A Lament

Our Current Situation

Current events leave many of us with a mixed, jumbled ball of emotions.  We have had plenty of practice knowing when and how and if we should speak about racial issues.  But times have changed. 

With the murders that have taken place of black men and women since COVID-19 hit, we are forced to speak, act, wait, pray and vote.

My Voice

Although I feel it is important that I say something as a community member, blogger and minister, I first have to say that I don’t want to vocalize my thoughts on this issue.  

Why? 

1.  Because I never thought what I said mattered; and

2. What will change?

As a recipient of racist taunting and teasing as a child, and a decision to stop pledging allegiance to the U.S. flag as a teenager, I have long been convinced of the evil and wickedness in this country.

Yet, I feel the spirit of a former professor, Dr. Donna Allen, compelling me to speak. 

I have not liked living on American soil since I was a child.  I have wanted to live oversees, in Africa specifically, for a long, long time.  When the current man took office, I really wanted to leave.  My love for my adult children and grandchildren keep me here.

In the meantime, all I know to do is pray, vote, trust God, and pray some more. 

Do I think things will change?  No. 

Then why pray, you might ask. 

Because it is the one place where I can say what I mean and know that I am heard.  Where else can I run to?

Disappointment

We all have been disappointed because God didn’t answer our prayers as we wanted.  I am certainly no exception. 

But I do know that there is no other source of strength and hope that exists.  None. 

Hoping for some thing or person to make life bearable or tolerable is a lie.  I don’t live there anymore.  But I do believe that God can and will give me the strength to endure today’s trials, tribulations and temptations.

Ps. 42:11 - Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.

There is a comfort for all our woes and concerns and that is found in God.

Acknowledging God as my Savior means I know God will quiet my worries and struggles about these protests, US leadership and much more. 

A remedy will come forth, but only when God allows it.

Putting my hope in God means I believe there is a God who will protect me and you in trouble and tribulation.

God, who is also manifested through family and friends, is all I have to comfort me.  God is more than enough.  And, my friend, I hope you will ask God to comfort you too.

Be blessed,

Minister Michelle

Fulfilling the Heavenly Vision: We Do Recover

Ephesians 2:1-10

It is comforting how the Word of God extends to include recovering persons.

Some of us needed decades to learn how to obey God’s Word.  As explained in Ephesians 2:1-3, we were under the influence of a negative force.  Another way to say it is we decided to live life contrary to God’s Way and paid a huge price.

However, God’s mercy and redeeming nature granted us time and provided the resources necessary to meet “today.”  You know, this day, where you have an opportunity to live out the vision God has for your life.

How? 

The spiritual process looks something like this:  

Rejuvenated:  Before we even knew it, “God made us alive in Christ, even when we were dead.”  (Ephesians 2:5 NIV) 

God may have introduced you to Christ long before you began to live the life of recovery.  Or, maybe you can remember the moment when you had a spiritual awakening that brought your dead soul to life.  No matter how, when or how many times it happened, you have been rejuvenated – made young and alive again.

Restored – Then, through working the steps, prayer, meditation and consistently showing up at our places of healing, we experience restoration – being placed back in right relationship with God and Christ in the heavenly realm.  Why?  So God can show us off.  God wants the world to know that he can and will restore us.  And, His restoration power works through the kindness he has shown us through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:6-7 NIV reads, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 

Recovered – We have been put back into the position where we can live out the heavenly vision God prepared in advance for us to do.  “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

This is the spiritual awakening for me.  I remember looking up the word “recover” when I first entered this process in the 90’s.  My question before God was this: “How is it possible recovering people can return to a state of health, mind and strength if we never had it?”

Considering the sin and dysfunction some children must endure, how is it possible we were ever in a healthy, strong state?  Many of our collective cultural histories include traumas and oppression that hindered the human soul.

But this text spoke to me.  It is like God is telling us we were, and still are, the best of God’s creation and we are returning to a former state, even if it only existed spiritually or at birth.

Now, we have an opportunity, for some a duty, to live out the plan – heavenly vision – God prepared in advance for us to do.

We do recover.  We do return to a healthy state of mind, body and spirit and have an opportunity to work out our soul’s salvation and draw others to Christ through our own unique creative gifts.

Go on – Recover.

Minister Michelle

Don't Hit the Panic Button

Don’t Hit the Panic Button

Exodus 14:10-14

The Israelites were scared.  Who could blame them? 

They had spent 400 years being slaves, endured Pharaoh’s resistance to letting them go (with their hopes going up and down), escaped (hallelujah), only to enjoy a few days of freedom and look up to see the Egyptians chasing them again!

