Welcome to the New Year!

If you’re reading this, you’ve made it with me into another year, the year of 2018.  Congratulations!  The number 8 represents new beginnings and I believe that also translates into regeneration and rejuvenation.  No one will dispute the challenges and pitfalls of 2017 but now that we are in 2018, let us make every effort to grow from what is now behind us.  There has been strife, contention, and unrest but there is also grace, kindness, and peace.

Number 8 in the Bible signifies new beginnings.  In Genesis chapter 8, Noah and his wife, his 3 sons his sons 3 wives, 8 people, stepped off the Ark to begin a new life in a new world.

In John chapter 20, doubting Thomas came to believe in Christ exactly 8 days after Jesus first appeared to the Apostles. It was the beginning of new life for Thomas!

John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

In Philippians 4:8, finally, brethren, 1. whatsoever things are true, 2. whatsoever things are honest, 3. whatsoever things are just, 4. whatsoever things are pure, 5. whatsoever things are lovely, 6. whatsoever things are of good report; 7. if there be any virtue, 8. and if there be any praise, think on these things.

As we start this year, let us work hard to not let the bad overshadow the good.  I have 8 suggestions for you:

1. Make your bed every day.
2. Spend more time in the real world than in the virtual world.
3. Do a self-examination; find out what’s missing from your life.
4. Exercise your faith, pray and read your Bible.
5. Don’t engage with negative thoughts or negative people.
6. Open your mind and heart to learn and receive wisdom and education.
7. 365 days lie ahead of you, write the most beautiful chapter of your life.
8. Break through the scaffolding of anything or anyone that holds you back.  Your gift is needed, share it.

I encourage you to look around, take a moment to reflect on the love, the joy, and the faith that has brought you through and I pray will continue to keep you.

Peace,

SharB~TTSD

Suppose I Just Don't Want to Vote?

If you don’t vote…

You are simply going along with whatever and whoever is in place.

You are not part of the voice of change so desperately needed.

You can't complain about the current political climate.

When the system that is in place does not work, it is time to revise it.  It is through our unity and solidarity that change is made.

Change through unity and solidarity, change through your voice, change through your stance, change as you kneel, change through your actions can be realized IF we work together and if we get to the polls EVERY time.

Voter suppression is a major issue for Democrats and the only way we can fight THIS injustice is to band together, support each, make sure we get to the polls and vote and help someone else get to the polls too!

Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.

--Benjamin Franklin

“Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.” 

--Abraham Lincoln

If you want to see change, you must be the change you want to be.  Former President Barack Obama penned a book titled; We Are the Change We Seek. “We have to choose between change and more of the same. We have to choose between looking backward and looking forward. We have to choose between our future and our past.”

--Barack Obama

Your vote is the difference between change and the same old stuff.

Your voice is critical today and in the days ahead as we fight to restore, regain, and establish the equality, the justice, the healthcare, the economic fairness, the safe environment, and so much more that we deserve.

In spite of the obstacles in place to block our vote, we must exercise our right and go vote.

Won’t you join me at the polls and vote to make a change?

SharB~TTSD

#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

Just to Encourage you...

Certainly, we have all faced hurt, rejection, and disappointment in our lives. Throughout life we experience triumphs and failures. Perhaps you are even in the midst of a situation now, which seems too heavy to bear, but be assured this storm will pass over. Your reaction to the storm and your response during it are instrumental to the overall outcome. Seek wisdom while determining the best course of action.  Wisdom says take a moment, ponder the circumstances, and make a decision today that will be good tomorrow. I’ve heard it said, “Don’t let today’s reaction become tomorrow’s regret.”

If you are hurt, face the hurt and acknowledge it and although feelings of wanting to seek revenge may well up, pause and remind yourself at that very moment whose you are. Dig deep into that center of your spiritual being and seek the strength, wisdom, and courage for what faces you.

Feel weak?  God is your strength.

Feel unable? God is your ability.

Feel confused?  God is your confidence.

Feel tired?  God is your rejuvenation.

