Walls Between Us

From the beginning of human history, people have been divided by two powerful forces: religion and the pursuit of wealth. Again and again, humanity has reached for more—more power, more possessions, more control—often at the expense of others. This desire to possess more has too often led to exploitation, division, and injustice.

In many ways, this hunger for control and superiority lies at the heart of unrest and war. Yet beneath our differences, we are all flesh and blood, and no one is inherently greater than another. Although some are more fortunate and blessed with greater resources, our shared humanity remains the same. If those who have more were willing to share more, far fewer people would be living in poverty today.

Scripture teaches that the love of money is the root of all evil. The deeper truth is that greed—not money itself—corrupts the heart and distorts our relationships with others.

Throughout history, nations have gone to war over the desire to control others’ beliefs or resources. Stronger, better-equipped countries sought to dominate smaller, more vulnerable neighbors.

The Bible, however, calls us to live differently. It teaches us to love our neighbors, not covet what they have, and care for those in need. We are often reminded that the world already has enough resources to combat poverty, yet greed and division keep us from sharing what we have been given.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with a local minister, the pastor of a small church, about the possibility of donating space for local artists to use as an incubator for Christian art. My hope was to reach people who might not otherwise step into a church and introduce them to the love of Christ in a way that felt creative, welcoming, and genuine.

He acknowledged that the idea was intriguing, but he also expressed concern that artists might be more susceptible to behavior considered un-Christian. That conversation led me to reflect on the barriers we place between ourselves and people who are different from us. If we are truly called to embody God’s love, how can we do so while keeping our distance?

The Bible warns against judgment, and that reminder challenges us to ask whether our purpose is to separate ourselves from others or to extend compassion and grace. Perhaps the greater calling is not to build more walls between us, but to tear them down so that love, mercy, compassion, and understanding can reach those who need them most.

The Fact of It

I went into the dark. That was the fact of it.

Not because I understood what would happen.

Not because the future had offered any explanation.

Only because faith, if that is the word,

seemed to require motion.

You go on. Even when fear keeps talking.

There were days, of course.

Days when dread arrived early and stayed too long.

When the body registered it before the mind could name it.

When every thought leaned toward catastrophe, as thoughts sometimes do.

I learned not to argue with it too much.

I remembered what had been said. I remembered, too, the earlier rescues.

So you keep walking.

Even when the night seems to know more than you do.

You keep walking because, sooner or later, the light returns.

Trust the Journey.

A Historical Journey: Jim’s Charming Family Cabin

Jim, a lover of summer, found solace in the country. He was gifted a charming rustic cottage nestled on 20 acres of land in the Vermont wilderness. Bears and other wild animals were a common sight, but the most captivating feature was the cabin’s location by the serene banks of a quiet lake. Built by his great-grandfather over a century ago, the cabin stood as a testament to resilience, having weathered floods, ice storms, and forest fires.

Despite the absence of modern amenities, the cabin offered warmth and comfort. A wood-burning firebox provided heat and cooking facilities, while Jim had recently converted the outhouse into a bathroom, adding a touch of creature comforts.

The cabin exuded a cozy ambiance, with gaps in the wood siding that allowed for drafts. To combat the cold, during the colder months, Jim strategically packed newspapers into these gaps. The wood-burning stove proved to be a lifesaver, effortlessly keeping the small cottage warm. However, maintaining a steady fire throughout the night was crucial, as Jim had to rise early to replenish the firewood, ensuring a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

Reflecting on life a century ago, the area was not yet developed. Charles Smith, Jim’s great-grandfather, was a hardworking shopkeeper in the city. Seeking a respite from the hustle and bustle, he purchased the land and embarked on the ambitious project of building the cabin. It took him four summers to complete the endeavor, during which he spent each summer camping in tents until the cabin stood tall.

Nurturing Unique Talents in Children

Welcome to the world, little man. You are a miracle of God, bringing two families together and creating a precious baby boy. With all the resources and aspirations to make a difference in the world, what an opportunity it is to be born into a middle-class family in the 60s, a time of unprecedented growth and limitless possibilities.

