Good Evening and Greetings on the Last Day of 2008....Yeah, Y'all, It Looks, Like We Made It....whew...to God be the Glory!
I hope this message reaches you all in the midst of blessed and relaxing holidays. I send my congrats to all the December 2008 graduates (go head, y'all, go head!!!). However, I also send all my prayers to those experiencing financial reversals (I can soooooooooooooooooo relate!!!) and those who have lost loved ones this year. I send you sincere prayers and good wishes in the absence of all the checks and love offerings I'd love to send, but can't right now.
Living within one's means and being willing to say "I'm sorry I can't come", "I don't have it", "I can't swing that right now", but God bless ya and I'm gon' pray for ya...is excruciating---but feels better, truer, more honest than building up more and more debt.
Alright, enough about that, on to the other juicy subjects.So, I hear some 'uh y'all are headed to DC in a few weeks for the big Obama-tillions and 'Bama-galas and various Barackulous events. One request: pour out a lil' su'in-su'in for the sisters and brothers who ain't there.
It is indeed a time of excitement for many. And yet, as cabinet members have been named, and scandals have popped aloose, and Burris has been "seated" by Guv Blago and spats break out over "appropriate" preachers giving invocations and "Magic Negro" insanity, the Presidential transition is gettin' thick in the Chi yall!
And yet, what really drove me to the keys tonight was all the mess above--- coupled with this journalist I heard discussing the Burris appointment tonight. I heard a young, white, female Politico commentator say that the battle over the Illinois senate seat was "a battle between Civil Rights Era politicians of the Bobby Rush/Roland Burris era and the post-civil rights politicians like Barack Obama".
And my gut reacted violently to that assertion---just the fact that white folks need Barack to be "post-Civil Rights" and not a descendant and BENEFICIARY of the the Civil Rights movement REALLY got next to me.It is just amazing to watch AGAIN AND AGAIN how "beloved" Blacks have to systematically separated from the Black community and the taint of anything "Black". All this Barack worship smacked up against some of my own concerns about the complicated side of the Obama ascendancy.
Candidate Obama was a political genius that took the nation by storm. He deployed amazing political acumen, profound grace under pressure, amazing management of his image and used the double weapons of pedigree and bi-raciality/complexion to his advantage. Yes, I said it COMPLEXION/SKIN TONE/LIGHT-SKIN-DED'NESS--- since complexion is STILL a form of cultural capital in America that impacts people of all races in America and beyond. And let me say that I mean no offense to all of the fair skinned folks in my life who I love deeply, but I'm just tryin' to talk about what's real from where I sit.
FURTHERMORE, FOR MY MONEY, PREZ-BRUH-ELECT OBAMA CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO BE REPRESENTED AS THE ONLY "ACCEPTABLE" BLACK POLITICIAN/THINKER/LEADER OR ROLE MODEL.
For those of us who happen to be too dark, too nappy, too broke, too hurt, sorely undereducated and under-resourced and living here in the hells of North America (as Elijah Muhammad would say)---you not gon' be able to make folks feel comfortable 'cuz you look like them or live like them. So, you still gon' have to figure out how to open up your mouth and say something about your condition.
I do understand that the President-Elect is the political darling of the nation (and with good reason). But let us still make room for a myriad of Black political voices including those like Bobby Rush who was willing to peer into the hallowed halls of the United States Senate, see the racial disparity and figure out how to open up his mouth and SAY SOMETHING about it. The tradition of speaking truth to power---along with prayer and the Black church--- is what has gotten the race this far...so just because we got Bruh Barack in the Big House don't mean that we go blind, deaf and dumb around issues of injustice and inequity or malicious oversight of the under served among us...and it don't mean that we don't challenge HIM when he gets to talkin' and ack'in crazy.
Yeah, he has run a two-year clinic for the nation on how to run for office and get paid: do your homework, play cool, wink at Black folks to keep us sweet while playing footsy with everybody else, make everybody else "at ease with you". So, we now have the formula down: in order to be elected President, you must raise over half-a-billion dollars, run a nearly perfect campaign...and be Black enough, but not too "Black"...and pray you have the fortune of being on the fairer end of the color spectrum. If not, yo' Black tail better be ready to raise billions!!!
However, for my money, we need to be careful not to let any ONE individual---yes, I include myself in the number--- come to define "Black politics, Black perspectives and Blackness" even if that individual was elected President. I raise this only because I fear that folk will become convinced that deploying the Obama playbook is the only way one can be heard or engaged or achieve. We ain't all rollin' like he rolls (and don't have to), but still must continue to innovate and keep it movin.
Toni Morrison offered some of my favorite reflections in a wonderful conversations with Charlie Rose on her new novel, "A Mercy", her reflections on the history of racism in American life and her thoughts about the significance of the Obama election. I love her cautious optimism and yet her reminders about the work WE ALL MUST DO, THE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS WE MUST ENGAGE AND GET BETTER AT DOING. Check her out below:
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/9464
I'll end here having given you enough to chew on, but promise to send along the second part of this: my New Year's Wish List for Bruh-Prez-Elect Obama.
May a blessed and beloved New Year's Day be yours!
---Nicole
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Election 2008: I Got The Sweetest Hangover...Sigh...
Greetings All:
Ok, yeah, I know. I've been awful quiet since November 4, 2008. Understand me well: I have just been gobsmacked, overwhelmed, amazed, dumbfounded, in a fog of disbelief regarding the momentous Obama election victory. As of today, it has been little over a week and I still don't know what to think, how to feel or how to move in the moment. However, I will share some of what I've been chewing on these last few days.
Since the election, I have traveled to Illinois the next afternoon to participate in an All-Class Black Alumni Reunion at my alma mater at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. While in Illinois, I had a chance to celebrate with hundreds of Black Illini, my husband and my mama briefly on a quick drive to Chicago. Yet, consistent with the life I live betwixt and between worlds, I missed out on post-election celebrations with fellow poll workers and campaign workers here in Jacksonville. So, for me, this has been a fragmented, disjointed post-election moment of travel mixed with worship, joy, disbelief, CAUTIOUS optimism and relief.
However, a sweet sorrow has settled in attached to this monumental achievement. The campaign journey is over and the presidency now begins. Consequently, for me, a shift in consciousness is required as Obama moves from my home state's junior Senator to presidential candidate, from underdog to front runner and to President-Elect. This must be what parents feel when they send children off to college---the joy and pride in the child's achievement coupled with the sorrow and uncertainty of the child's growth, change, mistakes, desicions that you disagree with all in the process of pursuing their passions and find their life path. Thus, we must now send our candidate forward---proudly and prayerfully--- to govern us ALL.
So, though there are still races to be settled in Georgia, Minnesota and Alaska, Election 2008 is over...and I miss it. I miss the calls, texts, emails, that I received from the campaign--- and that I made for the campaign--- encouraging voters to support the campaign and get out the vote. I miss the ground game, the rallies, the community organizing, the opportunity to meet neighbors and work with strangers on a common goal of making history and electing Obama.
So, in the afterglow of victory, there is a twinge of sadness as the scrappy energetic trailblazer now moves on to the hallowed halls of the White House and becomes "presidential" with the requisite gray hair and heavy brow and bears the strain of hourly overlapping dilemmas associated with managing this nation. It was mesmerizing to see Barack and Michelle at the White House on Monday. Yet, as they were welcomed by President and Mrs. Bush, it was also a sobering reminder that they prepare to take on the VERY HEAVY mantle of President & First Lady during this volatile, complicated moment in American life.
And yet, what is real for me about the Obama campaign is that it was so much bigger than the man. It was a epic struggle over the future of the nation. The victory was confirmation from millions of nameless, faceless Americans who sought a different path for the nation. It was as if Americans were voting for the opportunity to breath fresh air again, imagine new possibilities again, and decided to cast off the shroud of fear and war and isolation and confusion and economic collapse that has constrained us for the last eight years. The vote for Obama seemed to be a citizen mandate urging America to re-enter the world and our national life in new ways.
However, the victory also triggered something else in my gut: Now that this election is over, what about ME? After spending so much time investing, thinking about, fighting about, writing about, and finally working on the campaign and working the polls to aid voters, I can't shake the question: What about me? Have you worked as hard to pursue YOUR OWN dreams and passions as you have to track and participate in this campaign? What are you doing to make YOUR OWN ambitions realities? And what of all the other volunteers and supporters ---where does all of that collective fervor, passion and intensity go now? Are we willing to fight for our local communities and personal concerns as we were willing to support the Obama campaign?
Interestingly, every day this week, I've driven past the former Obama office in the Arlington neighborhood in Jacksonville where I worked. The office has gone dark. The posters in windows and rooftops gone. The building and surroundings barren. That corner is now emptied of chaotically parked cars, yard signs, the steady stream of visitors, cars honking as they sailed by the office, people's energy and excitement spilling over into traffic along University Boulevard. As I pass the office, I get a bit misty and whimsical remembering how much that space meant to so many working together to "turn Florida blue". Since that victorious night, we have all returned to our former lives, families, occupations and commitments. Yet, I will never forget that lil' bright yellow and salmon- colored rehabbed Jamaican restaurant that became one of the thousands of outposts for change across this nation.
Be well until we speak again!
---Nicole
Ok, yeah, I know. I've been awful quiet since November 4, 2008. Understand me well: I have just been gobsmacked, overwhelmed, amazed, dumbfounded, in a fog of disbelief regarding the momentous Obama election victory. As of today, it has been little over a week and I still don't know what to think, how to feel or how to move in the moment. However, I will share some of what I've been chewing on these last few days.
Since the election, I have traveled to Illinois the next afternoon to participate in an All-Class Black Alumni Reunion at my alma mater at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. While in Illinois, I had a chance to celebrate with hundreds of Black Illini, my husband and my mama briefly on a quick drive to Chicago. Yet, consistent with the life I live betwixt and between worlds, I missed out on post-election celebrations with fellow poll workers and campaign workers here in Jacksonville. So, for me, this has been a fragmented, disjointed post-election moment of travel mixed with worship, joy, disbelief, CAUTIOUS optimism and relief.
However, a sweet sorrow has settled in attached to this monumental achievement. The campaign journey is over and the presidency now begins. Consequently, for me, a shift in consciousness is required as Obama moves from my home state's junior Senator to presidential candidate, from underdog to front runner and to President-Elect. This must be what parents feel when they send children off to college---the joy and pride in the child's achievement coupled with the sorrow and uncertainty of the child's growth, change, mistakes, desicions that you disagree with all in the process of pursuing their passions and find their life path. Thus, we must now send our candidate forward---proudly and prayerfully--- to govern us ALL.
So, though there are still races to be settled in Georgia, Minnesota and Alaska, Election 2008 is over...and I miss it. I miss the calls, texts, emails, that I received from the campaign--- and that I made for the campaign--- encouraging voters to support the campaign and get out the vote. I miss the ground game, the rallies, the community organizing, the opportunity to meet neighbors and work with strangers on a common goal of making history and electing Obama.
So, in the afterglow of victory, there is a twinge of sadness as the scrappy energetic trailblazer now moves on to the hallowed halls of the White House and becomes "presidential" with the requisite gray hair and heavy brow and bears the strain of hourly overlapping dilemmas associated with managing this nation. It was mesmerizing to see Barack and Michelle at the White House on Monday. Yet, as they were welcomed by President and Mrs. Bush, it was also a sobering reminder that they prepare to take on the VERY HEAVY mantle of President & First Lady during this volatile, complicated moment in American life.
