Be Positive

Be positive! It is a choice. It is a conscious decision. When you are faced with a challenging situation, you have a choice. You can choose to be negative or you can be positive. Things could always be worse. Count your blessings. Did you wake up? Do you have food to eat? Do you have a roof over your head? Do you have clothes on your back? There is someone sleeping in their car. There is someone with only the clothes on their back. There is someone who has lost everything. You can afford to look on the bright side. Be Positive! 

Kairos

There are key moments in our life that define us. It could be the day you graduated from high school or college. It could be the day you had your first child. It could be the day you got married.  It could be the day someone close to you died. Victories and tragedies have a way of shaping our lives. Some events catapult us into destiny, while others cause us to take pause. Kairos is an Ancient Greek word meaning the right, critical or opportune moment. We might not always recognize these as kairos moments, but they are crossroads. These moments have the ability to shift our lives. Take advantage of every opportunity given to you. Don't just knock, kick the door of opportunity open. Seize the moment. Take a chance. Live!

Good Morning!

When I was in New York, I noticed that everyone was in a rush. People didn't make eye contact. Strangers did not smile and say, "Good Morning." I missed the South. I missed the hospitality. I missed the overt racism. I missed knowing who was friend or foe. Just that simple gesture let me know who recognized that it is a "good morning" simply because we were alive, and someone else isn't. This morning is an opportunity to right yesterday's wrongs. "Good Morning" is a reminder that no matter what happens, it will still work out for your good. "Good Morning" is a reminder of what your expectation should be for the rest of your day. Good morning people, and have a great day!

Vision

Habakkuk 2:2 “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. 

It seems easy. Get an idea. Write it down. Have a dream. Write it down. Most of us use our phones to help keep us on track, anyway. We make "to do" and grocery lists. We set calendar reminders, and some of us even schedule text messages. Fancy! Then, why don't we prioritize our ideas or our vision? Why don't we invest in ourselves? Why don't we support other visionaries? I'm sure the reasons may vary. However, we should consciously cultivate our ideas. Who knows? They could be an additional income stream and potentially grow into a thriving business. Write the vision! 

Rest

The storm clouds have passed. The damage is being assessed. There are still some lingering effects. As crazy as it sounds, the rain battering on the window lulled me into a deep sleep. I slept through the storm. Others slept through the storm because their power was out, and there was nothing to do, but sleep. What if you were able to sleep through the storms in your life? What if you had enough faith to say, "I've done all I could do, it's up to you God." What if you trusted enough to rest in peace, to rest in God and know that it's out of your control. I've learned that I'm not in control. There are circumstances that are simply above my pay grade, that is when I've learned to let go and let God. Have faith and rest on his promises. This too shall pass. 

Lamentations

First, they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— 
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— 
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

- Martin Niemöller

This was poem was written by Martin Niemöller, a German pastor who did not immediately speak out against the Nazi regime and eventually found himself in a Nazi concentration camp. The above words can be substituted with immigrant, African American, Hispanic, Muslim, and LGBTQ. Being silent is being complicit. We need to stand with one another because our turn is coming. This administration is targeting everything that is different. They are targeting immigrants, black and brown people, and anything that does not fit into their Euro-centric America. Just because the mob has not knocked on your door, or burnt a cross on your lawn doesn't mean that they will not eventually come for you as well. Be sober. Be vigilant. Stay woke. 

Church & State

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Flashback to your high school Ethics class. Do you remember the discussion about the separation of church and state? America still has "In God We Trust" on their money, the Supreme Court has carvings of the Ten Commandments, and our Presidents are sworn into office with a bible. Some of the Founding Fathers of this country considered themselves Christians. Despite America's root in Christian theology, I would never consider America a "Christian" Nation. This is the same country that put a travel ban on Muslims.

Every day I see images of the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. I see people of all racial backgrounds and religions in shelters. I see people helping people in need. When tragedy strikes, politics don't matter. How you worship, or who you worship doesn't matter. America does not have a political or religious issue. America has a humanity issue. When churches don't open their doors and share the love of God, that's a problem. We are supposed to be "one nation under God," and yet we quarrel over what God. When the levees break, and the creek rises...who cares about the separation of church and state? Both should be working to help their neighbors, parishioners, and constitutents.