I promise, I promise me...myself...and I...that I WILL write something every day. 

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How often throughout the years have I felt that you were withholding something good from me? Too many times to count.  Yet the fallout from my personal perspectives had severe consequences for me and even now too painful to recall or recount.  Yet inspite of my limited viewpoints, You still managed to still me...then steer me out of harm's way time and time again. 

I am eternally grateful.

So now...in this moment  in which I Iive and move,  with the fogginess of lies and self-delusion blown away with Your breathe I see with clarity Your perspective.  Everytime you shook your head or pushed me back or yanked me from the alluring, I see...You were protecting me.

Yes, so many times I felt and argued that You were holding out on me the good I wanted, desired, even thought I needed.  Truth flows in like a river now..."You were not keeping a (good) thing from me, rather You were keeping a (good) thing from the things".  You were not withholding good from me, but You were keeping something You considered good from being tainted, defiled, ultimately destroyed. 

I was, am and will always be Your good thang. I didn't see my value the way You did.

How did I miss that in Genesis? 

*Watch Embedded Video: Stacie Orrico - Strong Enough

Played: 368 | Download | Duration: 00:01:36

        

Just how in the raw can I be in my blog as I re-commit to sharing my mental processes on a frequent basis.  Yes I know, only I can determine the degree of my nakedness to the world.  Living beyond the mask of superficiality is one thing but stripping down to the raw emotions and to the thoughts still forming is another.

So here goes...

I often think about water...it's simplicity, needfulness and fear-provoking essence.  We cannot live without it yet we so often fear it all the same...and for good reasons to both.  But to the positive, it can relieve our inner thirst and restore our outer calm. If we only yield to it. 

Beyond consumption I love to slip into its purest form.

Have you ever just submerged yourself into a body of water?  Total body submersion. Remember the feeling of the aqua around you? The comfort? The silence? Eventually you surrender to the lung's screams and emerge to the sights and sounds briefly muted by its awesomeness. 

Coming up for air.  Returning to the consciousness of life and the world.  Yet if you've allowed the essence of the water to soothe, you are able to emerge with a greater sense of calm and clarity. 

Water. Many forms...vapors to liquids to solids.  No "thing" exists without it. 

Water.  Drink it in...bathe within it.  As in the natural so it is in the spiritual.  Perceive and be refreshed.

Played: 370 | Download | Duration: 00:01:46

        

A Nighttime Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep.  I pray Dear Lord my soul You'll keep.
If I should die before I wake, I pray Dear Lord my soul You'll take. 
Yet if I should live another day, I pray Dear Lord, You'll guide my way.  
God bless mother, sister, brother, friends and all who touch my life
and whose life I touch.  In Jesus' Name. 
Amen.

        

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UMOJA (U-MO-JA)

Welcome to the first day of Kwanzaa and to you all I say "Harambee Kwanzaa"!  When I became aware of Kwanzaa years ago and the principles associated with this cultural holiday, I felt really blessed that my birthday (December 30th) falls within it.  In honor of all things "end of the year" I share with you the history and principles of Kwanzaa.  The following is from Kwanzaa.com:

Kwanzaa was founded in 1966 by Dr. Karenga who was a leading theorist of The Black Movement in the 1960’s. His writing credits are quite extensive and have appeared in many journals and anthologies. Kwanzaa’s birth stems from a cultural idea and an expression of the US organization which Brother Karenga headed. This new way of exploring self has blossomed into the only nationally celebrated, native, non-religious, non-heroic, non-political African-American holiday.

The name Kwanzaa is a Kiswahili word for "the first fruits of the harvest". Kiswahili was chosen because it is a non-tribal African language which encompasses a large portion of the African continent. As an added benefit its pronunciation is rather easy. Vowels are pronounced as they would be in Spanish and consonants, with few exceptions, as they are in English. For example: A=ah as in father; E=a as in day; I=ee as in free;O=oo as in too. One last note, the accent or stress is almost always on the next to last syllable.

This holiday is observed from December 26th through January 1st. Again its focus is to pay tribute to the rich cultural roots of People of the African Diaspora. Though first inspired by African-Americans, many of African descent celebrate this occasion today.  Its reach has grown to include all whose roots are in the Motherland.  Its’ concept is neither religious nor political, but is rooted strongly in a cultural awareness. This is not a substitute for Christmas; however, gifts may be exchanged with the principles of Nguzo Saba always in mind. Gifts are given to reinforce personal growth and achievement which benefits the collective community.

The principles are:

Umoja (unity) U-MO-JA
Kujicahgulia (self determination) KU-JI-CHA-GU-LIA
Ujima (collective work and responsibility) U-JI-MA
Ujamaa (cooperative economics) U-JA-MA
Nia (purpose) NIA
Kuumba (creativity) KU-UM-BA
Imani (faith) I-MANI

May the principles guide  us all year round. Also take a little more time to enjoy a source of political and community inspiration from one of my favorite modern political minds - Roland Martin.  I give this to you with love and again "Harambee Kwanzaa"!

        

At Last

Like overdue rain on a dry, parched arrid land the votes for a new day in America poured down on Tuesday, November 4, 2008.  You know it's just today that I can bring myself to try to articulate my emotions through words about the election of Barack Obama as the next president of "these" United States of America.  It is like in the theater of my mind, I see myself drenched by the incredible feeling of hope.  I imagine that as the rain  (of votes) began to fall on Tuesday, that I rushed outside into the middle of a scorched field where crops struggled to survive, there I danced, skipped and hopped in the deluge of refreshing rain long, long overdue.  Yes the prayers to God for rain were finally answered.  The most beautiful thing I see is that we, as a nation, are no longer afraid of getting wet by the pounding rain that now beats upon us and upon a land that so desperately needs it.  Oh, the visual pictures flourish in my mind... a NEW chapter in American history has finally begun and yes, this generation made it happen... "at last".  Enjoy this incredible new video by Will.i.am from dipdive.com. Yes it's a New Day!

        

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One More Day

Just more one more day that is the refrain via emails, media outlets, pundits, stump speeches and yes even my personal blog.  Regardless of the outcome tomorrow, we all can attest that this election cycle has been historic on many levels.  I truly hope that the fervor of the American people will continue to demand change from every level of government as well as demand greater personal responsibility.  So today as I scan my favorite online sources of the latest polls and headlines, I will do so with the knowledge that this it...the last Monday before the most historic election in recent history and I'm so glad to be here to witness it with great expectation and hope. To all those who did not early vote I say VOTE.  Then celebrate your power to impact change in your lifetime and may we all live to witness the fullfillment of a dream.  Enjoy a double dose of inspiration from Barack Obama and Martin Luther King Jr.

        

Countdown to Change - Day Ten

As we countdown to this historic election, I want to encourage you and your circle of friends to early vote.  Also here's a little video inspiration from Ron Howard who goes "Opie" for Obama.  Enjoy.