On a cold January morning, against a bare wall at the top of the escalators, a man opened up his violin case and began to serenade a Washington, D.C. metro station.

Death is the great equalizer. When that moment arrives, it matters little whether you are rich or poor, prince or pauper, whether you live uptown or downtown, in a mansion or a dump, whether your skin is black or white or red or yellow. All are equal before the presence of death.

Have you ever heard of a man named Derek Redmond? Derek Redmond became the British 400-meter record-holder when he was only 19 years old.

For some, it is the gospel within the gospel, or even the most beautiful short story ever told. It has been painted by a host of artists, most notably Rembrandt, made the subject of plays, or provided the themes for plays, most notably Shakespeare.