Over the years that I served as a minister in the New Apostolic church in the San Diego area, I met and found friendship with some very extraordinary people. My relationships and the gifts of friendship we shared have become lasting blessings in my life. Some ushered into my life turning points I treasure.
One such friend was a man named Bill Rainey. Bill, his wife and two children moved to San Diego in the late 1970’s, shortly after the time my wife and I did. They had lived in New York City and moved to the west to southern California.
Bill’s wife Lucille and I also shared a special friendship that was originally sparked by our mutual love of classical jazz. Over time our relationship took on a deeper spiritual tone. Lucille had a special gift. Whenever I found myself feeling down from the troubles of my day at work, I came home to find one of her cards in my mail box. As I shuffled through the stack of mail, suddenly the envelope with her signature return address label appeared. It was festooned with a purple orchid. I immediately knew it contained a card written in Lucille’s hand with words of encouragement and faith. My day just got so much better!
Over the years I had many opportunities to visit with Bill and Lucille. After Lucille passed on in July 2001, Bill and I had many deep conversations. He shared with me intimate feelings from deep in his heart that had been buried for all the years I had known him. He had suffered many incidences of racial discrimination. Being African-American, he often found himself in circumstances where his skin color contracted prejudice. What impressed me was how he reacted to such injustice. Surely he would be justified to feel angry, hurt and vengeful. But Bill was a noble man. His faith and aspiration to be like Jesus allowed him to say in his heart the well-known words of Jesus at the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing (saying).”
I came to realize, that before that prayer to God for his persecutor’s forgiveness left Bill’s lips, he had already forgiven them in his gracious, kind and noble heart. The fruit of the Spirit lived and reigned in his heart.
When Bill passed on in June 2003, his daughter Valerie asked me to conduct his funeral service. I was honored to accept such a blessing. Immediately I made preparations for this special experience with my brother and dear friend Bill and his family.
Bill Rainey and his contagious smile
The first thing I needed was to find a word out of scripture that would serve as the keynote to the funeral service. In a very special way it needed to acknowledge Bill’s character, faith, heart and soul. I prayed and patiently waited for some impulse from heaven to guide me. One day while preparing I happened to randomly open the Bible. I normally used the New King James Version (NKJV), but this time I picked up my New International Version (NIV) study Bible. When I opened it my eyes fell on Isaiah 32:8 where to my astonishment I read:
“But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand.”
I was immediately elated at this discovery. I felt that these simple words perfectly applied to Bill. Succinctly they described the nobility of this man and gave me the basis for engaging the Holy Spirit to the task of developing an appropriate sermon and eulogy. Surely the spirit of these words in Isaiah would serve as comfort and inspiration to his family and friends.
I continued my preparations and explored some additional Bible translations of this verse. The Message Bible gave me this:
“But those who are noble make noble plans,
and stand for what is noble.”
Hours of exploring this fascinating Bible verse and how it related to the man I had grown to love and know created all I needed to honor him and serve his family and friends in the service.
On July 5, 2003, the funeral service was conducted for William A. Rainey, Sr. He was born May 21, 1911 and passed out of this life June 25, 2003. In the service, the noble character of this extraordinary soul was remembered and recounted.
Noble is defined as distinguished at birth (Rebirth); an exalted character of excellence; admirable, imposing, high quality, honorable; gold & platinum (noble metals) valuable because they are durable, un-phased by adversity; highness of character & spirit.
I found the words in Isaiah sufficient to what I experienced Bill to be in life. A humble man and a pillar of exceptional moral strength, he stood as an example for all who were blessed to be his friend. Yes, my spiritual brother Bill Rainey was noble, he was a gentleman, and he was and remains such as he must surely be at work for the Lord in eternity. He will have success there, because needy souls will see his spirit and the character of his soul.
After the service was concluded, Bill’s son came to me and said with emotion, “You knew my father better than me.”
I thought, “Truly, it was God who knew him better than us all.”
Turning Point
My friendship with Bill and the deep conversations we experienced together revealed the wonderful possibilities that, in spite of severe adversity and injustice, a noble person can emerge inspired by the love of God. Applying faith and courage provides the ability to become a victor and not a victim. Bill was such a victor.
I have found ever growing confidence that a life of faith and the courage it has the potential to impart can make all the difference in pursuing a life of value. A life positioned with this attitude equips one to be a blessing to the many lives they encounter.
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