A Great Man

Yesterday, I attended a funeral. It was for a great man. Bill Ledgerwood. I knew Bill. I knew him because our families have seemingly always know each other, and because I served in his church for five years. As people spoke at Bill’s funeral, they all had kind words about him. They talked about his honesty, generosity, work ethic and love. Anyone who knew Bill could sum up his life in one phrase: Bill was a great man.

As I sat in the funeral, and in the hours since, I have considered what it means to be a “great” man. I have heard this phrase uttered many times. Sometimes, I believe it, sometimes I brush it off. In my opinion, it means a great deal to be called “great.” The Oxford English Dictionary would define great as “being considerably above the normal or average.”

When I think of Bill, he was definitely above the normal.

When I think of Bill, I remember two distinct qualities. The first was his smile. I didn’t see Bill every day when I lived in Cushing. But on the days I did see him, he always smiled. Bill had a characteristically “Bill” smile. It was all him. Following the smile would be such an engaging conversation. The talk might last for thirty seconds, but in those thirty seconds, you left knowing Bill cared about every moment.

Kindness was Bill’s second quality. The man did not know how to be un-kind. Sure, someone who may have known Bill longer or in a closer way might disagree, but I never experienced anything but kindness from him. The man oozed kindness. In the moments that you knew he cared about your conversation with him, you also knew Bill was trying to discover how he might be of service to you and your need. He was outright happy to be able to grant you kindness. I will never forget that about him.

Bill was a great man.

As I mentioned, I’ve heard the phrase “great man” tossed around from time to time. Anytime I meet someone who knew my grandfather, Richard, I am greeted with them saying, “Richard was a great man.” I was young when my Grandpa Richard passed away, so I didn’t know his greatness in the way others did. But I did know his greatness through his love and, like Bill, his kindness.

Grandpa loved people. In the short time I knew him, I felt his love in his giant hands that would snatch me up off the ground and pull me in for a great bear hug. If my cousins and I were to stress our grandma to her wits end, Grandpa would pull us into his room, and gently, lovingly explain how we should act and show Grandma proper respect and love.

People have told me they would run out of gas and Grandpa would be the one to stop on the side of the road. He would run back in to town, fill up a gas can and return to give them aid. No payment for the gas, no payment for the aid. It was all Grandpa’s kindness.

Grandpa Richard was a great man.

When people mention my father, who passed away at age 48, I am reminded that he too, “was a great man.” As I have contemplated greatness, I realize that he too had distinguished qualities of greatness. A joy for life and abundant kindness.

Dad loved life to the fullest extent. He ran 100 miles per hour all the time, and often did so with a smile on his face. He taught me that work didn’t have to be painful. That it could be fun. He taught me, and others, that simply enjoying the day in front of you is better than living over the day you left behind. If you wanted to see my dad enjoy life, just play Guestures with him.

Like Bill and Grandpa, my dad also exhibited great kindness. The kind that would do anything he could to help out. The type of kindness that sacrifice his own well-being to make sure you were taken care of.

My Dad was a great man.

As I take stock of these three men, I realize the commonalities. In my opinion, all of these men were great. They all had their own personalities, idiosyncrasies and demeanors; but they all showed joy, love, friendship and kindness. As I stood at the graveside yesterday, I took a moment to pray. Pray for the family that was dealing with this loss. Pray that Bill’s greatness would pass on to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. And, in a brief moment, I prayed that God would grant me the kindness that Bill, Granpda and my dad displayed.

I am not kind like these men. But I want to be.

I am not great like these men. But, God, how I hope I can be great in You.