Last night, my family and I watched Jurassic World. It was very reminiscent of the Jurassic Park movies of the 90's, and, to be honest, my boys were a little freaked out. However, in the film, there are 2 brothers. As both of their lives are in danger, the two of them work together, depend on one another, and develop a new respect for each other. And of course, they grow closer. It made me think about brotherly love and how important it is.
For example, I have a set of twin students. They started off a bit unfocused and disorganized, so they had a hard time adjusting to my work load. Then one day, their older brother came up and spent the entire day with them, going from class to class, whispering to them, and walking them through assignments. They got back on track pretty quickly. And a few weeks later, just for good measure, he stopped by to check in on them again. Not to mention, he's even at all of their football and basketball games, do it's been pretty cool to see how a brother is so invested in the success and well-being of his little brothers.
The Word tells us much about what it means to love another. Specifically, Psalm 133 exclaims, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!" I pray that my sons have this same love and respect for one another as they continue to grow. Yet, the Word also warns us in 1 John 4:20 that "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar..." Let's not confuse these texts to mean that brothers have to agree on everything and live in perfect harmony all the time. However, to love our brother means that we care for his well-being and that even when we disagree, we still show them respect and honor.
Unity is one of the easiest things for the enemy to destroy. It doesn't take much for one to turn his or her back on another. We are fickle human beings who are easily swayed. When God called to Cain in the book of Genesis, Cain responded to God by asking, "Am I my brother's keeper?" This was his way of saying that he wasn't responsible for his brother and that quite frankly, he could care less about his whereabouts (knowing full well he killed poor Abel!) There are many of us who claim to love God, but aren't talking to our sister. We say we are living a godly life, but won't answer our brother's phone call. We are liars. It's time to own up to the opportunity to right things with our brothers and sisters and be one with God. We are to operate in brotherly love. Caring for one another, respecting one another, praying for one another, encouraging one another, and above all else, loving one another. Be Blessed. XOXO
Thursday, December 3, 2015
No Regrets
A few months ago, my girlfriends and I took a trip to Tampa. For all of us, it was much needed relief from day to day life. We laughed. We talked. We ate. We drank. We had a blast! In the midst of our time together, we committed to move on from our pasts. Inspired by the title of our songbird 's debut album "No Regrets", we chose that weekend to let go of our own (follow her +myochimusic, download off iTunes, add her station on Pandora).
To commemorate this release we had a reflection time to write down all the things we regretted about our past. Afterward, we said them aloud, burned them to the ground, and affirmed that they were gone. The next day, we sealed the deal by getting matching tattoos that simply read, "No Regrets". It. Was. AWESOME!
It made me think about how much of that stuff was really weighing on me, sometimes without me even knowing. I was being bound by the memories. I was still trying to shake some of guilt. I was holding myself in a lowly space by still beating myself up or pitying myself or allowing myself to relive each moment of the bad times, reviving negative emotions and inviting in dangerous energy. As corny or serious or even cult-like as this event may sound, it was one of the fondest friendship memories we've created. All of us felt a little lighter, walked a little taller, and renewed ourselves.
How many of you have regrets? You know, the legitimate kind. That thing you did. That guy you loved. That lady you got pregnant. That job you stayed at too long. The parent you haven't forgiven. The friend you betrayed. The feelings you hurt. The hearts you failed to mend. That kind of regret...
If you do, here is a bit of encouragement. In Phillippians 3:13 Paul encourages us to "forget what is behind" and to "strain toward what is ahead". It's hard to move forward if we are held back by the past. A car can't drive to the next destination if it's stuck in reverse. The same rule applies to life. We have to do everything in our power to release the negativity of our past. But, those strongholds can be very hard to shake. There will even be times that we think we've overcome them and they creep back up, resurfacing at the most inopportune moments.