Like, OH MY GOD!!

And they called God.  They were panicking.  Can you blame them?

And God’s response is…”Don’t panic.”

Errr…excuse me?, they responded.

Don’t panic, he says.

Through Moses, God tells his people:  “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”  Exodus 14:13-14 NLT

We all get afraid.

We all have emotions.  Sometimes, our emotions lead us into doing things out of fear vs faith.  And, many of us take our emotional condition to God.

I like that this Bible I am currently reading suggested that the Israelites did the right thing by taking their fearful concerns to God instead of shaming them for being emotional.  Emotions are part of who we are.  And, like the Israelites, we can take our emotional responses about situations to God.  

In fact, I am sure many of us have gone to God with our emotional condition.  Fear, anxiety, agitation, anger, depression, hopelessness – the range of emotions during COVID-19 abound.

Yet, God is still speaking.

God is still offering Words of comfort.

               “Don’t be afraid.  I got you.  Stand still and watch me take care of the situation.  You will not have to deal with this again.  Know that, I will fight for you.  You just need to be still – trust me, endure this season and trust me.”

Amen.

Minister Michelle

Communal Empathy

Learning to stand in somebody else's shoes, to see through their eyes, that's how peace begins. And it's up to you to make that happen. Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world. - Former President Barack Obama

During COVID-19, it is apparent that people’s emotions are flared and tense.  Yet, we can make a commitment to practice empathy towards others.

Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, according to Merriam-Webster.

Understanding that we are all in this together is one thing.  Practicing forgiveness for perceived slights or tense emails is the spiritual part of empathy.  This is not a suggestion to hold people accountable.  But it is permission to pause and make a decision to overlook a slight.

These past six weeks, I have both heard and experienced reactions that were less than calm, serene and Christ-like.  I am sure I have been guilty of reacting inappropriately and unexpectedly.  For that, I ask your forgiveness.

Yet, what challenges me during this COVID-19 experience is to extend grace to others.  In other words, I can, and do, understand and share the feelings of others – from multiple communities and cultures.  As a grandmother, professional over 50 and a person of color with a compromised health status, I can relate to many different scenarios.  You can too.

We are, at times, stressed out, fearful, peaceful, joyous, grateful, sitting in the unknown and disgusted.  The list of emotional realities during this pandemic is endless. 

However, one thing we can all do is be empathetic towards each other.  Hold the communities we love and interact in with grace, solace and comfort.  Realize and remember that although this pandemic impact each of us, we can choose to overlook most reactions at this time because they come from a place of uncertainty, fear and loss.

Thanks for reading.

Minister Michelle

Answering the Call

Lately, I have been thinking about God handing out assignments and people receiving the message.  Too many times, the response is, “I don’t like this assignment.” 

Mind you, we are the same folk who tell God “I just want to do your will,” but when he reveals it, we are not always happy.

It took me at least ten years to make peace with my specific call to ministry.  I had a plan while in seminary for my life to unfold a certain way.  

However, 10 years post-graduation and I am just making peace with the specific way and reasons God has placed me to minister where I am.

“Your mess is your ministry,” I can still hear my friend Rev. Dr. Monique Carter say to me.  I silently hoped she was wrong.  I have had ten years to finally admit -- she was right.

Although we may have silent dreams to be successful, famous, productive movie stars, ballerinas, football players, etc. -- the hustle and flow of circumstances, choices and decisions can produce results we did not count on. 

Yet, it is all part of God’s plan.

There can be many reasons and excuses that keep us from answering the call, but call them what they really are:  shame, stigma and regret.  

Today is the day.  Do something different.  Better yet – think different so you can do different.  Then, trust God to guide you.

Be blessed,

Mystic Michelle

Sacrifice: Forgive

“What does the message of the cross mean to me today?”  

The Spirit of God revealed this to me:  “He sacrificed for you, what will you sacrifice for Him?”

At that moment, I was reminded that one message of the cross is forgiveness of sins.  Christ sacrificed his life so that our sins would be forgiven.  So, the question is:  “What sacrifice will we voluntarily make for him?”

Will I give up my right to be angry and hurt at another person?  Will I forgive the very person I believe harmed me because Christ forgave me?  If I call myself able to live by spiritual principles, I will.  You will too. 

We will make the sacrifice because Christ sacrificed for us. 

Christ’s sacrificial act of laying down his will was quite demeaning.  As I listened to the biblical account of Jesus' journey to the cross, I was reminded that people called him names, threw objects at him AND spat in his face.  Really?  I mean, it is one thing not to like Jesus, but to spit in his face more than once.  That is pure hatred.

