After a business trip to DC, our son Mark encountered a dilemma as he approached his gate. Representative John Lewis sat waiting to board the same plane. Mark watched as people were drawn to go speak to the congressman. He debated with his own introverted instincts and sense of courtesy calling him to refrain from invading Mr. Lewis’s space. However, he soon ignored that argument and gave in to the question he asked himself, “When are you ever again going to have the opportunity to meet John Lewis?”
So he took his turn and introduced himself, continuing, “I am the chief financial officer for the RESULTS organization.” Before he could finish by explaining that RESULTS was an advocacy group seeking to influence political decisions toward the goal of eliminating hunger and poverty, Mr. Lewis said, “Oh, I know who you are. You do really good work.”
Mark felt quite satisfied with this initial exchange only to find when they boarded the plane that he was seated across the aisle from Mr. Lewis. He watched as passengers boarded, frequently stopping to thank the representative for his many accomplishments and for his many years of service to our country with each passenger receiving an unfailing gracious response. When a man in a MAGA hat approached, Mark wondered what would happen. The man said, “Make America great again.” Mr. Lewis responded courteously, “I’m doing my best.”
The plane took off, and any thoughts of further conversation vanished as Mr. Lewis closed his eyes and immediately went to sleep. Mark thought he might have set a record for how fast he dropped off – maybe the benefit of hard work and a clear conscience. Not wasting the opportunity, Mark texted his Executive Director with the news of his fellow passenger and wondered if he should ask Mr. Lewis to do something for them while he had direct personal access to him. She responded with the suggestion that he speak at their summer conference. Mark spoke to Mr. Lewis as they exited the plane with her request and got a tentative yes if they could match schedules. Regrettably, that didn’t happen, and now it is too late.
In this episode, as with all the things I have seen and heard while John Lewis’s life has been celebrated during the tributes after his death, I have been struck by the demeanor of this man who experienced physical and emotional distress from the time he was a child. (Who would deny a kid a library card? Really?) Yet, he lived to be a warm, gracious, inclusive, accepting human being who participated only in “good trouble” and never stopped seeking justice for all people right up until he crossed that final bridge to receive his “Well done, and welcome home.”