And yet, what is real for me about the Obama campaign is that it was so much bigger than the man. It was a epic struggle over the future of the nation. The victory was confirmation from millions of nameless, faceless Americans who sought a different path for the nation. It was as if Americans were voting for the opportunity to breath fresh air again, imagine new possibilities again, and decided to cast off the shroud of fear and war and isolation and confusion and economic collapse that has constrained us for the last eight years. The vote for Obama seemed to be a citizen mandate urging America to re-enter the world and our national life in new ways.
However, the victory also triggered something else in my gut: Now that this election is over, what about ME? After spending so much time investing, thinking about, fighting about, writing about, and finally working on the campaign and working the polls to aid voters, I can't shake the question: What about me? Have you worked as hard to pursue YOUR OWN dreams and passions as you have to track and participate in this campaign? What are you doing to make YOUR OWN ambitions realities? And what of all the other volunteers and supporters ---where does all of that collective fervor, passion and intensity go now? Are we willing to fight for our local communities and personal concerns as we were willing to support the Obama campaign?
Interestingly, every day this week, I've driven past the former Obama office in the Arlington neighborhood in Jacksonville where I worked. The office has gone dark. The posters in windows and rooftops gone. The building and surroundings barren. That corner is now emptied of chaotically parked cars, yard signs, the steady stream of visitors, cars honking as they sailed by the office, people's energy and excitement spilling over into traffic along University Boulevard. As I pass the office, I get a bit misty and whimsical remembering how much that space meant to so many working together to "turn Florida blue". Since that victorious night, we have all returned to our former lives, families, occupations and commitments. Yet, I will never forget that lil' bright yellow and salmon- colored rehabbed Jamaican restaurant that became one of the thousands of outposts for change across this nation.
The Obama victory was a symbol of what can happen when a confident young family with talent and intellect and courage and guts and judgement crosses paths with a nation that is hungry, tired, angry, afraid and desperate for CHANGE. So now, as the business of constructing the Obama government is underway, I can't help but ask myself: What is next FOR THE REST OF US? What dreams stir restlessly in the hearts of each of us and how can we reinvest our Election 2008 passions into our own aspirations. It is a profoundly difficult question for all of us to consider, but a question that I MUST answer for myself.
Be well until we speak again!
---Nicole
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Obama Visits Doooooooooooo-vall County (Jacksonville, FL) 9/20/2008!
Greetings Everyone!
I pray you all have had great weeks of late. Mine have been kinda "janky" (i.e. filled with ups and downs, hits and misses, missteps, frustrations and openings filled with grace from our Lord), but i'm still here. Last week, I spent time recovering from a number of things---including the Obama visit to Jacksonville... or as one of my students reminded me "um, Dr. Anderson, we kinda "ghetto" here in Jacksonville so you might here people say i'm from Dooooooooooooo-valllll" (meaning Duval county)---and he was a white student helping me get oriented on the first day of class...God bless him...
Lest I digress...back to the Obama visit.
Now I wasn't exactly familiar with the location, but made my way to Metropolitan Park after a morning SAT/ACT tutoring session at a local church. Traffic was astonishingly crowded near the park so I drove around until I found parking on a side street...and just prayed I would not be towed. Then, I just walked over to the gathering as the exercise would surely do me some good and help me clear my head for the event.
It had rained for a a good portion of the morning so I had no sense of the turnout given the weather. But, after finding my parking space, I was just glad to be in the number and curious about the turnout with so much talk about Duval county being a blood-red Republican county forever and ever historically.
However, as I walked toward the park, I overheard a woman behind me on the phone with her uncle. She and her girlfriend were probably in her early 30s, sassy, full of attitude, with plenty of urban glamour. We greeted one another as I passed them in my very understated orange and blue Illinois t-shirt, jeans and open-toed shoes (an unwise choice that would haunt me later).
As I walked ahead of them, I noted one of the women were talking on the phone to her uncle. She said "Now Uncle, you know I wasn't even gon' come to this thing, but you know I decided to come to this event for grandmama who didn't live to see this day... but would have been so proud". She said "Uncle, you wouldn't believe it, even the thugs IS here." I laughed at the latter remark, but her comment about her grandmother nearly stopped me in my tracks. Her desire to be there for her grandmother hit me in my core as I crossed the street and just humbled me inside. It was then that I knew this might indeed be a special event for Jacksonville.
I pray you all have had great weeks of late. Mine have been kinda "janky" (i.e. filled with ups and downs, hits and misses, missteps, frustrations and openings filled with grace from our Lord), but i'm still here. Last week, I spent time recovering from a number of things---including the Obama visit to Jacksonville... or as one of my students reminded me "um, Dr. Anderson, we kinda "ghetto" here in Jacksonville so you might here people say i'm from Dooooooooooooo-valllll" (meaning Duval county)---and he was a white student helping me get oriented on the first day of class...God bless him...
Lest I digress...back to the Obama visit.
Now I wasn't exactly familiar with the location, but made my way to Metropolitan Park after a morning SAT/ACT tutoring session at a local church. Traffic was astonishingly crowded near the park so I drove around until I found parking on a side street...and just prayed I would not be towed. Then, I just walked over to the gathering as the exercise would surely do me some good and help me clear my head for the event.
It had rained for a a good portion of the morning so I had no sense of the turnout given the weather. But, after finding my parking space, I was just glad to be in the number and curious about the turnout with so much talk about Duval county being a blood-red Republican county forever and ever historically.
However, as I walked toward the park, I overheard a woman behind me on the phone with her uncle. She and her girlfriend were probably in her early 30s, sassy, full of attitude, with plenty of urban glamour. We greeted one another as I passed them in my very understated orange and blue Illinois t-shirt, jeans and open-toed shoes (an unwise choice that would haunt me later).
As I walked ahead of them, I noted one of the women were talking on the phone to her uncle. She said "Now Uncle, you know I wasn't even gon' come to this thing, but you know I decided to come to this event for grandmama who didn't live to see this day... but would have been so proud". She said "Uncle, you wouldn't believe it, even the thugs IS here." I laughed at the latter remark, but her comment about her grandmother nearly stopped me in my tracks. Her desire to be there for her grandmother hit me in my core as I crossed the street and just humbled me inside. It was then that I knew this might indeed be a special event for Jacksonville.
As I found my way into the park, I met a line that wrapped around the facility with folks of every stripe awaiting entry with vendors selling all matter of shirts, visors, caps, buttons, etc.,. I went alone and at first wished I was there with someone else---but eventually felt quite at ease among the crowd.
A 50ish white couple in front of me shared with me how good it was to be there. "I feel less alone now to see so much support especially in Duval county, a Republican stronghold." It was as if the event itself gave them permission to support Obama publically without fear. Another older 70ish white couple behind me beamed with anticipation cracking jokes while doing magic tricks for little black kids in line. The spry senior then cackled "I wish we could all vote today since we're all here anyway."
A coolly elegant Black man with his family chatted with me marvelling at how amazing it was to see so many folks out, but he observed "Now, the trick is to get all these folks to vote." I added that getting to the polls is indeed an issue, but making sure the votes ACTUALLY COUNT AND ARE ACTUALLY C-O-U-N-T-E-D is my greater concern. He paused and gazed down at me saying "You right about it. But isn't it funny that our system of voting is so antiquated when our technology allows folk to find me whenever they want me" as he waved his cell phone in the air. He continued "statistics show that on any given day, we pass by at least 15 cameras, but there is something WRONG when I can't trust that the same system will do all it can to count my vote". I said "Well, come on church...preach that thing, my brother!" and we all fell out laughin'.
Periodically, as I made small talk and socialized with the crowd, I would hear the high-pitched squeal of "Dr. Anderson, Dr. Anderson" and I laughed inside as I knew that a student of mine must be nearby. Many of my current and former students were attending the rally or working as volunteers and were just brimming with enthusiam about the chance to be there. We hugged and chatted and told them how proud I was to see them there and working in the community on this very special effort.
Once inside the park, I continued to mix and mingle with folks and took pictures. However, there was a downside to the event. There were private planes flying overhead with signs that said "Florida is McCain and Palin country" and "Raising Taxes is Not Patriotic". The crowd would then explode with "boos", but their motors unfortunately drowned out the speakers on the podium. I went cold inside and grew frustrated as the scene was a reminder of how early voter intimidation begins in these parts.
And true to form, this was indeed a diverse crowd of the young, the brown, the white, the old, the Muslim, the Indian, the Asian, babies in strollers, folks in wheelchairs and on canes, adorned with all manner of official, bootleg, and homemade Obama gear. Again, I wore an Illinois t-shirt just to represent Illinois up in there (smile). In an interesting exchange a group of college students came to stand beside myself and two retired educators that I met there. When one of the women commented that she didn't know if she would be able to see past these college students, a biracial Asian/African American young man said "Uh-uh, don't worry mama I got you, I got you. He said "We'll lift you up on our shoulders if we have to." We screamed and he continued "Yes We Can! Yes We Can!" And it was just that kind of good natured foolishness that was apart of so many encounters between folks that day. Folks were chill, friendly, helpful and glad to be in the space together for just a lil' while.
And sure of enough, in my effort to "represent" I got clowned by an "eccentric" (bless her heart) Black woman carrying a fur in upper 80 degree heat whose arms, hair and clothing were covered in grass as she claimed Chicago roots. From about 20 feet she yelled out "Hey, you from Illinois, me too. Guuuu-uuuh (girl), where you from?" Embarrassed, I said "Chicago" smiling weakly cursing this Illinois shirt as the crowd enjoyed the spectacle. She said "Chicago? Me, too. Me, you and Barack." She then said "You my angel. I'm gon' call you "Angel" because you my angel." And she then came over and hugged me and we fellowshipped a bit as the crowd howled with delight.
She then asked a lady standing next to me if she could borrow her binoculars "Cuz, chile, mama can't see to good." Interestingly, she turned around and said "Look at those boys up in the trees". And I turned to see young men who had climbed trees for a better glimpse of the stage. I didn't know at the time, but the city authorities turned away 8000+ people from attending the event because of regulations allowing for only 20,000 people in the space. Papers would later report that between 20,000 -40,000 attended the event.
Soon after, however, we began to note helicopters overhead and a big black tour bus pulled into view and the crowd went wild. Scores of folks poured off the bus as we awaited a glimpse of Barack. "Oh, look, there he...then nope, that wasn't him" said a fellow supporter. "Here he...no, that's somebody else"...again the crowd would get excited and then have hopes dashed just as quickly. As the crowd expanded, the overhead aerial intimidation intensified with two planes flying even lower overhead in their campaign of discouragement.
And then, the crowd on the platform went wild. One plus-size Black woman on the podium jumped and danced in her best Price-As-Right victory dance (yall know that dance!!!). In an instant, Barack jogged up on stage with his typical energetic zeal wearing a white shirt unbuttoned and tie-less, blue slacks, endless grin with generous greetings for the crowd.
He marvelled at the size of the crowd thanking us for attending--- especially considering there was plenty of football on TV that day. He then launched into his talking points concerning the Wall Street Bailout, health care for every American, new education and energy standards, affordable college for all who want it, better pay for teachers, an end to the war, etc.,.. He was really loose and funny and a bit "hood" in that he had a real "street" word and demeanor for the people.
