at some point meaning you'll lose your election. Um, you want to have something that you still want to do to fall back on and the reason that is is because if you don't then. That means as a politician you have no place to go but to stay in politics and if that's the case then you will cut any deal. Give up any values give up any moral positions that you may have because you realize you have nothing else to fall back on you but better stay you better give in. Be co-opt or co-opted because you have nothing else to do other than being a politician so that was advice somebody my family gave me on early on and that's why yeah was a lawyer that wasn't my chosen passion and profession but politics was something I could just do on the side and then did that what happens there. Is that you go into it incrementally as I said you first you hang out at meetings political meetings. You start going to the more sophisticated discussions on it. You work on other people's campaigns somebody asks you to manage your campaign you run for a low. You know in the scheme of things the lower level of office win or lose and you just keep on if it's your passion and your interest in your drive. You just keep on going and see where life brings you to.

15:45.52
drnobodypodcast
And the just going back What you were mentioning before about the advice you had gotten from the family member. Did you feel like you ever experienced that in your political career where you know you had to make these tough decisions or awkward positions that you were put in.

15:52.89
scott Garrett
Yeah.

16:04.98
drnobodypodcast
Um, you don't have to talk about them specifically but did you feel like that happened to.

16:07.40
scott Garrett
Yeah, oh I mean it. It happens to every person that and is in politics all the time in in politics. There is always so many competing forces. More than 2 sides. But at least 2 sides on every issue and those forces are driving you in 1 way or another and then there's in politics there is the leadership as it's called the people who are above you in the party or the organization who is always going to be putting who has who hass their agenda and they will be trying to put pressure on you to do this or to that. Sometimes it's what you want to do that's fine. Sometimes it's not what you want to do then you then you have a conflict then you have to decide is this something important enough that I'm going to stand up for what my values believe in or if it's not not that important. Yeah, then you can make that compromise and and agree. For the good of the cause. But for that person who has nothing to fall back on and I I've seen examples of this that they have there. They become co-opted all the time because what what else are they going to do if they don't go along to get along. They won't get along.

17:20.74
drnobodypodcast
Um, yeah, what? um.

17:21.83
scott Garrett
Yeah I mean I mean I I remember you know from from my early days when I was in State legislature state legislature in new jersey you know I have a number of strong positions and principles which I stood on 1 not getting not to get into politics but just 1 principle was as we paid too much in taxes I'm never going to vote for a tax increase and so I remember leadership coming over to what what they call working in the room going from desk to essays saying we need you to vote with us on this to raise a tax. Or what have you and twisting of the arms and they said we're not gonna even bother going over to talk to scott because we know he's there's nothing we can say to him to get off of his position or his values on this and so they they stay away from you if you if they know that you're so committed to something and you're strong enough on it. Yeah.

18:19.58
drnobodypodcast
Interesting. So they they just ah, they just knew they couldn't get you so that's that's good. That's great to hear. Um, so 1 of the 1 of the things I wanted to talk about Besides your career is also about your faith.

18:25.83
scott Garrett
Yeah, yeah.

18:36.89
drnobodypodcast
And how it's impacted your life and your career can you indulge us a little bit about that.

18:41.70
scott Garrett
Sure sure so it I'll side put it this way it it didn't impact as much my career and or in politics I say for the first portion of it. Of my time and but office and that's because I was not and the man of faith that I am today and I have been for since I became a born again believer and so when you're not then it doesn't influence. You make sense to me once you become a born again believer and. And your faith is the most important thing to you then of course it's going to influence. It should influence every aspect of your life right? How you conduct yourself how you deport yourself how you live out your life should be influenced by by your faith and so it did with. Me as well. Um I would underre and scripture to say that we were not to you know, hide the light under the Bushel as as it says you know not to be ashamed of your faith should not try to hide your faith and I never did I don't think. Matter of fact, sometimes people would accuse me of wearing your faith on your sleeve as the expression someone used years ago and all I would do is you know if somebody has a question about something or ask me, um, a faith I'm willing to discuss it and. Not good at quoting line chapter and verse as it were of bible verses. But I can sometime incorporate in conversation. Some of the themes of the bible into it to try to make a point and that of course is not. Accepted in some quarters and is accepted in others.

