#readytodie

Not to be sensational or anything, I'm just reporting on facts here. As we have watched in horror, our "great nation" has become the mass murder capitol of the world. Scarcely a month can go by without another deadly tragedy taking place. We are seeing more and more random, and not so random killings.

We all know that we begin to die from the moment we are born- we know that we will die one day.  We don't obsess over it - we live with it, and accept, for the most part, that we have an expiration date that's "out there", somewhere. But what has sadly become part of our reality is "death by mass murderer." And these mass shootings can happen anywhere. Nowhere is safe. Not our homes, schools,  places of employment, grocery stores, favorite fast food restaurants, public parks, concerts, nor our very houses of worship!

There are some who are completely baffled by the increase of these heinous acts against innocent victims in our communities. But I am not. I'm saddened and devastated every time I hear of another demonic attack - can barely decompress from one event before another one occurs. But I'm not surprised.  I am in awe of the way the Bible outlines, through the words of Jesus, exactly what we are witnessing today.

With this knowledge and understanding, I am armed with the confidence to know that my protection and safety are found in my faith and trust in my Lord and Savior. All of these headline news stories solidify my stance and belief that God's Word is true - and binds me closer in relationship with Him. I am certain that my mission in life is to share God's love with those within my sphere of influence - and pray that those who seek Him will find Him. If I can be part of introducing someone to the peace and love - and joy - that knowing Christ brings, then amen.

In this world, in this time when we're all about the hashtag messaging - #staywoke, #metoo, #blm - and the rest, I implore believers to be vigilant about protecting our souls. One of my Facebook friends commented, in response to the Texas tragedy today, "The only safe place is in the arms of Jesus." I concur.

My friends, be encouraged. Be vigilant.

I'm not afraid to die. I live, by God's Holy Spirit, #readytodie.

I write when the Spirit moves...

Which is why I could never have gone into journalism. Writing on a schedule, having assignment deadlines, would have left me homeless!

My love for self-expression through written word started years ago, as early as 4th grade. I had a wild imagination, and I was also a note-passer in class. I got in trouble a lot for that. My most embarrassing moment was when my 6th grade teacher demanded that I hand over my note, which she silently read. She blushed beet red and I was mortified. In the note I had said something about my mother's "boyfriend". Well, I meant my father, who was most definitely married to my mother - but my teacher - well, you know what she thought. I don't even remember why I was writing the note. But I knew I'd done something very wrong and had besmirched my mother's good name in the process.

I was also classically trained in piano - and my passion for writing songs with lyrics turned into words without tunes. Poetry. Words that didn't necessarily rhyme, but had a rhythm. My rhythm. My family found out I wrote a bit, and asked me to write for special events - birthdays, family reunions and other celebrations. It took a lot of effort - being asked to write about a specific thing for specific occasions - but it turned out pretty well. Still...I didn't like being told/asked what and when to write.

Fast forward to the late 90s, when the Internet was truly coming into its own, and I was exploring it, in search of African American Poetry online. I found an extraordinary group of writers, poets, griots on a site and began to sit and just read. It was so awesome because you could give feedback and see responses immediately! I'd NEVER experienced anything like that before. It was exhilarating! And I joined in, inspired to write by the gifted poets on the web. My soul was stirred, and for a solid 6 or 7 years, I flowed...vibing off of the writers on the screen. Some of them were published, and many of them encouraged me to do the same. Up until that point, I didn't think I had anything to say that others wanted to hear. But. The artists on those poetry boards affirmed me, and confirmed that I did have a voice.

Over the course of 7 years, a book was conceived. I thought it would be a collection titled, The Woman in My Attic - and began to market it with that name. When the time came to compile the work, I realized what had come forth was something I truly had not expected. And so it happened, that my debut collection, Come, Joy! Songs from the soft of night, was published in 2005, by PublishAmerica.  It is a collection of songs/poetry that I wrote while under the inspiration of so many other artists, and my own experiences during the period from 1997-2004.  The woman in my attic will be my memoir - perhaps. For now, she is exactly who and where she needs to be - all encompassing, everything outside and inside of me.

