By age thirteen my destiny was clear, I would become a writer. At age sixteen I met an amazing infant that was destine to change my life forever. In the eyes of the world he was less than whole, yet all that he taught me can never be told, not in one lifetime.
One day while stretched across my bed reading T. H. White’s classic, "The Once And Future King," I found myself asking, “What if Merlyn could take my young friend back to pre-Camelot, and with magic and hard work, transform his arm and leg into fully developed and functional appendages? Better yet, “What if he could perform some great deed, become a hero?”
With noble intent, I set about learning how to write screenplays, and this story became my first finished work. After years of developing the concept, even writing it into novel format, an opportunity arose to present the screenplay to a producer and he showed it to some friends in Hollywood. They were concerned audiences would not identify with a physically handicapped protagonist, so they recommended that I make the necessary changes.
In retrospect, the joke was on us. Even though the folks in Hollywood were correct, I now realize that the one who inspired this story had far greater inner peace than either one of us. He had long since accepted who and what he was, and lived every day to its fullest. He did what he could and the rest simply wasn’t important. Would he have preferred to be physically whole? Of course. Would he have preferred to find the perfect woman, become a father? Given his kind and gentle nature, I believe he possessed the wisdom to know it is easy to become a father; the real test is becoming a dad. He was born to be a dad.
During a five-year span I worked for his family’s business, more closely with his older brothers. Many times when my days were hectic and there were too many issues to deal with at one time, he would show up with a smile and a kind word. Those profound moments brought things into perspective, if he could smile and be happy, even with his lot in life, then surely my day wasn’t that bad after all.
Then on May 26, 2006, all of his trials, his worldly hopes and dreams came to an abrupt end. Without warning, God said, “My good and faithful servant, your work on earth is done. Come home, it is time to trade in your flawed mortal frame for the perfection you so diligently earned.” He is at peace now, no longer dragging his left leg, no longer wrestling to dress himself, or endure another day with only one good hand. His mother told me that he never wanted help, always wanted to do for himself, and never wanted pity.
Vince Gill wrote his touching song, “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” for his brother, who passed way too soon. Most often my eyes fill with tears while listening to the heartfelt anguish in his voice. The pain will never go away. The loss can never be replaced. The absence becomes a void when a loved one or good friend is taken from us.
Merlyn & The Mortal’s Curse began life as a well-intended dream, which has taken thirty years to arrive at this juncture, where I’ve come to a profound conclusion; this entire journey wasn’t really for my friend’s benefit. It was for me. Like my friend, and the teenage boy in this story, I had to overcome every insurmountable obstacle in my path, and at some point accept who I am, and what I am because this is what God made me.
What I set out to accomplish so long ago has now come full circle. This story was intended to inspire my friend, but now that he’s gone, I realize it was me that needed the inspiration, and it was him that provided my inspiration over the years. Heroes don’t always hit the most home runs, win the most races, or save their comrades in arms. Many heroes remain in the shadows, until we need them, and then often, in the moment, we don’t realize what an amazing contribution they make to our lives.
My friend was sent to earth to accomplish some great deed, and through this story, it is my heartfelt hope his inspiration will reach around the world, for generations to come. Did he save the world? No. Did he find a cure for cancer? No. Did he amass a sizable fortune? No. What did he accomplish? Regardless of the circumstances he faced, and the odds against him, my little buddy, Lance Conner, truly believed, and earnestly sought to achieve. He overcame his circumstances and physical challenges to become a hero to me. He touched so many hearts that he will forever own a special place.
Most of the above is part of the Dedication for Merlyn And The Mortal's Curse, my most recent novel. When I look back it was the life Lance lived that gave me the courage to never give up, no matter what, and kept on pushing, striving to succeed. I invite you to visit Merlyn And The Mortal's Curse in the Kindle Book Store, where you can read the entire Dedication.
We all need heroes, let's make them truly inspirational, not phony or transparent, but deep, and very real.
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