remembering Clayton

I have been hit by the truck of learning that someone who has been such an influence in my life has passed away. Clayton was the most unassuming man I have ever met (actually one of them, because, thankfully, Nova Scotia has many!) However, Clayton was different than most, because he cared about people and wasn't afraid to show it. When I first met him, I was a bit confused. I thought, "Why is this adult talking to us 'kids' as though we have something important to say?" Clayton didn't just make small talk about our parents or whatever, and then go on to talk with other adults; He listened to us, had conversations with us, and treated us like we were valuable human beings with important thoughts, ideas and lives. Even when we weren't that interesting. Clayton and his wife welcomed us into their home whenever we were in the area - just to hang out and chat. He encouraged us to be kind and show love, not by preaching to us, but by demonstrating love and tolerance and complete acceptance. I am thankful that I had Clayton during those difficult years of discovering who I was. I pray that I will learn to be more like Clayton so I can give that same gift to others.