A MAN NAMED BILL
I thought I knew him well. After all we had worked together for many years as journalists at WJW-TV in Cleveland. But, I really discovered who Bill was on a trip long ago and far away.
Bill was a television photographer. To introduce satellite technology, the station sent us abroad to ascertain how foreign countries were searching for various forms of energy to supply power to their communities.
One day we took off in a helicopter from Scotland and headed out to an oil rig in the North Sea. We were dressed in special clothing to keep us alive in case the helicopter crashed into the icy waters of the wave filled Ocean. It was quiet in the helicopter except for the scratch of a navigation tool that pinpointed our exact location. Looking out, all one could see was water stretching to the horizon.
After an hour or so, directly ahead we saw a structure. It looked like a postage stamp riding the waves. As we drew closer we could see the top side of the oil rig. Slowly, the pilot lowered the helicopter and we landed on the tiny platform.
Bill and I and the rest of our crew crawled out of the special clothing and descended to the rig itself. We began filming the workers who were operating a giant drill, looking for oil under the sea’s floor 300 feet down. We worked all day, fascinated by the technology and the men who made all this exploration possible.
Night came. Weary from our work we headed to the cots for sleep. Lying down, the cots swayed back and forth as the waves rolled against the rig. At 3 a.m, unable to sleep, I rose and went topside. It was quiet and dark. Above, stars spangled the night sky.
At first, I thought I was alone. But as my eyes adjusted to the faded light, I saw a figure standing at the railing. It was Bill. For many minutes we stood together staring into the night as the rolling water pitched us side to side. Far, far away a light pierced the darkness. We were told later that it was a supply ship headed to our rig.
For a half hour there was no conversation. Bill and I were both awestruck with a feeling that we were in another world.
Suddenly, Bill put his arm around by shoulder. “My gosh,” he said, “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think my career would take me to a place like this.” I squeezed his arm as he continued, “I am so blessed to be in a job where I can have an experience like this. I am not particularly religious but I swear I feel that if I put my hand up I could touch the face of God.”
And that was the real Bill. A man of deep emotion and feeling, but seldom expressed in an industry where a certain amount of stoicism goes with the territory. Standing close, I placed my arm around Bill’s shoulder. Together we continued to stare at the open sea, and the waves that followed each other in a never ending parade, we watched the distant light, felt in our very hearts the beat of the wind, while above the shine of the stars fell down upon us and so did… the face of God.
(Written by Virgil Dominic)