The civil rights movement of your life

Isaiah 43:18-19 - “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (NIV)

The civil rights movement of your life

With many people struggling because of the recession which prompts other issues to appear. However, there are many people just struggling because of life from spiritual to personal to relational to career to just coming to peace with who we are. What I am talking about? The civil rights movement itself was about fundamental issues of freedom, respect, dignity, and economic and social equality. While the civil rights movement of your life is characterize with similar things – freedom to live your truth, fundamental respect we all desire (from self and others), and to own we have worth. Many are fighting to sustain. As we battle the old not working any longer for you, and to progressively move forward but not sure. One season has past, and much of what is connected to it is past its usefulness; yet we do not see it. Do not get me wrong there is an order for discarding - things, people, habits, and mindsets. However, I want you to know it is okay to say, I moved on and although I am appreciative of all I gained here, I am done here. It is okay, and I am okay for being done. We do not perceive the way because our fear of what societal and tradition norms dictate. But God tells us over and over again and we fail to believe – Phil. 1:6 -being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (NIV). So, never be uncomfortable being thankful but saying goodbye. Because some experiences that look like failure and disappointments are actually lessons learned for your future progression. This is just a glimpse of what is yet to come. And no, it has nothing to do lack but growth as the art of forgiveness is learned and science of faith embraced.

For too many times, we do not let go because it is difficult. We are not willing to let go what God has already said was over, or for it or them to be gone. We won't let go, so we struggle. We fail to see we have done this very thing our entire life sometimes unintentional, other intentional, while still other times it is part of our seamless unconscious habit. It seems to part of the natural progression we had no control over, thus it was accepted; but it is not. But what is required is a competence of God that allows us to move forward by trusting and obeying, even when it is one of the most difficult things we must do. Why!? He sees life in its totality, the beginning, the middle, the end, and knows our faults and weakness. He creates an individualize chronological timeline for each of our life.  We choose, the relationships with God, or relation- slips with man. The latter has a slippery slope void of absolute true promise guarantees, while the former is the direct opposite.  Going through, submitting, only way of going thru to get to with the least amount of mistakes.

So, if you don't have the best answer, then the right question to find your way always yields direction. But remember, you do not get to be offensive, be intrusive to others as you grow through this. Your civil rights movement for your life requires you to do so without violence, unforgiveness, or retaliation, and act in the defensive but the focus should be love because it draws…Choose this day, who you will serve….

The call of conscience--is the voice of God within us.

The call of conscience – the voice of God within each of us. It is the innate bearing within us all that tells us we have a spiritual destiny beyond the material world. It not just religious, but also spiritual destiny which encompasses the vastness of reality, no one really wants to entertain. We dapple, we play around the fringes of it, we test the waters from time to time, but drinking the kool-aid entirely is not for us. The question is why not? The answers lies in the same old thing why we don’t do – fear. We are fearful of what God states is actually true, it is haunts our day and lingers in our dreams. All because he makes what is paradoxical or contradiction into a paradigm shift of  congruency. He takes what is seen as no value or worthless, and grants grace beyond imagination. He takes what seems to be illogical and out of order as a dissonance cord to make the most melodies heart wrenching, soul awaking sound  that stays with us long after it is gone. He creates the reality we only dream about, like when the three Hebrews boys were put in the firey furnace but was not burn, not even a singe or the smell of smoke upon them all because they put faith above, not that it was absent, it wasn’t.  Or when Ruth decided to follow Naomi inspite of what they didn’t have, it was the urging of the religion she seen but not quite grasped, but was curious, and the spiritual tug inside her, made her decide to go with Naomi. This is the pursuit of a true peace, beauty and joy that only comes with examination and authenticity of self. A constant thing never relented on but the weight of it is neither overwhelming nor confusing. When the advice given to others, is also the advice taken by self, we find balance, peace and harmony within ourselves. One is able to be in that ‘zone’ where everything works no matter what happens. Things works, everyone present walks away energized, darkness removed, and axioms to live by from this point are solidified as part of our very foundation. The social influences and emotional drivers or catalysts no longer guides, directs or dictates to you. They are understood, the importance of them grasped but like King, Thoreau, C.S. Lewis, Lincoln, the voice of God within, provokes what is right to do, rather than what each has a right to do, for a bigger cause. Not that they, and others like them got it all right, all the time, they didn’t. Their pursuit and the answering of the call of conscience were only momentarily lapse in their character of the imperfect human they were while the pursuit was flawless. They all agreed with the decree of Christ, and went for it, releasing them from the competition for attention because it is not about me…wink…This may seem philosophical and unrealistic, but the question you we must all ask ourselves is this – Why is it?, no one is requiring perfection, only authentic faith to believe so that change can manifest in us….is that what we are suppose to be doing as a Christian anyway...smiling..

