atticus finch?

last year i went to work at the youth ranch and the guys were watching "to kill a mockingbird" as a reward as some of them just finished reading the book. i've read it long ago and had once seen the movie although it never really meant anything to me. but something happened as i watched atticus finch go to bat for the accused tom robinson. he defended robinson to the end, while at the same time jeopardizing himself for being associated with tom and his family in the midst of a racist and ignorant community. atticus finch was spit on and shunned by many for doing what was right. harper lee truly created a man of high stature and quality in this noble character. atticus finch was the kind of man who did what was right without any care for credit or recognition. he loved his kids and gave whatever he was doing his all.

when i watched atticus' closing speech to the jury (read here) that day in the boys home, i was taken by the irony of the setting. i was listening to some of the most noble of words being delivered into the ears of our culture's youngest victims, criminals, helpless, and victimizers. these guys overall would be the ones to criticize atticus finch and spit in his face, not stand beside him, for standing beside him would be the far less popular thing to do. i sat there and prayed that in some way the amazing words coming out of finch's mouth would sink into thier minds for them to see that there's a better way that the narrow and destructive life they've known. i prayed they could see there is a higher road to travel, even though it's narrow and often times difficult. i prayed that i could be the kind of guy who would demonstrate the way of atticus finch, because the way of atticus finch is very much the way of the Kingdom.