Parents want the best for you, and the opportunities are endless. All you need to do is apply yourself and follow your parents’ guidance, as they know best.

However, life is not always easy, and no one asked or tried to discover your natural talents or strengths. As Rumi wisely said, children are gifts given to parents to be custodians, but they are not theirs to possess. Each child has their own unique path and purpose on earth. Parents should nurture their natural abilities, and they will discover their reason for living.

Unfortunately, if these skills are not nurtured and children are forced or coerced into areas that do not bring them fulfillment or where they cannot excel, not every child is destined to become a lawyer, doctor, or Indian chief. These children may end up feeling depressed and unhappy, seeking joy in all the wrong places.

Some children, like me, develop low self-esteem and never feel good enough. They perceive themselves as complete failures, even with evidence of their achievements, yet they are unable to recognize their worth.

When parents place high expectations on their children in the hope of giving them the best, it can lead to disappointment and pain for both the parent and the child.

Overcoming the feeling of not being worthy is a challenging task. Life has a way of reflecting our self-perception. Every setback reinforces negative self-talk, while successes are met with disbelief. Even compliments are dismissed as mere niceties rather than genuine recognition.

Negative self-talk and low self-esteem are constant companions, but I’ve discovered that leaning on God makes them bearable. I know that the Lord doesn’t make mistakes, and if He still needs me on this earth, I continue to rise each morning with gratitude and an expectation to make a difference, both in small and significant ways. I listen to the still small voice for guidance, courage, and faith to follow His direction. God is good.

Charlotte

She has endured a lot in the years she has lived on this earth.
Charlotte, a person who cherishes people, has lived a life filled with ups and downs. Despite these challenges, she always manages to find the “bright side” of every situation. Some of her friends believe she’s putting on a show because they can’t comprehend how she maintains her upbeat and optimistic demeanor.

Her favorite saying is, “When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.” However, when she utters this phrase, some of her friends and family roll their eyes or chuckle, as if expecting another one of her “shows.”

Charlotte was born in a rural area of North Carolina. With only a grade school education, she attended school only on days when she couldn’t work in the fields picking tobacco. The work was arduous, and the pay was meager, but the owner of the farm provided her with a house. The house had a well and a manual pump for water, but the bathroom facilities were outdoors. She used a chamber pot at night and on cold days because it was too difficult to reach the bathroom.

Although her life wasn’t luxurious, she woke up every day grateful and with a song in her heart. She was thankful to be alive, to have a roof over her head, to have fairly good health, and to have her family. Life had never been easy, but she believed that the Lord always provided for her.

Throughout her life, Charlotte has witnessed and experienced riots between races, boycotts, racism, and police brutality against he
Every Sunday, you can find Charlotte at the front of the church, shouting and dancing in the aisles. She makes joyful noises, praising the Lord for taking her through another week and asking for continued blessings.

Wednesday evenings are spent at the sewing circle with her church sisters. The quilt she’s been working on is more than halfway completed, and she plans to finish it before winter. This quilt holds special significance because the materials used are old rags and clothing that she’s been gathering for years. Some of the clothes belonged to her parents, who both passed away, but she kept them long after their passing, which is over twenty years now. All the ladies in the circle admire its vibrant colors and shower her with compliments.

One day, while working on her quilt, a nine-year-old boy named Ray, the grandson of one of the white ladies, approached her. He held her hands and asked why her hands were so scarred and rough. Ray was visiting his grandmother from the city and had never encountered people who engaged in manual labor. Initially, his grandmother, feeling embarrassed, tried to stop him from asking questions, but Charlotte reassured her that it was okay. She explained that she had worked hard every day of her life but was grateful to the Lord.

Being an inquisitive child, Ray walked over to his grandmother and examined her hands. Although they were wrinkled, they were soft and well-manicured. He whispered to her, “How come your hands are different?” She didn’t answer him.

