Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

Today, I was contacted by a young man that I currently mentor and he informed me that he is beginning to just call it quits. For this blog I will call him James. This is not the first time that I have heard a young person or even an elder give off similar feelings, but James is special to me. I’ve been mentoring him since he was in middle school and over that time with absolutely no help from me, he is on pace to graduate with a four year high school diploma in only three years. And this is one of the reasons why he is willing to call it quits.

I will try to explain his situation to the best of my ability. James is a 6’3 260 pound 15 year old and most of his peers are into sports, girls, and video games. He would rather spend his free time reading great philosophers such as Plato, Paul of Tarsus, and Thomas Aquinas. He prefers not to read Aristotle because he believes that he did not have enough original ideas, as he piggy backed off of a few lesser known philosophers of the day. Honestly, this young man is a genius and this is why he feels inferior to his peers.

It seems that everyone that has entered this young man’s life has turned their collective backs on him, he is lost trying to understand what he did wrong, and why God continues to punish him. He has been abandoned by his mom while she struggled with a drug addiction, his peers bully him to the point in which he carries a knife to guard from getting jumped on his walk home from school, and his teachers tell him that he is, “Too smart for his own good!” I am not going to even spend time on these cowards!

James this letter is for you! I for one will not turn on you, and from this day on I want you to know that I have adopted you as my brother. And as my brother we are now bonded by, “The Bro Code!” This states that we must support each other through thick and thin, also we must push each other to achieve greatness, and most importantly we must love each other.

You stated a while back that you wanted to be like me. To tell the truth I have always wanted to be just like you! I am proud to be able to call myself your brother. It even inspired a poem! Spoiler alert it’s about YOU!

My Brother is a Keeper

You are my brother through and through

Ups and downs regardless we stay true

Nothing in this world could ever break this bond

We can trust in each other when facing the Hopeless Pond.

Because you are strong when others may fade,

Because you stayed loyal when others have betrayed,

Because you have provided a light when others just shade,

For, you are a man through which God himself has made.

Many people today have been conditioned to hate those that are different, when in all actuality they just hate themselves. You and I are different, because we love ourselves and with loving ourselves it allows us to love everyone else to. For, our hearts have no limitations, and I for one have realized that when everything else has been taken from me, my heart has continued to stay open and strong. Hate is for weaker minded individuals and there is nothing weak about us. We are strong beyond our wildest imaginations.

My next statement is meant for all of you that feel that you are in a similar situation as James. I would like for you to know that I do love you. There is no person on this earth that I do not love. Remember my heart has no limits. I’m in Detroit and the love that I have for you stretches far. Whether you’re in the apartment next to mine, or reside in Beijing, China I want you to know that you are loved and you mean something to me.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately 2 million adolescents in the United States of America attempt suicide each year. We have to do better people! We can no longer continue to turn a blind eye to these talented individuals that are constantly told that because they are different, they don’t matter. I would like for everyone reading this to imagine themselves in James’ shoes, and lets all become big brothers and sisters to all of the James’ in the world.

I smile because of my differences! If I was a perfect picture I would not be unique, it is my uniqueness which makes my picture perfect!!!