Growing up poor in backwoods Kentucky, Chris "Harp" Harper lived between two destructive narratives: believing he could become entirely self-sufficient and feeling utterly worthless. After losing his brother to a drug overdose and his mother to cancer, with an alcoholic father in the background, he became determined to overcome his circumstances through any means necessary.
His drive for success led him to become outwardly confident and charismatic, but inwardly he was deeply insecure. He would lie about achievements, manipulate relationships, and do anything for attention or validation. This pattern continued until after a research trip to Eastern Europe, when feelings of emptiness led him to attend a church service - initially just for "the chicks and the chicken."
Two months of hearing the gospel brought him to a life-changing realization: he had not only rejected God but wanted to be God himself. This insight led to a transformation where he learned to "die to self and live for others." The change wasn't immediate, but through surrounding himself with mentors, reading voraciously, and deliberately practicing kindness, he gradually reformed his life.
Today, Harp is a husband, father of four, and leader of the Better Man Project. He practices intentional kindness by encouraging three people daily and maintains an inspirational voicemail message that once prevented a pizza delivery driver's suicide. His message now centers on finding abundance in ordinary life, countering the pressure to live an "Instagram-worthy" existence.
Perhaps his most significant transformation came through serving others - like spending Saturday mornings cutting his future wife's grandfather's grass. What started as an annoying chore became a cherished routine, so much so that years later, when he preached at the grandfather's funeral, he wished he could still spend those Saturday mornings in service.
Check out the organization Harp works with: www.betterman.com
And for more from Harp, follow his Substack: https://charper.substack.com/p/saying-thank-you?r=1qr116
Connect with Tim & Steve - www.narrative.live
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