Motivated Faith

A former college professor of mine used to always say that we lived in a “laissez-faire” racist society. What she meant was racism was allowed to exist in a subtle, hidden manner. Laissez-faire racism existed in the form of affirmative action, on the job, at school, etc. I personally had not experienced said racism, or so I thought…

As I grew into adulthood, I saw this concept evidenced more and more in society. Though many of my white, male friends and acquaintances may disagree, there is a such thing as white privilege. I have been witness to instances where women and minorities have had to defend themselves simply because of what they look like. I have personally witnessed women and minorities having to work a little harder than their male counterparts to get a promotion at work. I’ve seen persons of color be judged before they open their mouths.

More recently (and by recent I mean since the election of a bi-racial man to the office of President of the United States), laissez-faire racism has seemed to materialize in the form of “freedom of speech.” I’m all about folk expressing themselves and stating what they choose to believe – but I find it quite concerning when people take what they claim as their right to physically display bigotry, hatred and injustice.

Like many, I was extremely disturbed by the events that took place in Charlottesville, VA this weekend. Not just because a white-supremacist, neo-Nazi group was allowed to assemble to display bigotry and hatred; not just because someone was killed and many others hurt; not just because this country’s own president initially refused to call the crime what it was; but because these “protestors” thought is was OK to bring weapons to what was supposed to be a peaceful event. Because these “protestors” wanted their opportunity to stand up for what they believe in, yet the people who opposed their hatred and bigotry were denied their right to stand. “Freedom of Speech” has allowed persons to show their true colors – to show their hate and disdain toward others who don’t think, look, or act like them. It’s allowed people to demonstrate their pure, unadulterated hatred toward other human beings who don’t believe in what they believe.

Quite frankly, I’m tired of it all! I’m tired of it being OK to for one group to promote hatred and another group to be condemned for thinking differently. I’m tired of the double-standards in American Society. I’m sick of feeling like because I am a black female I have to walk around on eggshells so I don’t get labeled. I’m tired of having to justify the actions of my people while others get to parade around foolishly under a bill of right. I’m probably most ticked-off at the people who do all of this foolishness in the name of Christ as if he would approve!

I know events like these (it’s sad we have seen so many in the last 8 years), are heartbreaking and sad. Any I know many of you are tired of speaking up and speaking out against the injustices, but we can’t stop. The reality is – the opposing voices won’t stop and will make sure they are heard – LOUD and CLEAR! So we’ve got to do the same!

My charge to you (and myself)? Ask God how he wants you to join him in his work! Maybe he will lead you to get involved and active in your community. Maybe he’s equipped you with a resource or talent you can use to better society. Whatever it may be, don’t be discouraged by the giants around you, remember, you are already a victor!

 

As many gather across this great nation to commemorate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I have had some time to reflect on what he and many others fought for during the Civil Rights Era. I’ve had some time to reflect on those who fought for the rights I have today. I’ve considered the protests made in the past 50 years: racial integration, desegregation, gender equality, and a push for all to be accepted regardless of race, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, and sexual identity. In addition to the progress we’ve made, I’ve also thought about the many steps we’ve taken back as a nation and as a people. I read the tabloids, watch the news and simply observe acquaintances, colleagues, and friends as they comment on the political, social and economic disparities in this great nation we call America. I can’t help but wonder, especially on today, if that dream Dr. King spoke about… you know, the one where he says that he has a dream that one day his four children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character… has been realized. I can’t help but to reflect on and think about the amount of hate crimes committed towards the LGBTQ community. I’m not talking about someone refusing to marry a gay couple, but I’m talking about the Orlando shooting and the countless number of transgender persons killed for no reason other than their sexual identity. I can’t help but to think about the number of videos I have seen in the past five years depicting cops mistreating persons of color. I can’t help but to further think how even though said cops were brought to trial, some walked away with a not guilty verdict… despite what they physical evidence showed. I can’t help but to think of the disrespect shown to our current president simply because of who he is – an African American man. And quiet as its kept, I can’t help but to think of the video I saw last week of several black men torturing a white man because Donald Trump is our incoming president.

Some say we live in a post-racial society. I’m not sure I even know what that term really means, but what I can say is this… today, January 16, 2017, we still live in a society that is full of bigotry, hate, greed and racial injustice. We would be ignorant to think that our differences don’t play a factor in how we treat each other. This great nation of ours was built on the very differences we have. Our differences have been embedded into our constitution. Though many laws have been put in place to help close the divide between white males and every other person in America, we continue the need to create laws and policies that give persons who look differently a fighting chance. When I think about Dr. King and his dream, I can’t help but to think we have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. We don’t live in a “post-racial” society and I’m not sure we ever will. So long as we are different, there will always be someone uncomfortable enough to express their discomfort in a way that is hurtful, harmful, and disrespectful.