The reason, the season, a lifetime

The most effective way to do it, is to do it…Amelia Earhart

Ecc. 3:1 -There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven… (NIV)

Things like people come into our life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. This is something that comes to bear in my life every year around Spring time. See, I work in an institution of higher learning, and graduation is looming upon us. Students are about to leave a place where they have spent the last 4, 5, 6 years, or longer. Life is about change for them, and although, they worked for this thing called graduation and diploma. It also means walking away from loved ones and places where an investment of time, heart, and soul has been committed to during this time. This is hard, even though, they have prepared for it, saw it coming, and knew it was the inevitable. The reality of it hurts, and the struggles appear. Relationships change, perspective expands, and dreams fulfilled. Tears are shedded over this goal being achieved; some for the leaving and others for the fear of what is out there.  I have found myself having a conversation with students each year at this time that I call the ‘disorientation conversation.’ 

In these conversations, we discuss this struggle of letting go, and the transition from college adult to true adulthood. I explain how things and all people are not all meant to be with them forever; they are there for a season, reason, or a lifetime. This is a hard discussion to have as I see in their eyes the gravity of this weighing heavy on them. We speak about struggling to hold on, even though the more you work, it slips, and you see it slipping away. Although they see themselves changed, they are fight to keep everything and everyone as is. All because changes are upon them, and it is not wanted. We speak about moving forward with life, and how life has a natural rhythm that will not be ignore; no matter how we try.  If we just let the natural rhythm direct us, we would have fewer problems, hurts, and disappointments because it is, what it is…smiling…Yet, as I speak to them, teach them, I am taught because I too am seeking. I see how we as adults do the same thing in our life. We hold to some mindset, traditions and antiquated beliefs. We hold to these and lose our self, others, and opportunities because it does not fit in our dualist living. We want to be current, and still keep the traditions benefiting self, and rid ourselves of those that do not. The inconsistency is destructive not only to self but all that we touch. All because, we will not accept all was not meant to be with us for a lifetime. Some were only to get us through, others were there to help us address a moment, and while the rest is there for a lifetime. The reason, the season, a lifetime realizing what is which makes a world a difference and frees us to embrace current 21^st century perspective and beyond, while still understanding the importance of the past and keeping what can should be kept, and releasing the rest so growth can occur… Ecc. 8:6 -For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him. (NIV)

How to move beyond what is ‘cultural’ for us…

How to move beyond what is ‘cultural’ for us….

