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Today's Sunday Inspirations is an account of an experience I had earlier this year which, I shared here at Sojourner's Place. I often think about this brief experience as it has left a lasting impression on me. It has been said, that when something happens to you that is so profound that it stays with you that it is the voice of God telling you to take heed and listen.

Crossing a Destination Yet Unknown

This morning, I had a very interesting, strange and inspiring experience. On my way to perform my civic duty (I’ll talk about that in a future post) I encountered an elderly man attempting to cross the street with a walker. Just prior to my approaching him, I heard him ask a woman for assistance. Blurting out something in what I considered in a tone both rude and disrespectful, the woman quickly scurried away leaving him to fend for himself.

Obviously afraid to cross the street during its downtown morning rush – I offered to help the Elder. As one would expect, he was extremely grateful and we began our two block walk to his destination. During that walk, I learned that he was a retired CPA, had suffered a stroke about a year ago, and that his doctor – a woman – suspected that he would have to continue to use the walker for at least another six months. The Elder is the father of three; two sons, both engineers and a real estate agent daughter.

This elder spoke to me about many things during our walk including Islam and its tenants regarding the importance of women and mothers and the need to respect one another. He spoke of how ants will help each other to survive in their world in the absence of competition. He said that only humans feel the need for competition, degradation, and humiliation against one another creating divides, hatred, and the inability to coexist.

Reaching his destination, I knew that he would have to climb about 4 concrete steps. I remained at the bottom of the steps and helped him to steady himself by holding onto the railing. Once steadied, I took is walker to the landing and then returned to the Elder to assist him up the stairs. The doorman – who was watching all of this – then, assisted him into the business establishment. Before saying our farewells, the Elder said to me, “I asked God to send someone to help me cross that street. And he sent you. He sent you – the nice lady with a pretty smile – a lady who is now my daughter.” The Elder then kissed my hand and blessed me with a good and prosperous life. I thanked him, claimed the blessing, and proceeded to my destination to perform my civic duty.

Everything happens for a reason. And while I may have been placed at the right time and place to help the Elder cross the street, I sincerely believe that this unknown Elder was placed at that spot to safely cross ME to a destination yet unknown.



Sunday Inspiration Participants:

Afroamericawriter - Bria - Georgia's Angels - Hagar's Daughter - Marvalus - msladydeborah - Villager - Mrs Grapevine - Talulazoeapple - The78MsJ

Speak the Truth!

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old SjP ain't got nothing more to say. > > >SjP's truth continues

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Received this "Letter from a College Student" today via email. Given the discussions lately on Hip Hop and the N-Word, I thought it appropriate and timely to share with you today. If you are so inclined, feel free to share this message with your readers.

The other day, a friend of mine visited me in the lobby of my dorm just to chat while her laundry was drying. As we were chatting, two young freshmen came by. One of the boys wanted to 'talk' to my friend (as in date). She asked him how old they were, and both of the boys replied 18. My friend and I both laughed hysterically because we are both 22 years old. After my friend left, the young men were still hanging around and one wanted to know how he could gain her interest.

The first thing I told him to do was to pull up his pants! He asked why, then said he liked saggin' his pants. I told him to come over to my computer and spell the word saggin'. Then I told him to write the word saggin' backwards.

"S-A-G-G-I-N............N-I-G-G-A-S"

I told him the origin of that look was from centuries ago. It was the intent of slave owners to demoralize the field workers by forbidding them to wear a belt as they worked in the fields or at any other rigorous job. In addition, men in prison wore their pants low when they were "spoken for". The other reason their pants looked like that was they were not allowed to have belts because prisoners were likely to try to commit suicide. And, saggin' pants prevents you from running.

We as young Black people have to be the ones to effect change. We are dying. The media has made a mockery of the Black American. Even our brothers and sisters from Africa don't take us seriously. Something as simple as pulling up your pants and standing with your head held high could make the biggest difference in the world's perception of us. It is time to do right by ourselves. We need to love and embrace each other. No one is going to do that for us.