From saying, "listen yall, my opponent has been telling lies on me, so I need to go on and tell the truth about him; to talking about McCain's accusations that it was Barack's fault that the markets are suffering as Barack declared defiantly "There is only one candidate who has argued that the fundamentals of the economy are sound and it ain't me, yall, that candidate ain't me". In another humerous passage, the candidate promised that he was fighting for the dreams of all Americans---your dreams, my dreams, my children's dreams...and even Pooky's dreams. Yeah, yall, i'm fighting for Pooky's. Pooky's got dreams too" and the crowd roared with delight. At various points he reminded us not to be "hoodwinked" or "bamboozled" by his opponent...or let the Republicans pull "the oke-doke" on us.
After his formal remarks, he signed autographs and shook hands with folks. I headed up closer to the podium to take some better photos and just drank in the atmosphere of excitement and positivity in the crowd. The sun was beginning to depart and clouds rolled back in as volunteers gathered empty water bottles, took photos and stragglers just stood around the park smiling and reflecting in silence as the sun disappeared. It was a historic visit in a historic election and I think many were grateful to have attended and been apart of it.
After standing for five hours in less than ideal shoes, I then began the arduous journey of heading to my car praying that I hadn't parked in an illegal zone. As the crowd moved lazily out of the gates, there was a congested area where folks had stopped to get a glimpse of the motorcade as they departed. I, however, could see the clouds gathering and really wanted to get to my car more than see the buses off. So, I kept it moving, though, I do admit: I did stop by a t-shirt table and picked us a couple of great t-shirts for me and mama for posterity...and was then was busted by yet another student squealing "Dr. Anderson, what you gon' buy me?"
Finally, outside of the stadium, I strolled along with a group of four of five Black and Latino youth who had attended the event and were walking in my direction. Suddenly, we heard the blare of sirens and turned to see a fleet of motorcycles speeding past us. We looked at each other--- eyes wide with delight---and knew instantly: the buses were coming our way. Then, we all ran back to the curb as the three buses turned the corner. We spread out along the curb jumping, waving, shouting "Good bye! Bye Barack! Good Luck! God bless you!" I could see Barack inside the bus as we offered up our exuberant send-off. The following two buses were filled with staff and reporters that smiled, honked, waved and grinned wildly at us as the 2nd and 3rd buses pulled past us.
There were just a few of us on that corner that got to see buses depart and I was indeed glad that I had worn my orange and blue Illinois shirt (after all) to let folk know that we Illinoisans are supporting the campaign even in Northeast Florida.
When I finally reached my car, I sat and nibbled on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that I had left in the car and wiggled my weary toes. While I snacked on my sa'mich, two lil' chocolate Black children shiny and beautiful--- an older sister and littler brother---skipped past the car donning their Barack Obama t-shirts with "Yes We Can" on the backs of their shirts as they disappeared around the corner. And in that moment, I was reminded of just how much this campaign has meant to all of us---the young, the young at heart and everyone in between.
36 Days and Counting...Yes We Can! ...Have a great week!
---Nicole Anderson
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Final Leg of Election 2008: Keeping Our Wits About Us
Evening all! Greetings from Nicole.
I know it's been too long since we've talked and I do hope you are well. And I know I promised to comment on the McCain VP selection several weeks ago and have not yet done so. And there has been a reason for this.
I have been just dumbfounded by the swirl of activity, media, coverage, email traffic, focus on this Republican VP choice...However, to God be the glory, apartment repairs resulting in no cable has spared me much of the spectacle---though dear friends have kept my in-box filled with articles swirling about the nation...sigh...
The interesting thing is that I did here her speech at the Republican convention. And in my own assessment, her remarks reflected an individual that was so partisan and narrow and inaccessible to folks like me. I was willing to hear her out, but clearly she wasn't trying to holler at your girl.
Rather than being compelling, her remarks felt so dated, so old school in all the wrong ways, so isolationist. The remarks felt like a plea to her base--- instead of reaching out to the ENTIRE nation that she would be helping to govern as VP. Her focus on war, fear, insults and foreign threats communicated a desire to keep Americans in conflict with each other and the rest of the world---instead of creating a climate of cooperation between Americans themselves and the global community.
My questions remain: Does patriotism only exist outside of the city limits? Can people of color love this country and live in an urban environment? Where is it written that love of country is only possible for folks in small towns or who are working class? Can't educated middle class, upper middle class city dwellers love this country, too? Or is it mandatory that I shoot something (or someone) in war or sport to be deemed an American patriot? And why is it that the most valued brand patriotism so often defined in terms of shipping our folks off to war to fight, kill, die or be maimed abroad---as opposed to giving them something to live for and work for in this country?
Furthermore, it is more profound to watch the Obama campaign defend itself against these old school Republicans masquerading as "mavericks". There was little "new" about their remarks...it felt (wearily) like the political priorities that have informed the last eight years. But, it has been fascinating to observe people's willingness to believe that something "different" is being presented to them--- when it's just the same old message just delivered in a shiny, more provocative package.
As I have been traveling from Florida to Illinois and find myself in and out of airports, restaurants and other public venues, and I always happen to overhear groups of gentlemen of varying ages (most often white men) discussing the election. And their final assessment are often that Barack Obama was nothing more than "a good speech" as they took comfort in their resistance to Obama. Now, it seems to me that all the candidates are making speeches and promises at this juncture so I haven't understood why they don't describe McCain's offerings in a similar fashion? And then recently, it struck me: The McCain/Palin ticket is a source of comfort for them.
With the emergence of the McCain/Palin ticket, its as if the nation was waiting for SOMETHING, ANYTHING to eclipse the coverage of the Obama campaign. And I understand---with the exception of the Cosby show and subsequent well-to-do Black comedian-centered sitcoms---we are a nation accustomed to African American families "stretchin' and suh-vi-vin" and entertaining the nation while we war against each other on court TV, reality shows, dramadies and Tyler Perry offerings. Thus, many of our fellow Americans are accustomed to African Americans as a source of entertainment, humor, curiosity or disdain. So, they reject outright the idea of accomplished, talented, educated, thoughtful, loving, African American family at the helm of the political, intellectual and economic life of the nation. It's just too much to bear for some. So, instead, they would rather vilify them as aloof, elitist and out of touch while celebrating those who claim to champion working class and small town values.
And yet it is a reminder that the bar for African American acceptability is a narrow tightrope that is ALWAYS shifting despite our best efforts---and even when you thought education, grooming, political savvy, connections, coalition building, innovative campaign strategies that harness the best of human and technological talent might just be enough to finally bridge the racial divide...sigh...
Folks, we have a few more days until election 2008 will end---and God knows I'm ready for it to be over. What will Americans do on election day? It is PROFOUNDLY unclear to me. However, if you can be convinced that the election is a close one, the return of the ghosts of elections 2000 and 2004 are likely.
I know it's been too long since we've talked and I do hope you are well. And I know I promised to comment on the McCain VP selection several weeks ago and have not yet done so. And there has been a reason for this.
I have been just dumbfounded by the swirl of activity, media, coverage, email traffic, focus on this Republican VP choice...However, to God be the glory, apartment repairs resulting in no cable has spared me much of the spectacle---though dear friends have kept my in-box filled with articles swirling about the nation...sigh...
The interesting thing is that I did here her speech at the Republican convention. And in my own assessment, her remarks reflected an individual that was so partisan and narrow and inaccessible to folks like me. I was willing to hear her out, but clearly she wasn't trying to holler at your girl.
Rather than being compelling, her remarks felt so dated, so old school in all the wrong ways, so isolationist. The remarks felt like a plea to her base--- instead of reaching out to the ENTIRE nation that she would be helping to govern as VP. Her focus on war, fear, insults and foreign threats communicated a desire to keep Americans in conflict with each other and the rest of the world---instead of creating a climate of cooperation between Americans themselves and the global community.
My questions remain: Does patriotism only exist outside of the city limits? Can people of color love this country and live in an urban environment? Where is it written that love of country is only possible for folks in small towns or who are working class? Can't educated middle class, upper middle class city dwellers love this country, too? Or is it mandatory that I shoot something (or someone) in war or sport to be deemed an American patriot? And why is it that the most valued brand patriotism so often defined in terms of shipping our folks off to war to fight, kill, die or be maimed abroad---as opposed to giving them something to live for and work for in this country?
Furthermore, it is more profound to watch the Obama campaign defend itself against these old school Republicans masquerading as "mavericks". There was little "new" about their remarks...it felt (wearily) like the political priorities that have informed the last eight years. But, it has been fascinating to observe people's willingness to believe that something "different" is being presented to them--- when it's just the same old message just delivered in a shiny, more provocative package.
As I have been traveling from Florida to Illinois and find myself in and out of airports, restaurants and other public venues, and I always happen to overhear groups of gentlemen of varying ages (most often white men) discussing the election. And their final assessment are often that Barack Obama was nothing more than "a good speech" as they took comfort in their resistance to Obama. Now, it seems to me that all the candidates are making speeches and promises at this juncture so I haven't understood why they don't describe McCain's offerings in a similar fashion? And then recently, it struck me: The McCain/Palin ticket is a source of comfort for them.
With the emergence of the McCain/Palin ticket, its as if the nation was waiting for SOMETHING, ANYTHING to eclipse the coverage of the Obama campaign. And I understand---with the exception of the Cosby show and subsequent well-to-do Black comedian-centered sitcoms---we are a nation accustomed to African American families "stretchin' and suh-vi-vin" and entertaining the nation while we war against each other on court TV, reality shows, dramadies and Tyler Perry offerings. Thus, many of our fellow Americans are accustomed to African Americans as a source of entertainment, humor, curiosity or disdain. So, they reject outright the idea of accomplished, talented, educated, thoughtful, loving, African American family at the helm of the political, intellectual and economic life of the nation. It's just too much to bear for some. So, instead, they would rather vilify them as aloof, elitist and out of touch while celebrating those who claim to champion working class and small town values.
And yet it is a reminder that the bar for African American acceptability is a narrow tightrope that is ALWAYS shifting despite our best efforts---and even when you thought education, grooming, political savvy, connections, coalition building, innovative campaign strategies that harness the best of human and technological talent might just be enough to finally bridge the racial divide...sigh...
Folks, we have a few more days until election 2008 will end---and God knows I'm ready for it to be over. What will Americans do on election day? It is PROFOUNDLY unclear to me. However, if you can be convinced that the election is a close one, the return of the ghosts of elections 2000 and 2004 are likely.
So, I ask you the following?
---Are YOU registered to vote?
---Do you know where your local polling location is? Has it changed? If so, why exactly?
---Are folks that you encounter---your new neighbors, new church members, new co-workers, new clients and college students away from home---registered locally or voting absentee in the home communities they left?
---What are the voting methods being used at your polling site?
---If you do make an error in voting, receive the wrong ballot, spoil your ballot etc.,. what will YOU do? Who do you talk to at your polling place if such an error occurs?
---Once all the ballots are cast and the polls close, what happens at your polling place? What happens to the ballots and related documentation? Where are the ballots taken? What then happens to them?