Tolstoy puts it this way - Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. See you cannot really bring about change in others that is sustaining, distinctive, or legacy building without the awareness change begins with you, or you too will be changed by this experience. We have to do more than check the box of doing what is right, or making sure we have included all the right elements so no one feels unwanted. See, the cultural thing is the way of life for us. It is part of our unconscious, and we act upon it with a seamless effort in completing the task(s) at hand. It is like tying our shoes, or looking both ways before crossing the street, once you arrived at a certain comprehension. It is only when we are to be stretched, challenged do we find a problem. We have assumed all was well because things seem to be at peace but MLK states this - True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice. Many times we do not have justice as part of the cultural norms, rather we have this uncomfortableness that is our norm where no one is battling; we are grateful. So, anything disrupting this delicate balance we have worked hard to create frightens us. We shy away from it, and now what should be uncomfortable to us, is comfortable for us. We begin to make choices with the focus of showing others where they are wrong, or how much we know. This is done under the guise helping, but we are not. We begin to move things around hoping no one has caught on to the fact; we have not moved anything out. We just rearranged things but everything stayed and nothing new was added. Much like the child who doesn’t want to eat what is on his/her plate and moves the food around until it looks like something was eaten but nothing was. We have not quite grasped seeking a way to get around the issue, does not stop the issue of being an issue; it only creates adds to, and further divides us.  

What we need to move beyond our cultural safe haven, and move to a more expanded worldview. We must understand mull over Dr. King says here - On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, "Is it safe?" Expediency asks the question, "Is it politic?" And Vanity comes along and asks the question, "Is it popular?" But Conscience asks the question "Is it right?" And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right – We must have a conscience awakening, an epiphany moment where we realize, we are not to sacrifice today for tomorrow, but there must be a sacrifice if we desire to have a better tomorrow. Where we see, understand the consequences of our choices do not discriminate and are color blind in impact. For we are all connected, and until we realize it is not about us, it is about GOD. For we can only move beyond our cultural boundaries by letting our truth speak, our humility enlighten, our faith guide us, and submit to our God, otherwise we shall be kept bounded culture that limits us.

Retaliation

Heb. 10:30 -For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” (NIV

Retaliation, vengeance is minds said the Lord, I will repay. ‘The Lord will judge his people” reiterates for us, He is the final judge…commercial break if you are not a Christian, then it does not apply for your implementation; this for those of us who say, we are Christian and profess to be committed to the guidance of the good book…However, as much as we have read it, repeat it, and we do not believe it. Our actions tell the story. We say with our behaviors- I got this lord, and act on our emotional hurt feelings, then wonder why things are so chaotic or messed up. Well, with our participation in the retaliation process, not our lane, we add to our problem, not make it better. Yes, it makes us feel good to know, we showed him/her or them/those people at the time, but we forget there is a catch in God's universe truths are unwavering.  We get, what we give; we reap, what we sow in this life, and not always in the same proportion- good or bad. But the word tells us it is not our place, according to the good book we read, it states God will repay and he judges. Yet, it ain’t quite enough for us. So, we do not listen, or we want give it a little extra push by putting our two cent in it.  It rings with negativity and hurt, the truth of what is really going on would be most effective but it takes more work. See, retaliation, vengeance is an outward expression of a bigger issue because it is a symptom of an issue un-voiced, un- addressed, and un-dealt with in our life. So, what happened at that moment triggered something of a past wrong or hurt done to us, and now we are reliving what we did not address. Thus, hurt people, hurt people, and bitter people don't get better; they are destructive, because misery loves company.  Whether we are conscious of it or not; our actions tells it all. This is the reason God says I will repay, our emotions leaves us twisted, therefore, what we do only add to the chaos, not lessen it.

There are times we retaliate because we are called out on the behaviors, actions (in action) but not owning them. So, we are angry others see through our front, lie, sham, charade, etc of our 'right to do'.  We act with much fanfare and hardwork but the godly, right motivation, commitment was never part of the equation; sometimes what is missing it what cannot be touched. The gig is up, but since the person hurt me with their words, actions, looks, we retaliate, seek to be spiteful, vengeful. Thus, we become active participants in the creation of this 'situation', we say, we desired fixed. See, what we see played out on the visible level is never, ever the real issue.  It is the symptom, as the real issue has permeated throughout our whole being, and colored our thoughts, actions and words. We need to let it go, and let god handle it, He is so much better at it than we are. He does with an exact precision; gets it right on time and target...I will repay, check out His record in the good book; He is good...I am not going to say it is easy, or it is without struggle but with the commitment to the cause of Jesus, it shall make our life so much easier.

