Last weekend we said good-bye to Kenny Clay. New York's weather was dreary, cloudy and windy, when we arrived at the church for the services that Saturday morning. Union Baptist Church is a well-built but modest building with seating for maybe 300 people. It has a large altar with an enormous stained glass window in the peak behind the altar. Etched into the stained glass is a picture of Jesus, a Jesus with dark skin. His arms were outstretched. Kenny has a loving family. His wife Shirley, and their three children were clearly distraught over the passing of this caring, strong, and loving father. He was a college administrator. During his time Kenny helped many young students develop into adults and form viable careers. Family, friends, and the students who came to his services were testaments to Kenny’s contribution to this world. We each had been touched in a way that will live beyond his passing. It was obvious that Kenneth Clay mattered I would like to believe he lived a full life, but in truth, I have no idea how many dreams he had deferred. I am left with many questions about my own life. Will it matter that I walked this earth? There was a time during the services when Deacon Reginald Thomas sang a solo of the hymn “May the Work I’ve Done Speak For Me.” The deacon got to the stanza, “When the best I try to live, my mistakes He will forgive. May the life I live speak for me”. All of a sudden the stained glass behind the altar lit up as if someone had turned on a light. But this was no electric power. It was the sun. As the deacon continued with, “When I’ve done the best I can and my friends don’t understand, may the service I done speak for me”. The sun got even brighter… It was a stirring experience that could not have been humanly orchestrated. I left the church that morning knowing that Kenny had a full life. I know that the work he had done shall speak for generations to come. It was then time to take a long look in the mirror. *** May the work I've done speak for me! When I'm resting in my grave, There is nothing that can be said. May the work I've done speak for me! May the life I live speak for me! When the best I try to live, My mistakes He will forgive. May the life I live speak for me! May the service I give speak for me! When I've done the best I can, And my friends don't understand. May the service I've given speak for me! All that I've done, The service I have given, And the life I have lived, May all seem small, But when I stand before my God, I want to hear him say, "well done." May the life I live speak for me.