---Will your candidate of choice make sure every vote is counted? Will they prolong the proceedings, spend the money, go to court, call for recounts when and where ever necessary to protect the votes they are working so hard to make sure are cast in their favor?
For more information on voter protection, check out The Advancement project at:
http://www.justvote08.org/readytovote.php
Be well, y'all, keep the faith---but get ready!
---Nicole
Saturday, August 30, 2008
DNC Convention '08: Lessons from the Mountain Top!
Evening All:
Greetings from Nicole. Just writing you from the haze of my first week back in the classroom to begin the fall semester. And yet my week---like many of your weeks--- has also been framed by evening sessions consuming the Democratic National Convention as I listened to speakers making the case for Senator Obama's presidential bid culminating with Barack's amazing acceptance speech.
Now don't get me wrong: I am still reeling from the announcement of McCain's running mate, but it is too much to focus on right now---too fresh, too raw, too complicated to unpack at this moment. However, I will be posting on this issue soon.
I am better served at this juncture just to focus on my observations on the Obama campaign.
Greetings from Nicole. Just writing you from the haze of my first week back in the classroom to begin the fall semester. And yet my week---like many of your weeks--- has also been framed by evening sessions consuming the Democratic National Convention as I listened to speakers making the case for Senator Obama's presidential bid culminating with Barack's amazing acceptance speech.
Now don't get me wrong: I am still reeling from the announcement of McCain's running mate, but it is too much to focus on right now---too fresh, too raw, too complicated to unpack at this moment. However, I will be posting on this issue soon.
I am better served at this juncture just to focus on my observations on the Obama campaign.
As I mulled over this moment, I must begin affirming the fact that God is indeed good and worthy to be praised. In different conversations with my mother over the last week, she has shared the heart-bursting pride and excitement of her generation. As a daughter of the American Depression, she is of a generation of African Americans who NEVER THOUGHT they would live to see such a campaign...or an African American individual reach such heights in American politics. So she is relishing EACH speech, magazine cover, newspaper article and publication she can find as she builds her personal archive of this election for future generations
Interestingly, as a young Black professional, this moment is without parallel for me, but it also challenging to me. Watching the Obamas---babies Malia and Sasha included (smile)---has been astonishing. It is so rare to see Black families intact in the American media. So to see a loving, affectionate, funny, emotional, attractive, STRONG African American family striving to become the 1st family of America is just food for my soul and spirit most days.
Then, on Thursday morning----the morning of Barack's acceptance speech---I was driving to work down SouthSide Boulevard in Jacksonville listening to Kanye West's College Drop-Out and the magnitude of it all just hit me. As a South Sider from Chicago, it all just hit me. I had been fairly cool about things all week, but "that thing" just dropped on me in traffic.
Ya ll, know "that thing"---the feeling of God's continued work in the world, HIS presence, HIS awesome power, HIS ability to protect his folks in the face of adversity, HIS reminder that HE can move and do and operate beyond all that we could ever think or hope or imagine...and "that thing"--- the overwhelming presence of God's glory---just hit me. Barack was accepting the nomination for the presidency of the United States of America later that day hit me. Then, the fact that I was driving to work to take my place as a university professor hit me. And then the image of lil' Sasha Obama saying "Hi Daddy!" and "What city are you in, daddy?" on the stage of the Democratic National Convention hit me. And I just got misty and emotional and teary in traffic---and had to pray to God to just help me "keep it together" so that I could get through my first class of the day without my emotions spilling over.
For me, the Obama campaign has just kicked down the door and just tore the roof off of what is possible for so many of us. Personally, my own ideas of what is possible in my own life and aspirations and future have just expanded exponentially. And it's so funny because I consider myself someone who has had a pretty broad vision for myself. I considered myself someone who lives "outside of the box" and has had an amazing range of opportunities to travel, study, see the world, get a great education, live and work among diverse communities, walk with the Lord and allow him to help me develop a professional life for myself that seeks to honor HIM etc.,. And yet---particularly over these last eight years---I have been fearful, discouraged, frustrated and felt oppressed by voter intimidation, stolen elections, ineptitude and injustice and domestic disaster mismanagement, war profiteering and urban despair etc.,.
So, even with all of my privileges and opportunities, I still felt limited and menaced and bullied in what I could hope to accomplish in the America I've lived in.
So, what Barack and Michelle (and their team) have done has LIFTED MY OWN HEAD back up. Their campaign has served as a model of PROFOUND COURAGE AND THE DAILY PURSUIT TOWARD CHANGING AMERICA AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS. They have lived before us EVERY DAY and been willing to withstand the attacks...and keep moving, to take the shots...and keep moving, to suffer abuses and indignities many of which we will never ever know about...and keep moving. This Black man and woman---Barack and Michelle--- have locked arms and held their children tightly and run on out in front to create a movement for the rest of us to join.
And certainly, they are the descendants of earlier couples who did similarly valiant work in similarly vicious times. I am just glad the the Lord saw fit to use them for THIS generation in this critical hour.
Now please don't get me wrong. There were some aspects of the convention that were underwhelming. As a young(ish) voter of color, the convention itself felt as if it was geared toward an older, white, suburban or rural voters who needed to be convinced that Barack was "safe", "one of them" and could be trusted. So the event included lots of winking, blinking and nodding in the direction of military might, security, defense and down home folk-si-ness that further strengthened by Barack's VP choice. So, much of the stagecraft and speaker selection was certainly strategic and geared toward that particular demograhpic, but did not resonate much for me---and had very few dynamic, empassioned moments sprinkled in.
So, I would have loved to see more young, PASSIONATE, fiery and diverse Democratic party organizers, activists and artists in prime time and understood their role and future in the party. It was ironic that the passionate, youthful dynamism that Barack himself brought to the 2004 was missing from his own nominating convention.
However, on the whole Barack Obama's candidacy has elevated the game fa' sho' and got all up in my personal affairs. So, now that we leave the mountaintop, we must now return to the valley, roll up our sleeves and do all we can to help Brutha Barack finish the race victoriously.
As they say at the end of Mama's church service each week at Bethany before the congregation is dismissed: "The worship is over. The service NOW begins."
Be well, stay encouraged and be a blessing when and where you can be, my dears!
---Nicole
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Matthew 4: 8-11 All Eyes on You, Senator...What'chu Gon' Do?
Good Early Morning from Nicole.
Ok, I admit I've got a lil' cabin fever as I've been in the house since Wednesday due to Fay. So, this has left me doing the following: consuming crazy amounts of Internet, staticky local news and Olympic competitions of every conceivable kind (who even knew dirt bike racing was an Olympic sport???...see how I digress?...), tinkering with syllabi, and bracing myself for the coming week of new students, Fay cleanup and the Democratic convention.
And yet, the looming Democratic convention in particular has brought me back to Matthew 4: 8-11. In this exchange the devil has taken Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world. The devil then offers all the splendor and kingdoms of the world to Jesus if he would bow down and worship him.
Now I gotta just stop and say that for some reason Barack Obama's VP choice and the looming Democratic convention kept coming to mind as I have been turning over this scripture over the last few days.
Barack has indeed had the nation by the short ones this week---even I could see that through my 4 grainy channels. Who will Obama choose for VP? What will that choice do for him? Will it be enough? What then must that person and Barack himself do and achieve at the convention? This does indeed look like a mountain top week for Senator from Illinois---who is always under pressure to bow to the dictates of others--- much like Christ experienced in his exchange with the devil.
Now, what is interesting is the way that Christ's interaction with the devil on that fateful mountain top has some interesting parallels to Barack's convention-eve position. Like Christ who did not allow the devil to dictate to him how he should behave, act or worship in this scripture, Barack has not let external manipulation, pressure, temptation, or historical precedent dictate how he would notify the public on his VP decision---and in a host of other areas during this campaign.
Christ stood strong and resisted the devil's interference because he understood God's bigger plan for his ministry. And in a similar fashion, Barack seems to have shown that he too can stand strong, remain focused on his own process and grounded in the Lord's plan and timeline for this campaign.
What I offer is this: I pray that his VP choice is an individual that will move the nation forward to help Americans understand that we have to make some tough decisions about our future(s) in this country. So, come on Barack, give us an old fighter with credential who ain't scurr'ed (scared) to open up his mouth and say something. Give us a seasoned old dog who will walk with you through this process NOW; and who will be there to talk straight to you AND stand with you, Barack, during the best and the worst of times in the White House.
These are tough times in this country and a week of political party hobnobbing and confetti can't distract me from the fact that folks are hurting all across this nation. We gotta save; we gotta downsize; we gotta share; we gotta become neighbors again and stop preying on one another and killing each other; we gotta stop fighting folks to boost our economy; we gotta call on our industries to stop cutting Americans throats with predatory lending of all kinds (credit cards, payday loans, terrible mortgages, etc.,.); we gotta say no to our kids and stop buying them stuff to make them feel good; we gotta stop trying to fill our national ache with gadgets and material goods; we gotta humble ourselves, pray, turn and seek HIS face so we can get healed TOGETHER, yall.
And I love Bill Moyers assertion that if the party wanted to REALLY take radical action they could cancel the Democratic lovefest and use the money lavished on the convention to address the needs of hurting Americans. I am so wit' that. But with the argument being made that Obama is just "too "different, "too unorthodox", just still "too unfamiliar" for too many, i'd argue that he doesn't have the luxury of rejecting the party's convention and established political rituals right up in through here.
Senator Barack Obama ---from the great state of Illinois (smile)--- is poised to have the world's attention this week from his VP choice all the way through the convention. The question is: what will he do in the spotlight?
My prayer: May the Lord look upon him with favor and give him peace...and give him the courage to take the stage and REQUIRE US to reject greed, fear, selfishness and foolishness that the world so often presents to us---to become an even better nation.
Be well, Yall!
---Nicole
Ok, I admit I've got a lil' cabin fever as I've been in the house since Wednesday due to Fay. So, this has left me doing the following: consuming crazy amounts of Internet, staticky local news and Olympic competitions of every conceivable kind (who even knew dirt bike racing was an Olympic sport???...see how I digress?...), tinkering with syllabi, and bracing myself for the coming week of new students, Fay cleanup and the Democratic convention.
And yet, the looming Democratic convention in particular has brought me back to Matthew 4: 8-11. In this exchange the devil has taken Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world. The devil then offers all the splendor and kingdoms of the world to Jesus if he would bow down and worship him.
Now I gotta just stop and say that for some reason Barack Obama's VP choice and the looming Democratic convention kept coming to mind as I have been turning over this scripture over the last few days.
Barack has indeed had the nation by the short ones this week---even I could see that through my 4 grainy channels. Who will Obama choose for VP? What will that choice do for him? Will it be enough? What then must that person and Barack himself do and achieve at the convention? This does indeed look like a mountain top week for Senator from Illinois---who is always under pressure to bow to the dictates of others--- much like Christ experienced in his exchange with the devil.
Now, what is interesting is the way that Christ's interaction with the devil on that fateful mountain top has some interesting parallels to Barack's convention-eve position. Like Christ who did not allow the devil to dictate to him how he should behave, act or worship in this scripture, Barack has not let external manipulation, pressure, temptation, or historical precedent dictate how he would notify the public on his VP decision---and in a host of other areas during this campaign.
