Lesson from driving…

Lessons from driving came to me after having a discussion with a friend, who is very analytical, and it had to do with change or how we evolve as people. We agreed to disagree but not be disagreeable…LOL…Well then I realized something, most of us drive, and in order to do so, we must be watchful of our surroundings and be prepared to change what we are doing, without foreknowledge at any juncture. We cannot sit idle or in neutral, or fail to respond to what is in front us accordingly, if we desire to get to our destination with addition stress. Although, some might agree with that statement, they might not agree with this one – it does not matter if you have gone the same route for fifteen years, cannot predict on a consistent basis when you will have to stop, hit the brakes, take an alternate route, or swerve from hitting creating an accident. Why? Life happens, road closures, the cars appear, people cut in front of you, people are not paying attention, etc. And guess what, we might become frustrated with the inconvenience it causes for us, but we do not stop or fail to switch gears, take an alternate route, or sit until we can move, we do what it takes to stay on the path to get to our destination. We strap on the delay but not denied mentality, and accept the change; grudgingly maybe, but we do. We do what we have to do, so that we can continue to drive with the least amount of stress, and learn something new, if we are lucky about ourselves…wink


Yet, when it comes to living we turn our perspective noses and not move, postulates reasons why we shouldn’t, fall out over and over again to keep it the same, or sabotage, implicitly or explicitly, the progress for ourselves and others with our behavior. Then say, it is someone else’s fault for our outcome, or the results we are seeing; we take no ownership of what we do, we only want others to take ownership and change what they do to fit us; just because you do not acknowledge it, does not mean it is not the truth. But like driving, we have to make the adjust with self. However, when asked if we are progressive, or open to change for the betterment of the team, family, relationships, church, or personal, we say, ‘yes’. It is ironic to me, we have yet to grasp it is not what we say, the actual words, but it is how we say it, and what we do that  leaves the lingering message with people, to tempt the fate for battle to ensues. All because we will not take the lesson from driving and keep it moving toward our enlighten path; we would rather remain in the self-imposed darkness to marinate, stew, and be infused with fear, confusion to share with others. God forbid!!!

Are we truly the light?

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (NIV)

Are we truly the light? As Christians, we are called to be the light in this world. However, you would not illuminate to hide the light, or once lighted decided what it falls upon (you can’t). The goal is to illuminate all under its glow, and it is not selective on what is illuminated by its light. We who are children of the light seem to choose to hide our light by exchanging it for the world light, the dim light. This decision is made for the immediacy, the easy, and the comfortable way. However, that is not what Jesus called us to do in this world. See we choose every day, hour, minute, second of the day with our words, actions, interactions, our choices to whether or not to illuminate, or be selective with our light. We have forgotten light does not discriminate when it falls upon anything. It just lights upon it. Yet, we use the light of Christ’s love in our life for what it was never meant to be, to decide who gets it.

We have forgotten it is not about us, it is about Thee, not me. We say, we get it, but we don't.  We choose to not interact with each other because of color of skin, social status, wealth, etc at home but abroad it is a different story. Why the light change, I don't know. If you are light, you light no matter where you are, who you are with, or what you are doing. The light of Christ Love does the following - removes darkness, illuminated what is hidden, and shows us our path. So asked yourself, am I truly light, or do I participate in parallel play where it looks like, I am light but not?..Shakespeare - This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day,Thou canst not then be false to any man. Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!

Because we asked…

Because we asked, God gave. Because we asked, God stopped in the heavenlies and sent a grace connection. Because we asked, life was turned into an uncomfortable place, to provide opportunity for us to see. Because we asked, we received what we needed, not what we wanted, and we were disappointed, and almost missed out on our blessing. Because we asked, we were granted our heart need, instead our perception and we were blessed beyond measure. Because we asked, we were taught, we much become a follower in God to become a leader in God’s, as it is above, it is beneath. Because we asked, we were taught a new arithmetic, we have to give to receive; in all things. Because we asked, we were taught humanity precepts are not in aligned with divinity percepts, and we have need to change our constructs. Because we asked, we were put in the unfamiliar to foster a different and expanded lens for the same landscape, so we could see the beauty around us and live freer.

Because we asked, we were had to travel some tumultuous valleys, and suffering some devastating losses, to see God’s grace is sufficient for us in our weakness, and we are never alone. Because we asked, God provided understanding for the absolute axiom; there is No crown, if there is No cross. Jesus set the example, the model, and his disciples provide the humanity touch for our understanding and the people who we teach about breathe life into the truths from the Living Word! Reread these verses again, clear a minute for God, and choose wisely…

2 Cor. 12:8-11 - Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(NIV)

Perceptions

Psalms 103:11-12 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,  so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (NIV).

Our perception is our reality, and it is based on our past experiences. It is not in some of us, but it is in all of us. We think, we are seeing with an objective eye but until we get in, and check the unresolved, the unaddressed, and the unremoved in our life, they color the lens we see through. No one is immune from it, and no one gets a free pass or an exemption from it. Yet, we say, we write, and we put out there, this - to get what you have never gotten, you have to do what you have never done. True as it is, it is implied in this statement, you are willing to move into, exist in the unknown for a season to achieve the desired goal. This is not the known, unknown it is the true unknown where you shall be confront with the fears, the pains, the unworthiness, as well as the envy and jealousy imbedded in our psyche and soul. For you will be confront with you, and you must decide. 

