Goodbye Mike, Goodbye Bishop – Till we meet
again!
The other day a light went out
on Earth and a flame erupted in Heaven- signaling the return of an angel. I
never knew a man who could say so much in so few words. Soft, refined and well
defined phrase. My last engagement with Mike was at a coffee shop. Mike was on
the way to a board meeting when I bumped into him. I enjoyed a secret privilege to pay his bill as I left him seated eating a fruit salad – an
insignificant amount compared to what he had done for me over many years. In
case you think I am talking about a hobo, make no mistake, Mike was a Bishop,
but unless someone explained to you his credentials you would never know. Such
was the gentleman, patterned after his master Jesus the Christ. To all of us
teenagers he was just Mike. Sometimes Mike on the mike. The title did not make
Mike, Mike made the title. I was privileged to have him as one of my seven
fathers when I and a hundred other young people in IMANI needed a father, mentor,
patron and brother. Together with Mrs. Sande, whom we respectfully called Mama
Jessica or Mama Olando; they gave us an open home, a taste of heaven and paid
for our musical dreams. With an astute mind he taught us, guided and chastised
us. And even had some of us married. Never did he mention a forgiven wrong. He
never raised his voice, never demanded, but he did ask – ever so politely. In life he
lived a testimony, in death he has brought us face to face with our own
mortality. Would he want us mourn, perhaps… a little maybe, but for him it
would be more important that we each make our own peace with God. You may think
I am talking about an angel, but believe me I have not described half the man.
Of the Bishop I will let others speak. Mike has gone ahead to the promise he
held us to keep – Up from the grave he arose with a mighty triumph ... Yes, a
light has gone out on Earth, but a flame is burning in Heaven. No words can
describe the pain, but the gain is that we shall see him again, if we hold to
His Spirit. We love you Mike; we will miss you, rest well - till we meet again.
