Have you ever met someone and felt as if there was a savory, searing energy passing through but you just don’t know how to name it?

I call it divinity.

At President Obama’s first inauguration in 2009, I was sitting in the Washington Convention Center behind my computer portal in Ticket Distribution.  I had my credentials around my neck looking all “official” so when people walked up to the table, they solicited my help because I looked like I could help them.  There were other people, mostly ladies, working at other stations and occasionally, I peered over and even eavesdropped at the help they were giving others; we were

Mr. Bruce Gordon (blackenterprise.com)

working it!  On one particular day leading up to the coldest, but well-worth-it day in my life, a distinguished looking man walked up to the computer station to my left.  It was Mr. Bruce S. Gordon, former President of the NAACP, board member of prestigious organizations and business executives! My volunteer colleague to my right tapped me on my shoulder and asked, “Who is that?”

I had become “the eye” of the table because I recognized all of the notable folks–no matter the industry, I knew who these people were and it was my pleasure help them or to at least get a close up glance of most of them.  Mr. Gordon was standing in front the computer next to me, fiddling with his wallet to find what I believe was his identification.  He was clearly in earshot and as I attempted to whisper to my colleague saying things like, “Oh! Girl he used to be the President of NAACP, but he stepped down and I don’t blame him,” and, “He is a big time businessman,” Mr. Gordon listened to it all.  He laughed and I saw his eyes come up over his eye glasses and he said,

“Y’all better listen to her. She’s done her homework and she knows what she’s talking about.”

We all laughed because it was embarrassing to say the least, but it was also a very pivotal moment because it opened the door to another conversation in which he jovially asked, “And how do you know so much about me?”  In my explanation, I let it be known that I joined the NAACP during his tenure, but also that I had supported his decision to step down. He asked me what I did for a living, and when I told him that I was a teacher, he beamed in nostalgia thinking about his family.  His “whole family had been educators” and he had “a lot of respect” for us, he said.  My embarrassment subsided and I felt like jumping for joy. I really respected him.

Four years later in 2013, I was standing on the train’s platform on 42nd Street. I had come off of the train, and I saw Mr. Bruce Gordon and his wife, Ms. Tawana Tibbs, waiting for the #1 train on the same platform. I was compelled to jog his memory about our first encounter.  After describing it to him, which he said he remembered, I was met with a big hug by them both; and, she repeated, “That was very nice.”  I told them that I could not let that moment pass by without me acknowledging our first meeting.

On Tuesday June 10th, 2014, I worked at the Apollo’s 80th Anniversary Spring Gala.  I was assigned to work the after party that would be attended by the more-than-generous donors to the Apollo Theater. Throughout the course of the gala I saw financial maven Mellody Hobson and husband, Star Wars Creator George Lucas, TV ONE Personality Roland Martin, and the most patient, incomparable, and finest voices in music, Ms. Gladys Knight just to name a few.

As I sauntered my way around the room to the heart and soul sounds crafted by Hip Hop Legend, photographer and DJ, D-Nice,  while fulfilling the requests of the Coca Cola Foundation, I encountered none other than Mr. Bruce Gordon and his wife; I complimented Ms. Tibbs on the frame of her glasses and all three of us exchanged pleasantries…again.  I told Mr. Gordon that I was working at the event and he said, “Well this is a nice place to work.” I asked for Mr. Gordon’ s card and told them to have fun.

As the night continued, I felt great and had a grand time.  It’s been exactly one week since that event and I am still dancing to the well-played music and basking in the memory of having seen Mr. Bruce Gordon at yet another event.

There is divinity in every encounter.