JUST ANOTHER TUESDAY

Mardi Gras is officially over in New Orleans. The weather was beautiful, and the atmosphere seemed festive. I viewed the parades from the comfort of my living room. The local news stations do an incredible job of live streaming the parades and sights that are not rated X. Our Mardi Gras menu included hot dogs with chili, red beans with sausage, king cake, chips and sodas. We had an enjoyable time. Growing up in New Orleans all we knew were parades and lots of them. We lived one block off of historic St. Charles Avenue, so parades were like breathing. What I didn't know as a young child was that not everyone had Fat Tuesday celebrations in their hometowns. For most people it was just another Tuesday. My brother Kermit met a tourist today who took a picture with him. No doubt the words on her sign resonated with him as they did with me. Well, it was anything but another Tuesday for those of us blessed to live in New Orleans. Yeah, ya right!

THE DAY THE WORLD WENT TO CHURCH

Whitney Houston Funeral Service: Stars Come Out in Newark, NJ, to Honor Late Singer

Whitney Houston's mother Cissy only wanted to bring her baby girl home. She only wanted to honor the tradition Whitney grew up in. She had no particular agendas or motives. She only wanted her baby girl to transition in a familiar setting. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever realize without intent that she had arranged the largest Saturday morning church service and alter call ever. I know Whitney is so proud of her mother and she would have changed nothing if given an opportunity. Whitney indicated to her mother days before she transitioned to life after life that she was going to visit her soon. On last Saturday, Cissy Houston reported that on three separate occasions the doorbell of her home rang, but no one was at the door. I think it is safe to say that Whitney did come home and by doing so the entire world went to church this morning. Whitney's transition is a call to each of us to never stop loving someone while in the midst of their struggle. We have to be there for each other . Whitney, I will always love you. Thank you for sharing your gifts with each of us.

MANY FACETS OF BEAUTY

Being a child of color in the 1960's and 1970's I had few people on television who looked like me. Additionally, my early school books Fun With Dick and Jane were also void of people who looked like me. I never gave any significant thought to these blatant omissions. Fortunately, I didn't have to look outside of my home or enter into the portals of TV Land to find a beautiful strong woman of color. All I needed to do was look at my mother. She was youthful, intelligent, attractive, and hard working. She was like a mother and big sister rolled up in one. We always had fun. Playing Scrabble, Life, Old Maids, Jacks, Monopoly, Shenanigans, and playing school were part of our regular routine. She had a great figure and watched her caloric intake while exercising daily. Today, as a women in her 70's she is still youthful, intelligent, attractive, and hard working. She is proof that beauty like a flawless diamond has many facets.I love you Ma. I am eternally grateful to you for being everything I needed as a child and as a woman today.

I BRING OUT THE BEST IN ME

Countless songs have been written for years giving credit to another for causing the best character traits to surface. Visit any bookstore and the self-help section has all the answers, methods and techniques to bring out the best in children, employees, managers, and a barrage of additional areas. I have invested a small fortune on leadership books. My passion for being current on styles of organizational leadership and methods of creating team synergy consumed me for years. I also had a small howbeit growing library of books and DVD's on following your intention, passion, and bliss. I became the go to person if your employer, employees, spouse, or children were acting out. I would always end "counseling" sessions with these words: all of your answers are located inside of you. I totally believe if we quiet our minds Holy Spirit downloads all the data we need to help us navigate the sometimes rough waters of life. I am thankful for all the media formats I've been blessed to use over the years. However, at the end of the day there is not a book, conversation, or person who can cause the best part of me to surface. The previously referenced elements serve as catalysts. In other words they provoke us to shift or change. The only person who has full power and authority to expose your/my awesomeness is you and me. It's the invisible part of us; our essence. When we grow to love ourselves and stop trying to fix ourselves we become whole. It's not out there it's in you and me. Only you can bring out the best in you. For today I lovingly embrace the fact that I bring out the best in me.

