Lessons from a Black Man

I was proud to call E.J my friend. Gentle and soft-spoken, he was a wide-faced bear of a man. He wasn't tall, but the first time we shook hands mine disappeared in his. Some said that EJ had been angry and rebellious as a young black man. I only knew the gentle spirit with a slight hint of gray around the edges.

It would be hard not to like EJ. In all the times I heard him sing Amazing Grace, I don't remember ever seeing him finish without tears coming to his eyes. He had an easy way with words when he prayed, and he reminded me of a little boy talking to his daddy. When EJ prayed you just knew the Lord was listening. But it was his way of addressing God that first amused, and then later, as I came to know the man, made me question my own view of God. It humbled me a little. EJ always addressed God as "Master."