20:36.33
drnobodypodcast
So you say that you weren't always a man of faith at what point did you change I guess became ah a man of faith faith.

20:44.46
scott Garrett
Yeah, so I I mean yeah, yes I mean um, in in when I in a forum where I give my testimony I'm not like some of some people who are able to give their testimony who are able to give that road to damascus. Pinpoint of experience to say this is the day and the hour and what have you and I know and I appreciate those people who are able to do it. They say this happened on this day and I know it was from that point on I can' ever really do that. Mine was always it a longer stories won't get on to all here. But it's you know. A little bit over time coming to the faith as scripture says we are being called and so I was being called I guess and heard his voice and over a period of time came came to be a believer. Um, and so from that point on um, you know. You you grow in faith. There's justification sanctification glorification. So it was justified at some point in time that I can't keep you the date and time and hour sanctification sanctifying your life continues on continuously until the day of glorification which is your death and glory. So I'm in that middle stage now of course. Justification has already occurred and and going through sanctification and having it applied to my life.

22:08.74
drnobodypodcast
What I appreciate you sharing that and totally understand that aspect of you know, telling people you know how how you became a man of faith as I experienced it too I Definitely don't have exactly the time and point that that happened but I have an idea. Like you over time but in your journey of being a man of faith have you ever felt like you've been challenged to a point where you have fallen from from the from faith from your faith itself or do you feel like it just empowers you to.

22:43.23
scott Garrett
Um, um, but I I would say the answer to first question I guess is no in the census for us. It's is some sort of challenge in politics or law done something that um you know. How do you say a fallen. No I would say no to that now or I think I'm like most people now I can't speak for most people. But I'll say a lot of people say that? Yeah, over times you certainly have questions that are that people struggle with that I struggle with on faith they come and go evan evan hu of the times. What have you. Ah, but that would I would not say that's anything to do with my profession. That's just the the nature I think of the faith I think most people have but no I nothing in that any challenge and actually as I say this is just the opposite. You know when those um when those difficult times come from your. That your profession might put you in in your faith if it's getting conflict with they just tend rather to strengthen strengthen your faith. That's when you you fall back on your faith more and and it becomes even stronger for you? yeah.

23:55.45
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, and to that point we we just talked about how there are people that in politics I would come up to you or to people and try to change their positions on things. Did you ever feel like anyone did that to you to change your position.

23:58.61
scott Garrett
Um.

24:15.25
drnobodypodcast
You know as a you know, ah Christian so.

24:17.10
scott Garrett
Well no I don't know anyone's ever come up and say hey you know you you you believe this? you instead you should believe that now but I'll just go down to tip of rabbit all here certainly? Ah yeah I find discussions of ah of various faith. Interesting. And so there's people who who I'm were was involved in politics with who are of different faiths and I certainly enjoy discussing with them their faith and they enjoy discussing with me my faith but more on a colgial collegial or. Sort of basis where you're just sort of learning more about theirs and not being trying to.. They're not trying to change mind any particular reason so you have those discussions but I don't know that anyone ever force it. Try to forcibfully come and say look you're wrong on this and youve got to change the way your faith now they may say you're wrong, They certainly upset over time you're wrong on this position or that position on on politics. Whether it's we't go into all them a fault litany of them I'm sure. But they don't try to and pull out the the faith aspect of it I don't think yeah yeah.

25:31.50
drnobodypodcast
Well, that's good. You know everybody Accepts it and it's good to grow and understand others as well. So that that's great to hear.

