Desmond Tutu, the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, died yesterday at the age of 90. He was a churchman, preacher, theologian, and fighter for racial equality. He was a joy-filled man, his laughter and sense of humor were contagious. His Godly impact reached far beyond South Africa, touching Christians around the world. I love Tutu’s 2010 On Being interview with Krista Tippett, you can listen and learn more about Tutu by clicking here.
When Tutu was a child in South Africa the nation was in the grips of apartheid. The racial inequality was felt in every aspect of daily life for black South Africans. When a black person met a white person on the sidewalk, it was required of the black person to step into the gutter, stop, and allow the white person to pass. Black people were expected to do this to show respect to white people who believed they were superior. When Desmond Tutu would walk with his mom to town, again and again his mom would step into the gutter, stop, and allow white men to pass. One particular day he and his mom approached a tall white man dressed in a black suit. Before his mother could step off of the sidewalk, as was expected, the white man stepped into the gutter and stopped, and when young Desmond and his mom passed by, the man tipped his hat in a gesture of respect to his mother. The young Tutu was amazed that a white man had done this. He asked his mother “Why did that white man do that?” His mother explained, “He’s an Anglican priest. He is a man of God; that is why he did it.” Desmond Tutu decided then and there that he wanted to be a man of God, an Anglican, a priest. The courageous, loving, Christian action of that man on the side walk changed Desmond Tutu’s life. His action pointed Tutu toward Jesus, to a faithful Christian life that would eventually affect millions of people around the world.
That man on the sidewalk that day was Trevor Huddleston, a quiet, loving, Christlike gentleman. Tutu eventually attended the church where Huddleston served as pastor, where Huddleston became Tutu’s mentor, friend, and guide to vocational ministry.
In some ways Huddleston’s stepping off of the sidewalk was a small act, but it had tremendous effect. And my heart is moved by this story. And I love it when doing the right thing turns the table in big ways. But for God’s people it is simply the doing of the right thing that is the end goal. The rest is up to God, and God will take our right actions and use them in small and big ways.