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| McConnell Scholar Emma Lawson |
I’ve always thought of myself as one who gives others respect; one who sees the good in people; one who is noted for her kind deeds. So I thought, until I met Mr. Bill Homan and learned from him a lesson that has helped shape my outlook toward how I view other people. I met Mr. Homan when my Aunt Linda took me with her to visit him. We shared moments through the years of playing games, raking leaves, and just talking about “how times used to be.” Since the day I met this humble man with gentle eyes and a warm embrace, he has continually showered our conversations with bits of wisdom about life. However, it was the day he showed me his collection of marbles that impacted my thinking and became the moment I began to embrace the uniqueness of other people.
White carpet, decorative furniture, and antique china dishes. This was the appearance of Mr. Homan’s pristine home. As he scuttles to greet me, a colorful array of marbles in a glass butter churn catches my eye. Being polite, I brush away the temptation of looking at the exquisite works of art. As the two of us continue in conversation, Mr. Homan can’t help but laugh softly and turn toward the marbles. “Emma, would you like to see the marbles?” Embarrassed, yet excited that he noticed my gaze, I turn to see him retrieve the churn from the shelf. One by one, he pulls out a marble, each one unique in color, size, and pattern. Among others, he showed me a green cats-eye, an oxblood and “the good ole aggie” from his father’s collection. With awe, I gaze closely at each integral detail. Such displays of form and beauty! He tells me stories of each marble: one he has had since he was a boy playing on the school grounds, one he bought at a fair in Louisville, and another he found in a pile of dirt while strolling on his farm. Figuring that was all to the story, I started to put the marbles back in the churn, but Mr. Homan’s soft hand stopped me – “Emma,” he said, “Marbles, like people, they are unique. Notice how not one favors the other; how each differs in colors, patterns, and size. Each has its own shape and glow — so do people! You must not judge people based on how they look or their background, but accept everyone with the hope to make the world a better place for all people. Each is to be celebrated for his uniqueness, just like my marbles!”
Inspired by his words, I take another look at the marbles in my hand. This mindset was in contrast to my adolescent “Why aren’t people like me?” attitude. I slowly put each marble back into its resting place in the churn. After that moment, I began to view each person’s uniqueness as a gift, a gift so powerful to change perspectives.
Emma Lawson, of Springfield, Ky., is a member of the McConnell Scholar Class of 2021. She studies political science at the University of Louisville.