A mind expanding post for the lounge.
I am an agnostic. People who know me well know that including all of my family and friends. My wife is an Episcopalian although she is not very serious about church at the present. A few years back, my wife told me about a Kenyan pastor named Simon who filled in for her priest one Sunday. He was a graduate student in divinity at a local college and preached whenever he could to supplement his income. He was here on a visa and he had a wife and two children back in Kenya. She said he was a very impressive preacher and she wanted me to meet him. It turned out that he lived a short distance away on campus housing. My wife's family has sort of adopted him as one of their own.
People can be good, no matter what their background or religious affiliation. Simon is a genuinely good person who wants to do all that he can to help his countrymen rise out of poverty and sickness. He knows that I do not share his religious views, but that I support him in his endeavors.
Simon and I were college students at the same time. He was pursuing his master's degree and I my bachelor's. I like to write short stories on the side. When Simon found out about that, he asked me if I could edit a manuscript that he had written. It was a short autobiographical account of his life. I told him that I would do it, and I started working on the manuscript. Since English was not Simon's first language, the going was rough. I could tell what he was trying to say, but it required a complete reworking. I got about a fifth of the way through the book and it became apparent to me that I simply did not have the time to work on it. I gave Simon what I had and apologized for not being able to do more.
Simon was not deterred. It turned out that he had a relative who was good with English and she got the job done for him. The result was a self-published work called "An Amazing Journey of Survival," and I have an autographed copy of it sitting here next to me.
HIV/AIDS is a huge problem where Simon is from. He has worked with people affected by the disease in his home country before coming to America. He wants to go back to Kenya after graduation and help people affected by that disease and by poverty. I think he sees that as his calling from God. I see it as an enormously kind and brave thing to do. Either way, we both agree that making the world a better place is the most honorable thing a human can do.
Simon's graduation ceremony is next week. Mine is the following week. I sent the following letter to him along with an announcement of my graduation.
Hi Simon,
I just finished your book and it is truly an amazing story of survival. I am happy that you found someone to handle the manuscript for you. As I was reading the book, it occurred to me that the style of the writing put a Kenyan voice in my head. That is, it read like someone from Kenya was speaking to me. That is good because it lends an air of authenticity to the book. I could not have reproduced that if it had been me that polished up the manuscript. If it had been me, the voice of the work would have come across as sounding very western despite the subject matter. I do not think that would have been as good.
Judging from your story and how far you have come, I think you are going to do a lot of good in the world, Simon. You have the desire and the spirit, and you are now armed with an excellent education that will open up doors for you. A master’s degree, man! Americans like to think of themselves as a very well educated society; but even here you are well ahead of most people with your education.
I am graduating, as well, the week after you with my bachelor’s degree which is the reason for the fancy announcement. Of course, you are welcome to attend if you would like to. Just get a hold of George and Snook or me and Jennifer if you would like to go and need transportation. I do not know what your plans are for after your graduation. If you will not be able to make it to my ceremony, I will understand.
I think we are all on an amazing journey, Simon. It is just that most people do not know it and they waste their time on trivialities. Through the school of hard knocks, you and I both know how precious life is and how lucky we are to be here as conscious and aware beings to witness the beauty of this world. I wish you continued success in all of your endeavors.
Sincerely,
Toby
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Your letter to Simon is so very good, so good that I am sure he will benefit greatly from it. But of course, you are also getting the good part of his message too, and it will also help you down the road.
Our journey is amazing, and I guess only the lucky ones realize it.
Blessings on you!
