Monday Musings: Help Somebody Cross
Recently, Tyler Perry was awarded the “Icon” award by BET. In his moving acceptance speech, he talked about “helping somebody cross”. This adage became a litany throughout his speech. As you listen to Tyler’s speech below, I invite you to reflect on those who have “helped you cross” and reach out to them in gratitude this week. Along with that, ask yourself if you’ve done all that you can to help others “cross” (succeed, advance, overcome) around you. As you start your week, perhaps there is someone who has been on your mind that you need to reach out to. In our busyness, let us not ignore the still small…
Monday Musings: Drainy people
Chances are you know a few people who drain the life out of you. These are the people you actively avoid. You dread it when their number shows up on your caller ID. There is always some drama, some woe-is-me story, some negative experience they want to share with you. We all know these type of people. But, do we recognize when we’ve BECOME these people. When the “drainy” person is you, are you aware of it? Let’s purpose in our hearts to be fountains this week. Be the person that gives, nourishes, and refreshes; instead of the one that sucks and leaves others dry and depleted.
Monday Musings: People vs. Things
LOVE PEOPLE. Simple right. LOVE PEOPLE. Not money, not cars, not power, not houses, not land, not countries, not influence, not your stuff. LOVE PEOPLE!
Black History Month Series: Living Legends
As a Diversity Professional, February was always an incredibly busy month. So much so that when I transitioned out of positions where programming for this month was included in my job description, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was refreshing to not worry about creating educational programming for other people. It was beginning to feel like a repetitive, white-washed chore that was designed to PROVE to majority culture that black people contributed to American history. EXHAUSTING!! These days I intentionally seek to educate myself about the history of the people who originated from Africa and “settled” (please notice the subtext in using that term) in these United States. There…
How Do We Learn to Love Our Neighbors? A Lesson from my Mother
This article was first published in Contact Magazine: Gordon Conwell’s Ministry Magazine Fall 2017 edition By age 16, my family had moved a total of nine times. Nine different cities, nine different neighborhoods. A plethora of different neighbors. We always moved to places where we were one of the only people of color. We were ALWAYS the “others,” the “those people;” the “strangers.” I was used to smiling and going out of my way to try and make people comfortable with my “otherness.” In the sea of names, faces and people that make up my collective memories, one person stands out: Mrs. B. It was the day after one of our many move-ins. I was in the…
Top 10 Books of 2018
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the AMAZING books that came out this year. They are simply my picks for ones that resonated LOUDLY with me in my pursuit of shalom. Please note: some of these were published before 2018. I just read or re-read them in 2018. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in World that Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown Overrated: Are We More in Love with…