Differences have shaped not only American culture and society, but society all over the world. Differences and a person’s ignorance and intolerance toward them have existed as long as humans have walked the earth. Christ himself came in the form of someone different – someone who challenged the status quo. Had he not been different, he wouldn’t have had haters that nailed him to the cross. Jesus knew he would not be accepted by all, yet he continued to fight to save humanity. Despite the shortcomings of His creation, he fought to complete his assignment as savior of the world.

I don’t have all the answers on how to solve our divide problem in the US, but one thing I am certain of is that we cannot ignore it. We cannot ignore it and we cannot give up fighting for the just causes we believe in. There is a lot we can learn from the ministry of Christ, and from the life of Dr. King. Perhaps the biggest and most appropriate lesson for today is standing up for what we believe to be just and true. I believe Dr. King’s dream is the byproduct of a just cause he knew he was assigned to. Let’s not ignore the racial, social and economic divides in our country. Let’s not be so self-centered that we neglect our brothers and sisters who dwell among us. Let’s not be so full of hatred and animosity that we commit acts of hate toward persons with whom we don’t agree. Instead, let’s look for the ways we can truly work together to make society better than before!

When I reflect over 2016, a lot of memories flood my mind. I started the year off with gallbladder surgery. During the early months, I worked full time while going to school full time. In April I traveled on perhaps the most exhaustive trip I’d been in a long time: first to Tennessee to celebrate my cousin’s first birthday and spend time with my Godmother, next to Orlando for a family vacation, and finally to Atlanta for my boyfriend’s sister’s birthday party… whew! Oh, and while I was in Orlando, I purchased a timeshare! In May, I went back to Atlanta to witness my nephew graduate high school! During the summer months, I did some minor traveling to Vermont and New York, and continued to work and go to school. Sometime in July I received the renewal letter from my leasing office telling me that my rent would be going up a minimum of $167! That lead me to search for a new home. After three rounds with my realtor and countless hours shopping on realty websites, I found a home and closed on September 23! This beautiful home, equipped with a pool and surrounded by many trees, taught me a lot about maintaining a yard and closing an above-ground pool! I cooked my first full Thanksgiving meal in my new home, and took advantage of every opportunity to decorate for the Christmas season! In the midst of learning my new home, I also took on the challenge of studying Hebrew. I started well, then my grades quickly slipped to the point where I thought I would not pass the class. But by the grace of God I did well at the end of the semester and pulled out a passing grade! The year culminated with me resigning from my job after twelve and a half years, spending time with family, and bringing in 2017 with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

When I look back at 2016, I think of one word: FAITH. It took FAITH to believe God would bring me safely through surgery. It took FAITH to believe I could handle both work and school. It took FAITH to believe I would be kept in my travels to the southeastern part of the US. It was FAITH that lead me to the purchase of a new home. It was FAITH that told me to not give up studying Hebrew. It was FAITH that ultimately led me to make one of the most difficult decisions of my life: leaving my full-time, well-paying, great benefit having career to pursue what I felt God was calling me to do. It was FAITH and FAITH alone that made my 2016; and it was the grace of God that brought me through!

When I scour social media, and read the many posts and reflections of last year, I see a lot of emotion – happiness and sadness, joy and pain, freedom and bondage. I see a lot of gains – births, marriages, jobs, homes, etc. I also see a lot of perceived losses – loved ones who have passed away, relationships, jobs, babies, etc. As humanity, it is our tendency to base the quality of our seasons on what we’ve lost or gained. But I want to encourage you all that our individual season is not defined by what the world considers a loss or a gain. The only true gain is eternal life which is obtained through belief in Jesus Christ; and the only true loss is when we choose not to accept the gift that is Christ. Paul says the following in Philippians 3:7-9 (NIV):

“⁷But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

What Paul is telling us is that there is nothing we can gain on earth that will be greater than what we will gain by attaining faith in Christ! Do not be discouraged by what you may have lost in 2016, I believe something better is coming your way. In the same tone, do not be so overjoyed with what you have gained in 2016 that you forget the source of your blessing. No matter what you have or don’t have in this life, if you have faith in Christ, you will be victorious!

 

I recently had a conversation with my cousin about life… well, we always tend to have deep life discussions, but this one in particular was about walking in faith. In that conversation, it surfaced that I was not at peace in a particular area of my life. And the reason I wasn’t at peace was because I was confused about where I was supposed to go. My cousin reminded me to walk in faith let God take care of the rest.

