Normally I take in a subject and begin to work though the nuances that surround it. It is a normal practice that engages my brain break open issues in a very deliberate and focused manner. This time around, I feel it necessary to get initial thoughts off my mind. Too much is happening right now not to at least have a thought expressed. So here is what is on my mind.
I Guess Y’all Are Shocked? This week, people witnessed the corralling of Haitian immigrants at the boarder. The images gave us a glimpse into the horror stories of the enslavement and slave policing of our African ancestors. Many watched in disbelief as the U.S. demonstrated a lack of care, concern, and investment in the well being of those individuals of color who came believing the lie bring your tired, your worn, your huddled masses longing to be free. While it appears commendable to care for and rescue Afghans from a worn torn situation, it is very inhumane and disingenuous to suggest that Haitians trying to experience the same freedom are not entitled to the same care. I am convinced that people are still playing by the idea of conditional love/care. If the move does not benefit me, why should I have to invest any energy in the issue at all. People that have placed their hopes in the political process have discovered again that it is not set up for the benefit of people of color. However, it is designed to leech off of the hopes, dreams, and good nature of the disenfranchised looking to be free finally. Why are you shocked? The system is working as it is intended. Stunned? Don’t be. The system must be dismantled.
What Are You Trying to Prove? I have witnessed many people making the cognitive decision to use all types of platforms to address situations that have deeply personal consequences. I realize that social media is a place to stay connected to all types of people at anytime. Yet, I have learned that the nature of community that people are seeking is not always achieved in the manner that our hearts and souls crave or need. The usage of social media platforms provide the world to give you open scrutiny that most moments in life do not need. No one should feel obligated to explain themselves because they are misunderstood. No one should place themselves under the watchful of haters when you are attempting to work though the constant challenges of life. Aspire to reach for deep meaningful connections beyond the characters used in a status. Make the call. Send the email. Set the time to let people you love know that you care. Don’t limit your interactions and persona to an avatar version of yourself.
What Matters to You? I had a moment of reflection after Bible Study on Wednesday. I was just in awe of what God did in that moment. I sat on the floor next to the altar attempting to compose myself. However, I felt the unusual presence of God on me. I know I sat in place for about 20 minutes before someone asked if I was ok. I began to reflect on the price associated with serving in ministry for 23 years. While other people are looking for numbers, I am just trying my best to get this message of the Gospel to the people. I heard the declarations of people that I have to potential and gifting to have a “megachurch”. I kept lamenting about the price. I remembered almost losing my life, my family, my so-called friends and associations, and many other elements to this life. It was not until I left one thing that God finally had my full attention. I was not going to ever be able to do ministry under the bondage of trying to gain for myself. I want growth to continue to happen. I want God’s people to continue to be better day by day. Yet, I want God to just say well done. Don’t worry. My priorities are set. As long as I stay committed to that, I will be able to embrace the Lord’s well done.
I woke up this morning to the written “sounds” of a tired stream of thought. In light of the recent violence that has taken place in Columbus, more people have begun to raise the question about the presence of leaders within the city. Why are people not making enough noise about the violence? Do Black lives matter only when police shoot us? The questions continue to mount. Yet, people have not taken the time to consider why we have arrived in this space. I am of the mind that the Black community has strayed so far from who we are historically that we do not want to take responsibility for the fragments. Hear me out.
I grew up in a village that made it known self-awareness, self-love, and self-respect were not the exception. I was never told by anyone that I should limit myself in my pursuits or dreams. At the same time, I was taught that life, people, and circumstances would attempt to tell me that I was less than and not worthy of advancement. My mother sacrificed to place me in private school, because she believed I would have a better opportunity for education. My ability to fully embrace the totality of who I am was not found in that space. I was never taught complete history. My blackness was weaponized and misrepresented. Thank God that Dr. Charles Edward Booth used the platform of the church to not only reinforce my faith, but used Sunday morning as a launch pad to understand the beauty and power of my Blackness. I never had to wait for someone else to embrace and empower my uniqueness. It was constantly pushed.
I look up now and watch many people (and rightfully so) lament about the death of young people. Many of these beautiful lives have been taken away without rhyme or reason. The truth is that many of these circumstances are rooted in the continued separation of our people. Historically, we have demonstrated the ability and resilience to join together and address our issues together. Yet, we have become a people constantly waiting on the next Black Messiah to get us out of our condition.