Perhaps you have hurts, rejections, or disappointments lingering from the past. To you I say, ask God for the strength to tear down the walls, open the windows, and clean out the past.  Refuse to allow hurt and pain to dwell in you, rather allow joy and peace to flood in again. I have learned that it is through faith in God that the storms of life are bearable.  I have learned that by faith that mountain will move. I have learned that by faith, after every storm there is a rainbow to remind you of God’s faithfulness to his promises.

I hope this brief message has encouraged you and given your faith a boost.

Peace,

SharB~TTSD

That Mountain

When exercising your faith, when spending time with the Lord, part of that time typically involves studying the Bible. The Bible is filled with scriptures and God’s promises that easily apply to your daily walk. One particular promise I really grabbed hold to when this mountain of a situation presented itself.

Lord, by faith I’m asking you to move this mountain. Then I recalled an old Baptist hymn that says, “Lord don’t move this mountain; give me the strength to climb it.” Hmm...I even recalled hearing, “Lord, if you don’t move this mountain, help me to tunnel through.” Hmm...I prayed and cried.  I cried and prayed.

So here I am, mustering up as much faith as I possibly can and I said ok God, so about that mountain. In my finite mind it seemed inevitable that it wasn’t going anywhere so as I prayed, I said, “Lord, if you don’t move this mountain, give me all the tools…no scratch that, give me everything I need to build a house right on this mountain. My finite mind said yes that is the answer-if that mountain won’t move, we just have to use it!

Now fast forward to the answer.

1.  I didn’t climb the mountain.

2.  I didn’t tunnel through the mountain.

3.  I sure didn’t build a house on that mountain.

That still small voice spoke to me and said what exactly was that scripture you started out your prayers with? I opened my Bible to Mark 11:23 and read, “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”

The mountain would do what? It would be removed.

Oh, so you won’t be building that house on the mountain?

No, Lord, I won’t. Thank you for moving that mountain.

Mic drop.

Peace,

SharB~TTSD

Hope Remains

Time is ongoing and with time comes change, which is apparent now more than ever.  Until the time comes when we cease to exist, we ought to strive to live our best life focusing on the long term and on the celebration of life.  Although discouragement comes through the chaos of this world, the multiple injustices, the prejudices, and the corruption plaguing our social systems and healthcare, and is enough to break us and shake us to our core, we must remain steadfast, remain committed to fighting, resisting, and standing for what is right.

Back to the title of my blog, Take the Scaffolding Down, the purpose of scaffolding is to provide a temporary supporting structure, and if taken down too soon, the safety of the structure is severely compromised. Speaking metaphorically the stability of the scaffolding in our lives is falling down for many. I refer back to our healthcare system which is relied upon by millions to be available, accessible, and affordable; however, those reassurances that we have come to rely upon are quickly falling apart.  Part of the 492 false claims (lies) made by the current United States president during his first 100 days is that no one would lose health care and there would be no cuts to Medicaid.  The current healthcare proposal threatens to cut Medicaid spending by 35% by 2035 affecting our most vulnerable population.

The fragility of so many American citizens emphasizes the need to fight on, to march on, and to stand for truth and equality.  One thing is sure, Truth does not change, Truth remains stable through and through. While we fight, we must hold on to faith and not allow our faith to be tied to circumstances.  Circumstances are unpredictable and ever-changing but I admonish you to persevere in your faith as a family, as a community, and as a nation.

Don’t ever lose hope.

Through these times of uncertainty remember that all you have worked hard for and continue working hard for is not in vain. Won’t you trust and believe with me that the promise God made to Israel can be our promise today, His plans are to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future, (Jeremiah 29:11) paraphrased.

This is what must propel you to keep on striving.

Peace,

SharB~TTSD

Mental Health Awareness Month

As we approach May, I draw your attention to May being Mental Health Awareness Month.  What do you think of when you hear the term “mental illness?”  Do you think it is only people you see who you think have an obvious mental illness?  Do you think of only certain classes of illness or what you see in the movies?  Do you think it certainly can’t be me?  Do you think that certainly a person of faith will not have a mental illness?  This is just the surface of the stereotypes and stigma that goes along with mental illness.  It is often hard to acknowledge that help is needed, but that is the first and critical step on the road to recovery.