It's a process. It won't happen over night. But it WILL happen. Commit to it. Invite God into it. Make a choice to fight past it. And on those off days you find yourself giving into it, forgive yourself... because God already has. He doesn't hold on to our transgressions, we do. Therefore, it's up to us to ask for His help. So, go ahead. Let go. Live with no regrets. And be abundantly blessed. XOXO
To commemorate this release we had a reflection time to write down all the things we regretted about our past. Afterward, we said them aloud, burned them to the ground, and affirmed that they were gone. The next day, we sealed the deal by getting matching tattoos that simply read, "No Regrets". It. Was. AWESOME!
It made me think about how much of that stuff was really weighing on me, sometimes without me even knowing. I was being bound by the memories. I was still trying to shake some of guilt. I was holding myself in a lowly space by still beating myself up or pitying myself or allowing myself to relive each moment of the bad times, reviving negative emotions and inviting in dangerous energy. As corny or serious or even cult-like as this event may sound, it was one of the fondest friendship memories we've created. All of us felt a little lighter, walked a little taller, and renewed ourselves.
How many of you have regrets? You know, the legitimate kind. That thing you did. That guy you loved. That lady you got pregnant. That job you stayed at too long. The parent you haven't forgiven. The friend you betrayed. The feelings you hurt. The hearts you failed to mend. That kind of regret...
If you do, here is a bit of encouragement. In Phillippians 3:13 Paul encourages us to "forget what is behind" and to "strain toward what is ahead". It's hard to move forward if we are held back by the past. A car can't drive to the next destination if it's stuck in reverse. The same rule applies to life. We have to do everything in our power to release the negativity of our past. But, those strongholds can be very hard to shake. There will even be times that we think we've overcome them and they creep back up, resurfacing at the most inopportune moments.
It's a process. It won't happen over night. But it WILL happen. Commit to it. Invite God into it. Make a choice to fight past it. And on those off days you find yourself giving into it, forgive yourself... because God already has. He doesn't hold on to our transgressions, we do. Therefore, it's up to us to ask for His help. So, go ahead. Let go. Live with no regrets. And be abundantly blessed. XOXO
M-I-Z
Last month, I saw students of color at the infamous University of Missouri come together to combat growing racial issues. I saw students who were not "of color" join to assist their cause. I saw a SMART student protest...EFFECTIVE collective bargaining...SWIFT results.
To hear people refer to these students as "entitled brats" who threw "tantrums" to get their way is beyond absurd. These same people are the off-spring of the type of entitlement that raped, pillaged, and plundered lands across the globe because they felt "entitled" enough to steal, kill, and oppress. To the extent that the people who originally inhabited these lands now sit at the low-end of the totem pole in terms of class, economics, and opportunities, the real question becomes: How then are THESE STUDENTS the "entitled brats"? A better description of them would be scholars who took an courageous approach to effect necessary change.
It's funny to me that when white students ransack the local community after a huge sports victory by flipping cars and flashing boobs, they are "having a good time". But when black students band together to fight against injustice and racism, THEY are the entitled brats?!? I was then faced with seeing social media outlandishly slander these young protesters to the extent that their very lives were publicly threatened! It upset me to no end! Coming on the heels of a young, black girl being berated for her disobedience instead of defended because she was abused. Only to be followed by yet another execution of a black male by a trigger-happy uniformed officer!
It was too much. It is too much. As a black woman in America, raising black sons, it is overwhelming to see the level of racial hatred in this country. And then, for people who have no idea what it's like to be placed in a state of constant defense and questionable safety to feel like it's their given right to speak shamelessly about someone else's children who are doing the RIGHT thing by a) standing up for what they believe in and b) doing so peaceably, is nothing less than unnerving!
However, it is important to note that this is why Historically Black Colleges and Universities are relevant. THIS is why it is important for our scholars to see the value within the walls of institutions founded FOR us. The same way that those football players could have cost MU over $1 million by choosing not to play, they could have brought that and more to an HBCU by choosing one of them from the start. You see the football team joining the fight was a smart, tactical, FISCAL move. But it also said a lot about the potential...What if black athletes were to stand collectively to take their talents to HBCUs? How would the NCAA change? How would the financial bottom lines at HBCUs be altered? The answer is obvious.
