The world is full of males, but short on men. What's a male? A male, at least to my mind, is a human being with a Y chromosome in his genetic makeup and usually born with that peculiar baby-making organ by which so many falsely define manhood.
As distinct from a male, what then is a man? Simply put, for me, a man is a male possessed of purpose, industry and genuine leadership. Rudyard Kipling, that distinguished poet, also provides a wonderful definition of a man in his poem "If", in which he says:

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a man, my son!

If Rudyard Kipling is right, and I surely believe he is, then I once knew a man. His name was Rev. Wilbur Outten. He was, up to his recent passing, the pastor of Freeport Bible Church and the superintendent of the Independent Association of Bible Churches in The Bahamas. He was the husband of one dutiful wife, and the father of two wonderful children. He was an advisor to politicians, pastors and professionals all. To countless others, he was a counsellor. He was as true a friend as a friend could be; a friend in need, and in deed.
If The Bahamas was a church pastored by the late Wilbur Outten, it would be a country with clear vision, given to excellent planning and having a strategic plan, committed to organization and order, professional and productive. It would be a practical country, giving, progressive and proud. It would enjoy steady and impressive growth. Its people would feel loved and would love. In good and bad times, everyone would have a sense of direction and hope of better to come.
On Sunday, January 15, 2017, Pastor Wilbur Outten journeyed home to God, his father. On Saturday, January 21, 2017, he was laid to rest. Many truly adoring and admiring people attended his funeral, and his memorial the Thursday before. Many people did not know him, but for those of us who did, what a man we knew. He was a pastor and a patriot. He loved God and he loved his country. He was true to both. He served both. Even in illness, his was a dignity that was a wonder to behold. Even in his final hours, his thoughts were of family, church and country.
Pastor Reverend Wilbur Outten was my friend. He was my counsellor. He was my confidant. But not only mine, many others. He was the best man I ever knew, and I know even myself. Yes, I knew a man, and Wilbur Outten was that man. No doubt, were he alive, he would be reading this column and he would be absolutely embarrassed to have so public a showing of himself. Profiling and public elevation was not his way. He never sought the limelight. He even felt taken aback to be honored by the Queen. But I pray that such men can be lifted up to our nation, for given our challenges of today we need to know and see that they do exist.
Yes, I knew a man once. Wilbur Outten was that man, and I thank God for giving me the benefit of his friendship and counsel; and to all who knew him, the benefit of his love. I shall forever honor him, and always remember this man.

o Zhivargo Laing is a Bahamian economic consultant and former Cabinet minister who represented the Marco City constituency in the House of Assembly.

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