Our Connection Is Not an Option...It's A Necessity

The thigh bone connected to the back bone,
The back bone connected to the neck bone,
The neck bone connected to the head bone,
Oh, hear the word of the Lord!

The foregoing is an excerpt from the song Dem Dry Bones, with melody composed by James Weldon Johnson and lyrics written by an unknown author. While in a Yoga class this week, the instructor commented on how each yoga posture has an effect on the entire body, including the internal organs, and how our awareness of this connection can enhance the benefits derived from the posture itself. I thought about this in terms of how President Obama had inadvertently referenced the importance of a 'national connectedness' in an interview with the television program 60 Minutes. He implied that as a result of his experience while in office, he would spend less time trying to garner the support of the Republican congress and more time on assessing and meeting the needs of the American people. My contention is that the president has realized or remembered that until all our needs are met, until we all collaborate and agree on 'what we gon do', there will be no real peace and freedom for any of us. We're connected, we're one, and until we initiate and sustain our actions from that premise, division, dissatisfaction, and the subsequent dismantling  of life as we know it will continue to plague us.

It's no mystery that there are only a few people on the entire planet who have collectively amassed almost all the material wealth. Along with that wealth is a semblance of power that seeks to strengthen and maintain their status by keeping the rest of us competitive and at each other's throats. A sense of I got to make sure that mine is bigger, better, and 'righter' than yours has become our mindset, and we spend a lot of our time concerned and bickering about things like: the Republicans or  Democrats being the best party, the Chicago Bears being a better team than the Oakland Raiders, Christians or Mormons being the only ones going to heaven, whether or not Haile Berry looks better than Angelina Jolie, if Hip Hop has a good or bad influence on the black community, or if a "Big Mac" is better than a "Whopper". These and many other issues keep us at odds  among ourselves while the supposed 'powers that be' are dedicated to collectively insuring that their stronghold remains intact. Their semblance of power is fueled by our elusive desire to be like them, and we thereby lose sight of who we are...one people whose existence is made manifest by One Creator for the sole purpose of helping one another experience heaven right here on earth. Once we realize that it ain't about what me or she has, but about learning how to depend on and treat one another, we'll be able to experience a sense of wealth and power beyond our deepest imaginings and our wildest dreams. We can then transition from the mindset of limitations to a consciousness of more than enough.

I propose that once President Obama is re-elected he can start incorporating the thoughts of the people in his decision making, from a foundation of inclusiveness rather than 'elitism'. He  can involve the recently unemployed in balancing the budget, because they have learned how to eliminate debt from experience and can assist the 'experts' who rely primarily on analyzing statistics, conjecturing solutions, and lining their pockets. He can call in retired insurance execs who are willing to tell the truth about insurance fraud on the corporate side, and have the knowledge and desire to formulate a means for allocating medical benefits in an honest and equitable manner. As for foreign affairs he can bring both allies and potential foes to the table, and they can all come to terms with the fact that their quest for nuclear power stems from a desire to keep up with the "Jones's. As my buddy Buzzy used to say, "White folks got it, you know I want it." From these and similar meetings an international forum can be established where the major focus is making sure that everybody has what they need, so that they don't try to get somebody else's.  You inferred the concept of 'connectedness' in your interview Mr. President, and I don't know how and if you intend to incorporate it, I'm just sayin. We can solve the problems together, as one, by  being inclusive and collaborative in our approach. 

"The neck bone connected to the head bone...". I remember singing that song as a child without realizing that it was a Negro Spiritual, because we never included the words 'Oh, hear the word of the Lord!  Well the 'Word' is and always will be 'One'. We all can do our part by recognizing, legitimizing, and utilizing a sense of oneness in our homes, on our jobs, and wherever and whenever we find ourselves in the company of others. All we need do is see ourselves in others and do our best to promote and solidify our connection to one another. We can sit at the table and eat dinner together. We can take a walk with a loved one. We can say Hi to the person walking by. We can give a dollar and/or a smile to the one with the cup in her hand. Neither the president nor anyone else can make anybody do anything, but our example can and will lead to beneficial results. Our every action affects another, and in turn affects all of us. We're one ya'll...we're connected. Let's do everything we do with that in mind.


