It is a scorcher in Little Egypt. At one time in my life, I did not perspire. Now I do. We march forward with our heads held high. Like Gollum in R.R. Tolkien’s writings, we must protect the Precious.

Having been a churchgoer for most of my life I have determined the value of an oasis in the desert. It occurred to me yesterday that we must protect The Precious.

Marriage and fatherhood have been two of my core protection goals. Community is another. No man or woman is an island. Hope is found in our community’s eyes. I spoke with our wonderful church member who exemplified a life of protecting The Precious.

‘We must include Tommy L in our revelries,’ Jane said. ‘Often I see him sitting alone and looking lonely,’ she added. ‘He is a brilliant person he just needs friends who include him,’ Jane noted with a wide smile.

‘Tommy L is a fun guy who thinks deep thoughts,’ Chet noted. ‘His physical challenges sideline him for no good reason, Chet continued. ‘He has written an insightful book,’ Chet said.

‘Many think he has a learning disability while he is one of the smartest people in our class,’ Billy B agreed. ‘Tommy L is an introvert with a vivid intellect,’ Billy B continued. ‘He has been tutoring me in math for some time and has opened the subject to me as few could,’ he added.

‘Let us ask Tommy L to lead our debate team,’ Daryl said. ‘His rhetorical skills will be a Godsend,’ Daryl said passionately! ‘He reads constantly and is a repository of knowledge,’ he continued.

‘You want me to lead your debate team,’ asked Tommy L with some incredulity? ‘Well, I do have some ideas but I did not think anyone realized,’ Tommy L said. ‘I am pleased to join you would you like to come to my house tonight to prepare,’ he asked?

‘You have a lovely home,’ Neva J told Tommy L. ‘I especially love your library,’ she proclaimed. ‘I brought us some Merlot and notepads,’ Neva J said with a grin. ‘The tape of you speaking to the Lions Club is fascinating,’ she declared.

‘Mom is a professor at Southern Illinois University she taught me the value of reading since I was born,’ Tommy L smiled. ‘I was not permitted to feel sorry for myself for my physical challenges,’ he added. ‘Mom told me that the only escape from the physical challenge was to develop intellect,’ Tommy L said. ‘Hope for me has been reading,’ he said. ‘No one can take your thoughts from you,’ Tommy L said with quiet dignity. ‘I research everything that is said as truth,’ he said. ‘Mom taught me to respect myself and others will respect me, Tommy L said.

‘I think our thesis should be Hope Endures,’ Billy B said. ‘Tommy L is the embodiment of our argument,’ he continued. ‘We are guarding something wonderful and precious the autonomy of each human,’ he observed. ‘We live on the surface when the beauty of our lives is in the details of our existence,’ said Billy B.

‘My dear friend Abigail who many refer to as ‘One Eye’ is a talented woman,’ Neva J said. ‘She was an actor in Vaudeville,’ said Neva J. ‘Abigail and her husband were famous on the stage and knew all of the performers such as George and Gracie Burns, she noted. ‘She lost her eye in an automobile accident and fell on hard times and now is shunned by polite society,’ Neva J noted with tears in her eyes.

‘We are all broken that is how the light gets in,’ Chet observed. ‘The marginalization of those who seem different is our greatest sin,’ Chet said. ‘Profound talent is underutilized due to our bias and prejudice,’ Chet sadly noted.

‘In conclusion, President Roosevelt was one of our greatest Presidents from a wheelchair Hellen Keller taught us how to see while blind and Mother Theresa demonstrated what love is as she ministered to lepors,’ said Tommy L as he left the debate stage.