The decision challenges us to do what is right, and not just we have the right to do. Difficult as this is, remember God provides a way of escape it is call unconditional love signed in blood. Resulting in grace, unmerited favor, resting in our wake waiting for us to trust in the Living Word, obey the immutable God, and be comforted by the absolute Comforter. We need to understand those who love, not what you represent or have, love you; and the others that leave never really loved you and you didn’t really need them. It is your perceptions that stops you…Choose and watch God work!!!

If you are, who you say...

Matt. 27:42-43-“He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”


If you are who you say you are, then why don't you do. However, having the ability to do and not do that is the stuff separate the confident and the conceited; the faithful and faithless; the god-fearing and the god-hearing. At this moment, we see the truth character of a person as the popular is deferred to what has a lasting legacy. When the immediate is not the necessity, rather the future holds the importance of greater significance. 
Life changes, eyes have a new perspective as souls find rejuvenation, and the surrendering to divinity comes like the flood... We choose, the choice is ours.

What I almost forgot...

What I almost forgot is this, the call, the gift is upon us whether we desire or not. It is on my life whether I act on it, or not. If it is upon me, it is present for all to see because it is me. However, I shall miss the manifold blessings of it because I refuse to own, to surrender to it. I have let fear, the lack of finances and support to impede me. I forgot we make time, money, and effort for what we desire in this life; we choose. 
But then I had to back to this, where is your faith? You say, you believe but you don't trust and obey. What is up with that? Then I realize, what looks like crazy on an ordinary day is a divine appointment set by God. I do not get to miss it. I now see the same landscape but with new vision and a different focus. As I walk in my destiny and purpose, I 'get it', and rid myself of the negative Nancys and deceptive Dannys in my wake. I will let God do Him, and handle that madness as I move toward the godly positives and the divine truths.
Farewell fear, and hello my old but new friend grace, unmerited favor. I almost forgot what it felt like to have you with me. God's divine calculation and appointment what a blessing. We choose

Diversity Walk

My blog is a little different, I was asked  by my our Student Government Association (SGA) to speak at their last diversity event for the year. I was told to not make it too long...LOL...Below I have included it. Be blessed, and remember always your actions have impact whether it is intentional or not. Choose wisely...
Diversity Walk

First I would like to thank everyone for coming out tonight, and also thank Student Government Association (SGA) for asking me. I am the advisor but they did not have to ask me; I am honored. This walk is part of a decision made by SGA to address an issue that had come to them from a student here asking for assistance on this old habit but a different label – bullying. As they begin strategizing, more stories began to percolate about others being bullied because sexual-orientation, size, race, to name a few.  The decision were made by the SGA executive council to address the problems, that coincidentally falls under the umbrella of diversity. 

The diversity walk is the second event for SGA to bring awareness to this issue. The first was breaking the barriers that took place during the Fall semester.  Where SGA executive council members constructed a wall with sheetrock and plywood, inviting students to write the hurtful things that were said to them, and/or they found offensive. The wall was up for a week.  At the unveiling of the wall, Dr. LaTouche’ was invited as the guest speaker, to speak about the barriers. Dr. LaTouche’ explained how society consensus and norms are constructed and create barriers, not always intentional, because of cultural norms and accepted traditions. The wall stirred a little controversy to say the least when people actually saw what written on the wall, and the decision was made to put it behind a curtain, and take the explanation from on the side of the wall, and put it on the curtain so that everyone understood what it was about. At the end of week, all present, staff, students, administrator and faculty, were invited to symbolically ‘break the barriers’.

Tonight represent the culmination of their diversity program, and the intent of SGA is to show every one, Tarleton State University is a safe zone for all because we not only say we are family, we are. To show we can disagree without being disagreeable to one another.  We understand being disagreeable to what we disagree is about building walls, but not bridges to connect Tarleton Family. We accept each other, and believe you have the right to be you, without anyone weighing in with negativity to make you feel less than, or diminish your worth. Because if the truth be told, we all have something about our self, which another person could speak about in a negative light. In addition, we are all card carrying individuals of bias and personal prejudices as a result of our culture, faith, race, national origin, sexual orientation, social economic status, or learned core value from our upbringing. Yet, we came to school to expand not only enrich our academic knowledge base, expand our intellectual horizons, by challenging ourselves to move beyond the safe familiarity, comfort zone of the known to grow. Knowing it is not the landscape that has to change for change to begin, only our lens.

And lastly, whether we desire it or not, diversity is upon us, and we must face it with an open mind, or be left behind with a close one with walls that impede our desire progress. Knowing we cannot change the past, we do need to accept what we have done, and/or said through seeking and accepting the lesson.  So, as we take this walk around campus, think of one thing you can do to begin the change, you wish to see from this moment forward because each and every one of us represent a catalyst for change.