HELL NAW!

First off...Vernon Forrest...DAMN...This is really starting to get creepy with all of the celebrity deaths in a short period of time. MJ, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays, Alexis Arguello, Arturo Gatti, and now Vernon Forrest. If these recent deaths don't cause you to appreciate the gift of life a little more, check your pulse.

On another note, I went to volunteer orientation last Saturday afternoon for an organization that delivers meals to the elderly and disabled. I used to volunteer more often than I do now, but, as I've said before since 2009 is the year of the growth for me, I'm striving to live a less "too busy worrying about what I'm going through" existence. Anyways, after the orientation, the program coordinator asks for whoever wants to schedule a volunteer time to wait by her office so they can do so. When I get in her office and sit down she asks me if I'm with any organization. I say no. She says, "So you're doing this out of the kindness of your own heart?" I say yes. She then says, "So you don't need to keep track of your time then do you?" I say no. She pauses for a second. Then she says, "So, just to cover my bases, you don't need this for any court-related thing right?" I say no. Now I scheduled my time and left the building. But when I got in my car, it hit me, "Hell naw! Did she just ask me that?" Now I'm debating with myself if that was one of those racist moments that happened to fast that I missed it, or if maybe I'm getting a little too Al Sharpton-esque and making everything about nothing. I still don't know...

Black In America 2

I wasn't able to watch the whole thing. In fact, all I really caught was the last hour of part 2, but in that too short hour I definitely was reminded of one thing: how incredibly blessed I am. I watched the story of Chris Shern (Sorry don't know how to spell his last name) and I thought how, so very easily, I could've been him. I didn't grow up poor, but I didn't grow up rich either. I watched my single mother with two children at 21, keep our family together when she only had $20 for two weeks after paying the bills, work her way through college, then graduate school, to get herself and her children a better life. I thank God so much for that. Watching Chris's story, I thought about my life and how whenever I think or thought about resorting to another less legal lifestyle to pay my bills, or take my girl out to eat, that little voice in my head (which I know is God) pulled me back. I understood Chris's frustration. Most men want to be able to provide for those he loves, and when he can't, it can definitely feel like the walls are closing in. Temptation calls daily. Especially when there aren't people in your life that pray for you (which I have thankfully). I saw the story of the older guy (I can't recall his name) that had the heart attack and a host of other health ailments. I thanked God for my health. I saw the story of the Harlem's Children Zone and I thought of my mother. She was my Geoffrey Canada. She always had high expectations for my sister and I. I believe today, the number one reason that I am the intelligent (I like to think) young brotha I am today is because, for as long as I can remember, my mom always said I was smart. She said it so often to the point that I felt I had to perform up to that standard. I attacked everything from the perspective that I'm smart enough to learn anything because my mom said so.

I thank God that I had the opportunities that I had in my life. I thank God for the various guardian angels He put in my life to help me through and get me where I am. Now by no means am I where I want to be or have achieved what I feel God planned for me to achieve, but I know I wouldn't be where I am without his hand on my life. That's why I have "God's Plan" tatted on my arm. I know He has a plan for me that is great and beautifully crafted for me and only me. Thank you God.