25:37.64
scott Garrett
Um, well I don't know that they I know that I don't no I don't know that they necessarily accept it in other words they may if they take a contrarian view what I would say is the wrong view on a particular topic and they know that. My view is based both on faith and also on on law or practical aspects of life. Um, they'll still say you're wrong, they're not they'll say my under the foundations for my views on that particular issue or issue. They would say it is wrong and they you know will a not accept the position that I took and b not position. Not not accept the the foundational basis for it as well and that's you know you have to understand that and the reason for that is 1 that who wasn't dennis prager. I think use this expression decades ago. We said how do you put it. He says if 2 people come along and are building a building of 2 but 2 different buildings and they have different foundations. 1 foundation is going to be for. An office building. The other foundation is going to be for a house. Well then you can't anticipate that the actual structure that is going to be constructed on top of those foundations are going to look entirely different from 1 ah another why because their foundations are fundamentally structurally different from the. From each other and that's how it is in politics if 2 people come to address a specific particular situation and they're found their foundations. What? what? they're basing their thoughts and opinions on are fundamentally different than you can anticipate. The the structures that they're going to build the political structures and the outcome of whatever that particular project is is going to look different as well and that's why in this country today. You know you have the divisiveness that you do because people are coming. From 2 different camps 2 different worlds 2 different foundational 2 different foundational structures and and they're trying to build a world that's fundamentally different from each other just my new sense.

27:54.49
drnobodypodcast
But nasa I appreciate that and I'm going to ask you a question that's probably loaded is in your opinion. How do you bring those 2 types of people to the table to be less divisive.

27:59.32
scott Garrett
Yes.

28:05.72
scott Garrett
Present. So I mean you you can attempt to you know the rules you attempt to find out where the the common ground it if there's any and so yeah, that's the same case whether it's in law and negotiations. Or in politics so in law negotiations if you have a contract and it seems like they're going totally different directions or if you have a you know a tort a toward action mean physical injury action somebody did something wrong against another party. They're obviously coming from a. Contrarian views well is there anything that they might be ah agree agree on as far as the the the liability issue or the risk issue or the damage issue. Maybe there's something. There's you can find in law that they agree on same thing in Politics. There's usually a myriad of issues that are being deb divide. Discussed on any piece of legislation or any other big topic and so maybe there's 1 small element to it that you can agree on and if you can great. That's that's where you start on but at the end of the day that may also be where you end on it too. Um, so if it's a issue like abortion or something like that. That's hugely controversial. The big issue is not going to be agreed on. But maybe there's an issue of funding for health care within it or something like that that can be. Crafted in the legislation that just deals with and that to the end of the day you just deal with that little slight sliver of that of the bill and that's all you really can achieve if that makes sense away. So then yeah, go good.

29:56.48
drnobodypodcast
Okay, yeah, no definitely appreciate appreciate you taking a loaded question like that trying to solve our our country's issues in 1 1 answer um so go ahead.

30:02.89
scott Garrett
Yeah, yeah, I mean the the 2 the 2 questions the 2 questions come the 2 questions come back together. I mean a you have to it A you have to understand what the other positions foundation. Foundation is or is the oh.. The old vernacular is where's he coming from as people used to say if you understand that then that helps of course to find that common ground um on the intrinsically different. Outcomes that both parties are trying to achieve in negotiations. That's the same thing. It's if you understand where the guy's coming from or or the flip side of it where are you going to know what's his motive. What's what's he out to get if you understand that that helps in the negotiations as to what you're going to settle On. Um, you know negotiations in law and contract matters and that sort of thing you know we think that it's always about money but it it may not be somebody's coming to the table on a contract. It may not be that he just wants more money on the deal. It may be that he wants a particular outcome. And you might be able to succeed in that outcome even without addressing the issue of the money aspect of the contract. So if you can do that? Um, then you have they're coming ground at least settle the entire matter or at least settle a portion of it. Yeah. I mean take it take real estate I did a little bit of real estate tiny that is it all about money. Well if it's all about money then you're probably not going to come to terms if you're too far apart. But if it's something then in real estate that the person particularly wanted in the land or the house but structure. Then maybe you can have another way to solve that problem and give that 1 party What he wants. Same thing in politics.

