10/6/13
Milton called the
"sideline hustlers" out when he said if you don't have a business
licenses and aren't paying taxes, you don't have a business. Michael learned a hard
lesson about trusts and pre-nups last year. And Lanisha just said I
need a mission statement for my newest child, RuggeD Posterity. So, as I was
writing my oldest nephew a letter, I had to reflect on my life, my hustles and
my future. That meant meditating on what I will leave behind for my family and
community. And then I pulled up the scriptures for church so I could read
before I got there...
Habakkuk is three simple
chapters with huge implications. Habakkuk looked around him and only saw
disaster after disaster, war, famine (depression), corruption... He called to
God. "Where are the miracles you are famous for?" God's answer - write
down your prophesy in stone so you never forget where you are going. Never
forget what you are doing. See, the bad times can distract you from your
purpose. We must focus.
It's very timely that I was
introduced to a man (Ja War) who insisted on reminding us to write letters to
our children. Those letters become manifestos. Those manifestos become trusts.
Those trusts are legacy so we can leave something more than debts and habits
behind. That is real wealth. That's a true inheritance.
There was a boarding house
in my family. Was!. There was no trust. And so, there is no legacy.
We don't have to be the most
verbose people to deliver instructions to our proceeding generations. We can
give a real testimony. Second Timothy minds us that we have God's spirit and
that spirit ain't no punk. So why are we always afraid to be our best selves?
Why are we afraid to declare what our futures will be? We don't have any reason
to be.
Some of you are familiar
with a practice in churches called giving a testimony. That's where members of
the congregation stand up and talk about what has happened to them. They
usually point out God's presence. The rest of the congregation claps and cheers
for God. Some people reflect on their recent past and see God was there too.
How many times, if this is
your type of church, has anyone stood up and proclaimed what WILL be? Let's
change that. Let's only proclaim what will be. And let's write it in stone for
all posterity. Let's leave a mission of prosperity just in case the bad times
come again and/or our progeny get lost on their journeys.
I usually don't extend the
gospel reading beyond the verses read in church but the beginning of Luke 17 is
major. Two things. You all know we stumble. Sin is everywhere. But Jesus says,
the one that makes you stumble has his/her issue coming... Woe unto them! But
here is where we must be bigger and better.
We must forgive them if and
when they repent. Each and every time. This ain't an easy road I'm walking but it’s
going somewhere worth far more than the journey.
“9 Will he thank the servant
because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done
everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have
only done our duty.'"
This one is important, how
many of yall do this - looking for the glory. "I go to church every day.
Let me get a miracle God." “I pay my tithes. Let me have..." "I
go to work, on time even, everyday. I need a raise." "I go to
school..." "I take care of my children (AKA keep them alive)."
Someone is doing all those
things and not asking for anything but more work. Who do you think is going to
get their blessing first?
As the father said
yesterday, "We don't do good deeds for the reward, we do it because of who
God is" As we become more Christ like, we learn that God is in each of us
and the connection with God is a connection with others. Jesus could drive out
demons because he could see the light in the darkest of places. That power is
in us. So we learn to Love without expectation, to give without return. That is
the greatest commandment - to Love. And when we learn, we teach the people
around us. We create a legacy and tradition to be handed down from generation
to generation.
Our manifestos don’t have to
be anywhere near as grand as Dr. King dream, but they should be in the same
vein. Instead, or in addition to, the daily play by plays that are our journal
entries, we can leave blueprints/treasure maps/unfinished puzzles to our
descendants. We may not make it all the way to final goal but each generation
should be closer to it than we were when we passed. THAT is the true wealth.
That is what any and everyone has to give to their children. That is our
mission. That is hope. That is faith. That is Love.
…for eternity…
Start writing…
Start writing…
