Special Entry

Kordero Lee Coleman 

1993-2008

A boy who loved to make people laugh.

Honestly, I never considered the fact that I would soon be writing an entry honoring one of our kids lives.  It still doesn't seem real.  On Sunday night, Kordero was in the wrong place at the wrong time and became the innocent victim of a shooting.

I remember meeting Kordero about a year and a half ago now.  A few of us were going out every week into the center of Fairmont Terrace at 61st & Peoria every Tuesday to hang out with any kids or adults that were interested and following whatever the Lord led us to do.  We were out on the grass playing all kinds of sports with a bunch of kids.  Frisbees were flying, soccer balls were sailing and some bubbles were being blown.  A group of about 5 older boys walked up.  "What's going on?"  (Honestly it was probably, Whatchoo guys doin?' :)   

I remember just smiling, introducing myself and asking their names.  They looked at me like all the older kids and adults do out there, "What the heck is this stupid white lady doing out here?"  It was Kordero, his brother Kurtis and some of their buddies.  I was so glad they stuck around.  I remember what pleased me the most was that they immediately gravitated to the guys who were with us, throwing and kicking balls.  They didn't really care WHAT we were doing, just that we wanted to be with them.  

For the next couple months, Kordero would always come by, "Man, Coach Julz, we can't stay, we have Boy Scouts but we just wanted to say Hey!  He always tried to pull off that "we're too old for this little kid stuff" ... but they always 'stopped by'.  

Over the next year, Kordero and his brother and sister started coming to the church I was going to.  Kordero and Kurtis were the ultimate test...they ALWAYS walked themselves there - rain or shine - and they ALWAYS started problems as far as 'following the rules'.  Their sister did too.  At the drop of a hat, you would hear, "Shoot!  I'm outta here!"  and off they'd go, right out the door.  This was during the time I was very new to this crowd and heck I had NO IDEA what to do!  Somehow I'd always manage to do the best I could to show them love and pray they would come back.  They always did.

I've had a real struggle this week over something though.  After several months of 'starting problems' with the church kids, they were asked not to come back for awhile.  They never did.  It wasn't all the church's fault, things were REALLy crazy for them at home at this time and between the two that was it.  They didn't keep coming.

This past summer I got to spend some time with them though at their apartment.  They were so funny, every time I would knock they'd yell, "WHO IS IT!?!"  I'd shout, "Coach Julz!"  They'd shout back, "HANG ON!"  They'd run put some clothes on and fling the door open with a hug.  "COME IN!"  We'd hang out, watch tv and just chat.  We got to take them fishing, swimming and other stuff this past summer and get to know them.  

They truly were the 'ultimate test'.  Not ONCE did they cause a problem when they were with us.   

After Kordero passed away his mom said, "Coach Julz, I know they gave you a hard time and I'm so sorry bout that.  But you never cared did you?"  

Nope.  Did they make me mad?  HECK YES!  But it was so easy to see this....

If those 2 boys knew someone loved them- they were FULL of respect and gave the love right back.  I can seriously remember times when Kordero would charge at me and give me the most full frontal bear hug you've ever seen.  Afterwards, I'd think, "Oh crap, I remember in leadership training, they told me not to hug boys like that!"  ha!  And while there IS a lot of wisdom to that....it just was never like that.  Kordero LOVED being LOVED.

I used to joke with him, DadGommit Kordero! "WHY DID YOU GET THOSE PERFECTLY LONG CURLED EYELASHES AND I'VE GOT THIS MESS?"  He'd be like, "Oh shoot Coach Julz, don't say that!  Geez!"  ha, I'm laughing still.

I never dreamed that two nights ago I'd be resting my hands on his bandaged head while he breathed through a ventilator fighting for his life.

I don't have the 'program' that works.  I don't know how to get them to 'assimilate' and PLEASE don't take ANY of this story to focus on me.  What really happened was the LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST managed to do something to this boy who's shell let few see who he really was.

I'll see you soon Kordero...