There are many reports of arrests and mistreatment of those who have called for help due to an exacerbation of symptoms of mental illness and the end result is prison or death.  The criminalization of the mentally ill must stop.

Many members of society charged with a crime suffer from mental illness and in spite of the views of many members of society, the United States Constitution states people charged with a crime, whether a minor offense or a major criminal act must still be afforded their basic human rights. According to the American Civil Liberties Union those rights include:

• The right to adequate medical and mental health care,
• The right to informed consent to treatment
• The right to have regular and timely access to medical and mental health staff that is culturally competent and qualified to provide adequate treatment and supervision.
• The right to be free from corporal punishment, chemical restraints, and sexual abuse or coercion.
• The right to an individualized written treatment plan periodically reviewed and revised based on the prisoner’s needs

Far too many prisoners are held in deplorable conditions and treated less than human.

For mental health treatment to be successful within the prison population these and all other rights must be adhered to, decriminalization of mental health must continue to be advocated for.  Prison diversion programs are designed to prevent the incarceration of mentally ill offenders and to promote their transition into an appropriate community-based treatment.  Here the limitations of public policy and legislative actions hinder diversion programs’ success.

Realizing the availability of mental health services in correctional facilities is limited; community advocates continue to seek funding opportunities to build mental health facilities staffed with trained professionals.  For example, the Greater Cleveland Congregations (GCC) has called for a true Community Benefits Agreement with the Q Arena Expansion and part of that proposal calls for (1) a Community Equity Fund for distressed neighborhoods for jobs, youth and capital projects (2) two Mental Health Substance Abuse Crisis Centers on the CLE East and West Side (3) $35M Philanthropic Investment from Rock Ventures CEO and Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert to initially capitalize the fund and initiate the mental health and substance abuse crisis center projects

We continue to fight to eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness, we continue the fight to ensure our communities are equipped with mental health professionals and facilities, we continue the fight to ensure our police force is properly trained in dealing with mental illness.

More people are finding the courage and bravery to come forward and acknowledge that they have a mental health problem; as a result they are often met with the stigma of discrimination and stereotypes whereas it should be met with hope, encouragement, and support.  I urge you during the month of May for Mental Health Awareness Month, to be observant, be accepting, to be an advocate.    

If you know someone with a mental health problem or if you know that it is you in need of a mental health professional, tear down the scaffolding of the shame, fear, and stereotypes and seek the help that is needed.  A few online resources are listed here for you.

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may

https://www.nami.org/Find-Support

https://www.samhsa.gov/

Peace,

SharB~TTSD

The Red Dress

Red Dress #1

Yes, the Red Dress, a mainstay as important to me as breathing, has continued to evolve symbolically throughout my life.  Red has always been my favorite color and it seems there is always a Red Dress in my wardrobe.  As my relationship with my husband grew, the Red Dress became a symbol of our love beginning in December of 1986 when I wore the Red Dress my husband had recently purchased to his military function. Ahhh...the memories...we were a stunning couple that day. September 1987 our daughter was born.

Red Dress#2

Go Red for Women is a social initiative implemented to raise awareness and empower women to strive to be heart healthy.  In 2003, the Red Dress became the symbol for women to raise awareness and dispel the myths that heart disease is an old man disease.  In fact, heart disease and stroke is the number one killer of women, claiming nearly 500,000 American women each year.

Losing my mother to heart disease in 1983 started me on a lifelong journey of heart health awareness.  That journey; however, took a drastic turn on November 8, 2016 when I was diagnosed with coronary artery disease, thus giving the Red Dress even more significant meaning in my life.

The Red Dress not only symbolizes love but it now symbolizes the criticality of my own heart health and I now strive even harder to share the love, to guard and protect my heart, and make healthy heart choices.  I admonish you to do the same. 

I hope that by sharing this brief account of the Red Dresses in my life, you are encouraged to 'tear down the scaffolding' of life, love and of the myths and misconceptions of women’s heart health.  Live your life to the fullest, love deeply, and be heart healthy.

SharB~TTSD