Friends on the Way

     Following the path of good is not always easy. In fact, it's often called the "Narrow Road". Or an even better interpretation: "The Agonizing Road". But oddly enough, this is the road that is meant to lead to Life.

     So cray cray.

     But what does it look like when someone's reached a milestone on such a road. I think it looks a little something like my friend, David.

     He's beginning to see the beautiful fruit of the many small Yes's he made to stay on the Narrow Road from his early teen years. He's now in his early 30s and stands with such integrity and blessing. One would almost be tempted to think that he had been born in such a way, but instead, he shared his secret this morning to a group of teenagers and myself that it was his intentional choices to be a man of integrity, a man of his word, a man who would always value his wife and family, a man that would choose to pursue God. It was simply the little Yes's along the way that opened the gateway of sustainable blessing in his life now.

     We want the quick fix now. We want the reward now. But the challenge is, can you do good now in the little things before being influenced by the weightier matters?

     It's amazing how God and His love can change a life forever. There's nothing left to prove, there's complete peace, such pure love, and of course the Narrow Road. Which in essence leads us to more of what we've truly needed and desired our whole lives. But it is still Narrow and there are choices to be made along the way. What we give our little Yes's to will continue to shape our entire life's course.

Wisdom's Knocking:

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."--L. Tzu

Lola & "The Help"

     

     Finally saw The Help yesterday with my mom. And I knew before going into the theater that I would be affected by the story and the weightiness that it carried. Perhaps that's why I put off seeing it on opening day.

     My grandmother, Lola, (Otherwise known as "Jenny Mae") passed away in 2002. She came from Mississippi to Upstate New York as a young woman and worked a many job. One being that of "The Help". So you can imagine how my mother and I were affected by the storyline.

     Not only was this film superbly directed, written, and acted out (Viola Davis, you are a dream!), but the heart and truth behind the story completely resonated with my mom and I.

     I've caught a few blogs here and there from young Black women who were hesitant, like I, to see this film. But instead of bracing for heaviness of the subject matter, they seemed to want to avoid it altogether..."Haven't we moved on from the Civil Rights Era?" They proclaim. Or, "Why must I see a film where black women are only maids and servants?"

     True, it is unfortunate that strong roles for Black Americans are far and few between. But regarding this particular story: This current generation needed to know. They need to see.

     With the subject of History being pushed down the totem pole of importance and seen as completely relative. It's very sobering to be reminded of truth and of real events that took place not that long ago.

     And once again, I appreciate with awe and strength the shoulders of whom I now stand on.

Wisdom's Knocking:

If you don't know where you've been, you won't know where you're going...