Already Home (A Hopin' Letter)

.: Today :.



Dear YOU -



Which came first?

The sin nature's impulsive rush or the patience to deny and endure it?

The bull's eye akin to the chief of all Adinkra symbols or the bow-taut arrow that pierces through it?

The God in you or the God in me?

As adult as "taunting" and "temptation" may seem, they're really quite juvenile in nature. Truth be told,  that is the reason I seldom yield the expected response to them, certainly to the chagrin of the Perpetrator and possibly so to the puppet(s). They pop up on occasion and dangle before me seeking vain apology, shame or submission, refusing to take the hint of my non-compliance. To each his or her own. My only concern is if I could help heal the strings' pain or encourage the work past the bondage once the p(e)ace of revelation has been achieved in a healthy way.

No tricks required, the last question was a treat of sorts. Many years ago, I wrote a song called "Habit" for an upcoming girl group. Their lead singer was a beautiful young lady with a talent for hairdressing -- and an active 'jones' for a married man. Standing next to her one day back then, "Help me Lord, because I know just what I do..." seeped silently from her soul and onto my paper. Beside myself now with gratitude for that early vicarious lesson, I also appreciate the lyric with different, personal applications. Though He trains our hearts and minds to discern folly and our hands for war (with the pen or duller weapons), the moment we are tempted to ignite or easily sweep and dispose of evil's volatile, ignorant dust, we can focus instead on a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit, to eat freely of the Fruit -- namely self-control -- available to all of us by the choice to change.

It is sad but true that I, too, have been very stubborn about heeding certain Godly instructions. Needless to say, you will continue to be yourselves as, if it suits you. Gladly, Ecclesiastes 3:11 teaches that the Most High "makes EVERYTHING beautiful in its time" and those Fruit contain the 'enzymes' to help us digest the harder truths, brighten our countenances and assist the elimination of waste. Barring the disrespect of that Spirit, we are forgiven and Loved enough to taste the goodness of Him. I hope you'll join me as I make myself a(t) home.

The Mad Wrapper

In occidental Christian traditions, the Winter holiday season has already passed on by. If gift-giving was involved, the outer dressings have long been discarded and the actual gifts already earned their places in our bellies, on our skin, in the home or somewhere else in the daily lives that may have since returned to a regular rhythm, possibly laden with the downbeats of our social experiences, so to speak. Those who observe according to Eastern orthodox traditions may still have some celebration to go and the Spirit of joy remains!

A similar difference in the heart of the matter became rather evident yesterday when receiving then sharing a video clip. From those who responded came a mixed bag regarding the culture-specific comedy piece intended only to brighten a few minutes of days I otherwise have little to do with quantitatively. Most of us simply laughed at the content without a second thought while some responded with the odd double-entendre of their own experience. Learning not to internalize or take offense to any burden that isn't mine to bear, worry for those persons gave way to the wisdom of Proverbs 25 -- namely verses 11, 12 and 20: There is a favorable time for the delivery of every message and our receptivity to sound counsel is a blessing of itself. Jokes or sweet songs shared with a heavy heart may not always serve the moment, however, despite said intention or the secure images displayed upon its receipt. 

If our energetic focus is placed there, any number of personal inclinations and obstacles co-exist with the world's ills giving us something to weep about, be bogged down by or catch emotional and spiritual cold from. Self-preservation while caring for community is part of the human experience's lessons, after all. I am realizing, however, that the Love of God not only guides our focus to discern those shadows and, more importantly, the Light of higher relief (e.g. seeing past dirt for dirt's sake to receive nutritive beauty) but allows us to retain rightful heat within, keeping our hearts primed to receive the Master's mercy and give kindness to others. Whether observing the East, West or other directions, let us be encouraged to make every day a holy day and unwrap ourselves from functional and possibly pretty falsehoods. Only then can we receive the True presence underneath.

"Is This Thing On?"

MCs of all kinds are familiar with the power and purpose of the "1, 2..." that tests a sound system's effectiveness in a venue; that is, until people come, add density to the area and absorb some of the output. Needless to say, the most accurate expression of a speaker or musician's projection will occur at showtime -- preparation or none. The only show taking place the last time I asked (read: Tweeted) that question was the one entertaining the hug-starved who tampered with my digital life for some time a li'l ways back. For my entertainment, however, playing with some pre-existing song text, or "Levi(ro)tation", is one method that brings balance to my perspective. Sometimes it's a funny freestyle sung to myself that I may not even recall once the tune has passed. Other times, they represent exclusive lyrics I sing to a tune despite the arena or audience, often due to my sole appreciation of the soundscape or simply having a different context to add to lyrics I do agree with.

On her most recent R&B-tinged "Love" album, it was a pleasure to find myself in harmony with gospel jazz phenom Kim Burrell regarding a tune long envisioned with higher applications than what radio suggested was the intention of DeBarge's beautiful original. Surely millions of us consider ourselves "special, not the average kind who'd accept any line that sounds good" until someone somehow comes along to stir up and smooth down even one proud out-of-place strand with a lovin' spoonful of strong medicine labeled "humility"! God alone can boast that lyric without ever flinching so, with the exception of explicitly sexual or otherwise flesh-based compositions, it is the formless face of my cherished Creator resonating with most of us living notes that I see in every love song despite what onlookers see of me. Two more tunes that come to mind in this manner are the gentle "Closer" by Joe Thomas and "Love of My Life" by Erykah Badu. Indeed, the latter Ode to Hip-Hop's bass-heavy beat knocks just right but it's her mention of "[keeping] in touch through his friend [mic]" that all-ways reaches past the expected musical metaphor for me and into the heart of the angelic realm alluded to in recently linked scriptures.

Music is such a powerful gift that it is considered the universal language, able to reach many and even teach a new tongue to native speakers of another with the mnemonic use of rhythm and melody. Its use to uphold the defiant and harmful example set by the enemy is arguably less popular. Thankfully, the essence of archangel Michael (affectionately known 'round these parts as my friend 'Mic') and the Heavenly host in rightful service to God's highest, healing Will reign victorious over evil's desperate tricks while keeping us sharp, in touch and in tune with Divine Truth.

Lights! How does your mic sound? What about the speakers - is the message given to clarity or static? Who's in the house? Let them hear the sound and insights of the Holy Spirit, once and again.