The day existed that we would find a way to work through personal preference and difference to focus on the goal and agenda. I believe that many people refuse to do this now because there is not enough notoriety to go around. It is possible that some people will not show up because the lights will not be bright enough. Or, it could be possible that there are people working to make change, but those individuals are not names in circles. It might be possible that the questions are getting answers, but the people offering answers are not popular and don’t care about that at all.
Imagine a world where people are actually working to make a difference in their community. Why? They see the need and go to work. Imagine a people committed to working hard but resources are scarce. Imagine people who have been talking and bringing light to these issues well before they became the cause of the day, but their names are not big enough to be embraced. The work is happening. Plenty of people are trying with what they have. But, it is time for us to have a real discussion about a major road block.
I don’t trust bringing everyone into a family discussion. What do I mean? If we (Black people) are saying that we are tired of the violence, murders, economic disparity, and everything else, then we must bring about the solution. Have we not recognized enough that our community has been the most appropriated, copied, and fleeced in this nation. 98% (arbitrary figure) of what this country is would not exist without our contributions being copied, stolen, and abused. Why would I embrace anything from any entity that will find another way to abuse my community.
Government and other established entities choose causes based on the effects to its profitability. Think about it. Major sports leagues did not bring the importance of Black lives to the forefront until Black athletes said it was time to stop playing the game. The NFL believes that playing Lift Every Voice will cause us to feel better about our environments not changing. Politicians will acknowledge the problems long enough to attempt to prove their moral fiber. True change is not profitable. True change will not come from any place that is not committed or invested in the growth and development of our people.
So why do we keep looking to others to solve our problems? Why do we allow people to attempt to dictate to us how our community should operate? Why should I take seriously the words and actions of those not invested in my overall well-being?
Many Black people have become so disconnected from one another that we can not find ourselves on common ground. Being Black is not about just one thing. Being Black is not just about birthing Hip Hop, creating fashion sense, and natural hair. Being Black is not profit driven images and materialism. Being Black is not being labeled ghetto for not fitting Euro-centric norms. Being Black is knowing that my history did not being with slavery. Being Black is taking pride that my roots are African, my heritage is royal, and my nature thrives in every condition. Being Black is knowing that God created us after the Creator’s image and likeness. Being Black is knowing Jesus looked like me. Being Black is beautiful.
Our responsibility is to remind everyone under this tent that these listed facts and many others are true. I know that there are human beings that do not look like me that understand the sentiment of pride that I listed. I recognize that good people exist in the world. Yet, I understand that moments come when we must be more like David in moments of challenge and difficulty. We must be able to encourage and strengthen ourselves. Doing so will cause others to recognize the importance of our dignity and self-respect.
So what do we do? How do we get moving?
Begin Honoring Our Humanity Again: We are not connected, because we have created a culture that is not in touch with God or self. We must begin to teach our youth and adults their complete history. We must demonstrate that the work, sacrifice, and innovation of our people is not a footnote. We must instill in the minds of our people our worth and value beyond the dollar. We must teach that the value of life is not a value judgment that can be determined by the will of another human being. God has already determined our worth. We must reinforce that truth through our speech and actions.
Pick Up Our Corner: The Bible teaches of a lame man who was carried by four men to Jesus. The Lord was teaching in a person’s house. The whole community was at the location. The friends tried to get the man to Jesus through the door, but it was blocked by the mass of humanity. They decided to take their friend to the roof and lower him down to get access to Jesus. Can you imagine how challenging it might have been to get a grown man to the roof, secured, and lowered from the roof to Jesus. It would have been more difficult if it was only one person doing the work. The key is recognizing that everyone has a role and responsibility. Do not diminish the work of others if it is not on the front page. Do not doubt the efforts of people because you haven’t heard about it. Take up your corner and lift. In doing so, we will be able to position ourselves for greater.
Discover and Address the Real Need: We have many problems in our community. We have many great things about our community. One major thing that I notice though is that we have a tendency to tell our environment what it needs rather than listen and discern what it needs. Every situation is not the same. We may deal with many root issues. Yet, all of us are not in the same place in life. We cannot treat people or circumstances in a one size fits all manner. We must engage in a manner that provides insight beyond our assumptions. We cannot lift the community assuming our perspective is the only one that counts.
It is time for us to do work. The rhetoric is over. Reconnect with one another. Our future depends
You know what? I have found myself attempting to understand my space in this world. I am approaching my 40th birthday in August. This journey has been difficult in many ways. I have had to unlearn some practices and discover some realities about my personality. I have learned that I have always been a sensitive individual. I recognize that I am an introvert, but I am also an empath. I feel so much around me at any given time that it requires me to back away from people and situations quickly. Honestly, I don’t want to be in certain settings many times because of the energy in a room.