32:00.69
drnobodypodcast
Got it. So how do you just going off on a different topic. How do you explain? um about God and faith to people who really don't know about it or have.

32:02.47
scott Garrett
Um.

32:10.16
scott Garrett
Children.

32:17.85
drnobodypodcast
Little understanding of it.

32:17.95
scott Garrett
Well, um, in 1 of the bible classes that I took in d c when I worked in Washington and I'll just digress for there for thirty seconds will be just thirty seconds is for people listening there really are a lot of bible studies. Go on in Washington they happen on the hill all the time they happen in the capitol they happen in the offices and they happen in other restaurants and what have you around the capol. So there are bible studies going on all the time and in 1 of those I used to attend several of them 1 of them I remember the leader of it. Use this expression. He said you would not expect to go into a morgue and start talking to a dead person and have him understand what you're saying if you can. Picture that little theme in your mind and that makes sense. But how's it have a biblical angle to it. Well biblically we understand that unless we have been called and come to faith. We are dead in our sins and so. Use that analogy there if you're talking to somebody who is dead in the sins who have not come to the faith. They are not going to understand these things and that's ah, that's the dilemma that that you have in the politics or the legal aspect. That's the dilemma that you're if you're talking to somebody who's not. Who is dead is still in their sins who has not been justified who has not been saved then that conversation is going to be a difficult 1 now that doesn't mean that you don't have the conversation that doesn't mean matthew twenty eight says that in short we are all too. Be how evangelizing the nations of the earth all power and heaven. Heaven earth has been given it christ to go forth of all the nations and baptize him in the name of the father son of holy ghost and he will be with us alwayse till the end of the ages so you know we have our we have our job. We have our marching orders. We have our commission. A great commission to do that and so we are to go out to do that. But understand what the dynamics of it. They're going to be like.

34:38.81
drnobodypodcast
Thank you that was ah I was 1 of my next questions where are there any 1 particular? Yeah well, it's great because then maybe you could talk about it more but are there any 1 particular scripture versus in the bible that you live by or.

34:39.55
scott Garrett
Okay, ah then I got ahead of you.

34:56.83
drnobodypodcast
Can talk about and I guess Matthew was 1 of them are there any other ones that you really depend on or read to other people about.

35:04.47
scott Garrett
yeah yeah not yeah so I'm um I'm not a great 1 for quoting and I think I said the beginning of this program chapter and verse um, I'll say this 1 of my favorite songs which I'm told was. Written by jesuits as here I am Lord and that is from oh is it Isaiah 6 8 or 8 6 as a 8 I think it is where god is talking to. Isaiah and in that sense asking him to go forth and Isaiah responds to him by say well here I am and a matter of fact that now that I say this we were discussing this in bible study not too long ago. Um. Song here I am I won do your listeners a favor here by not singing it but they can listen to it I'm sure they find it on youtube ask the question you know who's the lord of is asking who shall I send to care for his people and. Refrain is it. They call the refrain versus the course not be able to call it. Um and so on is here I am Lord is I you lord I've heard you calling in the night and just like Isaiah did and so it's that line saying that. We are responding to god's calls to go forth and care for his people. God's people which is his children. Um, and so here I am I am his instrument to carry that out.

36:54.58
drnobodypodcast
Nice.

36:55.11
scott Garrett
Yeah I should probably look that up like well I talked to you so I can give you the exact thing but can't find it right here Anyway, go ahead. Yeah, it's okay, it's okay so people people can people people can Youtube people Youtube that and find that is a great little song there. You go.

37:03.56
drnobodypodcast
It's okay yeah I got I got the gist of it exactly exactly thank you? Um, so 1 of the things I've experienced personally with my faith is ah it's it's always been challenging, especially.

37:13.53
scott Garrett
Yeah.

