Take the Scaffolding Down of Scaffolding...

There was a story in the news recently about a homeless man that had no shoes in the frigid cold state of New York.  His reply to the officer who questioned him about his shoes was that it’s ok I never had any shoes.  For the officer that answer was unacceptable so he went to the nearest shoe store and requested the best pair of all weather boots and thick socks for this homeless man.

This random act of kindness was caught on film by a passerby and is now on display across the avenues of media.  Although intended to be a quiet moment on a cold New York evening, this officer’s actions now speak volumes for the world to hear.

Can you hear the message?  Can you feel the warmth?  What can you do to tear down the scaffolding of your own scaffolding?  Perhaps there is a random act of kindness you can impart on an unsuspecting soul.

There was a story many years ago about a man traveling to a town and the path of his journey took him through a particular part of town that was avoided by all traveling in that area.  While traveling, he stopped for water.  The woman at the well wondered why a man of his repute would ask a woman of her ill repute for water.  That drink of water served a paramount purpose.  It gave that man an opportunity to offer that woman an encouraging word, a word of faith. (This story is found in John 4)

We are now in the holiday season of 2012 and gift giving, canned food drives, turkey giveaways and more are often part of the theme.  Let u go an extra step and maintaining that pattern now and throughout the coming year.  Let us take the scaffolding down of our own scaffolding and reaching out a helping hand through a kind deed, a word spoken, or perhaps something tangible.  Then allow that pattern to carry over into the coming year.

Again I ask what barriers prevent you from offering an encouraging word?  Tear them down.

Strive to be the one that makes a change…it is your move.

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

What are you doing Tuesday?

Your answer needs to be yes to one of these questions. 

Did you vote during early voting?

Are you going to vote on Tuesday?

You MUST vote. It is your right. It is your privilege. It is your responsibility.

This afternoon I had the distinct honor of meeting Senator Connie Johnson of Oklahoma.  She facilitated a conversation with the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus sponsored by the Cameron University Campus Ministries.  It was informative, enlightening, and reinforced how critically important it is to be a voice not only in this election but also in the days after the election.  As we prepare to go to the polls (if you haven’t already), we need to also prepare to continue working together to achieve the change that is needed.

In spite of the obstacles in place to block our vote, we must persevere.

It’s wrong to take your right.

Do what’s right.

Stand up.

Speak up.

…and vote.

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

A Word of Encouragement

Life presents us with numerous challenges.  We often face times when a tough decision must be made, when hardships face us, and sometimes just our basic day-to-day life adventures are challenging.  Sometimes we look for someone we can turn to who can provide us with wise counsel, encouragement, or just a shoulder to lean on.  What if that person is not there?  What if there is no one to take that person’s place?
What if no one is around to say hold on, don’t quit? 

It is at that moment, you have to encourage yourself.

There comes a time you have to tap into what is already inside of you, what you have already learned, and what you have read.  When encouraging yourself is the only way, be sure to stand strong even in the face of weakness.  I personally have learned to stand strong in the Lord and in the power of His might because the Bible says that His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

Sometimes you may go through a battle, it may seem to stretch on and on, and one reminder that should come to mind is that God promised that joy would come in the morning.  In the middle of a battle, the question becomes how long is the night?  Where are the people that promised you friendship and support?  Even though we know to stand strong, we do sometimes need a helping hand or a shoulder to lean on.  Maybe you can be that shoulder.

Don’t run away now, do what you can to help your fellow man, fellow woman, fellow boy, or fellow girl.

Matthew 25: 42-45 reminds us to take care of each other. 

“For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

What may be a little to you may be a lot for the one you do it for.  You can turn someone’s breaking point into a place of breakthrough.

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

Thoughts on Education

I am now pursuing a Master’s degree.  This important step in my life took many years and of course much procrastination to finally reach.  Not only am I receiving an education, I am teaching education, as a substitute teacher, which gives me the opportunity to work with so many different children from diverse backgrounds.  Many urban and rural school districts have a disproportionate number of students from families living at or below the poverty level.  With such a large diversity of minority students and a prevailing gender gap in the school districts, the benefits have been proven of providing scholarship opportunities for young women and minority children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend college.  Many children’s hopes for a hot breakfast before going to school is slim and they do not even see a future including higher education.

So now, here we are 50 years after Affirmative Action was signed into law and there is now a fight to keep it on the books.  Affirmative action, the very act that focuses on improving employment and educational opportunities for people in minority groups and women is included the Oklahoma state ballot.  The state question for Oklahoma voters to decide is if the Republican-backed proposal should pass to wipe out affirmative action programs in state government.  The racial tensions that are already boiling over are being stirred even more.  Many white people have declared reverse racism due to affirmative action and feel that ending it will help the state move past racism.

State officials say even if the proposal passes, it won't have an impact on any state hiring or bidding practices, although it could eliminate some scholarships at state universities.

The prevailing stereotypes place obstacle after obstacle in the way of success.  One republican representative from Oklahoma raised a question regarding the high percentage of blacks in prison.  She said are they in prison just because they are black or because they don’t want to study as hard in school?  It is time to stop these stereotyping and labeling and offer encouragement to each student and teach each student.

