Sebastian Marroquin
Sebastian Marroquin is the son of one of the world’s most notorious criminals, Colombian drug baron Pablo Escobar. At the height of his powers Escobar was said to be the seventh richest man in the world. And he controlled up to 80% of the world’s cocaine trade. His unbelievable wealth and power were only matched by his brutality – he was responsible for thousands of deaths and kidnappings during the ’80s and early ’90s – a period when his cartel terrorised Colombia. Sebastian told Outlook his memories of growing up in the palatial Escobar family compound, Hacienda Napoli.
You can’t listen to this interview and NOT hear the words of a forgiven man:
- “I have been fulfilling the second promise instead of the first.”
- “I created the documentary because I believe in forgiveness and reconciliation.”
- “It wasn’t safe for me to come back to Columbia… I took that risk because I thought peace in the country was much more important than my own life.”
- “Thank God, I could start from zero. I am free of the past.” [On not having any of his father’s money.]
- “I never hated my dad… I love him unconditionally. I am not his judge. I am a part of him. I was his son, one of the most important people in his life.”
- “My dad was one of the best dads. But he was also one of the most dangerous bandits in the world. I have to live with both facts.”
Steve Fisher
To some, Steve Fisher is most famous for having coached the Fab Five, for Chris Webber’s timeout, and for getting fired from Michigan when it was revealed that some members of that team were being paid by boosters.
But to San Diego, he is known as the man who put San Diego State basketball on the map. He went from giving tickets away all over town to the hottest ticket in town. The school is entering it’s 5th straight season of selling out it’s 12,414 Viejas Arena before the season begins.
At the same time, SDSU has transformed itself from a fallback school of commuter students to a top 100 research university bursting at the seams. There’s a direct connection between success on the hardwood and success on the Mesa.
Second Acts
It’s easy for your life to get defined by your first act.
Sometimes, as in the case of Sebastian Marroquin your first act is defined for you— you’re born into a notorious family. But for most, it’s not that of a drug lord– but it might be a family history of divorce, addiction, abuse, or poverty that defined your first act, you were born into it.
But for still others, like is the case with Steve Fisher, you might have played a role in your own first act failure. [To be clear, Steve Fisher was never tied directly to what happened at Michigan. But we can all agree that he somehow played a role. At the very least he was responsible for the actions of his team.] Or for still others, there is no doubt in your defining first act role— you were the addict, abuser, unfaithful, or carried the bad habits that lead to a life of poverty?
In your first act you experienced failure.
You were the bad news.
Yet, when this happens, you are left with a choice only you can make.
Are you going to allow your life to be defined by your first act or are you going define yourself by your second act?
Some remain defined by their first act failure their entire lives. But other, a small percentage, get up… dust themselves off… and create a strong second act.
This is, in Christian terminology, the crucified life.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation
Will you be defined by your first act or your second?
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