37:21.92
drnobodypodcast
When I was doing my Ph D in my graduate school and I felt like a lot of people attacked me for it. Especially my my boss at that time. Did you feel like you've experienced anything challenging or opposition because of your faith. And your life or not just your your congress when you were a congressman in that career path but any other point in your life.

37:45.24
scott Garrett
Oh absolutely I think I will say most people do but I don't know if that's the case really in our our american culture Although that american culture is changing um, but sure I mean I was. Not in my legal profession but in my political world in the political world. They'll attack you for any and everything and so yeah I was attacked for my faith my church and my pastor was attacked for their faith in what they stood for and sure so that was. Part of my life in politics and that's to it back to an earlier question of you is there. How do you phrase it about you know what happens when you're attacked. You didn't phrase it that way. Do you acquiesce or not and I think my response to that question. Wherever you put it was no that that sort of strengthens you you you fall back on your faith but then that often also can strengthen your faith that faith at the same time now. This is something that you know more and more people of faith in this country will be. Experience as we experience a cancel culture and culture and a worldview that is obviously contrary to the christian faith and so those attacks will be increasing saying that we're on the wrong side of history. And so forth. This will just increase just as it has increased throughout the ages and as we see it has been in other parts of the world for a long time.

39:30.73
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, definitely cancel culture people talk about it more and more has become a more serious issue but that's a different problem. We could talk about another time. Um, just I'm going to ask.

39:38.45
scott Garrett
Right? Yeah, but that's ah, that's the that's the aspect. But that's the aspect of that that is the aspect of you know of tagging the faith because it's it's trying to cancel what you believe at the same time. But anyway, yeah, yeah, your charts.

39:57.90
drnobodypodcast
No, ah, thank you for clarifying that yeah definitely makes sense so with the last ah couple minutes remaining here I want to ask you 2 questions that I always ask all my guests and that is the first 1 is what are or. Has been the best or worst moments in your life or your career so you could focus since we've been really focused on your career. You could really talk about that and you know you could you can get personal. You don't have to get personals up to you.

40:26.17
scott Garrett
Well on the on the personal side would certainly be my 2 little kids. My children being born that was or if those were um, huge moments in any dad's life. That's for short. And then of course it continues throughout their lives as well in the focus. What we've been talking about which is careers but I remember I remember that 1 big experience was getting that letter in the mail that I passed the bar that was a huge um. Um, you took I took the bar and that was agonizing all the prep I guess it's still that is today to go through and then you get the letter in the mail and says's you best because that's as I mentioned at the outset of this program. That's something I wanted to do at that point in my life. It would have been. 10 years right if I wasy let me see if I was 10 or 11 years old when I wanted to be able to start being a lawyer and I passed the bar when I was what 21 I guess so there's 10 years of my life. Hopefully do you become a lawyer and bing I got the letter said that was a big experience in politics like that's law and a big experience and. In Politics of course is you know the first time you get elected so it was huge when I ran first for state assembly I ran in a race with 5 against with 5 people in in the primary. I was the 1 who was they all considered would least likely get elected. But I worked with my family and some friends and we really worked hard and we surprised everybody and on election night. We surprised everyone and won and I was like whoa so that was huge and. Congress was the same deal. He goes with congress there I ran 3 times in 19 ninety 8 to that and I lost by 2 points and the next 2 years later in 2000 I lost by 1 point and then in 2002 I won so. Politics that was answer your question to huge night to after 3 times of trying to get over that mountain and succeed. Absolutely.

42:49.30
drnobodypodcast
Well, you didn't give up so that's good.

42:52.89
scott Garrett
Know if if there's a takeaway it's persistence in these things and that's probably in any aspect of any career right? Probably hear that from other people. Yeah, absolutely you said yeah to.

43:02.66
drnobodypodcast
Absolutely. Yeah, Well I Guess ah yeah, so the other 1 and I think I could already write down 1 for you is persistence but what are 5 essential things you think people need to succeed in their life or your or career and you can emulate it through your experiences.

