November 19, 1997
I knew Mike as early as twelve years ago,
before he had made the conscious effort
to better himself through spirituality , and
he was far from being compassionate or
friendly; in fact, he was rather rebellious
toward not only guards but inmates as
well. There were three or four people
with whom he shared a steady friendship,
but that was about it. Most of us recall
that when Mike made up his mind about
something there was nothing anyone
could do to dissuade him, and the more
resistance that was thrown at him the
more he threw back. His escapades
down on J-Block when he was fasting
and growing his hair and beard to protest
the way he was being treated are
legendary; indeed, I have seen him so
emaciated from starvation that a once
muscular and stout man had become
nothing more than a walking bag of
bones, with deep set eyes and prominent,
cadaverous cheekbones. But he did not
care, because he was following his heart
on a matter he deemed of utmost
importance.
Eventually he made his point to his
satisfaction and started eating again and
at some point he committed himself to
the Christian walk, though almost
everyone who knew him became a
naysayer by predicting that Mike would
never last on the spiritual path because he
was a gangster, a non-conformist who
would never lie down and take what was
unfairly dished out to him. Actually the
naysaying may have provided an impetus
for Mike to succeed in spirituality
because, as was his way, all he needed to
prompt him to do something was for
someone to say he couldn't do it, then he
dug in his heels, lowered his bull head,
and didn't stop until he arrived at where
he was going. But he didn't lie down and
take anything, either, rather , he turned his
problems over to the higher power with
whom he had became acquainted and
whom he knew he could trust, and
instead of barking at the person who
sought to harm or disrespect him, Mike
would instead invite them to join him on
his Christian path --whether that person
wore white or gray was irrelevant, which
clearly proved that Mike was not
selective in his witnessing.
I've heard some grumbling among
people of late that, perhaps because Mike
spoke some truth about them in the past,
he deserved what he got and they in fact
had anticipated his death with anxious
glee, and to those people I would say that
had the roles been reversed Mike would
not have felt the same about them, would
not have wished them harm or even held
a grudge if they had in some way
wronged him. He would have offered his
hand to them --again, whether they wore
white or gray --and said, "I've been
taught the way of compassion and mercy,
not malice and hate, so let us put aside
our past disagreements and worship
together." I can guarantee that Mike is
still praying for those who sought to
oppress him, or in thought or deed, do
him other harm.
I cannot close without mentioning that
Mike's brainchild, the LHP, has
blossomed under his guidance into an
organization befitting his dreams, for he
always wanted the LHP to benefit all
death row prisoners and great inroads
have been made toward that end. I am
happy that he was at least able to witness
the beginning of the LHP's recent
expansive growth, a proliferation that has
put the LHP in several different states
and countries and carries out its mission
through mediums such as the Internet,
where every death row inmate has the
opportunity to have a say.
Mike, we love you, we miss you, and we
ask that wherever you are now, you will
continue to give us the guidance on
which we so addictively came to depend, for the
LHP is still your baby and we shall always
consider it so.
by Gene Hathorn, #800
Having just learned that Michael Sharp
has executed and having previously
committed to writing his obituary, I find
myself at a loss for words. For some
reason all the customary platitudes about
what a good guy he was would seem to
fall well short of an accurate depiction of
the man. but I shall endeavor to verbalize
with some degree of comprehension the
nature of a person I considered for many,
many years to be my friend and brother.