Dickens joined Chris Touchton and myself as roommates in April 1996. Dickens soon learned that what he thought was a kidney stone problem, was much larger. On July 4, 1996, Dickens had his first surgery where they had to remove a kidney due to a cancerous mass that had developed overtaking that kidney. It was found at that point that Dickens had some rare form of cancer that would require special attention. Dickens and I had grown up together in The Salvation Army which, I must mention, he loved with all his heart. I was at this point fortunate enough to be working in a job with The Salvation Army that allowed me to spend numerous hours at his side and still perform my job. This is where Dickens became my brother. I had always known Dickens to be a great man but he taught me more in the next 13 months than I had learned in my 23 years.

Dickens died on August 22, 1997. He outlived the life expectancy of those diagnosed with this rare disease by 10 months. The previous instances lasted no longer than 13 weeks. Dickens fought with everything he had in him. Those who knew him best expected nothing less. Dickens lived life to its fullest, but what set Dickens aside from every one else was his Christian example. He did not act like a Christian; he was a Christian.

It was amazing the stories you heard at a get together the day after Dickens passing. A very close friend of his (I will not mention his name until he directs me to do so) told us the story of how Dickens was once forced by his closest friends to partake of a small traditional Haitian Christmas drink that contained alcohol. (If you do not know, Dickens was a soldier in The Salvation Army; an organization founded on the principles that preach the abstinence from alcohol.) After coercing him into partaking this drink, his friend quickly learned that he may have pushed Dickens too far. He saw how he had caused Dickens distress over appeasing a friend or holding firm in his principals. You see, Dickens didn’t run away from his friends and call them names and heathens, he took a drink, sat the glass down, and looked at them as if saying, "Are you satisfied." Never again did that friend test Dickens or push him. He gained respect for Dickens for showing his love for their friendship and his dedication to his principles.

I ask you to remember what it is to be a Christian. It is not a religion, a conglomeration of sacraments and sermons that occupy one day of the week 52 times a year. It is to be like Christ. If "I want to be like Mike," I can't by a pair of shoes and go out and master the NBA. I can't be like Mike unless I set myself into a mode that Michael Jordan did. I must dedicate my life to practice to the point of perfection. I can't live a life that all others do, I have to set myself apart and to be different than everybody else, you have to be different than everyone else.

With that I tell you of a man named Steven who set himself apart from all others. So much that when people looked at him they could see a difference. He had a presence about him that just made him different. They say he had a face of an angel. I never saw the face of Steven, but if I have ever seen the face of an angel, it was Dickens. Dickens set himself apart from others and never backed down. You can look at the picture above that was given to me from David Dawe, Divisional Music Director, Florida Division, after Dickens's funeral. I cherish this picture. It sits above my desk at work. Every day I look at that picture and remember how much I miss my friend.

If you didn’t meet Dickens you will never know what I mean and probably think that this is a bit odd, and that is o.k. But if you did know Dickens then you know what I mean. I think as time goes by many of you will forget how dear Dickens was. I hope that you will take one minute to look at his picture and remember what Dickens stood for and why. Dickens set himself apart. There is no doubt Dickens has made his impact on this earth. Dickens did what God planned for him to do. Don’t forget it!

Horatio Spafford wrote a beautiful song in mid 1800's entitled, "It Is Well With My Soul". Mr. Spafford and his family decided they would immediately return to their homeland England from their current home in the United States. Spafford decided that his wife and his four daughters would leave immediately by ship and he would tie up some loose ends and follow on a later voyage.

Some where between The United States and England tragedy struck their ship killing his family. Upon receiving this news, Spafford boarded a ship and headed to England. As his ship set sail he informed the Captain to let him know when their path crossed the precise location of the disaster. When they arrived at that location, the Captain did as he was directed and Horatio Spafford went to the bow of the boat and began to pray and penned these words to a song that has brought courage, hope and peace to many,

When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to know

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, the trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

For me be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live;

If Jordan above me shall roll, no pang shall be mine,

For in death as in life, though wilt whisper thy peace to my soul.

But lord, 'Tis for the, for thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

O trump of the angel! O voice of the Lord!

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

It is well, it is well.

It is well, it is well with my soul!

This song was performed at his funeral but that is not why it touched me. I had a conversation with Dickens on the way home from the Hospital following a session of radiation/chemotherapy and I finally had the courage to ask him how he really was handling all this. He stated to me that if died at that very instant he would be satisfied with the life that God had given him. He stated that he had done what he wanted to do with his life and had no regrets. He did not want to die and I know that he wanted every second that he could have here, but he said to me that it was well, it was well with his soul. He made me cry and he does at this moment.

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