An ExtraOrdinary Encounter with Congressman John Lewis

I remember it as though it was last month, it was Monday, April 4, 2011. I boarded Delta flight 2138 heading for Washington, D.C. for a client project.

Shortly before the flight boarded, I heard an announcement on the PA that most travelers love hearing. "Passenger Monroe please check the ticket counter." I was upgraded to First Class. 

After boarding the plane, I noticed Congressman John Lewis was seated three rows ahead of me. 

Often during flights, I take advantage of the few periods of quiet for meditation and reflection. As I sat there reflecting several thoughts came to mind. 

A few months earlier, I had completed graduate studies at the School of Business at Gonzaga University. I was drawn to Gonzaga because of their Jesuit influence and focus on Servant Leadership. 

I remember the intrigue I had when perusing the elective courses in the Masters in Organizational Leadership program I saw Leadership, Justice, and Forgiveness. I knew I had to take that course. 

I am so glad I did. 

Our journey included studying the Holocaust, Apartheid, the Civil Rights Movement in the US, and personal tragedies. What a rich curriculum. It introduced me to one of my favorite books, Bishop Desmond Tutu's No Future Without Forgiveness.

Our study of the Civil Rights Movement once again stirred a longing to learn more. You see, I grew up in the Deep South during the days of desecration and the Civil Rights Movement. 

In my undergraduate days at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, I recall being the only white student in one of my favorite classes there, Religion and the American Black Experience. 

While it wasn't part of the Gonzaga curriculum, I ordered the PBS Eyes on the Prize DVD series and devoured all of the 14 episodes. That was my first real introduction to Congressman John Lewis. 

His story, which began when he was a teenager growing up on sharecropper farms of South Alabama, is woven throughout Eyes on the Prize.

Sitting there on the flight and having a fresh awareness of all of this prompted me to get out of my seat and approach him to stop and thank the Congressman for all he did to advance Civil Rights in our country.

A few minutes later, I mustered up the courage to do it.

When I got to his seat, he had nodded off. It didn't seem appropriate to wake him. I returned to my seat and keep a watchful eye to see if I noticed him stir. 

Finally, I saw him move. We were about 30 minutes outside of DC and I knew there wasn't much time. 

It was time to make my move. I got out of my seat and knelt in the aisle beside the Congressman, tapped him on the arm, and introduced myself. 

"Congressman Lewis, pardon the interruption, I recently graduated from Gonzaga and as part of my studies there, took a class Leadership, Justice, and Forgiveness which included the Civil Rights Movement. That rekindled my interest and I recently watched all 14 episodes of the Eyes on the Prize Series and honestly, I had no idea what an instrumental role you played in the advancement of Civil Rights in America. I wanted to take a moment and say thanks."

At that moment, something happened. We connected on purpose and passion.

?Not on politics!

I wasn't approaching Congressman Lewis to seek his assistance for a legislative issue or attempt to influence him about an issue. 

I connected with him around his life's mission and passion. 

"Why thank you, Kevin, that's kind of you to say. How long will you be in DC?"

"Just through Wednesday, sir."

"Why don't you come to my office? I've turned it into a Civil Rights Museum and would love to show it to you. Here's my card. Call my office, ask for Jacob and tell him, 'We met on the plane.'"

"Thank you, I'll do it. And thanks again for all you've done. Our nation is better because of you."

Later that day, I had checked in to the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown DC and met the client I was there to serve and confirmed our schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday. 

As instructed, I called Jacob and asked was it possible to meet with Congressman Lewis. He said, "This is a really busy week and the Congressman has a full schedule."

I added, "He asked me to tell you, 'We met on the plane.'"

Jacob said, "I'll check and get back to you. 

Important footnote. This was a very busy week. It was the week Congress was engaged in a high-stakes heated debate about shutting down the government. I was expecting Jacob to say no as politely as possible.

45 minutes later, my phone rang. Jacob asked, "Can you be here at 5:00 tomorrow?"

"Absolutely!"

On Tuesday, I wrapped my consulting project at 4:00 and dropped everything at the hotel and was heading for the Capitol. Something prompted me to take my Zoom video camera. I slipped it in my pocket and was at the Congressman's office by 4:45 -- didn't want to be late. 

I took a seat right outside the entrance to the Congressman's office. It was hard to contain my excitement and enthusiasm. I thought I'd get maybe 5 - 10 minutes with Mr. Lewis.

There's something I vividly remember from our encounter. It is the way that the Congressman gently tapped me on the right shoulder with his left hand when he came out of his office. 

"Good to see you, again, Kevin. Please come in."

To this day, I remember the gentleness and kindness of his touch along with the fire in his eyes. 

We walked in, he shut the door and said, "Let's start here."

Behind the door was a stack of maybe 16 x 24 photos of the March on Selma.

I knew I was in for the history lesson of my life. I asked, "Would you mind if I record this, I brought a camera?"

"Of course not, Kevin."

As we talked, Mr. Lewis was transported in time and took me through years of his journey and history. Story after story -- from childhood to his college days. To his involvement with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

Then came the moment I will never forget. The moment my body was covered in chill bumps. 

"I was the youngest person to join Dr. King and speak at the March on Washington.' [August 28, 1963, is where Dr. King delivered the 'I Have a Dream' Speech.] "Of the 10 people who spoke from the podium that day, I am the only one still alive."

About 45 minutes into our conversation, there was a knock at the door. It was the Congressman's Chief-of-Staff. "Congressman, are you going home today?"

"Give me a few more minutes and I will. Let me finish up with Kevin."

Tears fill my eyes as I type this now. I was blessed to have an extraordinary encounter with Congressman John Lewis. It had nothing to do with his political power...and everything to do with his life purpose and passion. 

For that, I am grateful. RIP Congressman Lewis. You are a faithful soldier. Our country is better because of you. My life is better because of our encounter.