by Traci Hunter Abramson, Author of Novel Threat
Whether we realize it or not, every one of us touches the lives of others. A chance interaction in the grocery store, a smile for someone you pass on the street, a post on social media. All of these might seem insignificant, but sometimes we wield far more power than we realize.
For the past few years, I’ve witnessed how one man partnered with many other good people in my community to make it a better place to live.
Dr. Reverend Frank Lacey sees the world the way it can be rather than how it currently is, and he has helped connect leaders of many churches and other civic organizations to help those who are struggling. He also understands that there is power in numbers.
The first time I met the man most of us refer to affectionally as Apostle Lacey or Pastor Frank, I attended an interfaith Christmas program. Members from nearly a dozen different churches shared inspirational thoughts to guide and uplift those present. The program also served to provide gifts for teenagers who would not otherwise have a Christmas.
When speaking to Pastor Frank after the program, he spoke of how the various church leaders had come together to share resources to help those who couldn’t provide for their basic needs while also expanding their ability to serve the community.
One church often opens up its sports facility to others, even sponsoring a basketball league that includes many different congregations among the teams competing. Others joined forces to found Jacob’s Ladder, a program in which unused fresh food is donated from large corporations such as Amazon Fresh and then redistributed to families in need from north of Baltimore, Maryland to the southern tip of Virginia. This group also has ambitions to help those using their services to learn more about how to budget and provide for themselves so they too can give rather than just receive.
When I started writing my book, Hometown Vendetta, I quickly discovered that a version of Apostle Lacey had a place within the pages. A best friend to a troubled teenage boy who ultimately grew up to become a military aide to the president. My Pastor Mosley had a similar professional background to Apostle Lacey, and many of the same interfaith activities popped up throughout the novel. So if you see the name Lacey somewhere within the pages of a Luke Steele novel, I promise it was an honest mistake.
But more than anything, I hope each of us can emulate the heart of what this good man is doing in the heart of my growing Virginia community. Smile a little more, really see the people around you, offer a helping hand when it’s appropriate, and remember that words matter, whether they’re spoken or shared online.
Every action results in a reaction. My hope is that each of us reach the end of each day knowing that we used our capacity to make the world a better place.
New! NOVEL THREAT: In a world of covert codes, two CIA operatives must infiltrate a New York publishing house, where every word on the page could be a weapon.
Traci Hunter Abramson worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for several years and credits the agency with giving her a wealth of ideas for writing as well as the skills needed to survive her children’s teenage years. She has gone on to write a number of award-winning, best-selling suspense novels. She currently lives in Virginia with her family where she enjoys sports, travel, and writing. She recently retired from coaching high school swimming.