Have you ever wept?

I mean really wept.

Over a pain so great there were no words.

There's a scripture that says this; "Weeping may endure for a night... but joy cometh in the morning."

Like many who share the African American and Afro Caribbean journey, the church boy in our story endured brutal blows and terrible tragedies.

But he was still here.  As are we.

He was still standing.  As are we.

And he still found joy in living.  As can we.

In Part 3 of The Church Boy Who Encountered Troubled Waters, we’ll see how Johnny Stephens began to go from weeping in the night to joy in the morning. 

Spoiler alert!  If you’ve not read Parts 1 and 2, you'll want to do so before going on to Part 3. You can get to them on the links below. 

If you have read Parts 1 and 2, you're all set. You can continue the amazing story of Johnny Stephens below.

The Church Boy Who Encountered Troubled Waters - Part 3

A Small Fish In a Bigger Pond

When Johnny graduated from high school, he was only 16 years old. 

Even though he was the youngest in his class, he graduated as the salutatorian.

That means he finished second in a class of much older students.

Because of his academic prowess, scholarship offers poured in from elite colleges around the country.

Johnny was blessed to be accepted into prestigious schools like Harvard, Georgetown and Morehouse.  

But like going to public school for the first time, going to a large university away from home was another culture shock.

To get to school he had to fly. It was the first time he’d ever been on a plane.

He'd always been shy and reserved. Not good... because he didn't know a soul in the entire university.

And, like high school, he was two to six years younger than everyone else. 

And, since elite schools cater to the wealthy and affluent, he was poorer than everyone else. 

Add being Black at a majority white institution... and it was high school all over again.

But times ten!

So, once again, Johnny began his college career feeling like an outsider.

And, once again, music is what lifted him above the storm. 

The Magic of Music

By this point in his life (age 16) there was one thing Johnny knew for certain. He could sing, and he could play.

Out of sheer necessity, the universal language of music became his primary language.

It was his way of introducing himself.

It was his way of connecting.

It was his way of getting to know people.

It was his bridge over troubled water.

Once people knew that part of him… once they felt the music emanating from his innermost being… he could connect with them socially.

Music wasn't like magic. It was magic.

As Johnny began connecting with other students, he began to grow as a person. 

His worldview and perspectives began to evolve and change in substantial ways.

For one, he was developing a deeper understanding of the Black experience in America. (More about this later.)

As we shall see, becoming "woke" would eventually play a significant role in his life.

Even though Johnny was becoming a different person… which is to say his own person with his own thoughts and opinions... the church still played a key role in his life and musical journey.

Making Ends Meet

Because his family had no money and he was attending an expensive school on grants and loans, Johnny had to work to secure anything beyond his most basic needs.

Having a work-study job during the week really helped, but it wasn't enough. He was still broke as one could be.

So, being a church boy and musician, he took a church gig on the weekends directing the choir for an AME church in Scranton.

(If Scranton sounds familiar, it's because its Joe Biden’s hometown.)

Scranton AME wasn't a Pentecostal church. The name, African Methodist Episcopalian, tells you that much.

But, true to their roots, they took Johnny in like one of their own and treated him like family.

They even bought him a car when his old junker finally gave out.

Johnny's Dream

Johnny was an English major, which he hoped would lead to a job in corporate America. 

But the life of his dreams, the one that gave him goosebumps, was that of a professional musician.

To that end, during his junior year Johnny took another step forward with his music.

Between studying, working, and the Scranton AME gig, he started recording his own music.

It seemed crazy, but he dreamed of one day piecing together enough music to make his own album.

A Johnathan Stephens album... how cool would that be!

There's an old adage that says this...

First, you make the dream... then, the dream makes you.

Improbable as it was, Johnny's dream began to make him.

It all started with Tara.

Tara

Tara Michelle was a young lady who sang in the Scranton AME choir Johnny directed. 

She loved Johnny's music. 

There was something "different" about it.

Something she couldn't quite verbalize. 

Something... special.

And if you believe in “It just so happened” ... then it just so happened that Tara was close friends with a rising star in the music business.

Tara's Friend 

Her friend’s first album had garnered national attention. Their second album had been a huge hit that shook the industry.  And now they were working on what would come next.  

So, one day, Tara invited Johnny to ride with her to Newark and hang out in her friend’s recording session.

Not knowing much about studio etiquette, Johnny just sat there... quiet, observing, and taking it all in.

After a while... when the musicians were taking a break, Tara said, "Hey Johnny, why don’t you sing one of your songs so they can hear what you can do?"

Many (maybe most) musicians would be intimidated by being put on the spot like that.

But Johnny's musicianship had been forged in a fiery furnace. 

It had been tested by trials and tribulations. 

It had been strengthened by storms.

And because of that... he was ready for the moment.

His moment. 

So, he waved away the clouds of reefer smoke, sat down at the piano and sang one of his original songs called Too Late.

After he finished... the room was quiet. 

All you could hear was crickets.

Then, smiles... nods... and affirmations.

Tara's friend liked what they heard. 

They especially liked the piano composition.

It was powerful.

It was energetic.

It was soulful.

It was... dope.

And that’s when Johnny's life changed… again.

To find out how... and to see how Johnny began to take off and soar in spectacular fashion, join me next week for The Church Boy Who Encountered Troubled Waters, Part 4.

Trust me... you'll be glad you did.