Christ stood strong and resisted the devil's interference because he understood God's bigger plan for his ministry. And in a similar fashion, Barack seems to have shown that he too can stand strong, remain focused on his own process and grounded in the Lord's plan and timeline for this campaign.
What I offer is this: I pray that his VP choice is an individual that will move the nation forward to help Americans understand that we have to make some tough decisions about our future(s) in this country. So, come on Barack, give us an old fighter with credential who ain't scurr'ed (scared) to open up his mouth and say something. Give us a seasoned old dog who will walk with you through this process NOW; and who will be there to talk straight to you AND stand with you, Barack, during the best and the worst of times in the White House.
These are tough times in this country and a week of political party hobnobbing and confetti can't distract me from the fact that folks are hurting all across this nation. We gotta save; we gotta downsize; we gotta share; we gotta become neighbors again and stop preying on one another and killing each other; we gotta stop fighting folks to boost our economy; we gotta call on our industries to stop cutting Americans throats with predatory lending of all kinds (credit cards, payday loans, terrible mortgages, etc.,.); we gotta say no to our kids and stop buying them stuff to make them feel good; we gotta stop trying to fill our national ache with gadgets and material goods; we gotta humble ourselves, pray, turn and seek HIS face so we can get healed TOGETHER, yall.
And I love Bill Moyers assertion that if the party wanted to REALLY take radical action they could cancel the Democratic lovefest and use the money lavished on the convention to address the needs of hurting Americans. I am so wit' that. But with the argument being made that Obama is just "too "different, "too unorthodox", just still "too unfamiliar" for too many, i'd argue that he doesn't have the luxury of rejecting the party's convention and established political rituals right up in through here.
Senator Barack Obama ---from the great state of Illinois (smile)--- is poised to have the world's attention this week from his VP choice all the way through the convention. The question is: what will he do in the spotlight?
My prayer: May the Lord look upon him with favor and give him peace...and give him the courage to take the stage and REQUIRE US to reject greed, fear, selfishness and foolishness that the world so often presents to us---to become an even better nation.
Be well, Yall!
---Nicole
Friday, August 22, 2008
Tropical Storm Fay, Jesus & Me
Morning All:
Greetings from Nicole. After writing the last piece on temptation, I feel inclined to send a brief reflection on Tropical Storm Fay---in particular on the way that the Lord can use a storm to change your plans.
This week began for me with typical Florida sunshine and faculty orientation workshops. My biggest concerns focused on copying syllabi, finalizing assignments and tidying my office for the coming semester.
But, since Tuesday evening, the weather has taken such a turn. Local schools and offices closed, daily press conference with the Mayor, governor and local newscasts urging us to stay safe, calm, smart, indoors and off the streets if at all possible. Even my own employer has canceled meetings over the last few days, closed campus tomorrow and urged us to stay home due to high winds, heavy rains, bridge closings, standing water, flooding, downed trees and powerlines across the city.
And in addition to all this, my satellite was disconnected last week during some repairs being done on my building. So, this left me with 3-4 grainy, staticky TV channels for storm watch updates and fuzzy, sporadic Olympic coverage.
Earlier today, I was so nervous about flickering lights and the threat of a power outage that I begged the Lord to just give me power long enough to let me finish cooking my chicken and greens for dinner---and the Lord did honor that request. But I had to laugh as I felt like one of the Israelites in Exodus who were trying to cook that unleavened bread before having to leave Egypt hastily.
But Fay has provided some key lessons for me:
---Storms will indeed increase your prayer life. I have gone from worrying about the beginning of the school year to praying that my lights stay on...and that parents and students travel safely. I have also been praying for folks all over town who may be suffering, alone, ill, in need, traveling on wet roads or can't get out.
---As the tree branches constantly scratch against my windows, I have marveled at how the trees just bend and sway but haven't been broken---despite the powerful wind and rain pounding against them hour after hour. So, I have moved from fear of the storm...to acceptance early this afternoon just letting those trees remind me that I too can handle this storm because the Lord is with me too in the midst of the hectic winds and pounding rain and uncertainty.
---As I took a moment just to watch the storm from my window, I was also reminded of the Lord's awesome power and ultimate control, my COMPLETE lack of control in this situation, and how we all are trusting the Lord hour to hour for instruction and guidance.
---It is also a moment to reflect, get somewhere and get quiet, be still, relax and use the time for good. I have also realized how much you take for granted---when a lil' food, a lil' light, a lil' grainy news coverage and calls from love ones can make you feel real, REAL, grateful for the simple things in life.
This storm has limited my daily outings, my mobility, my entertainment, my work life and forced me to slow things all the way down--- but has also shown me how the the Lord is still present and keeping me safe in the midst of this storm.
Be well, everyone!
--Nicole
Greetings from Nicole. After writing the last piece on temptation, I feel inclined to send a brief reflection on Tropical Storm Fay---in particular on the way that the Lord can use a storm to change your plans.
This week began for me with typical Florida sunshine and faculty orientation workshops. My biggest concerns focused on copying syllabi, finalizing assignments and tidying my office for the coming semester.
But, since Tuesday evening, the weather has taken such a turn. Local schools and offices closed, daily press conference with the Mayor, governor and local newscasts urging us to stay safe, calm, smart, indoors and off the streets if at all possible. Even my own employer has canceled meetings over the last few days, closed campus tomorrow and urged us to stay home due to high winds, heavy rains, bridge closings, standing water, flooding, downed trees and powerlines across the city.
And in addition to all this, my satellite was disconnected last week during some repairs being done on my building. So, this left me with 3-4 grainy, staticky TV channels for storm watch updates and fuzzy, sporadic Olympic coverage.
Earlier today, I was so nervous about flickering lights and the threat of a power outage that I begged the Lord to just give me power long enough to let me finish cooking my chicken and greens for dinner---and the Lord did honor that request. But I had to laugh as I felt like one of the Israelites in Exodus who were trying to cook that unleavened bread before having to leave Egypt hastily.
But Fay has provided some key lessons for me:
---Storms will indeed increase your prayer life. I have gone from worrying about the beginning of the school year to praying that my lights stay on...and that parents and students travel safely. I have also been praying for folks all over town who may be suffering, alone, ill, in need, traveling on wet roads or can't get out.
---As the tree branches constantly scratch against my windows, I have marveled at how the trees just bend and sway but haven't been broken---despite the powerful wind and rain pounding against them hour after hour. So, I have moved from fear of the storm...to acceptance early this afternoon just letting those trees remind me that I too can handle this storm because the Lord is with me too in the midst of the hectic winds and pounding rain and uncertainty.
---As I took a moment just to watch the storm from my window, I was also reminded of the Lord's awesome power and ultimate control, my COMPLETE lack of control in this situation, and how we all are trusting the Lord hour to hour for instruction and guidance.
---It is also a moment to reflect, get somewhere and get quiet, be still, relax and use the time for good. I have also realized how much you take for granted---when a lil' food, a lil' light, a lil' grainy news coverage and calls from love ones can make you feel real, REAL, grateful for the simple things in life.
This storm has limited my daily outings, my mobility, my entertainment, my work life and forced me to slow things all the way down--- but has also shown me how the the Lord is still present and keeping me safe in the midst of this storm.
Be well, everyone!
--Nicole
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Matthew 4: 1-4 Keeping Your Guard Up On the Daily, Part I
Morning all!
Greetings from Nicole. Today's entry find us at the moment where Jesus has been led by the Holy Spirit into the desert and was tempted by the devil there. The devil meets Jesus in the midst of his hunger and says "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answers reminding the devil "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
I have been turning that exchange over in my mind over the last week or so as I have been dealing with my own temptations and more vigilant about how the devil can show up in our seemingly mundane, everyday affairs.
Before my recent trip, I was out shopping to pick up last minute outfits, shoes, toiletries, etc.,.. And I was astonished at how often I was approached to open up new credit card accounts. "Uh, Ma'am, would you like to open a blah-blah card with us today. This will assure that you get 10 percent off today's purchase, earn VALUABLE store points and qualify you for the super-duper fabulous, stupendous bonus coupons that you can use to return to the store during the week of blah-blah-blah." And it just went on and on: "Are you sure you aren't interested, ma'am? I can go get the application and fill it out for you now while you shop and have it all set up by the time you are ready to check out?" It took all I could do to remain calm wit' them.
I swear: no matter what store I entered there was some well-meaning soul prowling the floor figuring out who she could devour next... trying to hawk her quota of store credit cards while folks shopped and again at the register.
Now, what was interesting about all this is that it was occurring in the midst of a personal war I have been waging against credit card spending in my own life. So these encounters in the store were my "turn these stones to bread" moments as I was tempted to open up cards for seemingly easy credit. So, these credit card dealers were trying my nerves. And I was indeed tempted to open the accounts---as I had plenty to buy and would have loved a lil' space between my purchase and my payment.
However, after some honest, ugly reflection on my own finances earlier this summer, I was able to withstand the retail warfare because I've just gotten fed up with debt... fed up with buying now and paying later... and fed up with living in financial dishonesty with myself.
My use of credit cards had become similar to my issues around my weight. Just as I had not been paying serious SUSTAINED attention to my weight and physical health, I had not been paying serious SUSTAINED attention to my credit card spending and financial health. So, over the years both the numbers on my scale and the numbers of my monthly statements had both crept up to uncomfortable ranges---while I kept eatin', chargin' and chuggin' along.
I rationalized the spending because I was using credit cards to pay for airline ticket, travel, trips home and conferences as I transitioned from struggling graduate student to working college professor. Furthermore, I had convinced myself that it was OK to pay with credit cards because I would pay it all off when my check came...and somehow that wouldn't quite occur. But I took some comfort in the fact that I was making SOME gains in paying things off this year.
But God will convict you if you let him into your WHOLE LIFE---even you lesson plans for your courses. This summer, I was doing a lot of reading and preparing a series of lectures on consumer culture for my fall courses. SO, WHY DID THE LORD CONVICT ME AROUND MY OWN FINANCIAL DISHONESTY REGARDING MY SPENDING.
Now, my thinking was: Lord, you ain't sus'sposed to use my course textbooks THAT I PICKED FOR MY STUDENTS to get all up in MY biz'ness---but I see you can use what you need to get my attention. And, it was as if the Lord was saying: "Teacher, it's great that you want to help your students, but you better lay hand on your own finances first."
So---back to my pre-vacation shopping---I was fine for the first few days of errand-running and making it out of the mall ( and several larger department stores) with a "no thank you" strong in my spirit around their credit card offers as I paid for things in cash and kept it moving. But then came that issue of a camera purchase. This was my equivalent of that moment after 40 days and 40 nights when Christ got hungry. I had been doing well, but when it came to my camera purchase, I could feel my wallet growling and my spirit weaken.
I had been feigning for a digital camera for at least a year and made up in my mind that I wanted to get a digital camera for my trip. So, after a good shopping day, I strolled over to a local branch of a big box electronics store to look at cameras. And of course, a fresh-faced knowledgeable young sales associate swooped down on me to walk me through all the options, models, accessories I would ever need for picture taking euphoria. And after filling up my basket with the necessary camera and supplementary items, he was kind enough to escort me to the register and have his sales associate assist me in completing my purchase.
And---just like her fellow sisters-dealers---she, too, offered me a stupendous opportunity to get a store credit card. Now, this got dicey. I needed some other electronics and knew that that would be a great card to have. And even though I chose a camera on sale, the case, memory card, etc.,. were adding up and again, it would be nice to keep that cash in my pocket for for the upcoming trip.