GET THE FOG OUT OF YOUR VISION

In 2008 I started a faith-based not for profit organization with a simple intention of teaching people how to get re-connected with the person God created them to be. I had no purpose or mission statement everything evolved from Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Everything fell in place however, I always felt something was missing. We had achieved significant gains in a short time and recognition within the community from more established organizations. However I did not feel anchored. We were doing great things and had the confidence of donors from various parts of the country. Something still was missing. A few weeks ago, I said to my sister "when I really know what I want God will give it to me." I'll decode the message: when I stop going here and going there, doing this and doing that, the core purpose of the organization will rise to the top and everything else will revolve around that purpose. I really didn't focus on the comment made to my sister until last week while in Home Depot with my husband looking at flooring samples someone called me and asked if I would consider providing a particular service in the community. Her question was so matter of fact and natural because it was something I had been doing for twenty-five years. I never thought or wanted to do the service on my own. However, her question has resonated with me for several days and everything inside of me is saying yes. Our organization [THE ME GOD SEES, INC] will not discontinue doing any of the things we've done for the past four years. We will now have an anchor and all other efforts will revolve around this core service. God is always speaking and most of the time His messages are not clear. However, when we are truly open and desperate enough for an answer it always comes.

DO NOT GET DISTRACTED

Last year I made a decision to move into the direction of my life's calling. As 2011 entered I was energetic, positive and ready to do the transition work. A few weeks into 2011 I became sick and had to be away from work for two weeks. The day I returned to work my supervisor informed me that he was resigning. The next few months were filled with key employees having unplanned surgeries with lengthy medical leaves. In October I had surgery and joined the ranks of my staff with a lengthy medical leave. While recuperating I became clear on how changes needed to occur in my life. I returned to work in mid December and went through all the festivities associated with the holiday season. Then a little past the stroke of midnight I did it. I wrote my resignation letter to the company I worked with for 28 years. I had a meeting scheduled with my recently appointed supervisor for January 4, 2012. The morning of January 3, 2012 I received a call from a family member complaining of illness. We headed off to the emergency room and the ER visit soon became a hospital stay. The day of my meeting to announce my departure was mentally overshadowed by my family member's medical condition. I met and revealed my plans to leave and headed to the hospital. Within thirty minutes something I wanted to do for three years was done and my family member's test results indicated there was no pathology. I had to fight hard against getting distracted and shelving my plans to announce my resignation. It is scary leaving the security of a nice regular salary and moving towards living a life guided by passion. I am so happy. I feel uncertain yet free. God I left a flowing stream and moved into the ocean but I know you will not let me drown. All is indeed well.

LET ME BE A LIGHT

 LET ME BE A LIGHT © 2009 Pashena T. Casimire

Several years ago I was part of a book club that met every Saturday morning. The first book we read was You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. Each Saturday was a well-spring of new ideas and our ability to create grew immensely. Two of us started businesses [www.themegodsees.org and www.deval-designs.com] as a result of opening ourselves up to the omnipotent presence of God. During this time Holy Spirit started downloading songs to me and we often started our book club sessions with one of the songs. LET ME BE A LIGHT is a very simple song with simple request to God. The lyrics are as follows:

Chorus: 

LET ME BE A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD. LET YOUR RADIATING LIGHT SHINE SO EVER BRIGHT FOR ALL TO SEE.

Verse I: 

I BELONG TO YOU AND I AM SET APART, YET MY FLESH DESIRES TO FLEE FROM THE SAFETY OF YOUR LIGHT AND YOUR LOVE.

Chorus:

LET ME BE A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD. LET YOUR RADIATING LIGHT SHINE SO EVER BRIGHT FOR ALL TO SEE.

Verse II:

SOME DAYS I'M  SO ALONE. MY MIND IS IN CONTROL. I TRY TO QUIET MY MIND, YET MY RACING THOUGHTS CONSUME MY WHOLE BEING.

Chorus:

LET ME BE A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD. LET YOUR RADIATING LIGHT SHINE SO EVER BRIGHT FOR ALL TO SEE.

Verse III:

I RECONNECT TO YOU. THE ALL-SUFFICIENT GOD. IN THIS SPACE I'M SAFE, HIDDEN FROM THE CARES OF THIS WORLD.

CHORUS:

LET ME BE A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD. LET YOUR RADIATING LIGHT SHINE SO EVER BRIGHT FOR ALL TO SEE.

Be a light today in the midst of any darkness.