In her mind, she recalled the days when she was privileged to attend school every day. Sometimes, she would see Charlotte walking to the fields while she was on the school bus heading to school. She wondered if her life had turned out better or worse because she too had faced challenges in her life in different ways. She thought about how life is like a quilt made up of various pieces or experiences—some good, some bad—but when sewn together, they create a magnificent tapestry or life.

Time never stops

_DSC0603No matter what happens time continues to move forward, There are times in my life when I have just wanted it to stop so that I can take a break to “call cree”( Jamaican word for stop and take a break).

Life can become overwhelming like a runaway train that you wish you could get off, but for whatever reason, you choose not to disembark.

Some people spend their time counting days, hours, minutes waiting for the end of the day, end of the week or until its time to take their vacation. The counting continues until its time to retire. Then retirement comes along and they are not able to enjoy the fruits of their labor.  Sounds sad? That’s so many peoples reality.

Choose not to feel trapped or stuck but rather enjoy your life and be happy!

Give it a try. Stop the train and get off. Live your Life to the fullest!

Keep ON Moving Forward!

keepmovingforward2The hills and Valleys make life interesting. There is never a dull moment. It can be exciting, distressing or worrisome just by the way you react.

You may know, I am working towards the goal of full timing it on the road in a travel trailer.  This blog is dedicated to the journey………

While driving my current car stopped in the middle of a busy intersection about 45 minutes from home.  I was traveling with a friend that day, and we were able to push it into a parking lot close by so I could assess the situation.

It just would not start, so I needed to get it to a repair shop to have them diagnose the problem. Because it was a busy area, there were many auto mechanics within walking distance.

After a short walk, the second garage I stopped at was helpful and got a tow truck to tow it the mile to their garage.

Even though it was an unfortunate situation, so many things worked out that day, including having another friend that was visiting out of town who was able to pick me up and take me to work on time.

The car is in the shop as I write this and it will take quite a bit to fix it but after all is said and done the resale value will increase.

As they say, I had His favor that day and His blessing shines on me every day.

Remember you have the option of looking at your challenges in a positive or a negative light.

What’s Next!????

Photo Aug 07, 12 02 02 PMWhats next???? Now that I have stepped out in faith and told the universe my intention, and asking the Lord for guidance.

After hitting the post button, on my previous post, I could feel my anxiety level increase dramatically for a few hours. After quieting my mind with meditation, I was reminded of all the times the Lord has worked things out, in other words, the Universe came up to meet my intentions.

Fear, coupled with procrastination has made me able to stay in my safe but unfulfilled life. I sit here in Starbucks writing this with the realization that time goes so quickly and the clock is ticking every day.

  1. Make Affirmations! I am good enough!, I am smart enough! I am attractive enough! And so on…… is a way to retraining my brain especially when I start thinking negatively.
  2. Write Down Goals! I struggle with writing things down, not sure why, but maybe the reason why is because by not writing down my goals, I would not have written a document to keep me accountable. For me, now writing this Blog is a way me accountable and to inspire me to keep going, to keep moving forward no matter how small. As my dear friend more like sister says, little progress is still progress.
  3. Keep Motivated! I have found that I get motivation from walking or riding my bicycle in Nature and if I can capture a beautiful image its a bonus.  Also, Reading about hiking and exploring. I am in the process of making and hanging a dream board or a better word…. a goal board so that it will be a daily reminder to work towards my goals.
  4. Make a step towards my goal daily no matter how small.
  5. Look out for opportunities that will present themselves and not make fear or procrastination hold me back.
  6. Get my mind and body mentally and physically prepared for the journey by reading and exercise.
  7. Refuse to listen to limiting beliefs.
  8. Don’t wait for the time is right to move forward. Jump!

I Surrender All

All to Jesus I Surrender……..

On Sunday I sing this Hymn, But do I really mean it.

Do I surrender my life, my finances, my plans, my dreams…everything.

Doing these three things helps me give Him my All…..

Stepping out in Faith……… I must admit that sometimes it is hard to do because I have to give up the driver’s seat but it gets easier the more I do it because I can see how amazing God is and he takes me in directions I would never imagine.

