He saw hope.

Of all that has been said about Nipsey Hussle, those words written by former President Barack Obama struck me and have stuck with me. Those words have clung to me like a frightened child, who jumps into your lap, wraps his arms around your neck when a loud boom of thunder burst through the walls of your home and shatters the quiet hum of comfort. Through your robe, you feel the warm dampness of tears on your shoulder, as your child nuzzles his face into the curve of your neck that seems as if it were perfectly carved to cradle his face.

Two in-sync breaths pass, muscles relax, and you realize that your arms are wrapped around your child’s body, almost as tightly as his tiny ones had been wrapped around your neck.

When our comfort is shattered, we cling.  Since Nipsey Hussle was murdered some have clung to fond memories, some to his music, some to words from him, and some to words about him.

He saw hope.

Isn’t it that characteristic – the ability to see beauty where others see ugliness; art where others see junk; potentiality where others see inability; light when others see darkness; hope where others see despair – that embodies a leader? 

These people have real vision; they see what we sometimes are too discouraged to see, too beaten down by life to see, too cynical to see, too scared to see.  They are the people who create the songs that provide the playlist for our lives: wake us up in the morning and help us drive to work joyfully even though it’s a job that we hate.  They are the people who leap into the air so high that we believe in miracles; or who deliver a sermon so powerful that it makes us believe that we are indeed miracles – and that our lives are a blessing.

We rely on them. When it seems as if nothing is in our favor, that the world is spinning in reverse; that those whom were supposed to have our backs, instead stab us in them; that we are incapable of imagining a better day – these people share their vision.  They share their hope. And then – because of them – we can push on.  We keep going. We must always keep going.

While most folks look at the Crenshaw neighborhood where he grew up and see only gangs, bullets and despair, Nipsey saw potential. He saw hope. He saw a community that, even through its flaws, taught him to always keep going. President Barack Obama

be the moon and inspire people even when you’re far from full. k.tolnoe