It all comes down to perception. What people perceive is what is reality to them. We have to change not only the media's perception of us, but we need to change our perception of ourselves. Reme mber all eyes are on you Black Man. All eyes are on you Black Woman. All eyes are on your Black Child. People point the finger at us and expect us to engage in negative and illegal activities, to manifest loud, boisterous behaviour, to spend our hard earned money in their stores, buying goods we don't need, or really want. We have allowed not only the media, but the government and the world to portray us as a 'sub-culture.' They have stripped our culture down to the point where the image of Black people is perpetuated as rappers, athletes, drug users, and consumers of junk food, expensive tennis shoes, expensive cars, expensive TVs, cell phones and not investing in homes for our families. We are so much more!!!!!!!

To all our Black Men: Its time to stand up. There are billions of Black Women who want to do nothing more than worship the ground that you walk on. We are so in love with your potential. We want to have your back, we want to love, support and cherish every ounce of your being. But with that you have to show that you are willing to be the head of our households. You have to prove yourselves worthy of our submission. We need you to be hard working...Not a hustler. We need you to seek higher education, to seek spirituality. We need you to stand! And trust us, we will have your back. We know that it gets hard. We know you get weary. Trust and believe that there is nothing that a Black Man and a Black Woman can't handle with GOD on their side.

To all our Black Women: It is also time for you to stand up. It is time for you to stop using our bodies as our primary form of communication. It is time to be that virtuous woman that Proverbs spoke of. You cannot sit by the wayside while our men are dying by the masses. You are the epitome of Black Love. It starts within you. You need to speak with conviction to let not only our Black Men know, but the world, that you are the Mothers of this world. You are so powerful. You a re so beautiful. You need to love and embrace every blessing God has given us physically, emotionally and spiritually.

For all our Black Children: We need to love them. We need to teach them. We need to stand up for them. We need to protect them. We need to show them that there are no 'get rich quick' schemes. We need to tell them that they WILL die trying if they submit to a life of crime and deceit. We need to teach our children that no one will love them the way we can. And being a basketball player, a rapper, or a drug dealer is not reality. It's not realistic and only a small percentage of people ever make it as a rapper or professional athlete. We need to teach our children that we can be more than rappers and athletes. We can be the owners of these sports teams. We can be the CEO's of OUR fortune 500 companies. We need to believe in literacy. I am almost certain if we were to look back to the 1930s and 40s, the literacy rates for Black American Children are probably still the same.

Rising Blogger Post of the Day Award.

Speak the Truth!

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old SjP ain't got nothing more to say.

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This morning, I had a very interesting, strange and inspiring experience. On my way to perform my civic duty (I’ll talk about that in a future post) I encountered an elderly man attempting to cross the street with a walker. Just prior to my approaching him, I heard him ask a woman for assistance. Blurting out something in what I considered in a tone both rude and disrespectful, the woman quickly scurried away leaving him to fend for himself.

Obviously afraid to cross the street during its downtown morning rush – I offered to help the Elder. As one would expect, he was extremely grateful and we began our two block walk to his destination. During that walk, I learned that he was a retired CPA, had suffered a stroke about a year ago, and that his doctor – a woman – suspected that he would have to continue to use the walker for at least another six months. The Elder is the father of three; two sons, both engineers and a real estate agent daughter.

This elder spoke to me about many things during our walk including Islam and its tenants regarding the importance of woman and mothers and the need to respect one another. He spoke of how ants will help each other to survive in their world in the absence of competition. He said that only humans feel the need for competition, degradation, and humiliation against one another creating divides, hatred, and the inability to coexist.

Reaching his destination, I knew that he would have to climb about 4 concrete steps. I remained at the bottom of the steps and helped him to steady himself by holding onto the railing. Once steadied, I took is walker to the landing and then returned to the Elder to assist him up the stairs. The doorman – who was watching all of this – then, assisted him into the business establishment. Before saying our farewells, the Elder said to me, “I asked God to send someone to help me cross that street. And he sent you. He sent you – the nice lady with a pretty smile – a lady who is now my daughter.” The Elder then kissed my hand and blessed me with a good and prosperous life. I thanked him, claimed the blessing, and proceeded to my destination to perform my civic duty.

Everything happens for a reason. And while I may have been placed at the right time and place to help the Elder cross the street, I sincerely believe that this unknown Elder was placed at that spot to safely cross ME to a destination yet unknown.

BEST POSTS OF THE **YEAR** 2008 Honoree

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say.

holla back! SjP

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