WAKE UP AND LIVE THE DREAM

What happened to honor, dignity, self-respect, purpose, and love. We have moved so far away from the moral compass until it is indescribable. There are endless theories on the genesis of values erosion in the African American race; however, the root of the problem is ingratitude. We have become calloused and ungrateful to our ancestors, the civil rights movement and Martin. If somehow we could reprogram the minds of African Americans between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five we would take our rightful place in society and be the movers and shakers God anointed us to be. Oh but there is so much competition [fashion, music, tattoos, tramp stamps, drugs, weapons, and drama]. Recalibrate your thinking, kill ignorance [not one another], fight stupidity, and live the dream our beloved Martin Luther King, Jr. imagined and died for.

ADDING YOUR OWN SPIN TO TRADITIONS

New Orleans the Cajun and Creole cooking capital of the world. You have not experienced eating until you have wrapped your lips around a fork or spoon with food on the end prepared by a real New Orleans cook. In New Orleans we take our food and cooking seriously. Our trips to the grocery store for holiday meals take on the tenor and vibration of a religious sojourn. There are certain stores we "must go to" and acquire specific foods. If Casey Jones has bell peppers four for a dollar the word spreads like a marsh wildfire. You see in New Orleans we do not just use our bell peppers for seasoning. Oh no! We stuff them. You get the point. There is a ritualistic approach to our food acquisition and preparation. Each cook has their own way of preparing New Orleans cuisine, but all we want to to know is: how it taste y'all. I love cooking and wanted to start the New Year off with a pictorial of some dishes prepared in my kitchen. Happy New Year!

WISDOM, TRUTH, AND HONESTY

Truth is the ultimate liberator. Are you willing to get free?

THE MAIN THING

We must establish our priorities. It is never the big things that matter.

"AND I'M FREE FALLIN,I'M FREE FALLIN"

"Free Fallin" is the opening track from Tom Petty's 1989 solo album, Full Moon Fever. The song was written by Petty and his writing partner for the album, Jeff Lynne. Although these guys wrote "Free Fallin" several years ago the title perfectly describes my life experience for the past several years. You see I've been in a perpetual free fall. Remember ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND by Lewis Carroll? "The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well. Down, down, down. Would the fall NEVER come to an end! 'I wonder how many miles I've fallen by this time?' she said aloud. 'I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth. Let me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think—' (for, you see, Alice had learnt several things of this sort in her lessons in the schoolroom, and though this was not a VERY good opportunity for showing off her knowledge, as there was no one to listen to her, still it was good practice to say it over) '—yes, that's about the right distance—but then I wonder what Latitude or Longitude I've got to?' (Alice had no idea what Latitude was, or Longitude either, but thought they were nice grand words to say.)"[Lewis Carroll].
During my free falling journey I have like Alice have had some bizarre experiences. However, each time when it feels as if I'm going to hit the bottom and splatter I start falling again. In 1992 I told God as I still do today: I want to know what you know; I want to hear what you hear; I want to see what you see; I want to feel what you feel.I had no idea the process of entering a deep realm of intimacy with God meant I had to continually fall backwards down a rabbit hole. So here I am today writing this blog falling even deeper down the rabbit hole. So I'll ask are you "Free Fallin?" And if so how far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?

DEAL WITH IT

Does it seem that folks in your life have an unspoken agenda against you? Hey newsflash! Maybe it is not a figment of your wandering imagination. Now I know each of us think we are totally wonderful and we find it incomprehensible that everyone does not also find us wonderful. Let me burst your bubble there are people in your life that are just not right. It's not that they are not right for you. They are just not right period. Forget the piety party. Treat them with a long handle spoon and move on.

GOD + U = > ENOUGH

God gives you an idea and you know it is from Him. Why? Because you were not focusing on the particular concept or idea. It is as if it just came to you through the ether. You feel the idea, it moves from your head and permeates your entire being. You are pregnant with this knowing [idea or concept] yet you have not been given specific next steps. Human nature often summons a sharing of an idea with another human. Oops! Trouble. 

While most people will not question your ability to hear from God they usually start speaking in innuendo about your shared idea. The conversation usually takes on the following tone: you don't really want to take on a new challenge in this economy; you've been on your job a long time; it's had to get funding for something like that; you have to be careful collaborating with people you don't know; you seem confused; is everything okay? what does that have to do with your degree? 

Unfortunately your doubt [was that God?] starts to spread like an untamed virus. Instead of the conversation ending with a "trusted" confidant it starts moving to additional friends and family members. Before long you are spent and wiped out. It is at this time you must go back to the beginning. Notice I did not say go to Facebook, Twitter or any other social media format. Stop feeling the compulsion to share your life in these formats. Most of the people clicking "like" don't even like you. In fact they only keep you as a "friend" to stay abreast of your business you perpetually put in print.

Exhale. Now think about how excited you felt when God entrusted you with the idea. Think about the enthusiasm that bubbled up on the inside when only you and God knew your secret. Stay there. Don't move. The God of more than enough says it best "be still and know I AM GOD." You have more than you need. Your next steps are already available for download. Your only requirement is to quiet your mind and save the file knowing that additional information is forthcoming. Your vision is for you. "Banish the doubt" and remember GOD PLUS YOU EQUALS MORE THAN ENOUGH.