Joy and Pain!!!!

How are you my brothers and sisters? I’m fired up! I had a wonderful weekend filled with abundant blessings and celebrating new beginnings! As I sit and reflect on my weekend, I find my soul and spirit on fire! There is so much unrest and stuff going on! Here we are…Monday, the beginning of a new work week! Have you ever had that evening after a really long day…the Monday that you feel like you have been through it more than once? I needed to come in, turn the music up loud, and dance till you fall out…kind of day? I’m sure you have! The DAY was a DAY! A day which I went through every emotion in the book! After sitting in the dark and reflecting on the day, I was determined not let my joy be taken by anything or anybody! So, I DID in fact crank up the music and dance like nobody was watching! I sang to the top of my lungs! Ya’ll know I can’t carry a tune in a bucket, but I sounded good to me! I had my own party! I had to release! I started with some of my favorite smooth jazz such as The Rose by Urban Knights and somehow got to Frankie Beverly and Maze’s Joy and Pain…”joy and pain are like sunshine and rain.” How ironic! As I drove home this evening I literally when through sunshine and rain! As the song continues, “…don’t it seem we go through life going up and down? Seems that things that turn you on, turn you around…”

Colossians 2:8, 23, The Message says “Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings… Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and austere. But they’re just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.”

This scripture caused me to deeply examine what is going on not only in our community but also in a global context. We lost two iconic Black female leaders who were champions of and for the people! Rest in Power, Hazel Erby and Betty Thompson! Many are working in toxic workplaces where they are not valued for who they are and what they bring. It really is about what gifts and talents people bring with them but more importantly passion! Why is this so difficult to comprehend? The 1950 practices will not work in 2021. There are five generations in the workplace, and they all have different needs, wants, and contribute in different ways! One size does not fit all! It is unfortunate many leaders are insecure and think being in charge will get them ahead as they completely disregard the people who do the work! This goes back to why it is so difficult to accept people as they are, let them do what they do best, and value them as viable contributors. On the one hand you have a great career (joy) and on the other you have to deal with mess (pain). Many of our issues today stem from these insecurities as the mindsets are fixed and in a scarcity frame! In creating abundance, we must learn to work together, build trust, love, care, and support! Rodney King said it best “can we all just get along!” We have so much work to do! As we have been and still are in a race, health and climate pandemic, let’s be about tearing down the systematic barriers. These things that oppress and create viable, lasting solutions for the broken systems of health, education, employment, housing, and safety! I’m hopeful we can do this in my lifetime! Let’s go to work! As I closed the last week’s blog, being humble, gracious, kind, and showing respect will always set you apart from the rest. Be there to care for and respect your brother and sister…all humanity!

As you know this is #StuffValSaid, but what do you say? Are you being a champion and valuing for those who are different than yourself? Are you showing up with joy or pain? How are you showing up and doing work in community? Are you giving the best you got? Are you reflecting on how you show up? Where are your blind spots?

As said in Swahili, Ashay…” Be with us!!!” I love and honor you!!! Ubuntu “I am, because you are.”

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