But, after the teller finished sprinkling all her magic credit card fairy dust, I dug deep in the spirit---and into my pocket...and gave her cash. I walked away with my camera and supplementals paid for, but was feeling a lil' shaky as I left the store.
Interestingly, as I got in the car, I just sat there and could feel my heart racing. What in the world was happening??? I just sat there and held on to the steering wheel and felt a wave of emotion wash over me.
And then I realized what was happening: I WAS DEALING WITH THE REAL EMOTION OF SPENDING REAL MONEY ON THINGS I REALLY WANTED AND NEEDED. I was spending money that I had, that I earned and not buying things on credit to pay off later. And during a week of spending a fair amount of cash, my emotions welled up based on the fact because I was paying for things outright---which meant that my saving might be a little more depleted, but I liberating myself of the burden of shopping on credit and creating more debt.
Thus, that act of living honestly actually impacted me emotionally. It was a wake-up call to me to see what it means to pay for things WITH MONEY YOU ACTUALLY HAVE and not living a lie with someone else's money.
So, I share this in the hopes of bearing witness to one of those everyday moments when we---like Christ---face the challenges to yield to temptation to satisfy our immediate desires.
And yet, for me, it was important to be able to recognize the long term impacts that excessive credit card spending had been having on my finances, mental health and future. We live in a society that is constantly trying to convince us that our value is rooted in our possessions and that we need as many new possessions as we can carry, order or house to fulfill us. However, if we can remember that even Christ was tempted but stood firm as he focused on his larger misson for God, so can we.
Be well, Beloved!
---Nicole
Greetings from Nicole. Today's entry find us at the moment where Jesus has been led by the Holy Spirit into the desert and was tempted by the devil there. The devil meets Jesus in the midst of his hunger and says "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answers reminding the devil "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
I have been turning that exchange over in my mind over the last week or so as I have been dealing with my own temptations and more vigilant about how the devil can show up in our seemingly mundane, everyday affairs.
Before my recent trip, I was out shopping to pick up last minute outfits, shoes, toiletries, etc.,.. And I was astonished at how often I was approached to open up new credit card accounts. "Uh, Ma'am, would you like to open a blah-blah card with us today. This will assure that you get 10 percent off today's purchase, earn VALUABLE store points and qualify you for the super-duper fabulous, stupendous bonus coupons that you can use to return to the store during the week of blah-blah-blah." And it just went on and on: "Are you sure you aren't interested, ma'am? I can go get the application and fill it out for you now while you shop and have it all set up by the time you are ready to check out?" It took all I could do to remain calm wit' them.
I swear: no matter what store I entered there was some well-meaning soul prowling the floor figuring out who she could devour next... trying to hawk her quota of store credit cards while folks shopped and again at the register.
Now, what was interesting about all this is that it was occurring in the midst of a personal war I have been waging against credit card spending in my own life. So these encounters in the store were my "turn these stones to bread" moments as I was tempted to open up cards for seemingly easy credit. So, these credit card dealers were trying my nerves. And I was indeed tempted to open the accounts---as I had plenty to buy and would have loved a lil' space between my purchase and my payment.
However, after some honest, ugly reflection on my own finances earlier this summer, I was able to withstand the retail warfare because I've just gotten fed up with debt... fed up with buying now and paying later... and fed up with living in financial dishonesty with myself.
My use of credit cards had become similar to my issues around my weight. Just as I had not been paying serious SUSTAINED attention to my weight and physical health, I had not been paying serious SUSTAINED attention to my credit card spending and financial health. So, over the years both the numbers on my scale and the numbers of my monthly statements had both crept up to uncomfortable ranges---while I kept eatin', chargin' and chuggin' along.
I rationalized the spending because I was using credit cards to pay for airline ticket, travel, trips home and conferences as I transitioned from struggling graduate student to working college professor. Furthermore, I had convinced myself that it was OK to pay with credit cards because I would pay it all off when my check came...and somehow that wouldn't quite occur. But I took some comfort in the fact that I was making SOME gains in paying things off this year.
But God will convict you if you let him into your WHOLE LIFE---even you lesson plans for your courses. This summer, I was doing a lot of reading and preparing a series of lectures on consumer culture for my fall courses. SO, WHY DID THE LORD CONVICT ME AROUND MY OWN FINANCIAL DISHONESTY REGARDING MY SPENDING.
Now, my thinking was: Lord, you ain't sus'sposed to use my course textbooks THAT I PICKED FOR MY STUDENTS to get all up in MY biz'ness---but I see you can use what you need to get my attention. And, it was as if the Lord was saying: "Teacher, it's great that you want to help your students, but you better lay hand on your own finances first."
So---back to my pre-vacation shopping---I was fine for the first few days of errand-running and making it out of the mall ( and several larger department stores) with a "no thank you" strong in my spirit around their credit card offers as I paid for things in cash and kept it moving. But then came that issue of a camera purchase. This was my equivalent of that moment after 40 days and 40 nights when Christ got hungry. I had been doing well, but when it came to my camera purchase, I could feel my wallet growling and my spirit weaken.
I had been feigning for a digital camera for at least a year and made up in my mind that I wanted to get a digital camera for my trip. So, after a good shopping day, I strolled over to a local branch of a big box electronics store to look at cameras. And of course, a fresh-faced knowledgeable young sales associate swooped down on me to walk me through all the options, models, accessories I would ever need for picture taking euphoria. And after filling up my basket with the necessary camera and supplementary items, he was kind enough to escort me to the register and have his sales associate assist me in completing my purchase.
And---just like her fellow sisters-dealers---she, too, offered me a stupendous opportunity to get a store credit card. Now, this got dicey. I needed some other electronics and knew that that would be a great card to have. And even though I chose a camera on sale, the case, memory card, etc.,. were adding up and again, it would be nice to keep that cash in my pocket for for the upcoming trip.
But, after the teller finished sprinkling all her magic credit card fairy dust, I dug deep in the spirit---and into my pocket...and gave her cash. I walked away with my camera and supplementals paid for, but was feeling a lil' shaky as I left the store.
Interestingly, as I got in the car, I just sat there and could feel my heart racing. What in the world was happening??? I just sat there and held on to the steering wheel and felt a wave of emotion wash over me.
And then I realized what was happening: I WAS DEALING WITH THE REAL EMOTION OF SPENDING REAL MONEY ON THINGS I REALLY WANTED AND NEEDED. I was spending money that I had, that I earned and not buying things on credit to pay off later. And during a week of spending a fair amount of cash, my emotions welled up based on the fact because I was paying for things outright---which meant that my saving might be a little more depleted, but I liberating myself of the burden of shopping on credit and creating more debt.
Thus, that act of living honestly actually impacted me emotionally. It was a wake-up call to me to see what it means to pay for things WITH MONEY YOU ACTUALLY HAVE and not living a lie with someone else's money.
So, I share this in the hopes of bearing witness to one of those everyday moments when we---like Christ---face the challenges to yield to temptation to satisfy our immediate desires.
And yet, for me, it was important to be able to recognize the long term impacts that excessive credit card spending had been having on my finances, mental health and future. We live in a society that is constantly trying to convince us that our value is rooted in our possessions and that we need as many new possessions as we can carry, order or house to fulfill us. However, if we can remember that even Christ was tempted but stood firm as he focused on his larger misson for God, so can we.
Be well, Beloved!
---Nicole
Honoring That Still Small Voice...
Morning and Greetings from Nicole!
I hope this message reaches you well. And, I know, I know, I got a little quiet last week and meant to post a vacation message to you...but oh well, I traveled, it was fabulous and now I'm back.
But, I'm tellin' yall. I have to admit. Even after so short a time away, I'm feeling rusty. Just one week away from blogging and I feel all fuzzy-headed and tentative.
As you know I was writing like a fiend before I left. And now---on the other side---I have just been distracted--- new school year tasks, home maintenance issues forcing me to pack up and work away from home at odd times, tracking Hurricane Fay and preparing my emergency kit to break out if necessary... you know the stuff of life that will get between you and your assignment if you let it.
So, I've just been writing on scraps of paper, in notebooks in my purse and in random places till I could get somewhere, settle down and type them up.
But, there is comfort I can take in this: THE FEELING THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT IF I WASN'T DOING IT is pretty amazing. That itch, that tug, a distinct feeling in my gut kept reminding me that I needed to get back to mining the scriptures. For you, that feeling might be that nagging reminder to get back to the gym... or making that appointment you've been putting off... or attending that gathering that you miss ...or getting back to that project/degree you know you need to finish...or getting back to your own writing...or taking that class you've been wanting to take to keep you in the game. I would argue that that that nagging, that tugging is indeed the Holy Spirit.
So that nagging " uh-oh...when am I going to get back to the blog feeling" was a good feeling---cuz' it reminded me that the project of Blogging the New Testament had really taken hold...and become a practice vital to my days.
So, today is that day. I am going to steal some moments to type up the new entries I've been working on and get them posted ASAP!
Love you all, thank you for reading this work and for the positive feedback and support!
Be well!
---Nicole
I hope this message reaches you well. And, I know, I know, I got a little quiet last week and meant to post a vacation message to you...but oh well, I traveled, it was fabulous and now I'm back.
But, I'm tellin' yall. I have to admit. Even after so short a time away, I'm feeling rusty. Just one week away from blogging and I feel all fuzzy-headed and tentative.
As you know I was writing like a fiend before I left. And now---on the other side---I have just been distracted--- new school year tasks, home maintenance issues forcing me to pack up and work away from home at odd times, tracking Hurricane Fay and preparing my emergency kit to break out if necessary... you know the stuff of life that will get between you and your assignment if you let it.
So, I've just been writing on scraps of paper, in notebooks in my purse and in random places till I could get somewhere, settle down and type them up.
But, there is comfort I can take in this: THE FEELING THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT IF I WASN'T DOING IT is pretty amazing. That itch, that tug, a distinct feeling in my gut kept reminding me that I needed to get back to mining the scriptures. For you, that feeling might be that nagging reminder to get back to the gym... or making that appointment you've been putting off... or attending that gathering that you miss ...or getting back to that project/degree you know you need to finish...or getting back to your own writing...or taking that class you've been wanting to take to keep you in the game. I would argue that that that nagging, that tugging is indeed the Holy Spirit.
So that nagging " uh-oh...when am I going to get back to the blog feeling" was a good feeling---cuz' it reminded me that the project of Blogging the New Testament had really taken hold...and become a practice vital to my days.
So, today is that day. I am going to steal some moments to type up the new entries I've been working on and get them posted ASAP!
Love you all, thank you for reading this work and for the positive feedback and support!
Be well!
---Nicole
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Lalah Hathaway's Self Portrait (2008): Get It For You & Bless Somebody Else Wit' It
Morning all!
I hope this message reaches you well. I wrote this piece a week ago, but saved it to post later. Well, later is now and I gotta get this shoutout in before I travel in a few hours!