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Is Age Really a Factor?

Your number of years on the planet might be very significant when you're five or six and you first start school. In the words of the kindergartner when asked how he liked his first day of school he said..."It was OK mom, but how much longer do I have to do this?" As a teenager there's the joy of having reached a milestone but then a sense of awkwardness crops up, and with it a preoccupation with personal appearance. Then you're twenty-one and legally grown but now responsibility is definitely an issue. At thirty the desire to succeed increases, and upon reaching forty you begin wondering if you ever will succeed. Fifty brings with it an attitude of "Oh Well, it's now or never",  and the common axiom at sixty is 'whatever' because the concern for what you or others have expected of you has significantly diminished. Now I can't speak from experience as to what happens at seventy, so I won't even try. However, in celebrating my wife Nicole's Godmother Jean Ann's eighty-first birthday last week, I learned that it really doesn't matter how long you're here. What truly matters is what you do while you're here, and how you feel about doing it.

Now I would be remiss if I didn't remind some of you and inform the rest that my momma is also eighty-one and that she got her Bachelors Degree at forty-nine. She, started teaching aerobics at fifty-one and taught at least four classes a week until she was eighty years of age. She started working with adolescents and teens at seventy-two, while still teaching aerobics, and worked with me at the Lighthouse Youth Center until May of 2011. She's been and still is my inspiration in everything I endeavor to do, because her uncompromising work ethic and unrelenting desire to help others are the characteristics with which I attempt to fashion my life. I knew that there were others beyond the age of seventy that shared my mother's zest for life and her 'never too late' consciousness; but it wasn't until experiencing Jean Ann's life, up close and personal, that I was able to witness another version of that same mindset.

  Momma modeling      

After booking our flight to visit Jean Ann, Nicole and I had offered to take a cab because of our late arrival time. However, Jean Ann insisted on picking us up and, true to her word, she pulled up to the curb 'round midnight' and whisked us away in her purple automobile. We arrived at her home where we talked for a while as she introduced and acclimated us to our new surroundings. She then excused herself in order to get back to a project that had to be completed by the next day. Having worked until three in the morning, Jean Ann went to bed and got up around six a.m. to finish her project and to prepare for an eleven a.m. meeting at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts Collection in Focus, where she has been a guide since 1999.  The project was a lecture and tour that Jean Ann coalesced with her birthday celebration and it addressed the presence of the works of over forty (40) African American Artists in the permanent collection of the Institute. The program started at one p.m. and Nicole and I had front row seats.

Jean Ann in Her Purple

The venue was filled to capacity with over sixty (60) people present. The majority were African Americans who had never stepped foot in the Institute. All the people present, were friends of Jean Ann who were there primarily to celebrate her birthday. The program was extremely enlightening and thought provoking as the highly knowledgeable art historian, who Jean Ann brought on board, shared her expertise. Jean Ann was both captivating and entertaining as she gave a formidable explanation of what art appreciation is all about, and challenged us to share our personal interpretations of what each artist was trying to convey through their painting(s). The number of people and the ease with which she facilitated the program succinctly conveyed how Jean Ann loves what she does, it aptly illustrated how she does what she does in the hope that others can share in her joy, and it deftly demonstrated how people are receptive to truth and beauty especially when it is administered by someone who lives it. 

Two years ago Jean Ann became an advocate and volunteer for the Restorative Justice Alternative Court System which seeks to exonerate first time offenders. As she shared this with me I was reminded of how my mother recently let me know that she was eager to start a new career, and that it would undoubtedly be in the field of Public Service. These two women allow no grass to grow under their feet, and both purposefully and inadvertently inspire and encourage others to do the same. For those of us under eighty-one, we have a wonderful opportunity to learn from those who have 'been there and done that'.

Let's take advantage of every opportunity we can to walk, talk, share ideas, and listen to the wisdom of our esteemed elders so that we too can give to others what has so freely been given to us. Time is not linear ya'll it's right now; and it's not about how long you live, it's about how you live. So let's apply the  paraphrased words of Jean Ann's cell phone message to our own lives,"If I don't answer your call, it's because I'm out somewhere living life to the fullest..." 

