You Are Enough
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This week's guest post is by none other than the Christopher Joel Ewing, Marcus's brother. I have known Chris as long as I have known Marcus, more than 25 years. Marcus and Chris's relationship was complex - loving, volatile, and constant. I'm lucky to call him brother and hopefully soon, Uncle Chris. We're so lucky to have a brief look into Chris's memories of Marcus. Enjoy!
Two years and two days had passed when my parents introduced me to a baby who they claimed was my new brother. Like most two year-olds, the concept of sharing mystified me as I enjoyed being the sole focus of my parents' attention. From that moment on, however, Marcus and I would get plenty of opportunities to practice the art of sharing. Shared bedrooms, shared birthday parties with shared birthday cakes, and a shared red car that was destined to end in disaster.
Up through high school if one was to take an average of our successful sharing opportunities, I'm embarrassed to say it likely resembled the batting average of a Houston Astro. Though for different reasons, we also shared feelings of being inadequate despite having two parents and incredible youth leaders constantly affirming our worth and believing in our talents. For Marcus, it was the burden of his speech impediment and learning disability that left him feeling insufficient at times. Being un-athletic and overweight most of my life helped to convince me that no matter how much I accomplished or how hard I tried, it would never be enough for those I was trying to please.
But God is faithful and in the summer of 2000 I met the children of Shiloh for the first time changing my life forever. The children of Shiloh loved me not because I was some famous athlete or wealthy celebrity. Instead, they accepted me with all my blemishes and chose to love me anyway. Because of their love, I came to believe that I was enough.
Two years later I asked Marcus to join me at Shiloh for the summer so that we might have another opportunity to share. However, this time it would be sharing the knowledge that both of us were enough. And wouldn't you know it, God went ahead and gave Marcus a double portion. For not only did the children of Shiloh convince him that he was enough, but a child on his first bus pickup went even further telling Marcus, "God made you special."
From that moment on, Marcus became an unstoppable force for good and showed what was possible when one realizes that he or she is enough. It was almost as if he had discovered some kind of new superpower and the laws of physics no longer applied. Why would you risk getting your Master's when obtaining your Bachelor's was hard enough? Why would move to the most expensive city in the world with no money and no job? Before such questions might cause Marcus to yield to poor expectations, but no more.
Now Marcus ran with a confidence so powerful that its momentum busted through any obstacle the world tried to set before him. Looking back I see that Marcus only wanted to give back to the kids of Shiloh what they had already given him. He wanted to help them discover their own superpowers and transcend their own obstacles And Marcus did this by assuring the kids that no matter how difficult the moment or impossible the task, you are enough.
*banner pictures during this series were taken by Marcus Ewing*
