For those you here who don't know me personally, Gerald Lewis was my uncle. He passed away around 4 years ago, back when I was...a more selfish person and didn't realize how much of an impact my uncle had made upon my life. So, when I was required to write a ceremonial speech for Public Speaking it became an obvious choice. I hope to honor the man who influenced my life so greatly here because I didn't when I had the chance...
"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them." -- William Shakespeare
This quote resonates with me today as I think about Gerald Lewis, or Gerry, as we called him, for you see, Gerald Lewis was a great man.
Greatness comes in many forms. Some people are just born great, some achieve greatness through hard work and dedication, and still more simply have greatness thrust upon them whether they wish it or not. I think, though, that there are those few people given greatness by God. You see, though Gerry never had high ambitions for his career, being a humble truck driver, this did not stop him. Gerald Lewis did whatever he could to make his family happy. Family being the most important thing to him. When home he would do whatever tasks my single mother couldn't, he would even send us funds when money at home was short. He was a man you could count on, a man of few yet powerful words. His words would later teach me some of the most important lessons I've ever learned.
It takes a good man to remain faithful, but it takes a great man to remain faithful through pain and misery. Gerry was a man not unaccustomed to pain. Not long after he healed from his shoulder injury, he was given yet more bad news. Gerry had been diagnosed with cancer of the trachea.
It was these few months that Gerald Lewis would teach me the most important lessons I have ever learned.
A sign of greatness is not just to teach others to be great, but to persevere even if they do not want to learn. At the time I was 15 years old and a sophomore in high school. It was a good year in my life. I had it all figured out. No more struggles. I was just gonna coast on, become a famous musician, and...well, happily ever after. But Gerry knew otherwise. At the time I wasn't the easiest person to be around. I was a cocky jerk at school and at home I was an arrogant...(enter derogatory term here)...but he continued to teach me, even if I tried to ignore him. Even if he didn't realize it.
Even if he didn't realize it, Gerry taught me through everything he did. Love your family. Gerry had given everything he had to his family; his whole life. Love your God. Shortly before Gerry's death he began attending a church near our home in Lakebay, Washington: Lakebay Community Church. A couple of his friends around the area had been going there and Gerry decided to join. In these short months I would watch him delve deeper and deeper into a faith I hardly knew existed. At the time I thought it ridiculous. Why have faith and serve a God we cannot see? There are much more pressing things. But now...now I see him as an inspiration. Gerald Lewis grew in his faith through this last and hardest trial. This was possibly the most important lesson he could teach me. No matter the circumstance, no matter how difficult the trial, no matter how hard the world weighs upon your shoulders, always trust in God. I never saw Gerry as happy and at peace as he was in the months leading to his death. It takes a great man to be at peace with death on the horizon.
Gerald Lewis passed away October 20th, 2009. The night before his death he looked at my grandma and said, "I'm leaving tomorrow." Though she thought he meant the hospital, I believe he knew. I know it sounds farfetched, but I believe God told him when he was going to pass and how much time he had left so he might teach those of us close to him these crucial lessons.
A man of many lessons, Gerald Lewis was not always the most talkative person, but his words held special meaning to those around him. A father figure to myself and a friend and family-man to everyone else, he will always and forever be one of the greatest men I have met in my life.
Thank you.
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