In the fall of 1980 the wheels finally came off. Although my exterior posture was always “impervious”, I was actually collapsing from within. After achieving the success my dad never had, I still felt lonely, weak, and like a fake. I owned cars, houses, boats, motorcycles, buildings, but was unsatisfied. All the toys just weren't as “shiny” any more.

At 34 years old, I had run out of steam and life had no real meaning anymore. I was trapped in a self-made cycle of “Work hard. Earn money. Pay bills.” It seemed like I was always angry, and my moods were always unpredictable and volatile. My wife and kids were becoming afraid of me. There was no balance in my life and certainly no joy.

Then one evening in a stranger's house, I surrendered to God in a truly honest way. I was transformed. Many bad habits fell away, and my heart was dramatically changed. It was an obvious miracle. For the first time, I was experiencing true joy. I felt as if a huge burden was lifted of my back. I was set free.

I had never experienced anything like this before and I was seeing the difference between religion and a personal relationship. It was exciting! My wife and both of my children accepted Christ also.

When traveling for business, my daughter would hide her stuffed doll in my luggage. As she kissed me goodbye, she'd say to her new Christian dad, “don't forget who you are!”

I eventually did.

I see now that you cannot be a “Lone Ranger” Christian. A man becomes like those he hangs out with. I stopped spending time with other Christian men and was sliding backwards, which was hardly noticeable at first.

While at a friend's place of business, I began using some of my old language, and it wasn't Spanish or French. It was foul. My friend took me aside and very sternly warned me to never again use that type of language in front of his boys. I was ashamed and embarrassed, but I just brushed it off and quietly avoided him.

Later, my wife and I sold our home and bought a dream boat, a 50-foot Hatteras motor yacht. We would cruise the east coast from Maine to Florida and live aboard on a three-year vacation. I was 52 and living my dream, or so I thought.

Then one day our dockmaster said, “I saw you in church Sunday. I didn't know you were a Christian!” My heart sank. I had lost my first love, and I knew it. Patterns of sin (selfishness, arrogance, and even pride) had easily creped back into my life or as my daughter would say, “I forgot who I was.” Brushing this event off, I sailed the intra-coastal for the next 3 years.

While on business in Orlando, a man invited me to attend a Pat Morley's Friday morning Bible study. Afterwards he gave me a copy of The Man in the Mirror from the case of books he had in the trunk of his car. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.

I was not living an authentic life, and Pat's words resonated with me. The Man in the Mirror challenged me to live a life of significance, love my wife as I once did, and give to others as I never had before.

I have found that The Man in the Mirror can restore men, marriages, fathers, and lead others back to their God. After selling my boat and moving to Orlando, I'm now serving on Man in the Mirror's staff to help others experience the true heart transformation that I did.

Dennis Puleo

To learn more about Dennis, please visit www.dennispuleo.com