Thanks Mom for being all that you are, and thank you Jean Ann for choosing to share your life with me and for allowing me to share mine with you.




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Breathing is a Blessing...Gratitude an Attitude

Sometimes we take things for granted and are unaware of how thankful we should be for what we have received. I had no idea how much my deceased wife Elaine loved me until after she had made her transition. What she has done has committed me to loving my present wife Nicole as much and even more than I am loved. Thank you Elaine for what you've given me. I once reminded my nephew that I was providing him with food, clothing and shelter and that his grades did not reflect his appreciation. He told me that I had to take care of him. I know that his attitude has changed by now and I am grateful that he inadvertently pointed out how hurtful it can be when our efforts are taken for granted.

Nicole and I went backpacking with her cousin Kappe last week when I realized that my ability to breathe was hampered by a cold I'd contracted the day before. Mind you the trek, with packs on our backs, was a 3 mile hike up a mountain. It's one thing to walk 3 miles down the road, but because of inexperience I had no idea how strenuous it is to walk 3 miles up a mountainside. I had already claimed that I was not going to be made to look like the 'weaker sex', and so it was an unrelenting ego that would not allow me to be outdone by two women. This egotistic mindset, alongside the unmitigated Grace of God was the only way I was able to get to the top of that mountain. It was only when we came down the other side however, had settled at the campsite and had an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of creation that I actually realized that every breath I had taken was a gift from God and believe you me, I took quite a few coming up that mountain. Thinking about how we take something as important as breathing, a beating heart, or functioning organs for granted I began to truly appreciate how life itself is a gift, and that every thing and every body that contributes to our well being is a blessing.

After having rested the entire second day, and having savored the indescribable magnificence of what had been created for all the world to experience and enjoy, I felt ready to make the return trip up and down what I considered a magnanimous mountain. Although my cold had abated somewhat, it had not yet passed and I had several opportunities to experience how much a blessing it was just to be able to breathe. There was something else however that unequivocably illustrated how God can adjust our attitude through others. Nicole and I were climbing the mountain, still short of having reached the top, when Kappe appeared without her backpack and asked if I wanted her to carry my pack the rest of the way. It wasn't my ego this time that caused me to say no, but an undeniable understanding and a platitude of gratitude for Kappe and all the people that God allows to be a part of my life. It is because of other people, and the things they do, regardless of how significant or insignificant these things may seem, that make the days of our lives remarkably worthwhile.

Recognizing how blessed we are can be a humbling experience, but maintaining an attitude of gratitude for the blessings we receive, no matter in what form they may appear, makes every experience an opportunity to better ourselves and to give to others what has been given so freely to us. Thank you God for the breath of life and thanks to all of you for helping me to appreciate this gift and all that goes along with it.



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Love Is A Consciousness

The worldly consensus seems to mandate that we choose and profess a religious affiliation. Then it offers automatic credibility and authoritative license to those of us with a 'title' before or after our names. I've always experienced hesitancy in regard to accepting religious beliefs as spoken and demonstrated by those who claim to love God and are so-called conveyors of God's Word. I'm talking now about not only Christians, but Muslims, Buddhists, and all others who profess one thing and seem to live another. As far as I'm concerned, who we are, who we're with, and what we know is not nearly as important as how we live (love). 

The purpose of this posting is to address the need for developing, manifesting, and maintaining a consciousness that doesn't replace but transcends any and all theological beliefs. It's about being more concerned about our spiritual connection than our religious affiliation. It's about loving each other where we are and not where me, you, or anybody thinks we should be. Mankind has taken its own interpretation of what God would have us do, and packaged, labeled and advertised it under the premise that whoever doesn't buy it is going to hell. I believe that if we do our best to live according to the two things that Jesus said summed up everything..."Love God and love each other..." then we will not only have eternal life but can experience heaven right here on earth.

Love is the act of being one, not only with God but also with each other. What Jesus and other spiritual teachers had (have) is a "doing whatever it takes to bring more love Into this place" type of attitude. They had (have) a Love consciousness. Our religious affiliation, and who and what we want to be known as, has little or nothing to do with what we're supposed to be doing. Our love for God, for one another, and for ourselves,...that's the place we're supposed to be working from. We too can develop, manifest and maintain a Love consciousness, by realizing and accepting that we're in a position, right now, to do what needs to be done.  The fact of the matter is that the world is calling for  more love and we are all in the right place, at the right time, title or no title, to answer that call.