What can I say? I am a Hathaway family devotee. Perhaps its because my father loved Donny Hathaway so I developed an appetite for him early in life. Or perhaps, it's because I always heard that the Hathaways lived around the corner from us in Chicago. (As a kid, none of that really registered for me. I was too busy runnin' up and down the street clownin', eatin' Popsicles and tryin' to keep up with the older kids.) Or perhaps I'm just hooked on the Hathaways because Donny and Lalah's music ministered to my fiance and I during my cross country moves to Los Angeles...and back to Illinois...and then to Florida. Their music kept us cool and sane, laughing, sharing, and in love during those LONG cross-country excursions.
Well, I am happy to report that Lalah's new offering entitled "Self Portrait" is just completely off the chain...so wonderful, so relaxing, so thoughtful, so healing. And I know, there have been some shaky moments in Ms. Lalah's career---odd choices, missteps, crazy dissonances, but I was still devoted because even her misses were bumping up against a hit if you just kept on list'nen.
However, Ms. Girl went somewhere and got quiet and let the Lord minister to her...because "Self Portrait" is cool, coherent, grounded, mellow, luscious and just makes good sense all the way through. This project is the soundtrack for sunset dinners with beloved friends, intimate moments, healing breakthroughs, personal retreats, daily moments of renewal, affirmation for new beginnings and transformations.
Lalah's voice is medicine to MY soul...and I say that about NO ONE ELSE. I enjoy lots of folks' music, but nobody MINISTERS to me like she does...like her dad did. With Self Portrait 2008, she's found her groove and just lays back in the cut and teaches, ministers, shed light, heals.
I first opened the CD up after returning from a hectic (but blessed) visit to Illinois at the end of July...and it just made me feel better...I could feel knots in my back and shoulders loosening up and my pressure droppin'...it was like an audio massage (smile)...helped me get grounded...relax...take a breath...slow down for a moment...get reconnected with what I really needed to be doing and leaving the rest for another time or place.
So, GET THIS CD, support this sister and enjoy it. Then, buy a stack to give to folks.
And let the healing begin!
Love y'all all!
---Nicole
I hope this message reaches you well. I wrote this piece a week ago, but saved it to post later. Well, later is now and I gotta get this shoutout in before I travel in a few hours!
What can I say? I am a Hathaway family devotee. Perhaps its because my father loved Donny Hathaway so I developed an appetite for him early in life. Or perhaps, it's because I always heard that the Hathaways lived around the corner from us in Chicago. (As a kid, none of that really registered for me. I was too busy runnin' up and down the street clownin', eatin' Popsicles and tryin' to keep up with the older kids.) Or perhaps I'm just hooked on the Hathaways because Donny and Lalah's music ministered to my fiance and I during my cross country moves to Los Angeles...and back to Illinois...and then to Florida. Their music kept us cool and sane, laughing, sharing, and in love during those LONG cross-country excursions.
Well, I am happy to report that Lalah's new offering entitled "Self Portrait" is just completely off the chain...so wonderful, so relaxing, so thoughtful, so healing. And I know, there have been some shaky moments in Ms. Lalah's career---odd choices, missteps, crazy dissonances, but I was still devoted because even her misses were bumping up against a hit if you just kept on list'nen.
However, Ms. Girl went somewhere and got quiet and let the Lord minister to her...because "Self Portrait" is cool, coherent, grounded, mellow, luscious and just makes good sense all the way through. This project is the soundtrack for sunset dinners with beloved friends, intimate moments, healing breakthroughs, personal retreats, daily moments of renewal, affirmation for new beginnings and transformations.
Lalah's voice is medicine to MY soul...and I say that about NO ONE ELSE. I enjoy lots of folks' music, but nobody MINISTERS to me like she does...like her dad did. With Self Portrait 2008, she's found her groove and just lays back in the cut and teaches, ministers, shed light, heals.
I first opened the CD up after returning from a hectic (but blessed) visit to Illinois at the end of July...and it just made me feel better...I could feel knots in my back and shoulders loosening up and my pressure droppin'...it was like an audio massage (smile)...helped me get grounded...relax...take a breath...slow down for a moment...get reconnected with what I really needed to be doing and leaving the rest for another time or place.
So, GET THIS CD, support this sister and enjoy it. Then, buy a stack to give to folks.
And let the healing begin!
Love y'all all!
---Nicole
***Also, check out Lalah's Official Website at: www.lalahhathaway.com
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Matthew 3:13-17/ Cousins In Life & Ministry
Morning:
I hope this message reaches you well. On Wednesday, I spent my time posting on the secular (the consumption in the hood piece) instead of the sacred...and the secular dogged me ALL DAY LONG. It seemed that I kept running into situations where folk wanted to talk to me about race relations, the presidential elections or just plain get on my nerves...So, I take refuge in the sacred once again...
Today's text gives us insight into the relationship between two cousins: John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ. Here Jesus rolls through from Galilee to visit John and be baptized by John. And you can imagine after some refreshment, chatting about how Aunt Mary and Aunt Liz are doing and the rest of the fam, Jesus offers to be baptized by John. And clearly, John is like: "What, nah, fa' real Cuz,...if anything you need to be hooking ME up". But Jesus insists on having John baptize him, Christ is baptized and then exalted by the Lord.
Now, what is interesting about this is to understand this interaction as an example of family supporting family--- as Jesus came to both honor the work of his cousin John and to confirm the works of his cousin John. It's as if Jesus was saying "Man, you have been hype-ing me up all this time so the least I can do is roll through and be supportive." And that sentiment so ministered to me because of a recent experience I had this summer.
Earlier in the summer, my cousin Joyce---who is a grammar school principal in Chicago---sent me the following text message:
"R U free on June 10 I'd like for you to be the commencement speaker."
Now the email was quite a surprise to me. My first response was: "Do what?... where?" See, Joyce is my older cousin and like a sister to me and I have looked up to her my entire life---not to mention the fact that the is 6'0 and I am 5'2 1/2---and yes I'm hanging on to the 1/2 inch thank you very much. Furthermore, Joyce has ALWAYS been supportive of me---and especially my education--- so much so that she accompanied my mom tovisit me in West Africa for two weeks when I was doing my dissertation field work there. So, I knew that I HAD to do the commencement address when she asked.
So, I ordered my doctoral regalia, booked a ticket, worked on my remarks, and headed to the Chi. Now my mama---a retired 33 year Veteran Chicago public school teacher--- Joyce's mama & our Aunt Dot (both retired nurses) and cousin Phyllis were all planning t attend as well so it was gon' be super-fun with family there to support us both.
Interestingly, before the ceremony, Joyce was insistent on having us visit her school. I hemmed and hawwed, didn't want to be in the way, said we could come by after the ceremony to take the grand tour----I think I thought it would rattle my nerves EVEN MORE to have to do a meet-and-greet BEFORE giving my remarks.
But, my Aunt stressed that Joyce REALLY wanted Mama and I to see the school beforehand...and I'm sooooo glad I did. IT WAS REALLY THRILLING. The school was filled with sunlight that day and beamed with love and joy and energy. And the staff were generous letting us into their classrooms, telling us about Joyce as a principal, sharing war stories with mama and talking about how much they loved working there. During the tour, we also looked at student projects and visited the library as Joyce introduced her Aunt as a former Chicago Public School teacher and her cousin as the commencement speaker, Dr. Nicole Anderson.
And, the children were beautiful. As we walked the halls, the kids GREETED Mrs. Fisher (Joyce's married name), WAVED at Mrs. Fisher, HIGH-FIVED Mrs. Fisher, HUGGED Mrs. Fisher as Mrs. Fisher made her way through the halls patting shoulders, returning hugs and high fives...and of course giving a quick rebuke to a few wayward youth at the security guard desk for some unsavory activities: "X, i' m not happy to see you here again today...bad idea you working on, bad choice indeed". I loved that quick shot of discipline unleashed on the way as she kept it moving and I fell out laughin' in the stairwell.
After the tour, it was time to head to the high school down the street where the ceremony would be held to robe up, get in line and process in with the students. It was scorching hot or "SCOTCHIN' HOT" as mama would say as I donned that black velvet robe, doctoral hood and tam...and I did indeed stand out from the 8th graders in their lightweight purple or white robes.
But my regalia is the uniform of my profession as a faculty member so this was as good an opportunity to wear it as any---especially for folks who might not see such garments very often at the grammar school graduation on Chicago's South Side. So, we processed in as I thanked Jesus for that cool auditorium.
So, about a third of the way into the ceremony, I rose to give my remarks to celebrate this day with the families, staff and students present. I began with "This IS the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." And the audience buzzed with "yeses", "alrights", and "thank you Jesuses". I then took a moment to honor students, family, staff and my own family who were present. Our grandmother (Joyce and I)---who never graduated from grammar school in Mississippi---now had two granddaughters who are educators: one a school principal and the other a college professor. So I felt compelled to honor our foremother on that day.
I then went on with the purpose of my talk: to celebrate these student's accomplishments and to encourage them---all the while riding the wave of joy and promise that the Obama victory had let loose on so many South Siders only a week before.
However, more than that I---like John so many centuries before--- WAS THERE TO HONOR MY OWN COUSIN, TO MAKE HER LOOK GOOD, and celebrate her school community with my offering. When I returned to my seat, Joyce looked dumbfounded and overwhelmed by my remarks.
And then Joyce rose to officiate the ceremony and to send ---" her scholars and her leaders" as she called them---her graduates off with joy, humor, love (and relief in some cases). And I sat there beaming with pride for her and all that she had done with this school her first year as principal there....just as I am sure John beamed with pride and joy when the spirit of the Lord descended on Christ and the Lord declared his pleasure in HIM.
Interestingly, after the ceremony, I was mobbed by parents who thanked me, expressed overwhelming appreciation for my speech, took my business cards for children in need of mentors and wanted pictures of me in the regalia with their kids.
After the last photo opps---and kissing my Aunts and cousin goodbye---Mama and I rode back to school with Joyce to chat a bit as Joyce seemed to be on a high of relief, release and joy. As we parted, she said laughing, " ...Now you know I already have you down to come back next year. Keep the date open." And she called that night to tell me again that she continued to hear great things about my address from parents and staff for the rest of the day.
So, as this process of blogging the scriptures unfolded, I had no idea that reading about Jesus and John would have me reflect on my own relationship with my own cousin Joyce and our unlikely path to become ministers in education.
And yet, this text is a powerful reminder of how the Lord used two cousins to do HIS work. I pray that the work that Joyce and I do (and that of all educators) can continue to encourage young people on the path to higher learning and ethical living that honors the Lord.
Amazed at what the word can illuminate EVERYDAY!
---Nicole
I hope this message reaches you well. On Wednesday, I spent my time posting on the secular (the consumption in the hood piece) instead of the sacred...and the secular dogged me ALL DAY LONG. It seemed that I kept running into situations where folk wanted to talk to me about race relations, the presidential elections or just plain get on my nerves...So, I take refuge in the sacred once again...
Today's text gives us insight into the relationship between two cousins: John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ. Here Jesus rolls through from Galilee to visit John and be baptized by John. And you can imagine after some refreshment, chatting about how Aunt Mary and Aunt Liz are doing and the rest of the fam, Jesus offers to be baptized by John. And clearly, John is like: "What, nah, fa' real Cuz,...if anything you need to be hooking ME up". But Jesus insists on having John baptize him, Christ is baptized and then exalted by the Lord.