Sidebar - I work with students, and there are times I desire to do what I have the ‘right to do’. I had to realized, if it is not the right thing to do, and not the right time to do it, and I execute what I have the right to do, I am rendered ineffective. So, I die daily not just in work, but in my life dealing with people…I have a saying, I use – it is, what it is. When I say it, I am saying, I see, I know, and I accepted what it is before me as the way it is, and it is not my place to change it….We choose, our choice

Don’t get it twisted….

“Each new year gives us a chance to become more than we ever imagined."~ Flavia

We tend to get just enough understanding of things to be dangerous and ineffective. Not realizing, it is not just dangerous to us but to all who are connected to us. Whether is it wives submitting to your husband or submitting to leadership or leadership or diversity. The key is having a keen understanding two important concepts TPM (time, place and manner) and context. When we get these two concepts right make a world a difference between creating enemies, and creating a profitable connection that blesses our life. Doing a gut check before reacting to a circumstance, and before we spew out some great explanation or idea that is good and sustentative but it is only applicable in certain situations., and all wrong for the situation at hand. All because we missed the meaning all together, thus, we use it inappropriately. We have not grasped that having just enough is dangerous for application and implementation while being destructive to self and others. Because we don’t check things out for ourselves when we believe something is askew before we repeat it. 

When I was my young there was a scripture repeated a lot 2 Tim. 2:15 - Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (21^st KJV).  I will have to say, I hated hearing this verse being repeated in my youth. Mainly because no one would really explain it to me, or rather expound upon what it meant to in terms, I could understand. Yes, even as a little kid I was a little bothersome, or shall I inquisitive..lol…I digress…This happening over and over and over, we get it twisted, and confused. We become frustrated and reside in a chaotic state not realizing it because this is what is familiar, thus comfortable.  Then what is norm is what should be abnormal to us all because we got it twisted…wink…

I just don’t understand?

Hosea 4:6 - My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me. Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (21^st KJV)

We why do we perish, metaphorically or literally? Is it because of the lack of knowledge?  Is it the lack of teachers, mentors, coaches or ministers to help us to understand? Is it because we do not want to know because it might require us to reexamine our own storied-past with an expanded and all encompassing perspective?  Because it is more than just reading and having a tempered understanding of what is present. Dr. King in the Letter from the Birmingham Jail state this - “Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”  As Christian, we are purveyors of just that in our dispensing of biblical rhetoric based mainly on traditions and oral history, than authentic understanding of the theology taught, preached, and quoted... let me pause her with a commercial break, I am not negating the importance of traditions and oral history, saying we need to start doing making the same efforts with our spiritual pursuits as we are doing with our secular pursuits…Our desire to impose our imperialistic perspective, and push this ecumenical bent, than to be an all inclusive of God’s divine diversity.  These are two things do not work well together, thus confusion ensues. The latter is about fostering friendly relations amongst different religions, while the former is about imposing its ways on another that are different, mainly.  But no one has stop to consider what is happening to realize it.

Only when we are willing, and begin to face our fears can we learn to like ourselves and trust that others will accept us, as us broken, imperfect, but seeking, and overcoming. Reaching the place where we see our beliefs have become our blindness, and hinders us from moving beyond our comfort zone limits. When this happen, we will no longer revel in the thought – I just don’t understand. Rather we will see it as the thing that limits us from seeing how great our God love toward us is, and basking in the mercies granted to us daily. Then we will take this verse to heart and have it permeated in our soul - Proverbs 4: 7 - Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting, get understanding (21^st KJV). And we will not be lost, or have lack but live in an abundance which is beyond material or tangible manifestation of wealth in our life but does not exclude it (according to the measure we can handle, in our life). We begin to live in a world of informed consent, and unparallel sharing, not a the slow death of the frog in the water brought to a slow boil…it is all our choice... I have chosen...wink