The Story of Brother Day and His Kingdom of One

Inspiration through the eyes of a ten-year-old girl

When someone I know passes and as the anniversary comes around, I like to think about what I learned from that person. Today’s the day my dad passed in 2011, and I focus on something positive. The following is what I learned at about ten years old.

Brother Day came to church almost every Sunday.  He drove a big long Cadillac Sedan Deville. I know it was a Sedan Deville because I could read. I heard he got a new Cadillac every year. When you’re a little kid, you observe a lot. Take it all in. I recall, at one point, there were two different women in the church. They look so similar. I was confused; which one is his wife?

Then one of the women stopped coming to church, and not long after, the other woman stopped coming to church, and Brother Day sat alone on a long Pew.

No one ever talked to Brother Day.  Almost all of the congregation shunned him. 

No one ever talked to Brother Day.  Almost all of the congregation shunned him.  It was interesting to watch people go out of their way to avoid him. I’m around ten years old, taking all of this in and thinking about it.

From memory, the church ex-communicated him, I believe, for adultery sometime in the late fifties or early sixties. Still, he continued to make it to church for several more years, despite the ex-communication and the shunning. Yet, even on the first Sunday of the month, communion Sunday, I could tell people were uncomfortable with the thought that he might take communion and drink damnation upon his soul.

I recall one Sunday he was offered communion from a visiting priesthood member who did not know he had been ex-communicated. Imagine the conversations.

Dad went out of his way to give Brother Day a big smile and handshake

What stood out most is after Sunday services. Dad went out of his way to give Brother Day a big smile and handshake, and as Brother Day drove away, in his big shiny Cadillac, Dad would occasionally say, “there goes Brother Day and his Kingdom of One.”

I wondered then, and now I wish I had asked dad, what is the Kingdom of One? In this story, I make no judgment on Brother Day or the Congregation. Instead, I tell you what goes through the mind of a child. If you think children are not watching, you’re sadly mistaken. Most likely, the people most avoiding Brother Day were part of the ex-communication.

However, a lot of them would shun out of hearsay. No firsthand knowledge. Just a story that grows and grows with no end. I can still see Dad’s smile as he reaches out to shake Brother Day’s hand. I believe I can recall the look on Brother Day’s face, a kind smile of appreciation.

It truly takes a Community to come in Unity.

There was never a Kingdom built by One, there is no kingdom of One or Country of One, Village of One, Community of One, and for the Business World, there is no Company of One. 

It truly takes a Community to come in Unity.

While you were reading the story or listening, what memories came to your mind?

---

---

What to Write About – Writing Prompts

• While you were reading the story or listening, what memories came to your mind?
  • Begin your Life Writing at that point, and don’t stop to edit, just keep writing
  • Some of us love to either write our Storytelling or type our stories.
    • You do what gives you the most Writing Inspiration.
    • I write both on the computer and record my stories. Typically, whatever is the closest tool.
  • If you have a recorder, start recording your memories. Again, don’t stop to edit; just keep talking.
    • Recording your Storytelling may increase your creativity. You can be more animated, and you will be more of “Yourself,” showing emotion, your true self.
  • As you begin writing, you will find how your Life Writing is Self Motivation.

The Back Story

I ultimately stumbled on writing therapy. Over the years, I found myself going back to my MANY stories for inspiration. So what I was doing for myself was Therapy, Writing Therapy.

Keep a journal with each story you write or the title and log how you feel when you reread your life stories.

---

“Church is Not Going to Kill You”