Dear fellow travelers,
Thank you again, again for being on this journey called life with
me.
I may never know what my true purpose is, I do my day to day tasks. and
then every now and then, something happens, to cause me to really think how life
has unfolded and unfolds in unexpected ways beyond my sometimes limited
concepts. How life is this magnificent tapestry, and I haven't been able to fly
above this magnificent work of art to view the design from the top, because my
vantage point has been seeing just a small section from underneath. But we are
all part of this design, all interwoven. and maybe someday we will see the
entire design.
I heard this true story the other day, it really touched me, and since
it is Memorial Day Weekend, I felt it appropriate to share it.
I have this very special friend, who may never realize how special he
is. During his teenage years, he being white, in a very Southern South,
befriended a black boy who became his best friend in Ku Klux Klan country. This
obviously was before desegregation. in the early 60ths. Because of his
relationship with this best friend. He was hooded and beaten severely by the
Klan. I wont go into all the details, but he did miraculously survive.
And he never gave up his friendship with his best friend. He had the
strength and courage to refuse!! He followed his heart.
,
Graduation from high school came and he graduated from his white school and
his friend graduated from his black school, the two schools did not mix!
Both were drafted at the same time for Viet Nam.
His friend passed his physical and was deployed.
My friend did not pass his physical.
His friend was killed in Viet Nam.
What happened from this act of valor to me was the purpose for his
life.
He was the first black boy, or white boy, to be killed in Viet Nam from
this town.
The white Baptist church, set aside its prejudice and opened its doors for
the closed casket funeral, to standing room only.
The store owners stopped serving, who they knew to be in the Klan, and the
Klan lost its force.
Thru this chain of events, this town became desegregated.
The country also thru changes in its laws and Martin Luther King began desegregation and integration happened.
My friend to me is one of extraordinary courage, he stood his ground,
stating "both of us had red blood". He didn't cave, or renounce his friendship,
when he could have easily done so. He is a hero. Strong, with a great sense of
purpose to do what he knew for him was right.
Both are hero's to me.
Have a wonderful Memorial Day
Please, remember all who serve and all of those who gave of their lives in
doing so.
How well do we stand our ground in the face of adversity?
Just pondering on doing what I feel is right.
Rev Linda Patton ENTC
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