The purpose of education is to prepare our children to succeed in life and without investing in their education, we continue to fail.

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

Freedom

Independence Day…Freedom…What a wonderful concept, what a wonderful feeling if only all could truly experience independence, if all could truly experience freedom.  The original thirteen colonies declared their independence from British rule, a resolution was adopted, and after much political debating, a conclusion was finally reached.

The Preamble is recited daily in many schools.  Just to refresh your memory, I quote the Preamble here:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

That is how it worked back in 1776 and today we stand on the constitution as the stepping-stone to every man, woman, and child’s, basic human rights.

In a nutshell this says that the court system will be fair, there will be peace, safety, needs will be met, rights of freedom will be supported and when infringed upon, will be remedied, and of course all of this applies to not only us, but our children, children’s children, and so on.

Now we have, for example, the right to bear arms, the right to free speech, and so much more but I ask, hasn’t some of the “rights” been taken too far and turned into “wrongs?”  Crime rates are way up.  Chicago just recently reported 250 homicides in 2012 and that number is increasing.  Chicago is compared to New York who has reported a declining homicide rate of 193. (Chicago is one-third the size of New York).  This is just one example; however, there are reports of many big cities seeing a reduction in the murder rate.  However, on the other hand many cities are fighting to restore order to the communities and neighborhoods.

Many issues plague our nation and threaten every fiber of The Preamble quoted earlier.  There are still numerous Trayvon Martins out there still seeking justice.  The numbers of missing and exploited children is astronomical.  The numbers of black children in this category are astounding, although based on the news reports you may not think so.

Let’s bring this in a little closer to home and I refer back to the scaffolding analogy.  Some may use the scaffolding as the protective barrier to keep the outside world…well outside.  Take the scaffolding down; take a peek at the outside world so that you can see what is really going on.  Too many people live behind the scaffolding because they have been robbed of their freedom and independence.  Guns, violence, murder, etc does not have to be the order of the day.  The order of the day must be peace and a feeling of safety in the home, church, school, community.  The order of the day must be meeting the needs of our fellow Americans, starting again at home and then permeating out into the church, school, community, and beyond.

Remain aware and vigilant to restore and maintain peace, freedom, and independence starting in your own corner of the world then implement that change beyond your scaffolding.

How will you celebrate your Independence today?  I welcome your input.

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

Procrastination Revisited

So here I am after a rather lengthy hiatus.  Life has continued to happen and it has happened at breakneck speed.

Isn’t it interesting that the last blog I wrote was titled Procrastination?  Waiting…Procrastinating…for me has created a backlog of words.  I start by continuing my thoughts on procrastination.

We all procrastinate sometimes and that is not a bad thing.  A lifestyle of procrastination of allowing distractions to overtake your goals is however not healthy.

Procrastination can lead to feelings of inadequacy and ineptness.  However, I say you can and you must purpose and plan to do what is in your heart to do.  Tap into every resource within yourself, combine it with faith to believe, and then do it; bring on the corresponding action and procrastination is defeated.

The initial step is often the hardest, but I encourage you to forge ahead, take that first step, that leap of faith into that project, task, or goal you have been longing to do.  It is even healthier for you.  Procrastination brings on feelings of defeat, which can lead to depression.  Stepping out on faith brings on feelings of confidence, which leads to conquering the next step and the next step, and then your whole countenance is lifted.

You will be happier, you will know it, and your face will surely show it!

Be careful not to allow being busy accomplishing things that are important to interfere with actually accomplishing what gives you the most sense of satisfaction.  This requires a plan, a goal, and determination to get through the busy things in life that need to be done and then set aside the time to do what you have been putting off.

Don’t waste another moment...get off your do-nothing and do something!

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

Procrastination...

Why wait?

Why procrastinate?

Why is it that sometimes the very thing you desire to do does not get done?  Is it because tomorrow the sun will shine brighter?  Tomorrow I will have more money in the bank.  Tomorrow the kids will be out of school.  Tomorrow my health will be better.  Tomorrow I will be more focused and get it accomplished.

Who promised you tomorrow?

Whether the sun shines or it is pouring down rain, whether recession or economic growth, whatever the circumstance or hindrance, it is time to rip down the scaffolding of procrastination and indecision.  Reach for the stars and pursue your dream.

There are often real circumstances that hinder our progress.  On the other hand, there are factors such as fear of failure and yes-even fear that this may be a success.  Sometimes we put off our dream due to feeling it is not important enough or we question our ability to successfully accomplish this goal.

Sometimes there is just no motivation.  Sometimes you may feel you need someone pushing you along and cheering your success.  This flows over to a lack of confidence.  We often question our thoughts, motives, and plans and wonder if it is such a good idea.  Can I actually do this?

Yes, you can.

This just scratches the surface of why we procrastinate.

The bottom line is (if I may borrow Nike’s phrase) just do it!  Do not spend time in a personal debate of whether to do it or not.  Do not spend time in a personal debate on whether you can or not.  If it is your dream, your hope, your desire to accomplish that thing, then start the steps now to get it done.

Do not let the plot they bury you in be the one overflowing with the unfulfilled wishes, hopes, and dreams.

Thanks for reading.  I welcome your input…

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown