Category: Faith

The Open Door

I write this through tears…the category of tears generated from overwhelming joy. Heavenly joy, as a fruit of the Spirit, not of my own strength. (Nehemiah 8:10).

Picture it. God orders my steps and I appear at an open door, a Kingdom door. It is more of a large doorway – something you would find in an Old World castle. Lush drapery surrounds the room with cushioned velvety, auburn carpeting. Then suddenly, I am at a massive doorway of great height where even the giants of yesteryear could easily clear. It is extremely wide, enough for a procession of armies to march through hand-in-hand in lockstep. On either side of the doorway are two ornate columns made of gold and intricate regal detail. There are no knobs but a beveled edge so large and profound that only angels’ hands could possibly take hold. And there, in the middle of the doorway I stand as God breaths His Spirit in my direction

Just as he energized my creative endeavors, he touched my career as well. Less of a doorway, it is a passageway with no obstacles. The open door that no man can shut. I cry and sing Hallelujah, not for what He has done for me, but in worship and exaltation of His providence and great goodness.

“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Revelation

I was again awakened to paws scratching at the bedroom door, which had now served as a more reliable alarm clock. Yet, the dimness of the morning light deceived me. It was already after 6:00 a.m. and the morning breeze swept through the windows kissing me like a distant lover. The swirling, russling sound and amber hues reminded me of tiny school uniforms making their way through the front doors of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic school. 

Reluctantly, and still exhausted, I climbed out of bed to lead the anxious canine out to the front yard to relieve herself. I was glad that this time she dilly dallied, as my thoughts projecting the busy day ahead. 

I reentered the large, well-appointed bedroom and flipped on the remote. My spirit was suddenly arrested as I watched bodies spilled all over the streets of the Ukraine. Ambulances and law enforcement activity was at maximum level.  Fears of future and more severe Russian attacks raised the global threat level. Talking heads opined with doomed conjecture.

Suddenly, my day’s plans to mull over case files and lament over outstanding chores seemed fruitless. Recognition of life’s blessings took over: I am healthy, free, blessed and most critically, protected and still walking in pursuit of God’s purpose for me. 

My countenance livened and I took to praising. With gratitude, I thanked God for never leaving me nor forsaking me. (Deuteronomy 31:8). I also prayed for those affected in the war zone and those with similar feelings of substantial insecurity, asking for peace to prevail. 

Almost sensing the inculcation of the Holy Spirit, the children woke up with smiles on their faces. We said our morning prayers and set out for the day.

“…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.””

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24:15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Undivided We Stand

Every “ping” of my IPhone is a possible change of events. Immersed in cable news programs, social media, and YouTube to digest the next dissenting angle, the electorate has reached a feverish pitch. The perplexity in drafting a think piece regarding the current political controversy in the United States is the precipitousness in which an essay becomes outmoded. What remains constant, however, is the intertwining of racial and economic interests of the populace, regardless of financial worth.

Unknown by many or often concealed by the very few elite is the historical perspective on the hierarchy in this country. From 1492 to the mid-1600s, when the New World was rid of its indigenous population in order to grant settlement to European explorers, the ruling emperors who sponsored the ascendant voyages were incentivized by promises of gold and slaves. The aboriginal groups however, could not sustain the criminal and incessant assault and within years, an estimated 8 million natives were nearly all decimated. (See Zinn, H. [1980]. A People’s History of the United States. New York, N.Y.; HarperCollins Publishers).

Thus, a new solution was needed to restore the labor market. The impoverished and/or indicted from Europe were either duped into “free” trips to the Americas or, as a means to pay back their censurable debts to society, were enslaved for a restricted time. Usually their contracts were transacted to other parties repeatedly ensuring that some never obtained their freedom. Concurrently, the transcontinental slave trade was gearing up and African subjugation was implemented mainly by way of permanent status. Nonetheless, both groups of workers were deemed as similar in caste although indentured servants were slightly less unfortunate.

Due to joint rebellion of the disenfranchised, the elite implemented a method of control by inculcating the primarily Caucasian indentured servants with an idea of superiority over black slaves based solely on skin color as a closer match to the landowners and investors. Thereupon, “whiteness” was born. (Wise, T. [2012]. White Like Me, Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son. Berkeley, CA.; Soft Skull Press). Nevertheless, their monetary stature never improved. This very effective tool of terror is seen in the societal dynamics existing today. And similar to the time of the founding of this country, the lower economic bracket is faceless, multi-racial and suffers the same trials of hardship such as high rates of unemployment, nescience, crime and lost avenues of achievement.

Statistically, many supporters of the leading candidate of the right-wing are regarded as limited in means but are influenced by the obsolescent idea of preservation of white heritage and enduring racial composition. In this vein, many have the misguided reasoning that with the reinstitution of a member of the majority to power and elimination of certain immigrants and people of color, their financial woes will be alleviated. For them, a Trump presidency equates to repatriation. Necessarily, due to economic frustration, disinclination and hate drive their discourse.

One would hope that hate, one of the most powerfully discordant words, would dilute itself with such historical viewpoints. No matter our individual political proclivities, certainly we understand that hate is a motivation and conduit for destruction, in this case, within our country and the global society. Only sheer hideousness would call for such an outcome. With a vast amount at stake, silence is complacency and complicit.

Yet, love is countervailing to this model. All decent people, the spiritually lead, and all of the religions of faith extol love as the overarching theme and rule of behavior. Regardless of walks of life, attitudes, social or cultural persuasions, reasonable people can agree that love must prevail. Thus, even if caught up in the fracas of this election season or embittered with the status quo, let us be certain that sensibilities can predominate and we all can disavow signs of undue punishment, violence, epithets or policies that ultimately yield further acrimony. We can start small: within ourselves, in our homes, our schools and communities and bear witness as the power of love disperses.

Matthew 12:25: But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”

Just In Time

Chemical reactions, cellular structures, and electrons oscillating at ultra-fast speeds… Rarely does a news article impel me to reminisce on my time as an undergraduate with all-nighters spent cramming for Biology and Anatomy exams. In January 2016, four new elements were reported as newly discovered that will be added to the Periodic Table. An element is the building block of all observable matter in the physical universe. The novel elements were confirmed by further experimentation that briefly reproduced them, a very daunting task since, when formed, these elements are greatly unstable and only exist a mere thousandth of a second.

The physical world, as we understand it, is perceived in space-time dimensionality with light, the natural agent that makes things visible, travelling at a calculated speed. Albert Einstein, noted as one of the greatest scientists of the past century, posited the Theory of Relativity and revolutionized concepts of time, space, motion and gravity laying the basis of atomic energy and photoelectric effects.

As lay people, we think of time or light in much more rudimentary terms. For instance, time is viewed as a valued commodity and in its abstractness, it engenders fear that there is scarcity; that time is running out; that “there isn’t enough time in a day”. What if we investigate the source, the creator and author of time?

The earliest scientist assigned timelessness to the measure: “For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours”. (Psalms 90:4). In fact, this innovative creator specified a transcendent quality: “…from everlasting to everlasting you are God”. (Psalms 90:2). And again: “For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations”. (Psalms 145:13). What’s more, only this great inventor could bend or suspend time: “On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” 13 So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies… The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. 14 There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer…” (Joshua 10:12-14).

Those who truly believe the omnipotence of the Almighty will be attuned to such insight. This Life Force is the true substance and originator of all that is seen and unseen, what we are composed of, and all the material in between. Indeed, in that glory is where He abides. With Him and in Him, absent true time and space, there subsists no pain, sorrow, jealousy or hate; but rather, the fabric of God’s goodness and Eternal Love. Ask Him. He will make time and space for you.

Psalms 147: 5: “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”

The Best Laid Plans

Lamentably, I stared at the reflector behind me. With my green silk blouse slightly raised, I had full view of the double cross-hairs and bandage affixed to my lower back. I strived for months with exceeding billable hours expecting my year-end bonus. The holidays would soon be upon us, I thought, and I deliberated on all that those proceeds would bear. So with intransigence, I resolved to an abbreviated work schedule and a short leave to accommodate the minor procedure needed to treat my injury. And then it happened. The solution to my equivocation: My 12-month old initiated her very first steps, meeting her older brother near his fire-red truck and quelling my fears that I would miss this monumental milestone.

As the holidays bring us closer to family and friends, let us take the opportunity to truly appreciate the moment. It is true, obligations and contingencies do abound. However, the lesson to impart today is that despite our plans and expectations, we must be present in order to capture the wonderment. All things, whether beneficial or a hindrance, occur in due time and for God’s reasons. The Bible states that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens. (Eccles 3:1). Appropriately, this holiday allows for reflection of the eternal love that was shown through the birth of the begotten son of God. Regardless of varying beliefs, such love and joy have traveled down through many generations to encompass us now in the custom of gift exchange and cheers. As the calendar advances, let us continue the tradition of peace that is generated in this term. For this New Year of 2016, I pray for amity and triumph for you all!

John 1:14: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Testimony

Perched in a squat, the drifter waived a cardboard sign scribbled with a black Sharpie™: “Lost Everything But My Hope and Faith. God Bless.” Homelessness in New York City has ostensibly risen in the last few years and unfortunately, displaced panhandlers clustered throughout Manhattan have become commonplace. In fact, according to the website “Coalition for the Homeless”, vagrancy in New York City has reached the highest levels since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

This particular sighting, however, was unusual. The young, blond man was fairly well-dressed and remarkably groomed. Nevertheless, it was his corrugated poster that captivated my attention, so much so that my conviction was piqued causing me to double back and discharge my last note, a ten dollar bill, from my pocket. Unmotivated by ego or indulgence, I overcame my reluctance precisely because I was called, from deep within, to donate the bill.

Forfeiting lunch due to my unexpected generosity, I returned to my office and scrounged around the pantry to no avail. Food was of no consequence; I had left my appetite at bay after having a serious disagreement with a relative the prior evening. Instead, I sought a distraction and rifled through my messy purse in search of my ear buds. Rather than thin, white dual wires, out came a church leaflet that was given to me almost 10 years ago. A decade had passed since I re-dedicated my life to Christ during an altar call and collected the booklet and I had not seen it since.

To understand the significance of this pamphlet would require some explanation. Since that fateful rebirth, I went on to graduate law school, met and married my husband, moved on three separate occasions, and also lost many of my possessions, including old books and papers, after Hurricane Sandy. Further to the point, the handbag that I carried that day had been given to me just one year ago as a gift for my participation in a friend’s wedding. Accordingly, there was no ordinary way that the brochure could have appeared in my new tote. Except, it materialize, full of biblical Scriptures and words of encouragement. In an unwitting and yet still provident state of fasting, I meditated on the messages sent in the bulletin and prayed for restoration with my relative.

Later that evening, as I curled up in front of the television, a family member knocked on my bedroom door. She explained that she found something in the washing machine that likely belonged to me. Unfamiliar with my earlier encounter, she handed me a crumpled ten dollar bill. I simply smiled and surrendered. The next morning, the recalcitrant relative uncharacteristically reached out, reestablished our connection, and made amends.

Being obedient to God’s calling requires strong discernment and will that glorifies Him on earth and demonstrates our love for Him. The test may come in the form of an itinerant roaming the city streets begging for change leading to an unforeseen testimony. Obedience can also result in answered prayers, blessings, direction, safety and restoration. More notably, it may present an opportunity for Divine fellowship.

Hebrews 13:2: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!”

Divine Restoration

After more than 50 years, the doors of diplomacy have finally been reopened between the United States and Cuba. Unexpectedly brokered by Pope Francis in Vatican City, restorative efforts by both Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro have resulted in the call to the end of the U.S.-imposed trade embargo, the lifting of travel bans between the two countries, and reinstatement of their respective embassies. Assuredly, the pontiff’s first stop en route to America was Cuba.

With words of encouragement, Castro attested to Pope Francis’s triumph, avowing that he would consider returning to the faith in which he was born. The communist leader added that he would resume prayer again if the Pope continues in this vein. In a similarly poignant statement, President Obama was quoted as saying “you don’t have to be imprisoned by the past”, noting that President Eisenhower bolstered the severing of ties with Cuba in the same year that the current American president was born. The impasse of five decades no doubt resulted in economic, social and political disorder, with industries on both sides and the Hispanic populace bearing the burden and countless families torn apart.

Have you experienced or observed close relationships or families who are likewise unduly interned by the past? Equally devastating are those long-standing quarrels and generational wars that have been passed down through the ages, the true roots of which are unknown or have dissipated. Often, at the core, there is the needless legacy of mistake and misconstruction. Yet, due to faltered loyalty, spiritual blight or mere habit, ongoing feuds persist. Thus, tragic karma such as poverty, addictions or separation is recycled again and again. Today, the Lord is calling for restoration and the rebuking of ancestral strongholds that are keeping individuals, friendships and family units in abeyance. Not all will welcome repose, however, as consequential as two contending nations coming together, in His glory, He can reestablish all that the past has stolen. Simply ask in His name with a repentant heart and with praise.

Joel 2:25: “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…”

A Moment in Time

Complexion: smooth, porcelain-like. Shape: tall, fit and surprisingly curvy. Visage: particularly strong. Caitlyn Jenner has graced the cover of Vanity Fair’s July 2015 cover. The accompanying audio depicts Jenner’s decipherable intonation of calm and ease. Referred to now as “she”, the voice extols the life experiences that have culminated into this transformation, juxtaposing the epic win at the 1976 Olympics with “her.” The proud declaration is that she is now free.

Immediately, media has been toppled with commentary on the rights of the LGBT community and the social and scientific surveys on what it means to be transgendered. Beyond academics, religion has professed God’s judgment on Bruce’s decision to exist as Caitlyn. Theoretical divisive lines have been drawn. Rather than join the fray, I submit instead that this moment presents Divine grace for us all.

Innately, we comprehend that we all have a purpose, a message to deliver from God that transcends the space of time, age, career, race, sexuality, or gender. In this era, social media and fanaticism are often the playing fields for expression. We pay attention to what society deems valuable. We venerate the account of a wealthy ex-Olympian turned reality star who transforms at age 65. However, the gender issue is only the format, the framework, the delivery system. Its newsworthiness showcases the perfect vehicle to convey an edict, God’s lesson.

We are all united in needing to have validation, a purpose driven life. We need not purport to understand the skeletons in Jenner’s closet nor do we need to vilify them. Our common ground, the very meaning of Spirit is Love. We can always chose Love. Love for the times in which we live where global interconnectedness brings an issue to bare within moments. Love for the opportunity for introspection as we ponder how we might approach a loved one with similar challenges. Love for our country and the freedom it affords in speech, religion, politics, dreams. Love for each other regardless if enemy or foe, saved or damned, in the practice of long-suffering. During this ground breaking time, let us exercise Love for this very moment.

John 13:34-35 “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.””