Smile of Byron T. Brazier

Alcoholics and poor people with lives ruined by the evils of drugs are sometimes blessed with what has come to be known as a "moment of clarity" wherein rock-bottom is hit with furious force and there's no worse fate than their then-present state. Within this powerfully transformative moment in time, a change in the soul occurs, and a profound change in desire happens and the individual finally once again begins to want better than what their reality has decayed into. The "moment of clarity" allows the alcoholic or addict to see that which had been hidden, that which he/she had become blind to.
This evening I had quite a similar moment as in the realm of spiritual matters I saw a phenomenon that had been before by me unseen. A great- and I do mean great- spiritual leader today passed away today leaving behind broken hearts and a multitude of tears but in his stead stood an astute man of power behind the same sacred desk that he spoke from for many, many years. The man I speak of is Bishop Arthur M. Brazier and the man who stood in his place to carry on the work of their God is Dr. Byron T. Brazier, pastor of the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, Illinois.
Tonight was a praise and prayer service to celebrate and honor the life and service of Bishop Brazier who is almost universally recognized as a giant in the Christian faith and in recent American history as a champion for civil rights. However, he was not remembered for his many challenging and thought-provoking religious and intellectual treatises or social activism but, by the thousands of members of the church he served as pastor, he was and is remembered for being one of the most accessible, humble, upright examples of how a devotee of Jesus Christ should think, believe, act, and serve. He is loved for being a father rather than a prophet; a kind mentor more than a great pioneer of one of the burgeoning denominations of Christianity; a humble leader in touch with his own flaws followed by men full of their own imperfections.
As his son started to address the packed sanctuary, fighting emotions threatening to crack and shatter his usually steady, mellow voice, I saw on his face, heavy with melancholy duty a smile that shone brighter than every light in the sacred room that gorged on a steady diet of electric voltage. Cliches here, diminish Dr. Brazier's uncanny serenity but even now, it's becoming increasingly difficult to accurately describe his unshakable serenity and while tears did ultimately find themselves racing each other down his cheeks, his peace was uncompromised, for its foundation was unmoved. I saw the purest, most powerful smile on the pastor's face that was the evidence of his being enabled to bear crosses of grief and responsibility unimaginable by most.
That smile, beaming a warm light over the heads of everyone sitting before me struck me to the core of my very soul and like a miserable addict, my "moment of clarity" came upon me and I knew I absolutely had to have what he had: the peace to face death, such loss, such responsibility and to not even bat an eye. Such peace is the result of a battle-tested, refined faith in God proven over the years. Now, my every thought, word, and action will be aimed at seizing that smile- or rather, the rich depth of the relationship with the One who is the source of that smile. My "moment of clarity" has placed me on a path that hopefully will allow me to face death and emerge as it's victorious conquerer. The pale horseman shall see my peace and say in ineptitude, "Ah, I've seen this before in the eyes of Bishop Arthur M. Brazier."

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