Norman

Of course, I knew you were destined for greatness when I heard your last name. I thought “another brother with the surname Wallace, he’s got to be ‘ALL THAT’”. Especially after I met you and you said “so, you’re this other Wallace that everyone keeps asking me about.” Then you were assigned to me as a mentee for the year. I thought “this is quite prophetic”. Although I knew I would mentor you because I felt I had a stake in your success, I believed this was more than a coincidence. I remember the first time I talked to you and Tusiime at the beginning of the school year about ways to take advantage of this school and its resources. We discussed how everyone in this place can teach you something so get to know everyone. Angels come in many different colors and speak in many different tongues. You seemed so fixed on all my words that I thought “maybe this brother is actually listening to me.” Based upon what I saw over the course of the year, not only did you listen, you executed.

Your star burned so bright that people had to look up and take notice; I hate to see the light that burned in you has been put out far too soon. However, I believe the deep sorrow that has carved into my being has also given me a greater capacity to feel joy.

As I look around this sanctuary and think about all the craziness that is happening in the world as we speak, I’m also astonished by the fact that your presence has created a unity of nations from all over the world in this building today. Race, ethnicity, religion, creed, color does not matter in this moment because of you. Little did I ever hope to see the day when ALL MEN and WOMEN could fellowship in a loving environment? But, as I look around this room I see a dream realized. You have provided me with that vision and from this day forward I will believe in that Utopian ideal.

To the family, friends and all those that loved, nurtured and cared for Norman in some way; I would like to express my sincerest condolences, but at the same time I would like to express thanks to all of you for creating an exceptional individual. Each one of you added something to the man that we in the Weatherhead community knew. All of you gave to us someone we could count on, rely in and most importantly call a friend. Thank you for providing us with that opportunity.

Finally, I would like to read a poem by Khalil Gibran that I feel encompasses Norman as a friend:

Your friend is your needs answered.

He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.

And he is your board and your fireside.

For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.

When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the refusal in your own mind, nor do you withhold the always.

And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;

For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.

When you part from your friend, you grieve not;

For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.

And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.

For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.

And let your best be for your friend.

If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.

For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?

Seek him always with hours to live.

For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.

And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.

For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.

Anthony Wallace