43:11.60
scott Garrett
Yeah, oh.

43:25.35
scott Garrett
Well yeah, well yeah I mean you you threw I think you you just sort of said the words you maybe not intended it in your careers or your life or in your life to succeed. You should have a foundation of faith because without that.

43:27.70
drnobodypodcast
I Guess persevere ah go ahead.

43:43.68
scott Garrett
everything is for not and everything is in vain. What's the book ecclesiastes which solomon wrote vanity vanity. All his vanity went without a faith and without a god then all is ah. Vanity because it is all short-lived and for what is what is the struggle for them so life. It's to have a faith a base ah faith that you base your life on and what you're do on persistence is something you mentioned the other is to have. The passion for something that interests you so there's an expression. What's that old find something you love to do and you never work a day in your life right? I'm sure you've heard that 1 hundred times and so you know you often often see these tv shows where. Looking at people who are making a career out of surfing or rock climbing or Nascar driving and I'm thinking wow these people he's how they have a they're doing fun things and somehow they're making a career of it. But that's I guess that's everyone's should be your passion find what you love to do. Um, and you never have to work a day in your life find that thing that you have a passion about easier said than done sometimes to actually make a living at it. Ah right? But if you can so much the better.

45:02.98
drnobodypodcast
Yeah, yeah.

45:10.16
drnobodypodcast
So yeah, all right? So sidebar here I'm going to wrap up and I know I sent you that thing at the last minute but.

45:21.28
scott Garrett
L.

45:23.34
drnobodypodcast
Usually I ask my guests if it's okay for the viewers listeners to reach out to you but I don't really know if you want that so I don't have to mention it. Um, they can you know you'll be on. Also you'll see it on the thing I sent you. But I always ask all my guests if there's you know a bio and a picture because I would add it to the website if you're okay with that and then any socials or emails if they want to reach out but it's up to you I don't know how you feel about it usually people just give me their linkedin and then I just mentioned it in this last part

45:56.13
scott Garrett
Oh yeah, Linkedin I'm on linkedin. Yeah I mean um, but I don't know what my linkedin is um, okay.

45:57.74
drnobodypodcast
How do you want to go about it.

46:03.81
drnobodypodcast
You don't have to know it. It's okay because I would I would put that on the website so they they would go there on ah my website and then find your picture and then they can click it So I'll just say that if you they want to you know, reach out to you and learn more or ask you questions that they'll reach out to you on Linkedin. Okay.

46:16.40
scott Garrett
Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure am I saying anything else am I Just watching you.

46:23.45
drnobodypodcast
And then I'll just wrap up after that. Okay. Ah, you can you could watch me but I mean I'll just say thank you for having you. You could say? Thank you back if you if you want um, all right? So second. Okay, all right? well.

46:32.99
scott Garrett
Okay, yeah, thanks.

46:44.70
drnobodypodcast
Scott. Thank you so much for for your time and your stories that you shared with us especially about your career and faith I think the listeners really learned a lot and you know I did as well and I really appreciate that very much.

46:55.67
scott Garrett
Well thank you for the opportunity was it really great experience. Thanks.

47:01.30
drnobodypodcast
Sure ah, is it. Okay for the listeners to reach out to on on Linkedin if they want to ask any questions or learn more about your career or faith.

47:10.57
scott Garrett
Sure I would love to engage with anyone who would like to reach out. Absolutely.

47:17.28
drnobodypodcast
Awesome Well thank you very much again. Listeners I hope you gain plenty of insights today. This is the beginning of becoming a someone but specifically the someone you always wanted to be hope you enjoyed this episode if you did please do give me a like review and subscribe and you can also visit. Website the drnoboypodcast dot com to learn more about my guests and listen to the episode again. Thanks again for listening to the Dr. nobody podcast where we turn nodies to somebodybodies talk to you all very soon.