Stopping to Listen to the still small voice……….. I hear what the Lord put on my heart and what He wants to tell me. It took me a while to know when He speaks and to trust in what I heard. Having that connection is very reassuring and I get a lot of comfort and peace knowing He is always there.

Submerging myself in his Word…………. Finding time to Read the Bible daily is difficult for me and many people I know…. making time to learn how God thinks to Know what is holy and acceptable to Him is necessary for spiritual growth.

Sharing my time and resources to help others…………… I try to be Gods hands on earth and each of us can be in our small way. When I do this I am so blessed knowing I am helping others.

Let’s not get it twisted, I am not perfect, I sin, I don’t do everything I should, I fail, I lose my peace…..

But as they say……. I am not what I should be but Thank God I am not what I use to be…….

Blessings Always

Ending Well

For the past few days, I have thought that as my fiftieth birthday approaches and it is doubtful that I will have another fifty years on earth, how can I ensure that this part of my life is the best part of my life.

As I read the bible……. an instruction manual for me, there is no mention of retirement, you do what you enjoy until your last breath. That was an interesting revelation for me because we are taught to work hard and accumulate stuff forsaking the most important things in life that make for a happy and fulfilling life in my opinion.  Ironically enough these things do not cost a significant amount of money, and actually, most are free.

Things like meditation, helping others,  spending time with people you love both family and friends, spending time in nature every day and last but not least communing with God is just some of the things that I have found that enriches my life. Doing these things along with eating nutritious food and exercise on a consistent basis also improves my mental and physical health.

We never know what the future holds and how long we will be on this side of heaven, but we can make a difference every day. It may not be something……. in our eyes, momentous but a small thing like a smile, a touch or an encouraging word can change someone’s life without us realizing it.

I ask you…. What are the most important things to you?

Is it to accumulate more stuff,

Is it to buy the latest and greatest,

Is it to accumulate great wealth,

How about having power and status,

or Accolades from your peers

All these things were important to me at one time, but I asked myself at what cost?

The cost of my health mentally and or physically. The cost to my family by not having time with me because I was working long hours. The cost of not being spiritually maturity or enlightenment. There is always a cost……. is it worth it?

My humble opinion after fifty years of experience is that every day is precious and  I should live it to the fullest. I may live another fifty, but I may only live another minute.  The key to everything is moderation, we all have to work to pay our bills but giving up years of your life to a job or a business is not worth it, especially if it is something is not enjoyable or not fulfilling.

How do you ensure you end well……., Again I used to believe that if I worked hard and saved my money so that I could have a large bank account with many investments so that I will be able to live a particular lifestyle when I approach the later years of life.

A parable from the Bible sums it up beautifully……

Luke 12 v 13-21 NLT

Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”

14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?”

15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.

17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’

18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones.

Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.

19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come.

Now calm down! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Magnolia in the sunlight
Magnolia in the sunlight

Love…..What is love

I am no expert on the issue of love…. but we all can agree that there are many different examples of love.. God’s Love, A mother’s love for their children, A child’s Love for their mother or Parent. A Love that a man and wife share, even the love that one feels when you are attracted to someone… and there are many more scenarios and there are many more ways to mess it up with our expectations. It has been said before but it is worth repeating to be happy in this life we need to have no expectations, There is only one perfect person that will never let us down or will never forsake us and his name is Jesus everyone else is human and they will hurt us sometimes unintentionally but it will happen.

 When this happens the key to this is forgiveness. God forgives us everyday we need to forgive one another and to love one another. Even if the person is our enemy or if they hurt us badly we need to find a way to forgive them and ultimately….. love them. unconditionally love ……it is difficult you say…… I agree but if that is the example Jesus left for us that is what we should aspire to… Mothers Love your Children unconditionally. Dads Love your children unconditionally. Children love your parents unconditionally, Husband love your wife unconditionally . Wife you do the same. Brothers and Sisters love each other unconditionally and Love your neighbor. As I was reading my devotional this morning one of the many verses about how we need to treat one another came up as the verse of the day and it is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:15. ” See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.”  Forgive easily, love unconditionally and control our expectations.  Blessings always

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