To date, Come, Joy! is my singular published work. Friends have asked me when will I publish my next book. My answer is, as always - "when the Spirit moves."

Something Worthy, Something Impactful, Something Real

C. Kaepernick and kids at his camp, May, 2017

At the outset of the uproar about NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, and his "knee" stand for what he believes in - I saw so many other issues that were far more important. In my mind, the more important question was,  'What are we doing for our under-served children in the communities where we live?' Boycotting the NFL because of a multimillionaire and his employment status - to me - was not at the top of the list. Brotha Kaepernick will be all right, was my thought.

Please don't misunderstand me - I got why he did what he did.  I support his right to do it. There is the "big picture" for which he took the knee. But this was where I believed the boycotting of the NFL is only a part of the push for the solution.

Then lo and behold, I read an article published online, August 19, 2017 in Sporting News, by Nick Birdsong. It caught my attention because the report was about African American, Seventh-day Adventist Pastors in the Huntsville, Alabama area. I was raised Adventist, and went to college in Huntsville - I know some of the ministers. I was curious to learn what they had to say about the Kaepernick situation.

Birdsong wrote:

Thursday, a group of nearly 10 black pastors and Oakwood University President, Leslie Pollard, announced an "NFL Blackout", a boycot, or "mancot" as they referred to it, of the league. Until Kaepernick, who kneeled during the national anthem throughout 2016 as a member of the 49ers, is signed, the men are encouraging other leaders to refrain from watching NFL games, purchasing NFL-licensed paraphernalia and participating in fantasy football. 

"I want to be clear. I'm a football fan. I played it most of my life, growing up and there's rarely a Sunday that I've missed in my adult years," said Deblaire Snell, senior pastor of First Seventh Day Adventist Church. "But there comes a point in time where I've got to prioritize my convictions more than my entertainment value." 

Instead, these men will devote themselves to community service, dedicating one to two hours on Sundays for the next 17 weeks to "pouring into" African-American boys and girls, something they'll do even if Kaepernick gets picked up, and prayer for their community and government officials. 

It was that last paragraph that moved me: Instead, these men will devote themselves to community service, dedicating one to two hours on Sundays for the next 17 weeks to 'pouring into' African-American boys and girls...

If we as individuals - not just African Americans - but as members of the Human Race, would self-assess and look at our priorities, we could get so much done for the betterment of our society. After doing my research on Colin Kaepernick, I found out he's also been putting his money and his means where his knee is. At his Know Your Rights Camp  in Chicago, Illinois, Kaepernick empowers brown and black children by providing them with information and tools to become the change agents in and for their communities. 

I'm here for all of it. And that, my friends, is the big picture.

My Statement on the Matter

The Viral Image from President Obama's Tweet, 8/12/17

The questions are: How ARE we helping our children process what's been going on? How crazy is it that we must explain to them that the obvious hate being spewed by the hate groups, hate that is being justified and not condemned by the person who holds the highest office in the world - IS WRONG and must be resisted in a country that is supposed to be FREE?

I say, all the time, that I'm glad my children are grown and have their own understanding. My prayer is for the future of our children's children. 

My work has been cut out for me. 

And I accept.

An Open Letter to The Children

A message from my Executive Director, who, even though she is out of the country, is ever-vigilant, and has responded to the Charlottesville crisis:

August, 2017

A Letter to Our Children:

We adults must be very confusing at times. Too often, we have not protected you from the open and random expressions of bigotry, racism, and violence in our world, and in our community. Most often, we fail to protect you from the endless barrage of media imagery that portrays how angry, unfair, ugly and mean spirited human beings are toward one another, how they will slaughter someone else simply because the other is not like them or does not agree with them. Because difference is threatening. Because some believe that, they must reject or destroy what is different. Because a deep fear of difference turns so readily to hatred.

Another advocate for social justice and equality died in Charlottesville. Nineteen were injured in that confrontation, the latest public failure of adults to provide an example of decency and civility, of respectful regard for all people.