The conversation began because I was looking for guidance in a certain area. I wanted to know what step I was supposed to take. And really the search for guidance came up because the plans that I had made for myself (we all know this is how we make God laugh, right?) had started to unfold. As I witnessed the unfolding I became more and more reluctant to move forward. I started to think perhaps this is not where God wanted me to go. I even told myself that maybe God was telling me to move in a different direction – although I had no idea what that direction was! I became angry and frustrated because I wasn’t getting any answers! I prayed over and over again that God would give me an answer, yet I was still UNSURE.

After hanging up with my cousin I had some alone time to reflect on our conversation. I then began to pray some more… but my prayer changed. My prayer moved away from asking God for answers and turned to me asking him for PEACE. The truth was, I experienced a myriad of emotions that were truly not of God. I was confused about what direction to take but the Bible declares that “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace…” (1 Cor 14:33). I was angry, frustrated and anxious, but Paul says in his letter to the church at Philippi to “not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7). I realized that if I wanted to know what direction to head in, I first had to give my cares over to God. So instead of praying for answers, I submitted my will over to Him and asked for peace – peace to accept His will; peace to let go of my plan; peace that would eventually allow me to hear His voice!

And that is EXACTLY what happened! Once I got out of my own way, I was able to get a glimpse of where God was taking me! I was able to move forward in perfect PEACE because I knew it was God’s plan. I was able to clearly hear the voice of God because my mind was no longer convoluted with worry, angst, or frustration.

Walking in faith is more than simply believing in God’s promises. Walking in faith requires trusting in His process. Walking in faith means that we completely and wholeheartedly let go of our will. If at any point in our walk we are confused or we feel our mind is cluttered, we can be assured that the Spirit is in conflict with the Flesh… and we have to remember that only one way is right!

Practical Application

Jesus said in Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” The reality is we worry about what goes on in our day to day lives, and perhaps the next week, month or year; but God is a provider, which means we don’t have to worry. It’s already been taken care of! So you don’t have to worry about how you’re going to pay the bills, take care of the kids, or how to manage on the job – your only responsibility is to trust God through it all! Don’t stress about the how or even the why – just focus on the who – and that who is Christ! Because of who God is, and because God loves you, you can hand over your cares to Him and trust that he’ll make a way! Once you do, you’ll gain clarity, understanding, and experience a peace like never before!

If you read my bio it’s no secret that I lost my biological mother. What my bio doesn’t share is that prior to her passing, my mother and I were very close. She was my mom, but she was also my friend. She was the one person I could trust no matter what. And just like any mother who loved her child, she demonstrated an unconditional love that could not be understood. No matter how much wrong I did, not matter how much I messed up, I could always run into her arms. She anticipated my hurt, she protected me from harm, and she made sacrifices beyond measure… just to ensure I could have, and I could be.

Naturally, this season tends to be a tough season for me. Not because I don’t miss my mom other days throughout the year, but because this is the season that EVERYONE publicly celebrates their mom, and rightfully so. Social media is full of pictures – past and present – of mother and child. The newer the photo, the more the child begins to resemble his/her parent. Timelines are flooded with childhood memories and adulthood commonalities. Overall the theme is happiness and joy, but somewhere in my core I feel hurt and pain… because I know that I will never be able to share about my mom in the same way.

But my hurt and pain is short-lived because in my core also lies JOY. Because of my mother’s love I have JOY. Because I still have memories of my mom I have JOY. Because she left a piece of her with me I have JOY. But I know that this joy that I have is truly because of my Father, God. He loved me enough to give me memories of my mother; He loved me enough to let me remember the love she had for me. And ultimately, the love she demonstrated could only come from Him. Not only did He love me through my mom, he loved me enough to give me a second mom, and that in itself is a blessing that I am truly grateful for!

Because of God, I have a peace that resides in me. Paul says that it’s a peace that “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7 NIV). I now know what that means. Despite having lost so much, I still have JOY. I can still smile a genuine smile. And even though I can’t post like everyone else posts, I can share my unique journey with others!

Practical Application

Yes, this season brings back painful memories for me, but I am able to keep my head high because of the love and peace of God. Often times we let the bad times weigh us down. But we must be reminded that God never promised us all good times; in fact Christ pretty much gave us a guarantee of tribulation. But in that same guarantee, Christ promises us PEACE in him. No matter what we go through or what challenges we are faced with, we have peace because Christ has already overcome it!