By Rev. Gregory S. Smith

I arrived in the fall, recalling the rustling crunch of the huge autumn leaves

And the unseasonably summer breeze that warm October day

I was seven; I felt broken, misplaced, misunderstood, fearful

Innocent brown eyes filled with mischief and pain

Confused and unaware of what was, or what was to be

And behold, you were there.

I could not play, and you taught me

I had to leave early, but you convinced me to stay

When I could not hang, you told me what happened

I moved and grooved and grew alongside you

Plenty of sneakers, plenty of mistakes, my share of missteps

Building a case, building new versions of myself, testing all the waters

And you were there!

I sat at your tables, rested in your armchairs, slept in your beds

I played in your games and watched as you played

You fed me, you clothed me, you schooled me

You accepted me before I accepted myself

You filled me with wisdom, and you gave me grace

You charged and encouraged my soul

Always, you were there.

First drag, first drink, first slow dance, first kiss, first time

First love, first graduation, first encounter with God

I laughed with you, I cried with you, I longed with you

You stood silent, you spoke loudly, you affirmed

You saluted and high fived

And you never left my side

And you never forgot my name

And you always had a place for me

You were there.

Spreading new wings, exploring new horizons

I abandoned you; I critiqued and criticized you

I willfully allowed others to do the same

And yet you never said a word

And late in the midnight air, when rejected, abandoned and all alone

I humbly came back to you, back to your unwavering safety and care

Back into your place of rest, and you welcomed me

As if I had never left, and you never said a word

You were still there.

You loved me and supported me and encouraged me and challenged me

When I fell over and over again, you were there to pick me up

You fed me and you clothed me

You have given, from the depths of your soul, for me

You never questioned or asked for a single thing in return

You are my people, my home, my community

You… were… there!