No man is an island, it's often said and so much of it is true. From cradle to grave, our individual lives constantly touch other beings, consciously or unconsciously, knowingly or unknowingly, sometimes even without intent. With a simple whisper and/or with a smile or two, we communicate to one another or even to a multitude, and it can change one's perspective in an instant.
Of all the many people that I have met, one stood out head and shoulders above the rest. His name is Thomas or "Loud Mouth" Thomas to some. Thomas has a sanguine disposition that touches lives at will. His bubbly character, a man of integrity, forgiving and known for giving sound advice, makes him a model of what a true friend should be.
I still remember his words of wisdom in one of the many meetings we had. He said, "Life is more than just right and wrong, sin and no sin. Life begets LIFE. Life is about living and not dying. How you live your life is what we are here in this world for. We weren't just created to be a steward to the world, we were created to live." Great words from a man who has suffered from polio since he was a child.
From his wisdom, I learned to live. Since then I have then learned to love. Now I am living and loving. I can declare that Thomas is the most important person in my life for he changed me in ways that I cannot describe with mere words.