The Mysterious Face of Grace

Lester Connelly was an eccentric individual; he was always looked upon as weird to those who felt they were normal. He took the same route to and from work daily for 15 years. Never complaining no matter what the weather he always walked in the door with a smile on his face. Anyone who came across Lester, which is everyone, could not resist at least forming a semi smile on their face as he was that contagious.

Until Lester ran into Mr. Willough an astute, young, talented, privileged & advantageous lawyer who was very stern, without warning caught Lester’s attention. Willough was new to being a partner to the law firm formerly known as Sneed, Barratti & Langley. When he first started 5 years prior, he would never speak to Lester as he felt those under him were only to serve and never to be treated as equals.

When Lester could not get to him with that radiating smile he thought long and hard and eventually he sought the assistance of Willough’s paralegal. He asked the paralegal Jameson, whom he was familiar with, as he had an established rapport with him, what motivated and moved Willough and what was his favorite morning drink of choice and food was.

Each day, Monday through Friday from that point on, when Willough walked in the building he was greeted with either his favorite drink, snack or post-it-note filled with words of wisdom. Although, apprehensive at first as to why this man was so interested in him, he eventually would oblige Lester in his ever so giving and kind gestures.

Lester was elated that Willough was coming around. He also would recognize that Willough made him reflect many times on his previous life as a young attorney prior to his job at the Pierce Tower as a Security Guard, located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, Ga he was a Criminal Lawyer. Lester would marvel at Willough constantly because of that and felt it was imminent that he takes him under his wing and guide him without Willough ever knowing.

When Lester was in his Willough stage in life, he represented a client accused of murder who he knew beyond all doubts was innocent. Even with circumstantial evidence was convicted and sentenced to death. Lester and his client had developed a great rapport with one another and that made the decision even more devastating for Lester to deal with. They were so close that when convicted Lester took the sentence to heart and folded into a depressive state. Which lead him to walk away from being an attorney. His client over time wrote him constantly and taught him no matter what “you must live life one day one smile at a time”. Even with his depressive and disappointing state at the time and the devasting and disturbing blow by the justice system Lester regained his zest for life and being reminded of the blessings of Mercy and Grace life has to offer demoted himself and desired the position of an everyday worker and began donating lot of time with his son a recent graduate of John Marshall Law School himself to the Youth centers in surrounding areas. Doing this brought him peace and he in return shared that inner peace with others.

Willough never asked Lester his name all he knew was they had a workday bond Monday through Friday every week for five years and he was graced with the wholesomeness of this individual. Slowly but surely over the years he would evolve and become a different man on the inside. His eyes were opening to the reality of the worth of others and he was recognizing that all people and their lives are important along this journey in and of life and not just those that are in his position or rank.

Friday May 22, 2020 Willough comes in the building and for the first time in 5 years there was no Lester there to greet him. He was uneasy with not seeing his face the room lightning smile and that gracious character that always shined through. He started asking others as to the whereabouts the security guard who usually sat at the desk. Head of Security, Michael Flannigan came out to tell him that the gentleman’s wife called him to say he was ill. All day long Willough could not get Lester off his mind no matter what he tried. The man who he had never once asked his name was not there to give him his pep talk and words of wisdom, his favorite drink or snack. All weekend he thought and pondered on Lester and was hopeful that he would see his face on Monday.

Yet, Monday came, and no Lester, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday came and no Lester. Not a day went by that Willough did not ask about the whereabouts of this kind, gracious gentleman. The following Monday came it was bright and shiny on the outside yet as Willough enters the building the first thing he notices on the counter where security is located is a beautiful vase with a picture of Lester on it and for the first time in five years, he sees the name of the man that has graced his presence. Written on the vase was a short bio of Lester and the kind gesture of a donation for Lester’s wife and children to help aide the family in their time of loss.

Mr. Willough was in shock and felt tears forming in his eyes, so he immediately went to the elevator to avoid being seen. He gets to his office and was not content there either, so he called his paralegal assistant and asked him to cancel all meetings for the rest of the day. In the process of him leaving he gave him specific instructions to care for the post-it-notes that were in his right-side desk drawer. As he exited the building, he stopped to ask Michael Flannigan for memorial information. Saturday the end of week is when he would be laid to rest is what he found out. That gave him plenty of time to carry out his plans on how he would honor Lester.

Friday comes and Willough knowing that he would not be able to attend the services because of the Pandemic pays a visit to the funeral home early in the morning as services would take place that Saturday. He walked into the funeral home with his mask on looking mysterious and asks for the Funeral Home director in his hand was a very thick yellow bubble envelope. The Director was skeptical as to who he was and what he wanted. Willough after his spill to the Director was happy after being assured by the funeral director that he would give the package to Mr. Connelly’s wife turned to leave the building. The Funeral Director asked him, “who should I say is leaving this?” Willough turned and stated “A Changed Man” with a strong sincere grateful voice.

Days later after the house was quiet, the traffic of those that cared and loved Lester, the pandemic parade was over in his honor, Lester’s wife Leona sat down to open and read all the cards and wonderful gifts and donations given to her and the family. After reading half of the cards Leona was overwhelmed by the many offerings that her family had come into. She knew her husband was a wonderful man, yet she did not know that he affected so many lives in such unimaginable ways like he did. The tears would not stop flowing from her eyes they were tears of joy and knowing that she no longer would see his physical smile yet in her heart it was bright and present. There was a box next to her chair filled with more cards, yet she was tired of reading cards for the day and wondered what was in this big yellow bubble envelope. When she picked it up, she noticed there was no return address or name to show who sent it, yet it was addressed to “The Family of a Hero”. She smiled and proceeded with opening the envelope. She slowly put her hand inside, out came this matte finished black book no title on the front nothing, just a black book! She opens the book and turns the first page and there she reads the title which says, “The Mysterious Face of Grace.”

She turns another page and reads the forewords which read “To a man amongst all men who kindly and Graciously one day at a time granted me Words of Wisdom that will last a lifetime in my heart and the hearts of many after me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a part of the change in me. For your greatness I will always be grateful, you are my hero”. More tears came streaming down as Leona was filled with admiration. She presses on through the book and as she turned page after page, she sees post-it-note after post-it-note of every grand word her husband had written to Willough. When she reached the middle of the book there, she found a check for $50, 000 and a contract giving her all publishing rights to the book and a post- it- note that said “Take these words and share them with the world so that someone else will obtain what I was graced with”.

When she got to the back of the book there was a picture of the man she loved and cherished for 25 years. One with Mr. Lester Connelly with a smile so bright that it lit up the room. Leona was humbled and grateful though she desired to know who blessed them with this wonderful gift and went searching at the job where her late husband was employed for 15 years. She asked around and finally was pointed in the direction of Willough’s paralegal assistant and he told her all she needed to know.

From that moment on her family would develop a friendship with Willough who went on to marry a wonderful woman and they bore two beautiful children. He continues to practice law and in his free time provides services for those less fortunate just as Lester Connelly would, with a smile filled with grace and an attitude content and peaceful.

The families are now friends and share many moments of changing the world one smile and gracious deed at a time, just like Lester, The Mysterious Face of Grace!