That We All May Be One

"I did not know the deceased; he was a stranger to me. He grew up in a small town, twenty to thirty minutes from where I lived, but had moved away from the area. According to the death announcement, he had lived in New York and abroad before residing in a major city on the West Coast. While on vacation, he died while swimming. While specific details relating to his death were somewhat shrouded in mystery, it was obvious that his demise was sudden and tragic. He was three days shy of celebrating what would have been his thirty-sixth birthday.

"He was quite handsome. With his looks, he could have been a model instead of working in the music industry, which he obviously loved. But there was something about his eyes that held me spellbound; a look of sadness and longing in them. It was what I saw in his eyes, what I could not explain or describe, that shook me to the core of my being. The image stayed with me the remainder of the evening and haunted me through a restless night. With the dawning of a new day came a sense of urgency and an intense determination from deep within my spirit; something which rarely manifested itself, especially when it involved strangers. To this day, I cannot tell you why, but, for some reason, I had to see him. I would have no peace until I did.

"...I went to the casket and stood there for a few moments, gazing at the young man I only knew from a photograph in the newspaper. I had wanted - needed - to see him. My desire had been realized, and now here he was before me. It was a surreal moment that could not be articulated with pen and paper, so vast and deep were the gamut of my emotions. He was casually dressed in a black turtleneck top; dark pants, I believe; a medium tan-colored leather jacket, and had a turquoise oval-shaped ring on his right pinky finger.

"I know it sounds absurd, but it felt strange, almost uncomfortable, for me to be viewing the remains of a white person in a casket after seeing nothing but black faces and bodies all of my life. Death is no respecter of persons. Yet, when death comes, why are we? The young man before me wasn't just some white guy that died suddenly and tragically. He was a human being worthy of being loved and mourned. He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a cousin, a grandson, a neighbor, a classmate, a friend. All who knew him loved and lost someone who meant something special to them personally. For each person, the level of grief was different. It shouldn't have mattered that he was white. However, in the back of my mind, I couldn't help wondering what this guy would have thought, said, felt, or done if he could have opened his eyes and seen me standing there looking at him.

"The voices in the background brought me back from my reverie and to my senses. I came to fulfill a mission; my duty was done. It was time to go. I walked to the back of the chapel, and prepared to leave. As I walked to the door leading to the outer court, I happened to glance to my left. I caught the eye of the sister, whose tears seemed to have temporarily abated to give me a curious, wondering smile, the keen interest still evident in her eyes. I smiled in return, then walked out of the chapel. Although no words were ever spoken between us, it was as though our smiles acknowledged a sort of mutual respect for one another. Maybe that's all that was needed. Sometimes words get in the way.

"A stranger's untimely death revealed defects in my character that needed to be overcome. It summoned strength and boldness to rise up and confront mindsets and fears, invisible enemies that beset and endeavor to impede us on a daily basis.

"This experience prepared me to accept another challenge even greater than what I'd already encountered. For the second time, it would be another white man. Once again, the battle with insecurities, doubts, fears, and unanswered questions would be renewed with greater intensity. This time, however, two things would be different: 1. This man would be very much alive, and 2. Although I did not know him personally nor had we ever met, he would definitely be no stranger!"