Is The World Sick

There is a consciousness that has been disregarded by humanity. Humans have remained on a level of worldly consciousness that has created more ills in our personal lives and in the world. I wonder when our consciousness became guided by the barriers of the world.

What many people that study theology and many that follow the word of God and follow the practices of Jesus Christ don't understand is that they have developed a lay-away system of religious/ spiritual consciousness.

They read the bible to look for answers to their personal problems, humans read the bible to support their judgments and biases, and God is looked at as the supporter in their life's play.

The words of God are not there to make us feel more comfortable so we may sit on the complications of our life but it is there for us to look deeper into the our personal efforts of causing these complications.

Words of God are there to look at God and how God dealt with complications and situations. It is not to look for ourselves but if we happen to find ourselves that is then the blessing. People use spirituality for their gain and not for the rise in consciousness that it should present in our lives.

If you practice the word of God and follow the path of Jesus Christ all of your life but yet still continue to think on a worldly level and have a consciousness that rises no higher than this earth, then you have missed something.

What I mean is that if you continue to worry yourself about what you will eat, or what you will wear, or if the world will perceive you as great and successful. You have missed the word of God. Also, if you still allow yourself to be jaded by human thought and human action, and if your life is dependent upon the reaction of another human you have failed in spiritual thought. Your reaction and action should be dependent upon that where your consciousness lies. If it lies within the barrier of human life then you will always be dependent upon that which is conditionally human. You will be dependent upon another's opinion, you will be dependent upon friends, and you will be dependent upon the mistakes of others and judging others to make you feel greater.

If you follow the path of Jesus Christ then you should not even be able to judge the life of another without feeling first ashamed that you have committed a sin against your own path. For no one's path is perfect so to judge means that you have created a life of sanctity and purity. And your path is filled with that of completion and compassion. For Jesus Christ created completion and had a life of continuous lessons and a life of compassion.


Surpass the level of this world and do not accept its barriers for your purpose is not to remain within the confines of a human society but to elevate to a spiritual sanctity.

Help Wanted Ad: Black President Needed

Now if we were to see this in a newspaper before the historical occurrence on November 4, 2008, there would have been several reactions. Some black people would have thought that someone was playing a cruel racist joke and some white people, well white people would have been bewildered at the suggestion of such a thought. Not necessarily rejecting the thought but not being able to digest such a thought. Other races probably would have taken it as a joke, but at the same time insulted by the fact that their race or culture was not suggested for such a powerful position.

This is one of those moments that years from now people are going to ask the question, "Do you remember what you were doing when Barack Obama was elected the first African-American president of the United States of America?" Let me tell you what I was doing; I was at the gym working out. Many are confused by my avenue of celebration but there was a reason. Please understand I contemplated about what I was going to do at least two weeks prior and I just knew I was going out with my friends in a great celebration to this historical and breath taking occasion. But, after I cast my vote on Tuesday something came over me. I felt as if I needed to be within myself and really think about what this moment means to me.

Of course, I thought about my ancestors or "humanities ancestors"...I thought about their foot prints that are forever imprinted in the dirt roads of American history. The roads that were once filled with the pain of submission and the agony of turmoil but are now filled with the celebration of a new day. I raise my glass to humanities ancestors for challenging democracy, for if they had not, America probably would not have stood at attention towards the ills of this country.

I thought about the door that has just opened as a result of the movement of Barack Obama. It is not just a door for Black people to say to their children that they can be president. But it is a door which released a healing in the lives of Americans. It begins to heal the pains of African-Americans, a pain which circulates like a brute force throughout the African-American community. It begins to heal White Americans because it creates a bridge of connection which the ills of this country has tried to knock down. It heals other cultures and also immigrants because it lets them know that America is not a lie. That America really does give life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all citizens.

I am healing today. America is healing today. Humanity is being healed today.

Most importantly this movement and America's new president has heightened the spirit of hope. The spirit of hope can be stifled by the ills and pains of a person or of a country. But now the top has been lifted and hope is soaring. It is soaring to new heights and it does not just affect African-Americans, Whites, Hispanics, or Asians; it affects Americans. It affects Americans because when hope is soaring peace has no choice but to follow, joy has no choice but to follow, and love has no choice but to follow.

As Barack Obama is the commander in chief of this country; hope is presently the commander in chief of humanity. How long will it last? That can not be answered. I needed to be alone to make sure I was brave enough to submit myself to it. When one succumbs to the spirit of hope, you open yourself to possibilities of change. You change internally because you allow yourself to shun your fears, to release your pain, and to create your destiny.

