When we align our honesty with truth, we step into a place of authenticity and divine connection. In that space, God’s love covers us, and we begin to live in freedom. The truth may feel heavy at first, but it is always lighter than carrying the weight of what we try to hide or ignore.
It’s crazy, isn’t it? That in a world full of hatred and negativity, people dare ask a bright light to turn down. Asking me to be less joyful is, at its core, self-centered. Instead, I submit to your consideration: why are you offended by my joy?!
Fulfillment is on the other side of work. Fulfillment does not come to us. We have to go work to get it. LeBron James wouldn’t be LeBron James if he just talked about playing basketball. He’s LeBron James because he actually plays basketball.
Here I am, in my bed… I saw a tragedy waiting to happen—uneaten tomato chunks and sauce flying everywhere, including on my sheets and comforter. Noooo! Anywho, the blood on my mattress and the impending doom of tomato sauce on my sheets got me thinking, ‘What is it about the color red? Surely there must be a sacred secret lurking about, something to do with the blood of Jesus!’ And then, I explored it. The blood of Jesus was never meant to be easily washed away. It was meant to stay—to cover us, protect us, and remind us of a love so deep that it could not be removed.
I often use these two terms interchangeably, but the truth is, they’re distinctly different, though closely related. I don’t know why now, but I do know that now is the time I needed to quiet and answer this persistent, ongoing search. Exploring them here brings me a sense of clarity. And who doesn’t love that?!
What impedes empowers. The solutions always exist within the problem, not outside of it! Trauma isn’t our fault, but healing [sho’ nuff] is our responsibility. When we perceive failure as ‘bad,’ we miss the lesson it carries. Every obstacle is feedback, giving us precise instructions on how to improve.
The truth is also simple, though: I am now who I once needed. I didn’t post or share my blog because I first needed to practice being courageous. To say the things I need to say without worrying whose eyes are reading what I’m saying. This blog is my heart on the screen! It’s my deepest prayer, darkest valleys, greatest hopes. It’s sharing my deep longings that yet remain to be fulfilled. This past year has been a practice run of can I really do it? Can I say the things?
I, along with two Black women—one with 20 years of experience and another with over 20—were all pushed out. We were forced into silence. Our voices didn’t matter to those who had the power to hear them. As a Black woman in Amerikkka, I’ll say this: Black and Brown women are often fired for no longer being a “culture fit.” Interesting, isn’t it? We were hired because our excellence preceded us, and yet months or years later, we’re no longer a fit? If (White) folks were truthful with themselves first and with others, are Black and Brown women not a “culture fit,” or are you simply racist or prejudiced?
But the truth is all friendships aren’t meant to last for always. All relationships aren’t meant to last for always. Actually, it’s the contrary—life and everything in it are constantly changing, and the only thing that remains unchanged is the Most High God! I also knew it was time to end one of these friendships because I regularly heard, for years, how said ‘friend’ talked so poorly about her other sisterfriends.
“And so here I am worried about feeling confused and the God who knows the precise number of hairs on my head is prob like ‘Hey Silly Billy, I got you! Haven’t I always?’ To which I respond, ‘Uummm yeah, buuut can You get me sooner?!’ I’m not trying to rush You or anything but if You wanted to do exactly what I had wanted You to do for me quicker, that’d be real cool, too!”
