Sorting Out Your Spiritual Season

I am firmly convinced that we are spiritual people. Our hearts lead us in directions sometimes that our minds find unimaginable. Our minds strive to convince us of all that is rational and all that can be proved by our other senses. I was reading some stories from a little book called, Charleston's Ghosts. The book went into great detail about some of the ghost stories told in the town of Charleston, South Carolina. I remembered visiting there for vacation and thinking about how the trees seemed to sway in the breezes differently than I had experienced in any other place. Certainly there was more going on in Charleston than met the eye!

We live in an age where spiritual people sometimes feel pushed out to the fringes of existence. Yet, we can celebrate the ways that our hearts and souls do speak. Our hearts and souls do push us every now and then to become the best people we can become. Pehaps that is because we serve a God of infinite possibility.

The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote in the 3rd chapter of the Holy Bible that for everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the sun. Sometimes we want to rush the season we find oursleves in. Sometimes we want different seasons to overlap. When we pray we're not satisfied unless our prayer answering season overlaps with our prayer asking season. We want instant answers from a God of infinite possibility. Sometimes we would be wise to recognize what that writer wrote who wrote, "God gives us people in our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. " Some friendships are meant to last for a season. The same can be said for some romances. As much as we might want them for a lifetime those realtionships may only have temporary, seasonal lasting power. The question then becomes: Are you sorting out your spiritual season, right now? Do you really see or feel where you may be rushing things along or hoping for outcomes when you should be striving to fully experience the blessing you find yourself in right now. What season is it for you? Sort it out. For there is a blessing in the sorting and figuring out also. There is a blessing in THIS SEASON FOR YOU RIGHT NOW!

Moving in Mellow Thanks for Mighty Mothers

Once a year has never been enough to show our appreciation to the mighty, loving and committed mothers that move us to action in our lives. As I thought about that first miracle repored by St. John in the 2nd chapter of John, verses 1-5 (NRSV Bible), I couldn't help but think about the ways my own mother and so many other mothers have moved us to action going all the way back to Jesus' mother Mary. Hard times were due to define the marvelous wedding feast in a little village called, Cana, in Galilee. But Mary, mother of Jesus, would not have it! She stood her ground and did three things that marvelous, mighty mothers have continued doing well over the ages. The first thing she did was she anointed and appointed her son Jesus to get started with His earthly mission. Yes, Jesus was sent to do God's work here on earth but I'm sure Jesus would have preferred to get started AFTER he gathered his whole 12 disciples. Mary saw the wine was running out at the wedding and knew what her son Jesus could do. Mary blessed Jesus to get to work. Have you ever felt the gentle nudge of your mother pushing you to get to work? I have. The second thing mother Mary did was she let Jesus know that sometimes miracle making is not just about supernatural things, only. Sometimes letting the supernatural things serve practical purposes is really what matters most. Didn't your Mama ever insist that you think practically? Mine did. Thirdly and finally, mother Mary did something that Mamas over the ages have been known for! She made sure it was her child, her adult child here with Jesus, was going to come, reach out and help. Mother Mary knew that we can't have a faith or a gift that we don't use. You don't have to be the greatest theologian on earth to recognize that there is wisdom in using ALL THE GIFTS GOD GAVE YOU! And that earthly axiom is true about using your faith and your gifts. If you don't use them, you'll lose them. I hope everyone who reads this blog found a special mother or two to celebrate for Mother's Day, 2009. But more importantly I hope we will take all the good feelings we feel for mothers into the rest of our moments, days, weeks and years ahead. Keep moving in your mellow thanks for mighty mothers TODAY!

Living the "Abundant Life! RIGHT NOW!"