I celebrate America this day. I feel closer to its soil and its mountain tops. I feel closer to its plains and its valleys. I feel closer to this dear land; the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Conditional Living

I have not posted in a while because I started school over a month ago and I had to learn how to be smart again :) which is not easy. But I am back to posting weekly so please check back and tell your friends.

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So many people live their life based upon another person's condition. The conditions are bestowed upon us by friends, family, a lover, or society. Sometimes we recognize when this happens, but other times this detail seems to slip by us. When we do not recognize it, we become stressed, depressed, and uncomfortable because we are living a life that is not in direct line with our divine path. Think of a path in a park; its usually smooth dirt with a couple of rocks that you will approach with caution, so you watch your step, but if you go off the path there are trees, hidden holes, thick patches of grass, streams and ponds, and boulders that you must step over. A path is there to make life a little smoother.

But when we allow people to give us conditions, it takes us off of our path. For example, you may think... I know I can satisfy this person if I show them I am exciting (condition). I know I have made it once I buy a certain car (condition). When I get my doctorate, no one can deny my intelligence (condition). We will never be happy with ourselves nor the life we are living by having external conditions. Once one condition is satisfied, another condition is always born.

One of the reasons why most people in this country are in such bad shape is because of their conditional living. Too many people have lived their life based upon the conditions of an American Dream that they could not afford.

Please listen people, when you try to satisfy a condition that exists on the outside of yourself you are no longer taking care of the most important, which is your inner being. If your total being is only satisfied by the conditions that come from the outside, then your life will seem off balance.

You must know that your inner path is not cultivated by the conditions of your outer path. Your inner path is the only force that will lead to your happiness, your joy, and your peace.

Your inner being is a path that can only be traveled by you. So, you must nurture it with care, honesty, and self-fulfillment. You can not run away from your inner being no matter how big your house is, how fast your car goes, or how smart you think you are.

Walk down that inner path and allow your inner being to shine forth. Enjoy!

The Democratic National Convention (DNC)

We all have fantasies. Those moments when we imagine ourselves being someone or doing something that would be a total outer body experience. Well, while watching the DNC last night, I had a fantasy that I was a politician giving a rousing and enthusiastic speech. Especially after the CNN commentators gave their opinion of the line up of speakers being boring and lack luster in their presentation of the focus of the Democratic party.

If I were there here is what I would say....

We are here on the edge of democracy working at the height of its definition. Democracy means a free and equal representation of people. Here is the time to make the "equal" a reality. This is the time to show how far we have come as Americans and to show the world that we are returning to the basic foundation which this land was supposed to be built upon. That foundation is filled with opportunity; opportunity for each American to be given the chance of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

But this foundational right can not be given to any American if it is not made available by the hands that are put in charge to mold this land into greatness.

There are new hands that are ready to make that foundational right available to all Americans. Those hands come from the Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Barack Obama has made plans to rebuild our economy so that we are able to rebuild our lives, Barack Obama has made plans to renew our health care system so that it is made available to all Americans not just the wealthy and middle working class, and also Barack Obama has made plans to finally fill the gaps of education that separates our communities.

The time is now for opportunity to begin in this country and for all people to have the rights to an equal pursuit of happiness.

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Thank you for sharing in my fantasy.

What is the Truth?

I promised myself that I would update my blog every week but I do not write just to write. Writing to me is a way of giving a piece of my soul, so I wait for my soul to call for me to write on a particular topic. I know it sounds a little too heavy, but I figure if I consciously write to inspire, I will make a conscious effort to speak in the same way.

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I was watching the Oprah show and the show was addressing "The Face of Poverty".

I know there are a number of people that will not agree with what I am going to say but I welcome you to leave a comment. I am in Seminary and I am getting my masters in Divinity. I do not have a relationship with religion but I do have a relationship with God and Jesus Christ. I may not agree but I respect all different types of religions.

I know humanity will have to answer to God for the tests that God gives us daily as brothers and sisters on this earth and involved in this race. One of those tests is the plight of poverty. If I believe God is all powerful and provides blessings, then I must also believe that God allows ills to occur. There are some theologians, spiritualists, and God-fearing people that would disagree with me fully on this point. But I see God as a great parent that rears its children teaching them the way of the world and then backing off as they become adults to let them learn their way.

This world is not learning the way. What is the way?

The way is to look at the truth. I was not raised in the 60s or 70s, but it seems as though the truth was looked at and dealt with, most of the time it was faced with a fight, but they faced it. If the truth was not given to them, they went looking for it.