I realize that I am a pastor. I understand that the assumption is that I must love the people. Don’t get me wrong. I love the people. I love how people can demonstrate growth and development. Many times I am in hope of celebration of the accomplishments of all, and I mourn with those who face the difficulties of transition. That level of emotional and spiritual weight is enough for anyone in the course of a day. However, I have found that I live in a world that is determined to constantly offer thoughts on every type of thing in existence. I have further realized that many people find being contrary the only path to being seen and heard.
Listen. I am not trying to tell people how to govern their lives. Yet, I want to offer this one idea. Y’all are doing too much.
People are debating about women wearing bonnets in public, skinny jeans, and a myriad of other things that do not matter in the grand scheme. Has it ever occurred to anyone that people are living in a world that desires to destroy uniqueness, co-opt and colonize flavor, and gentrify creativity and talent. Have you ever considered that the most of the debates that occur happen as the result of finding new ways to keep people separate? Have you ever considered that most people actually agree on many things of importance, but will part ways due to personal preferences?
Years ago, I was a part of the crowd that felt superior in context. I know how to dress the part. I was able to move easily through different rooms of influence without care. Nothing difficult. It was one moment that changed the game for me. While applying to a church (Baptist context, told this story a million times), I was told the reason that I was not given a interview. I did not look like a pastor. Wait for it….. I had preached at this particular place many times…. in three piece suits….clergy robes and cassocks. Look like!!! I was the epitome of a Baptist preacher in looks.
Many of you may have thought this t-shirt thing was old. No. This fashion phase is pretty new. That event in my life began my unlearning of faux environmental policies of superficial people. I live my life now understanding that principle stated by the Apostle Paul to this general idea: I have become all things to all people realizing that I might only save some (ref I Corinthians 9:22). It is my call, obligation, and assignment to find ways to be flexible enough to draw those who may not normally embrace who I am in God or in this community.
I believe that humanity has spiraled so for in a hole that we forget that we are not may to create people and environments in our image. Some people take the idea of past experiences to heart so much they create greater space and limited opportunity to be a positive influence on future generations.
I was surrounded by so many men who made a great impact on my life. The invested so much into my mind and heart as a person. The last thing they ever addressed was my appearance. One, I was taught at home (hint, hint). Stay clean and neat. That statement is not about preference. That is not a casual over dress up debate. Clean and neat is just that. The men that influenced me taught me about character, intelligence, spirituality, and more. Being around them gave me the chance to choose how to be influenced in many ways. These internal and external lessons have never left. Why? They showed me that they cared about me.
I ask you today. Are you demonstrating that you actually care about the people? Do you take vested interest in their development? Are you concerned about how great your environment can be? Then, I ask you to take these things into consideration.
No matter how hard you try, everyone will not be like you. It is okay to live in world where people don’t move the same in certain areas of life. It is okay that people will not have the same superficial preferences as you. Yet, we are not absolved from making certain that we all win in this life together. Diverse perspective can teach all of us how to navigate every space we enter. Diverse perspective can also teach us how not take ourselves so seriously, relieve pressure, and become the best version of ourselves.
We are not God. Don’t apply for the job. Every human being has a journey. At best, we are individual who are bless to share how we have made it through the pitfalls of life. I am in this world to live and be a resource. I am not here to create after my image and likeness. The world does not need two of me. The world does not need two or more of you. The world needs a humanity willing and ready help individuals succeed. Here it is. We must make certain to remember that success is not a unilateral model. Success means many things to nearly 7 billion people on the planet. If we care for one another, we will not mold anyone after our image. We will point people to the Creator that has already set each our blueprints.
Take that debating energy and put it into something constructive. I want to see people take this energy and do anything and everything else that is productive. Some people would be wealthy if they were not so full of information. (Let it simmer a bit…) Some people would be exactly where they wanted to be in life if they could only stay out of other people’s business. Some people would actually be happy if they stopped trying to give other people the blues. Some people might find out what joy is if they quit interfering with the joy of others. We do not need to continue using platforms to perpetuate unnecessary discourse. We need to use it to get this world together.
I realize I am not saying anything new. But for the love of God, stop it. We got work to do. We got self-care to embrace. We got relationships to strengthen. We have bastions of systemic racism to destroy. We have injustice to correct. We have too much to do to reduce ourselves to superficial foolishness. Let’s Go….
Dr. Charles W. Ferguson 