And I, little ol’ me, have the audacity to think that my feelings, my pride, my rights are more important than Jesus.  To think that my actions reflect a mind that says, “I deserve to be angry at another child of God.”  I actually don’t think that way, but, if I practice unforgiveness, then that is exactly what is being said.  

Is anyone of us more important than God?    

As we enter into spring and celebrate the newness of the season of life, let us remember to honor the cross too.  We can love God’s children with forgiveness in our hearts, knowing that our actions are pleasing to God.

M

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the power of forgiveness. I no longer want to hold myself hostage, fearing my feelings and holding on to the hurt. Today I'm going to face my feelings and forgive because I also want to be forgiven. Give me the courage and strength this day Lord to forgive those who I felt have hurt me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Prayer written by Belinda Dickson-Brown

Letting Go: Embrace the New

When a shift in our life occurs, we grow unsettled.  Especially when the shift brings about a new outlook in who we thought we were.  We are now on a different part of the self-discovery journey.

Have you ever experienced a shift in your identity?

This can occur because our children leave home.  It can happen because we experience the loss of a parent.  It can happen when we stop practicing a destructive behavior or living out a negative belief.  A shift in who we are is taking place and, often, it is uncomfortable because with this change comes a future that is unclear.

I remember when I got a divorce.  I was no longer a wife.  There was a change going on with my identity.  What I soon discovered was how much of my personhood was connected to this title/role “wife.”  Now who was I going to be and do?  What would this mean to me and for the world in which I live?

Survival Mode

The separation and divorce I went through pushed me into survival mode.   My biggest fear became “How was I going to take care of myself?” 

What I did?  I started manipulating and reaching for anything that would help me feel “safe” in spite of the consequences.  It wasn’t good.  Gratefully, as I moved towards my new identity as a single woman, I found some peace.

 

For those of us in recovery, we, at some point, make a shift from living our lives in survival mode to a life of calmness and composure. 

In survival mode, we had to eat what was put in front of us, wear what was available and go where we could to get our emotional, physical and, yes, sexual needs met.  But now, in recovery, after some sanity has been restored, we can exhale.  We can relax a bit.

Although there is still a mess to clean up, there is hope on the horizon.

The Transition

Naturally, moving from survival mode to calmness comes with stable housing, a sense of financial security, a community of friends and, if we are lucky, restoration of familial relationship too.  Some people stop here.  Other people secure jobs, cars, retirement plans and much more.  It is especially delightful to see people take control of their physical health too.

But are we digging deep enough?

Are we addressing the negative beliefs and behaviors that sustained while in survival mode?

Are we willing to let go of manipulation, greed and lying to live at peace with God and our fellow brothers and sisters?

The Challenge to Change

It is one thing to say we are changing.  But are we really releasing the “old self” that functioned in survival mode? Or, are we choosing to live as an empowered “Self,” in charge of our choices and pursuing the destiny God has revealed for our lives?

“Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.” – Marianne Williamson

The challenge is to go the extra mile.  To change and evolve and prosper into the existence God has called for us.

Settling for poor health, broken relationships and bitter, cluttered spirits is not God’s will.  We must, we can be willing to let go of what doesn’t work for our lives and embrace those things that affirm who we are as people and children of God.

What am I talking about?  I am talking about being your best you.  I am talking about releasing those attitudes that don’t serve you well.

What does this mean?

It means we are saying yes to God.  We are positioning ourselves to cooperate with God to do His work and represent Him in every area of our lives.  We let go of old behaviors and beliefs in exchange for healthier ideas, attitudes and behaviors. 

In the process of change occurring in our insides, our own perception of who we see ourselves to be, it is important to remember who we are in the foundation of our existence. 

Our foundation is rooted in us being human first, with a set of basic needs that we desire to have fulfilled.  When we are hurting or in a transition phase, we still desire to have those needs met – but it is important to find new ways to meet those needs because we are in the process of “letting go.”  Letting go of what does not work, letting go of people who have exited the center stage of our lives, letting go of the past.

M

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, in the precious name of Jesus, I thank you for self-discovery. You have already suggested my steps. Allow me to embrace this journey and walk in faith.  I no longer want to be held back to what was and what will be.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I was lost, unsure and confused, but it’s something about the name of Jesus that has brought me peace. As I continue to walk in this journey, God, please open my eyes so I can see.  Enhance my hearing so I can hear You give me the wisdom necessary to know the Your will for my life and the proper attitudes and behaviors.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

BDB