We can all be participants in a revived 'I'm going to bring love to this place' consciousness by looking at what we're doing and starting to ask ourselves if we're doing whatever it is out of love. Then, if we're not, making an effort to do so. Our religious affiliation will be part and parcel of that consciousness and we will not have to promote who we are, what we know, and who we're with, because people will be attracted to what we are doing. Love, the act of being one, can then be made manifest in our own lives and the lives of all mankind. 



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It's Not About What You Bear Or Wear...It's About Who You Are

Once when I walked into a Christian church wearing an ankh, one of the deacons looked at me and greeted me with "We don't wear crosses in here, we bear them." You ever been in a situation like that where you wished you could, but you just couldn't find the words that would make you feel that you had righteously put a person in their place? Well that was one of those times, and I now realize that the following is what I would liked to have said. "First of all Junior, this is not a cross it's an ankh...an Egyptian symbol of eternal life. And secondly, why are you still bearing the cross if Jesus did it for you?" There, I feel better now so allow me to pontificate just a bit about how I felt then and how I still feel today.

All my life I've heard that God Gave His only begotten son so that whoever believed in him would live forever. I've also read the following biblical verses Matthew 16:24 and 1 Peter 2:21 respectively,  "To this we were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.", and, "If anyone would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. " I believe that these passages are paramount in that they describe how true sacrifice is made and they indicate that we might experience discomfort in doing God's Will as demonstrated by Jesus.  But is sacrifice and suffering supposed to be the gist of our focus? Do we have to tell everybody, all the time, that we be going through this and going through that (bearing the cross) so that they  believe we are the ones who are saved, sanctified, and full of the Holy Ghost? I bet that  Jesus feels we should  even diminish the attention we give to his suffering on the cross, and display other images of him like his healing the sick, feeding the 5000, setting the record straight with that Samaritan woman, or restoring the life of a child. In retrospect, maybe we can start talking more about the good we gon try to do rather than the suffering or sacrificing we've already done. Doing good in the hood, ain't that something we'd all like to hear and see more of?

Went to see one of the best movies I've ever seen and I think it's a must see for all. It's called The Beasts of the Southern Wild and it speaks volumes to how the so called least of us have learned to endure and appreciate life's sometimes painful lessons. One of my favorite passages was the mother talking to Hushpuppy, her six year old daughter, who she hadn't seen since birth. It went something like this..."Every woman is a waitress and one day you gonna drop the plate and ain't nobody gonna pick it up for you. You gonna have to pick it up all by yourself without crying cause don't nobody like a pity party havin woman." Now as far as I'm concerned, that's sound, brutally honest advice for men and women alike, and something that we should at least think about cause the person it was directed at, six year old Hushpuppy,  wound up having to live it before the movie was over.  So in addition to what I've already directed to Junior back at the church; I say let's focus more on serving and sharing, and quit talking so much about what we're  bearing and what somebody else is wearing.



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We're Born To Win

Everybody loves a winner... even the 'haters' who just don't realize that you're not a winner based on what you have but on who you are. When you project who you really are, not who you want people to think you are, everybody can't help but to want some of it.

My wife and I had the opportunity to attend a concert this past Saturday at UCLA, and witnessed an incredible display of jazz compositions performed by a classical music orchestra. The concert was preceded by JCOI (Jazz Composers Orchestra Institute) a week of intensive study facilitated by eight of the most prolific and honored jazz composers on the planet, and administered to 40 very accomplished jazz musicians, chosen from a field of several hundred applicants, who sought to expand and embellish their composition skills.  The focus was on the inherent gap between classical and jazz music, that is fueled by the same heirarchal attitude that permeates our society today. The participants spent 10-12 hours each day discussing ideas and techniques that would help to bridge that gap, expressing their experiences, hopes, and dreams in regard to developing a means for garnering respect for all musicians, regardless of their genre, who sought to hone and share their work, All of this was undergirded and intensified by the anticipated and culminating concert that would give the participants and listeners a peek into what  the future holds for the world of music.