No one wants the truth anymore but they want their truth, the truth that makes them comfortable. The truth that makes them remain safe within themselves. This world distorts the truth so much through religious judgements, opinions, and mainstream media.

The truth is this country is full of poverty especially for African-Americans and Hispanics. We have television shows that talk about it but there are no shows that promote the action of doing something about it.

Poverty is a heavy monster that has roared for many years and it affects us all.

The truth is we do not have marches any longer to help promote awareness regarding poverty.

The truth is we do not have sufficient and dedicated programs to help create a change within people.

The truth is churches are now having a race to have the most buildings wrapped inside their iron gates.

The truth is we have reality shows that have nothing to do with most people's reality.

The truth is........well, as cliche as it sounds, we can not handle the truth.

We can not handle the fact that we have failed each other.

We have failed God's truth. God's truth basically is to take care of each other through actions of love, compassion, and understanding. But we have allowed our judgements, our biases, and our truths to stop us from doing that work.

God has his truth and its a perfect truth, so if he helped us based upon His truth we would all be living in complete hell. But instead he comes to us full of mercy, grace, understanding, and love.

Change is Inevitable

Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.
King Whitney Jr.
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I have been having a lot of conversations lately with people about CHANGE. It did not begin with speaking about change but the bottom line was being able to accept change. One of the most fascinating things that separate humans from animals, beyond rational thought, is the power of change. Animals must continue the same behavior, the same movement, and the same direction without hesitation. Humans are blessed with the beautiful choice of change!!! We can change our thinking, our behavior, and our mind. This is great because this means we are able to grow into something new, we are able to create and recreate, and we get a do over. We are able to rationally and actively change our lives!!!

How can such a beautiful thing become the center of discussions that are usually filled with hurt, pain, and confusion?

Well its simple, humans do not and are not able to accept the one thing that causes our waves to crash against our human shores. In other words, we can not accept the thing that helps to mold us into greatness.

Parents put their children in a box and plan their entire life before their 16th birthday and when it does not go as they planned, there is conflict. Friendships end because one person begins to change and the other person can not accept it. Civil uprisings occur because a certain people want change but they are forced to remain in a box by the government.

Why are most people scared of change within one another?

People believe that through the unfamiliar they will no longer be familiar. People become worried that what bonded them previously; whether it was doing a certain thing, having a certain pattern, or thinking a certain way; now that it has changed slightly, the relationship will change.

But, people must not be put in boxes and when you truly understand this notion, you allow people to change without hesitation. A true relationship, whether it is between family, friends, or lovers, will remain through the changes.

The more you are resistant to change within a person, the more you will stop the person from evolving which will eventually kill the relationship. What if you stopped a chicken from hatching and somehow you kept it in the egg, eventually it would die. This is exactly what happens if you physically, mentally, or emotionally hinder someone from changing. You kill them little by little as a result of the hurt and pain.

Change is scary and hurtful for everyone involved but when you as the receiver allow change to happen without conflict you allow love to flourish. Even if you are on the short end of the deal, such as a break up or you lose a friend.

For it is better to allow change and produce love, then to stop change and produce conflict. That love represents love for self and love for the other.

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This is dedicated to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for forcing the ideals of this country and its citizens to change.

INVISIBLE CHAINS - tribute to CNN BLACK IN AMERICA

The Chains are no longer visible.
They are no longer made by iron causing us to tremble.
They no longer make an audible sound with the shuffle of feet,
and they no longer keep us from physical defeat.


The chains are now in our minds
causing our neurotransmitters to shoot blind.
These invisible chains make us think we are weak,
which then cause us to be a part of the streets.
The streets?.... They give us invisible chains you would not believe,
one that makes our souls sad and our hearts bleed


So, where do we go with these invisible chains,
when we can not visit memory lane?
A lane which gave us our chains as a child,
from the shoot ups, shoot outs and, tribulations and trials


How can this culture grow up and break thru
when the familiar pain of the chains is all we know to do


The pain from the chains is no longer causing our wrists and ankles to bleed,
but it is now causing our future to become bleak.


Because now it seems we are no longer running from
"The Man" but each other.


Tag Your It!!! You have the invisible chains on now, my brother.

A Crowd Is Not Needed

I had a visit from a friend one afternoon and it was one of those conversations filled with laughter and insight. A conversation where you walk away feeling better about each problem in your life.