What are you thinking now? What are you feeling…doing…being in response? I want to listen closely to your soft, hesitant as well as your loud, angry words, your non-words, too. I want to hear you breathe ever so cautiously or when you hyperventilate, experience you while washed in anxiety, which now spills over.

You are right. Your feelings are right. Hatred is just wrong. Silencing someone’s speech is wrong. Taking a life is always wrong. What happened in Charlottesville simply is wrong.

Most importantly, I am writing this letter to you because we know that in this imperfect world, you can get through this. You have before, using help from family, caring adults, and positive peers. People. Prayers. Preoccupation with healthy distractions. You reveal your resilience with your tears, sadness, your clinginess, as well as your hope, resourcefulness, and trust. You still dream, dance in the rain and laugh at silly jokes. You move forward, through the day to day, still hoping we adults will figure out how to protect you, and how to teach you not to hate, but to love instead. Ultimately, this is our most important adult responsibility, and this is the only way we will build a just and moral society for your future.

We make this commitment to you.

Sheryl Brissett Chapman
The National Center for Children and Families (NCCF)
Hate will not drive out the darkness, only light can do that. Hate will not drive out hate, only love will do that.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

A Word About The Greedy vs The Needy

This has been on my heart and mind for some time, so I turned to the Bible for clarity. In this current climate of the haves vs the have-not’s - where policymakers and legislators continue to tip the scale in favor of the wealthy, this question came to me: "Do the so-called ‘Christians’ among this group know what the Bible says about the oppression/exploitation of the poor?” Do they care? I’ve been wondering if they realize that God abhors intentional, continual, brutal, egregious abuse of the less fortunate by the privileged. It is plain to me that some people who claim to function under the banner of Christ, have views and behaviors that are in direct opposition to the ministry and character of Christ.

As Believers, we have a responsibility to reach out and help others. ALL others; especially the marginalized and disenfranchised (Isaiah 1:17 - this whole chapter is full of meat; Psalm 82:3-4) . The Apostle, John, admonishes us to judge with “righteous judgment” (John 7:24 - Amplified Bible) - which suggests that we should know and align ourselves with what the Lord loves, and form our observations through His lens. So, armed with this , I can judge every piece of legislation that is unbalanced, unjust and oppressive, as ungodly.

These impostors and criminals will not go unpunished. But don’t take my word for it.

Reference Texts: Deut. 24:14; Leviticus 25:17; Prov 6: 16-19; 14:31; 17:5; 19:17; 28:8; Micah 6:8; Matthew 25:40; 1 John 3:17

The Legacy of Love

"Teach the children well" Crosby, Stills & Nash

"The greatest legacy a father can leave his children is the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ." R. L. Wynn

More than money, and even land (although property is a great legacy, to be sure) - the greatest thing a father and mother can pass down to their children is a solid spiritual foundation in the Lord.

I bless the Lord for my parents, who introduced the Lord into my life when I was an infant, and nurtured me in the Word of God throughout my formal education years and on into college. That training from my childhood provided me with a mindset - a spiritual underpinning if you will. And no matter where I went or what I did, my home training was never far from me. Oh yes, I tried some things that were in direct opposition to what I'd been taught. I've made some HUGE mistakes and suffered the consequences. No matter the choices I made, or the places those choices took me, there was a voice of godly reason and instruction that kept me clear of utter destruction! "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6. Bless the Lord, His Word is true! 

As a parent, my humanness, my frailties - all of me, has been exposed to my children. There is no hiding from those who've lived in your home from childhood. However, what I desire for my now adult children is that they continue to carry with them the truths and the faith we learned and embraced together as a family unit. In our family Bible study ministry, the Word of God opened all of our eyes, and took us beyond the confines of traditional religious thinking and worshipping. The Lord became real, and the practical application of His Word in our everyday lives was paramount. It is paramount.

The death of Bro. Wynn - the spiritual leader of our home and yea, our Bible study and music ministries - could have been the end of us. But God! Bro. Wynn left copious notes, sermons, and writings of encouragement. By the grace and power of God, I will compile these writings and give them to our children...that they may give them to their children. Until the Day of our Lord.

Amen