  

                                                     Alvin and Calvin                                

I would like to give you my insight on each piece performed and the response of each and every composer, but am going to limit this talk to the composition written by my friend Alvin , who calls himself Calvin without the C, entitled Almost A Boogie.  Now I'm not going to focus on the content of his peice except to say that it included and demonstrated all the principles and precepts discussed during the weeklong UCLA endeavor. What I am going to do however, is draw your attention to how Alvin and everyone present is a winner in their own right. The humility and obvious acceptance of their many accomplishments and endeavors as something that can be achieved by anyone who strives to make a difference was a sight to behold. A primary example is how as the audience applauded; Alvin got up out of his seat, walked to the stage and personally congratulated the conductor and orchestra for their appreciative and complimentary rendition of his piece. This act was aptly duplicated as he personably and graciously accepted each and every kudo handed him by the audience, and mirrored once more by the way in which he mingled and interacted with the attendees at the reception afterwards. What I garnered from Alvin was that he and his fellow musicians were hailed and celebrated as winners by everyone present not because they tried to be but because they are.

This whole JCOI event was not about people trying to impress and be lauded. It was about every day folk sharing their musical gifts with one another so that all who experienced their subsequent contributions could hear what winning through collaboration sounds like, and hopefully seek to win through like means in their own respective endeavors. It's all about us being who we are, doing what we do, and wanting everybody to profit as a result. We all can't help but to be winners when we want some of that.

I thank all you JCOI participants for showing me how to win.



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Where Do We Go From Here?

There is a common response that makes me wonder how we got to this point. It's usually made by dependent youth in response to a conversation that goes something like this... "I put a roof over your head, buy all your clothes, and feed you each and every day. Why can't you do what I ask you to do?"  The paraphrased response is the same in any language. "I didn't ask to be here...it's your job to take care of me."  What's going on ya'll, what happened to work ethic and responsibility? I certainly don't know the answer but allow me to share my thoughts if you will.

We all have a tendency at times, to blame some one or some thing else for our uncomfortable and compromising situations.  According to the Bible Adam blamed his wife for eating the forbidden fruit'. "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." The fact of the matter was that God and Adam (the we) had a deal andAdam forfeited when he ate the fruit. Upon  realizing that he was exposed(naked) he tried to cover up.  Then, when he got caught and God called him out, he blamed Eve for the infraction. Today it's the same scenario. We get caught not doing what we should or doing what we shouldn't;  and place the blame on our parents or children, on our bosses or the school system, or on the media for our subsequent separation from the 'we' consciousness. The bottom line is that our existence on this planet has always been and will always be predicated on a we thing. No matter how we got here, no matter what we do or feel, our very presence means that we have a pact with the universe which guarantees that the way we treat each other is the way we will be treated. That's an inevitable, universal truth and it's the real deal. We and the universe are one, we are all part of the we. Whenever we break away from that reality, which has already been established, we are at fault for what some of us still claim is not our responsibility.


Each of us has a purpose for being here and not until we realize that we have to be of one accord to make that purpose manifest, none of our projects or goals will reach their full potential. If one child leaves food in the room causing ants, cockroaches, or mice to appear; the whole household and everybody in it is affected. If the father and mother are at odds with each other, whether they're in the same house or not, the children are going to suffer along with them. The schools play a role in this scenario as well  by not mandating that everyone in a child's life be involved in the educational process. Shows like 'Basketball Wives' should not be accepted as  'Reality' shows,  but for what they truly are... 'What People Do Who Ain't Doing Nothing Else'.  In order for each of us to make manifest our reason for being here, and to change the things that are not really in our favor, we must first realize that something has to be done, and then understand that before we do anything we must first take into consideration how everyone else will be affected. Then and only then can a beneficial and altruistic change come about, and then and only then can we truly fulfill our individual purposes for being here.

The next time we get 'checked' or 'treated by somebody else, let's stop responding with excuses. Instead let's recognize and accept that we're essentially being notified of how we've separated ourselves from the 'we', and how important it is to come back home to the we in that 'Garden of Eden' where it all began. Once we acknowledge and accept where we're from, we will truly recognize and realize where it is we're going.


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