Two lessons come out of the University of Missouri protests: 1) Collective efforts can effect change no matter how long-standing the ills have been and 2) HBCUs are still a relevant topic of post-secondary conversation worthy of consideration by ALL black scholars, especially the collective of talented black athletes. When our African American forefathers survived the perils of slavery and with the help of various clergymen and philanthropists were able to start their own institutions of higher learning, their goal was for black scholars to ALWAYS have a place to learn, to ALWAYS know their place in society, to ALWAYS be able to come back home.
In Matthew 18:20, the Word states, "Where two or more are gathered in my name, I am with them." When Jonathan Butler decided enough was enough, he sparked a flame. Before long, black students were joining his ranks in protest against racial unrest. And then...the mighty blow...the football team. These young people GATHERED to commit themselves to rectify unhealthy racial relationships and change the accepted norm on their campus. Imagine the effect of black scholars, in mass numbers, GATHERED in the name of education, as well as the salvation of beloved institutions that have ALWAYS been there for them. Sounds like a perfect welcome party for the Lord Himself! Be Blessed. XOXO
To hear people refer to these students as "entitled brats" who threw "tantrums" to get their way is beyond absurd. These same people are the off-spring of the type of entitlement that raped, pillaged, and plundered lands across the globe because they felt "entitled" enough to steal, kill, and oppress. To the extent that the people who originally inhabited these lands now sit at the low-end of the totem pole in terms of class, economics, and opportunities, the real question becomes: How then are THESE STUDENTS the "entitled brats"? A better description of them would be scholars who took an courageous approach to effect necessary change.
It's funny to me that when white students ransack the local community after a huge sports victory by flipping cars and flashing boobs, they are "having a good time". But when black students band together to fight against injustice and racism, THEY are the entitled brats?!? I was then faced with seeing social media outlandishly slander these young protesters to the extent that their very lives were publicly threatened! It upset me to no end! Coming on the heels of a young, black girl being berated for her disobedience instead of defended because she was abused. Only to be followed by yet another execution of a black male by a trigger-happy uniformed officer!
It was too much. It is too much. As a black woman in America, raising black sons, it is overwhelming to see the level of racial hatred in this country. And then, for people who have no idea what it's like to be placed in a state of constant defense and questionable safety to feel like it's their given right to speak shamelessly about someone else's children who are doing the RIGHT thing by a) standing up for what they believe in and b) doing so peaceably, is nothing less than unnerving!
However, it is important to note that this is why Historically Black Colleges and Universities are relevant. THIS is why it is important for our scholars to see the value within the walls of institutions founded FOR us. The same way that those football players could have cost MU over $1 million by choosing not to play, they could have brought that and more to an HBCU by choosing one of them from the start. You see the football team joining the fight was a smart, tactical, FISCAL move. But it also said a lot about the potential...What if black athletes were to stand collectively to take their talents to HBCUs? How would the NCAA change? How would the financial bottom lines at HBCUs be altered? The answer is obvious.
Two lessons come out of the University of Missouri protests: 1) Collective efforts can effect change no matter how long-standing the ills have been and 2) HBCUs are still a relevant topic of post-secondary conversation worthy of consideration by ALL black scholars, especially the collective of talented black athletes. When our African American forefathers survived the perils of slavery and with the help of various clergymen and philanthropists were able to start their own institutions of higher learning, their goal was for black scholars to ALWAYS have a place to learn, to ALWAYS know their place in society, to ALWAYS be able to come back home.
In Matthew 18:20, the Word states, "Where two or more are gathered in my name, I am with them." When Jonathan Butler decided enough was enough, he sparked a flame. Before long, black students were joining his ranks in protest against racial unrest. And then...the mighty blow...the football team. These young people GATHERED to commit themselves to rectify unhealthy racial relationships and change the accepted norm on their campus. Imagine the effect of black scholars, in mass numbers, GATHERED in the name of education, as well as the salvation of beloved institutions that have ALWAYS been there for them. Sounds like a perfect welcome party for the Lord Himself! Be Blessed. XOXO
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