A Night in the Presence of Glory

Friday evening, I drove to Tacoma, Washington to witness a once-in-a-lifetime speech made by archbishop Desmond Tutu--a Nobel Peace Prize winner and civil rights activist in South Africa, known for being a part of the movement involving people such as Nelson Mandela. This was nearing the end of his American speaking tour, and possibly the last visit he will make to the U.S. as far as I and others are aware.

While I found it quite odd that some of my educated peers shook their heads and wrote off the event as if they "didn't know who Desmond Tutu was and didn't care", I was pleasantly surprised at who did attend. I was sitting next to an individual who I have had small conflicts with, which just so happened to be the cherry on top of a beautiful night. Why, you may ask? Tutu's belief incorporates forgiveness and love to all humans, and compassion between two that come together. Being able to share a bittersweet message with someone I earlier had trouble understanding, created a spark within my soul, reminding me that I can accept and appreciate everyone, regardless of our differences.

Unlike many Americans at this moment, I am strongly against celebrating the death of any human life, regardless of how dangerous they could be. It is not humane, and not compassionate. Mr. Tutu mentioned this as well, and said that he agreed with my forgiving belief. We are all God's children, and when one of God's children murders another of God's children, that is truly something to mourn. I am a fair, loving individual, and certainly not a hypocrite. My prayers were with every troubled individual that night: those who wish to cause harm to another individual, or that have personal conflicts of their own that they do not deserve to battle.

With religious preachers, my only concern is their agenda and morale on "taboo" subjects such as homosexuality, which to me, within a Christian-based religion, should not be a debated question, but automatically accepted. The predicted teachings of Jesus Christ were much the same to individuals who follow through with his message, such as Martin Luther King Jr., and Mr. Tutu, who expressed the heart and soul of *a Christian* that night--one that is loving of all walks of life, who speaks out the message of Jesus with a steady voice, and lives exactly the way a true Christian would, in my opinion (I am not God, so I cannot say "should").

Desmond Tutu showed incredible confidence, humor, education, hope, and the BELIEF in my generation that will carry on the message of our choice for years to come--a message we have immense impact on and need to decide a peaceful, giving, and solving resolution within. A big thanks to "the arch"; you inspired me.