We began to talk about my birthday. I had a few friends come to the Walnut Room on a Thursday night (highly recommend) and we drank, danced, and laughed. There were about five friends of mine that were there and I had a very nice time. My visiting friend and I began to talk about how it feels good to reach a point in life where you do not have to be surrounded by a lot of people to have a good time, but you appreciate the time spent with friends. The people that know your good and bad, and still want to celebrate your life. You may not speak with them often but you still feel that friendship the next time you interact.

Whats great about this time of growth is that there are certain things you begin to appreciate and other things you could do without.

You begin to appreciate those intimate moments with friends and strangers, which hopefully you learn something new.

You begin to realize you do not need a booming system and flashing lights to feel fulfilled.

You begin to look forward to having a drink with a friend just because.

You stop realizing that you do not need to be seen by everyone but just by those that are important to you.

The best lesson of all, is that you figure out that time is not replaceable; the moments are precious and the minutes are few. So why waste time with people that do not add some type of value to your life or spend time worrying about things that only create thoughts full of conflict and unease.

Be at peace with your divine moments.

Each day add something that gives you peace.

Those things which do not give you peace release them whether its thoughts, people, or the past.

Cheers to the celebration of life!!!!!!!!

VALIDATION

At the end of the day, every human being yearns for validation. Validation that their life on this earth is worth something. Validation that they are needed and appreciated. Toddlers test the strings of validation by getting attention from their parents through drawing a picture or playing with building blocks. The smile or clap they receive, validates their existence during these moments. We become friends with certain people because they validate us in some way whether its our lifestyle, our interests, or our purpose. Divorce, break ups, arguments, disgruntled co-workers, and wars occur most times because validation has not been exchanged.

I was watching a CNN report on South Korea which it summarized the history and present condition of this country. The report also mentioned how South Koreans have been molded to dislike Americans, and this attitude has been prevalent since the Vietnam War. South Korea has waved fear and intimidation over the US by parading its powerful army and very detailed nuclear system. As a result, this has caused the United States and other countries to stand and take notice. But this is South Korea's way of trying to get validation. In other words they are waving their hands like a child and screaming for attention. The fear and intimidation for South Korea, validates them as a powerful country. Recently they have began to dismantle their nuclear system, the Philharmonic Orchestra performed there which is huge, and they have started to allow the trade of American beef back into the country. Why all of these recent changes: validation has been given.

Validation says to people, you recognize me and appreciate my purpose on this earth. When that is not done then people begin to find ways to get it. A toddler has a tantrum, a spouse starts an argument, a youth turns to violence, or citizens of a country have an uprising. All of these scream look at me, tell me I am ok and I have a purpose here.

When it becomes complicated is when people continuously look for validation outside of themselves, and depend on a person, a car, a job, or success to bring them validation. True consistent validation can only come from the love of self and the defining of one's own purpose.

As you busy yourself with the fleeting things of this life, ask yourself where does my validation come from? and why?

The Barack Obama Nomination

We are here in 2008 in a moment of truth and a moment of victory. A black man has been elected as a presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. Now we must ask these questions whose truth is it and whose victory?

First let’s look at truth.

The truth is that in 1965 African Americans were given the right to vote but alas when they reached the polling place they were turned away because they could not read. So that was a lie.

The truth is that slaves were deemed free with the Emancipation Proclamation. After African Americans were given that right they still had to fight for freedom; freedom for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. There were no provisions put in place to make that declaration of freedom actually available which made this truth actually a lie.

The truth is that Brown vs. the board of education was passed on May 1954. This made it possible for Black children everywhere to receive the same education as their white peers. It made it possible for books to finally stop becoming a symbol of luxury and change to a symbol of necessity. But this also made it possible to brush the educational inequalities more under the rug. So that truth was actually a lie.

The truth is that as a result of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Freedom Rides, and the Civil Rights movement we have made great strides in desegregating this country on all levels. The United States of America agreed to do what was needed to make sure segregation was no longer a monster in this country. But you can look no further than our schools and our neighborhoods and our work place to see how well that promise was kept. So that was a lie.

How does this country celebrate at this moment when it seems as if we have been continuously running on an engine of lies that have fueled the inner workings of this political system? How does this country celebrate when victory still seems available for a select few and hope for the masses.

Hope has nothing to do with color, religion, or status. For hope is not born out of the thread of success or the thread of acceptance. Hope is born out of the thread of pain, struggle, and the greatness of CHANGE.

So again, whose truth is it and whose victory is it?

Well, it’s the truth of humanity and the victory of hope.