Now, what is interesting about this is to understand this interaction as an example of family supporting family--- as Jesus came to both honor the work of his cousin John and to confirm the works of his cousin John. It's as if Jesus was saying "Man, you have been hype-ing me up all this time so the least I can do is roll through and be supportive." And that sentiment so ministered to me because of a recent experience I had this summer.
Earlier in the summer, my cousin Joyce---who is a grammar school principal in Chicago---sent me the following text message:
"R U free on June 10 I'd like for you to be the commencement speaker."
Now the email was quite a surprise to me. My first response was: "Do what?... where?" See, Joyce is my older cousin and like a sister to me and I have looked up to her my entire life---not to mention the fact that the is 6'0 and I am 5'2 1/2---and yes I'm hanging on to the 1/2 inch thank you very much. Furthermore, Joyce has ALWAYS been supportive of me---and especially my education--- so much so that she accompanied my mom tovisit me in West Africa for two weeks when I was doing my dissertation field work there. So, I knew that I HAD to do the commencement address when she asked.
So, I ordered my doctoral regalia, booked a ticket, worked on my remarks, and headed to the Chi. Now my mama---a retired 33 year Veteran Chicago public school teacher--- Joyce's mama & our Aunt Dot (both retired nurses) and cousin Phyllis were all planning t attend as well so it was gon' be super-fun with family there to support us both.
Interestingly, before the ceremony, Joyce was insistent on having us visit her school. I hemmed and hawwed, didn't want to be in the way, said we could come by after the ceremony to take the grand tour----I think I thought it would rattle my nerves EVEN MORE to have to do a meet-and-greet BEFORE giving my remarks.
But, my Aunt stressed that Joyce REALLY wanted Mama and I to see the school beforehand...and I'm sooooo glad I did. IT WAS REALLY THRILLING. The school was filled with sunlight that day and beamed with love and joy and energy. And the staff were generous letting us into their classrooms, telling us about Joyce as a principal, sharing war stories with mama and talking about how much they loved working there. During the tour, we also looked at student projects and visited the library as Joyce introduced her Aunt as a former Chicago Public School teacher and her cousin as the commencement speaker, Dr. Nicole Anderson.
And, the children were beautiful. As we walked the halls, the kids GREETED Mrs. Fisher (Joyce's married name), WAVED at Mrs. Fisher, HIGH-FIVED Mrs. Fisher, HUGGED Mrs. Fisher as Mrs. Fisher made her way through the halls patting shoulders, returning hugs and high fives...and of course giving a quick rebuke to a few wayward youth at the security guard desk for some unsavory activities: "X, i' m not happy to see you here again today...bad idea you working on, bad choice indeed". I loved that quick shot of discipline unleashed on the way as she kept it moving and I fell out laughin' in the stairwell.
After the tour, it was time to head to the high school down the street where the ceremony would be held to robe up, get in line and process in with the students. It was scorching hot or "SCOTCHIN' HOT" as mama would say as I donned that black velvet robe, doctoral hood and tam...and I did indeed stand out from the 8th graders in their lightweight purple or white robes.
But my regalia is the uniform of my profession as a faculty member so this was as good an opportunity to wear it as any---especially for folks who might not see such garments very often at the grammar school graduation on Chicago's South Side. So, we processed in as I thanked Jesus for that cool auditorium.
So, about a third of the way into the ceremony, I rose to give my remarks to celebrate this day with the families, staff and students present. I began with "This IS the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." And the audience buzzed with "yeses", "alrights", and "thank you Jesuses". I then took a moment to honor students, family, staff and my own family who were present. Our grandmother (Joyce and I)---who never graduated from grammar school in Mississippi---now had two granddaughters who are educators: one a school principal and the other a college professor. So I felt compelled to honor our foremother on that day.
I then went on with the purpose of my talk: to celebrate these student's accomplishments and to encourage them---all the while riding the wave of joy and promise that the Obama victory had let loose on so many South Siders only a week before.
However, more than that I---like John so many centuries before--- WAS THERE TO HONOR MY OWN COUSIN, TO MAKE HER LOOK GOOD, and celebrate her school community with my offering. When I returned to my seat, Joyce looked dumbfounded and overwhelmed by my remarks.
And then Joyce rose to officiate the ceremony and to send ---" her scholars and her leaders" as she called them---her graduates off with joy, humor, love (and relief in some cases). And I sat there beaming with pride for her and all that she had done with this school her first year as principal there....just as I am sure John beamed with pride and joy when the spirit of the Lord descended on Christ and the Lord declared his pleasure in HIM.
Interestingly, after the ceremony, I was mobbed by parents who thanked me, expressed overwhelming appreciation for my speech, took my business cards for children in need of mentors and wanted pictures of me in the regalia with their kids.
After the last photo opps---and kissing my Aunts and cousin goodbye---Mama and I rode back to school with Joyce to chat a bit as Joyce seemed to be on a high of relief, release and joy. As we parted, she said laughing, " ...Now you know I already have you down to come back next year. Keep the date open." And she called that night to tell me again that she continued to hear great things about my address from parents and staff for the rest of the day.
So, as this process of blogging the scriptures unfolded, I had no idea that reading about Jesus and John would have me reflect on my own relationship with my own cousin Joyce and our unlikely path to become ministers in education.
And yet, this text is a powerful reminder of how the Lord used two cousins to do HIS work. I pray that the work that Joyce and I do (and that of all educators) can continue to encourage young people on the path to higher learning and ethical living that honors the Lord.
Amazed at what the word can illuminate EVERYDAY!
---Nicole
Matthew 3: 7-12/ Where is YOUR Fruit?
Morning!
Greetings from Nicole.
Now, on to the ministry of John the Baptist.
In these verses, John offers a stern warning to the Pharisees and Sadducees that have come to hear him preach. He counsels that " You brood of vipers. Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." He then goes further in is warning proclaiming that "the ax is at the root and any tree that does not produce fruit will be thrown into the fire."
Now this is a rough word for the religious elite. And yet, John is communicating that he has grown tired of their static and wants to see THEIR FRUIT.
Now, I admit that the idea of "church leader" or "church elders" has become a bit ambiguous for me. Ain't that 'spose to be ALL OF US?
Moreover, as I keep on living, I myself am less and less inclined to beat up "church leaders" (though, yes I slip at times...sigh). What spawned my turn around, you ask: The recognition that folks are praying and cutting grass and sending cards and sitting beside hospital beds and writing checks and paying rent and feeding folks and bailing folks out of jail and counseling politicians and doing all manner of stuff that I have no knowledge of AND HAVE BEEN DOING SO FOR YEARS!!!...while I...me...Nicole...am in the bed sleep, chillin', surfin' on the Internet, tippin' around looking cute and doin' nothin'. So, i'm gon' try to be real careful about commenting on folks' public witness, when I don't know what all they do in private.
I was at the Hampton Minister's Conference in Hampton, Virginia this summer and shared the lunch table with a sister I didn't know. As it would happen, this sister was going on and on about the leadership on the platform mumblin' and insinuating stuff about who they were, how they lived etc.,. I REALLY wasn't interested in it and was glad I was away from the table for much of her diatribe.
So I then asked her had she attended any of the other sessions and she said " Oh, girl...uh... no... I'm not exactly...uh...registered..., but, I'm just here reaping in the overflow as she fiddled nervously with her shirt button. Now what was interesting is that she didn't have any problem complaining about the officiants of a conference that she snuck in to attend!!! And had those church leaders she was critical of been hard on the door about letting folks in, she wouldn't have been up in there "reapin" at all.
Again, I just mention this to have us be mindful of our criticisms while forgetting some of what the church elders have done for us in the past...sigh...a self rebuke indeed...
Anyway, in returning to the text, the text really got next to me. As an educator, I am equally challenged to think about MY TALK versus MY FRUIT. Am I working to educate and mentor good strong capable young people as a professor...or am I just feeling accomplished and running my classes like my students should be kissing my ring because I'm fabulous? And am I using my opportunity on panels and during presentations to sit swollen with self importance...or to bring a life-changing, life-affirming word to those I encounter?
Here, in this text, John reminds us that folks should be changed for the better for having met us---if we are to be of real use to the kingdom. He then describes Christ as "having a winnowing fork gathering the wheat unto himself and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Thus John's challenge to the Pharisees and Sadducees previews Christs ministry of healing, changing lives, embracing the marginalized, addressing sin in our lives and speaking truth to power.
So, the question remains: Are folks better off, changed, encouraged, empowered for having encountered YOU?
Be well today!
---Nicole
Greetings from Nicole.
Now, on to the ministry of John the Baptist.
In these verses, John offers a stern warning to the Pharisees and Sadducees that have come to hear him preach. He counsels that " You brood of vipers. Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." He then goes further in is warning proclaiming that "the ax is at the root and any tree that does not produce fruit will be thrown into the fire."
Now this is a rough word for the religious elite. And yet, John is communicating that he has grown tired of their static and wants to see THEIR FRUIT.
Now, I admit that the idea of "church leader" or "church elders" has become a bit ambiguous for me. Ain't that 'spose to be ALL OF US?
Moreover, as I keep on living, I myself am less and less inclined to beat up "church leaders" (though, yes I slip at times...sigh). What spawned my turn around, you ask: The recognition that folks are praying and cutting grass and sending cards and sitting beside hospital beds and writing checks and paying rent and feeding folks and bailing folks out of jail and counseling politicians and doing all manner of stuff that I have no knowledge of AND HAVE BEEN DOING SO FOR YEARS!!!...while I...me...Nicole...am in the bed sleep, chillin', surfin' on the Internet, tippin' around looking cute and doin' nothin'. So, i'm gon' try to be real careful about commenting on folks' public witness, when I don't know what all they do in private.
I was at the Hampton Minister's Conference in Hampton, Virginia this summer and shared the lunch table with a sister I didn't know. As it would happen, this sister was going on and on about the leadership on the platform mumblin' and insinuating stuff about who they were, how they lived etc.,. I REALLY wasn't interested in it and was glad I was away from the table for much of her diatribe.
So I then asked her had she attended any of the other sessions and she said " Oh, girl...uh... no... I'm not exactly...uh...registered..., but, I'm just here reaping in the overflow as she fiddled nervously with her shirt button. Now what was interesting is that she didn't have any problem complaining about the officiants of a conference that she snuck in to attend!!! And had those church leaders she was critical of been hard on the door about letting folks in, she wouldn't have been up in there "reapin" at all.
Again, I just mention this to have us be mindful of our criticisms while forgetting some of what the church elders have done for us in the past...sigh...a self rebuke indeed...
Anyway, in returning to the text, the text really got next to me. As an educator, I am equally challenged to think about MY TALK versus MY FRUIT. Am I working to educate and mentor good strong capable young people as a professor...or am I just feeling accomplished and running my classes like my students should be kissing my ring because I'm fabulous? And am I using my opportunity on panels and during presentations to sit swollen with self importance...or to bring a life-changing, life-affirming word to those I encounter?
Here, in this text, John reminds us that folks should be changed for the better for having met us---if we are to be of real use to the kingdom. He then describes Christ as "having a winnowing fork gathering the wheat unto himself and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Thus John's challenge to the Pharisees and Sadducees previews Christs ministry of healing, changing lives, embracing the marginalized, addressing sin in our lives and speaking truth to power.
So, the question remains: Are folks better off, changed, encouraged, empowered for having encountered YOU?
Be well today!
---Nicole
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