If you've heard the biblical injunction that Jesus came so that we can have life and have it, "more abundantly" then you know this abundant life isn't about material things, only. It's also about the people we hang out with and the choices we make. Some clues to living the abundant life were in the words of an anonymous poet who penned the piece, "Choose to......" And when I saw it I knew I had to share it. May it nourish your spirit. Here it is:

Choose to love RATHER THAN to hate
Choose to laugh RATHER THAN to cry
Choose to create RATHER THAN to destroy
Choose to persevere RATHER THAN to quit
Choose to build up RATHER THAN to tear down
Choose to prasie RATHER THAN to gossip
Choose to heal RATHER THAN to wound
Choose to give RATHER THAN to take
Choose to act RATHER THAN to procrastinate
Choose to grow RATHER THAN to rot
Choose to pray RATHER THAN to curse
Choose to light a lamp RATHER THAN to snuff one out
Choose to LIVE RATHER THAN TO DIE!!!!!

Surely, these times we're living in are tough! And disappointment may feel like its close at hand. But be encouraged today......as you choose well! Choose to live life abundantly!

Real Moments for Lovers and Cupid's Spell

Real Moments for Lovers is one of the great books by Dr. Barbara DeAngelis. She suggests in that book that, "your relationship should be a place you often retreat to, not a place to run from." This is something I try to get across to the couples all the time. In the kind of tough economic times we find ourselves living through 'retreats' and time away is surely getting lost behind job stress. If we are working we find ourselves routinely trying to handle the jobs of two, three or more people. If we are not working we are struggling to make ends meet and with the feeling that we have little to bring to our relationship. I want to encourage you to think about that special person in your life this coming weekend. Give in to "cupid's spell." Let the love bug bite. Spend some intimacy time with that special person in your life and try to stop retreating to the 'man cave,' guys. And ladies stop retreating to your quiet pursuits away from your mate, like reading, meditating or whatever takes you away from the one you love. Valentine's day is what you make it. Make it a great one this year!

Longing for More USA Love

The syndicated columnist and MSNBC political contributor Eugene Robinson did an outstanding job raising the issue of "black patriotism" in an Independence Day weekend column. He went through naming the contributions of African American soldiers of different eras stretching back to Cripus Attucks' death during the Boston Massacre. He used the evidence of his father's service to this country in the military to fortify his argument that folks need to try and understand the patriotism of Senator Barack Obama in spite of whatever reservations folks might hold. I appreciated Robinson's contention, "the fact that African American patriotism is never simple doesn't mean it's in any way half hearted; to the contrary, complicated relationships tend to be the deepest and strongest." Of course, Mr. Robinson is right. As his contention began to flow into my psyche I thought about my own feelings watching the Olympic games, following American politics and local issues in the various places I've lived including, Chicago Illinois, Chattanooga Tennessee, Miami Florida, Sarasota Florida and Denver Colorado. I've always hoped that African American "heros" and "sheros" in every facet of American life would be lifted up and honored and loved because of the skills they've shown and the contributions they've made. I've also hoped for the love to flow because of the people these individuals are too. My heart swelled with pride thinking of the achievement of the Williams sisters at Wimbeldon during Independence Day weekend. As an older sibling I loved that Venus Williams went on and beat Serena in the tournament. Their achievement was an American one in a year when no American males made the finals at Wimbeldon. What kinds of feelings did you have knowing that two African American women played in the finals at Wimbeldon and won the doubles there too? Isn't there room for more USA love being shown to achievers in athletics, politics, government, business, religion and community advocacy who are achievers who just happen to be African American? I think there is room for more love....What do you think? Post it....and let me know! And keep the USA love flowing!

We're Built to Persevere!

The great heavy weight fighter Muhammad Ali once said, "I hated every minute of training, but I said, don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." Life can deal us some knock out blows. Goodness knows life will stretch us at times and we've got to look around for mentors, support and positive affirmations. In spite of hard times I believe our Creator has built us to persevere. I have seen the courage to persevere in hospital rooms, in assisted living homes and in places where I least expected it. Every time you're tempted to give up, give in or give out try to remind yourself again that we're built to persevere. God has built us and made us stronger so we not only will face battles but win them too. I remember training for my high school swim team, track team and baseball team. Training always took place behind the scenes where people couldn't hear me straining and stressing to stretch and work out. But I wouldn't have won one race, or achieved anything significant in my life without deciding to go on and do the hard part even when folks couldn't see me doing it. Remember that you too are built to persevere!