Moving Alpha Brother Interactions.

[PHAShriner/1906]

Hotep Brothers. Do you remember ever having met a brother who really touched your soul? I can recall the very day after being initiated on a blistery cold night of riding public transportation to an early morning class. I was full of pride and was proudly wearing a jacket that my "grandfather" allowed for me to borrow, and while being a passenger on a crowded rush-hour train I was approached by an individual who happened to appear homeless and with a bundle of newspapers that are peddled by homeless individuals. At first I kindly stated, "no thanks" to which the individual introduced himself to me as being a BROTHER who was made in 1969 at a state university here in Illinois. The BROTHER stated his pride in seeing an Alpha despite the hardship he was enduring. Upon engaging in a rather lengthy conversation with the BROTHER I offered to provide the BROTHER with what little I could in terms of money, but the BROTHER refused and stated that buying a newspaper from him would suffice. I bought the entire bundle from him and provided the BROTHER with my phone number for future contact. Though I have never seen this BROTHER again I was moved to have learned such a valuable lesson. One never knows how their fate might deem them in the future. I was moved by the BROTHER'S humility. The BROTHER informed me that he had lost his family and job and had hit rock bottom. Nevertheless, the BROTHER encouraged me to stay in pursuit of my education and stated that he desired no pitty, because he was certain he would overcome his temporary hardship. The BROTHER went so far as to go over a verse of Test Of A Man and upon my arriving at my stop the BROTHER said, "06 Frat." My second moving experience took place in Washington during the last held National Convention held there. While brothers were "kicking it" throughout the hotel lobby I noticed a beautiful elderly BLACK couple. I noticed that elderly BLACK MAN was too in attendance for the convention by his convention badge and in so doing exchanged a simple greeting. Immediately the BROTHER engaged in fraternal dialogue with this here brother and began to speak of being a Tuskegee Airman and member of Alpha for over 70 years! Yes, 70 YEARS in ALPHADOM! The BROTHER'S wife was so happy that I was listening and chatting with her husband. She stated that he had been under the weather prior to attending the convention but was determined to make it to the National Convention, because he felt his time was nearing. Upon engaging in a ALPHA HISTORY LESSON and being TAUGHT by the BROTHER I immediately gathered nearby brothers from all over the lobby and stated that the BROTHER was an attestment to what ALPHA is truly about. The BROTHER was "kicking out knowledge about ALPHA GIANTS." The BROTHER spoke of having known ALPHA BROTHERS of the likes of Paul Robeson, Thurgood Marshall, Charles H. Wesley, etc. By now the BROTHER was captivating an ALPHA BROTHER audience of at least 25-30 brothers. The BROTHER'S wife was so pleased when she was asked to pose for a photo with us. Again, she stated that what we were doing had brought a smile on her husband's face that she thought she would not see again for he was quite ill. BROTHERS, I know we ALL have our various issues of concern and importance but let us not forget that we are on borrowed time. Until then let ALPHA and BLACK FRATERNALISM give you the WILLINGNESS to bring forth a smile toward YOUR BROTHER and for us to never forget to do such, because "HE AIN'T HEAVY HE'S YOUR BROTHER!" Ptah-Hotep.