Soul
Soul has been on repeat in my house since Christmas. It has led to some very interesting conversations about life before birth as well as life after death. It’s definitely some deep subject matter. I can admit that I was a bit disappointed with the movie. I have a thing with Disney and black characters. I expected a movie about Soul to have one. My fault. I expected Disney to chime into the Black experience. My fault. Soul to me is not just a religious thing. It’s cultural. It’s soul music. It’s soul train. It’s black fists. It’s full lips. It’s afro picks and picket lines. Soul to me is grandma’s prayers and peppermints. It’s Virginia Slims and black lips. It’s braided hair and pressing combs. Soul is home, but maybe I’m just thinking about the souls of black folks, cause America sold its soul.
Community
What does your community look like? Who is on your list to call when things go wrong? Who is on the invite list when it’s time to celebrate? Your community is everything. They are the people who you choose to share your life with no matter what. They are the shoulders you cry on and your cheerleaders in the stand. Make sure that your community is filled with truth tellers and wisdom seekers. Your community should be filled with people who can shine a light on your places of darkness and speak to where you are going. Your community should be filled with people who know the real you and love you anyway. Your community should be filled people who know where you are have insight into where you are going. I’ll ask again, what does your community look like?
Soul
soul (sōl/) ) noun
1. the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal.
2. the essence or embodiment of a specified quality.
There's a part of you that is immortal. It's inside of you. It's living. It's breathing. It's speaking. It's whispering ancestral chants. It's guiding you. It's that part God gave you when he created you in his image. It's your inner voice. It's your soul. You can't ignore it forever. You can't deny it. It's in your eyes. It's your voice. It's in the fabric of your being. I see it. I know you got soul.
Malum
Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
I think that sometimes we forget that Lucifer was an angel. I think we are ignorant of the fact that spiritual warfare is real. I think we substituted faith for crystals. We use "energy" in the place of spirit. We have forgotten that the battlefield is in our minds. Our souls are at stake. Our humanity is being challenged. Our character is being tested. Execution is the cost of fear. Detention is the cost of being an immigrant. Torment is the cost of being a minority.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Learn
They say you learn something new every day. I can say that I really do learn something new every day. I learn new information. I learn about myself. I learn about my triggers and my limits. I learn to listen when my body speaks. I learn how others respond to me and how I respond in return. I learn to pay attention to everyone around me. What did you learn today? Pay attention. Every day is a new opportunity to learn to learn every minute of your life.
"Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored." -Earl Nightingale
Fervent
Fervor n.
1. intensity of feeling or expression
2. intense heat
The Bible talks about having a fervent mind, effectual fervent prayers, and possessing a fervent spirit. Our thoughts should be passionate and deliberate. Our prayers should be a profession of our faith. Our spirit should be expectant. I say should because some of us have lost our intensity. Our passionate flames are smoldering. We are still on fire, but our flames can be extinguished by disappointment. Fan the flames. Ignite your passion. Renew your strength. Change your mind. Raise your expectation. Pray effectual fervent prayers. Love fervently.
Workmanship
I've always enjoyed hearing creation stories from all around the world. Some are a bit far fetched, but amusing nonetheless. I've always imagined God as a Master Craftsman. The human body is a marvel. The brain, the blood vessels, the heart, the lymph nodes all working together to ensure we function properly. I stand in awe of the clouds and the stars and the planets. Our sun and our moon co-exist in our sky. Creation is God's workmanship. It is meticulous and beautiful. It is specific in its design and function. It is engineered in excellence and has lasted several millennia despite our efforts to destroy it. It is nothing short of amazing. We are a spectacle. We are a wonder because we are God's workmanship.