My efforts to help my brother continued after I met and married my wife. Shortly after we moved to Chicago for graduate school, my brother needed a change of environment.  So, after praying about it, and discussing it with my wife, we decided to let my brother move in with us. During our time together, both my wife and I continued to cultivate him, trying to help him make the most of himself. Unfortunately, things didn't work out, and he moved back to Long Beach.

Things seemed to be getting better for him.  He was enrolled in night school, he was looking for a job...

Then I got THE CALL from mom.

I flew home to figure out what happened. I looked at my mom's car, and it had several bullet holes in it.  One of the bullets entered the hood of the car, was headed straight toward the driver's side, but was BARELY stopped by a thin piece of metal located behind the steering wheel. If that piece of metal had not stopped the bullet, my brother would be dead right now!

I thanked God that even though my brother was locked up, at least he was still alive. 

Not knowing the details of the case, I knew that I needed to find a lawyer who could at least give my brother a chance in court. 

Several lawyers I interviewed said that the Orange County Police Department makes the infamous LAPD look like little kids; that the good ol' boy network among OCPD is impenetrable- that they will look out for each other, even if it means breaking the law- that my brother was not just up against a couple of bad cops, but up against an entire SYSTEM.  Many of them said, in essence, "your brother doesn't really have a chance. The system is too big, too powerful."

But one lawyer, Mr. Marion Wheeler, a fellow Golden Bear (Graduate of Berkeley's Boalt Law School) with a great track record, and who comes from a long lineage of Baptist preachers, helped me see if my brother was going to have a chance, my brother would need someone like him who has a history of successfully opposing the OCPD in court. We hired him. 

Mr. Wheeler is not the typical lawyer.  He cares about justice, and he actually cared for my brother.  For instance, on my brother's birthday, Mr. Wheeler visited my brother in jail, carrying a cupcake, and wearing dark shades.  He sang Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday" to my brother, trying to offer light and hope in what is otherwise a very dark and lonely place.  Mr. Wheeler was a very present help in the time of trouble.

Still, for 9 months my mom has visited my brother every weekend, crying daily. For 9 months, the chance for a positive outcome appeared increasingly bleak.  Yet, for 9 months, we have been praying, and begging God to give my brother another chance. For 9 months, I have been keeping all of this in...

And then yesterday, I was sitting in Panera with my wife, working, and I glanced at my phone, and saw that mom sent me a text message. "Maurice will be free today."  It felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted off of me. Then a sea of relief flooded my soul. I couldn't speak. All I could do was drop my head into my hands, and cry, thanking God for giving my "little guy" another chance.  

I heard his voice over the phone.  He sounds like a changed man. He sounds like he's ready for his second chance.

Don't wait for something tragic to happen in your life.  Make the most of it, today and every day!

Thanks for reading.  God Bless!