DAY 2: on my "QUIT"

"I refuse to accept the idea that the 'is'-ness of man's present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the 'ought'-ness that forever confronts him."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

let freedom ring

...an unattractive poem for an unattractive situation

i'm one of those...

black power sistahs....
all-about-liberation-so-let-freedom-ring sistahs
a nobody-owns-me-or-tells-me-what-to-do kind of sistah

i refuse to be used by "the man"
or be considered a slave by society....
but i find that i'm a slave
to this stubby white thang....
and would even hurt somebody
if they interfered with my master and me

come between me and my fragile fag
and i will insult you,
threaten you,
and out of my way I will forcefully push you
i will stand outside in the freezing cold
looking like a crack head
toking their first hit for the day....
i will rummage the closet
for change in pants pockets
to come up with the price
that could cost me my life...

no man
no boss
NOR my own mama
can usurp my authority
and still i will pucker up and suck the breath
out of my stubby
white,
power hungry,
addictive laden,
make a nation admit to cravin'
paper and tobacco creation.
.
..
...
just past me that cigarette
before i choke you.
----------------------------------------

I am so thankful that "Spirit" is with me thru this journey!

DAY 1: I'm NOT Going to Smoke TODAY because...

"Circumstances are the rulers of the weak; they are but the instruments of the wise."

- Samuel Lover

Let the HEALING begin!

First read, "HeRe CoMeS tHe JuDgE"

Then read, "scales oF JUSTICE"

The Judgmental gene is not yet gone. But, I am aware of its existence and I make consistent efforts to rid myself of this flaw in my personality and my spirit. When I look at J, I don’t see a tragic disaster of motherhood. I see a mother overwhelmed with grief. Her daughter has not left her; but, the daughter she anticipated will not ‘be’. It’s a true loss when compared to the natural expectations and wishes of any mother. Because of the overwhelming nature of it all, there SEEMS to be a level of denial as well. Choices made by J are not thoughtless, but based on the thoughtfulness of another situation and set of circumstances…. circumstances that involve a ‘typical’ child.

My interactions with J are based my support of her efforts to effectively parent her child. I actually do what I can to help J to manage SiSi’s behavior. I listen more and appreciate her efforts to a greater degree than ever before. I don’t just sit back and pity her; I work with her and act as a liaison between her and her fears. Not only have I extended my help to her, but I have made her feel comfortable about telling me when she needs me to step out of a situation to give her the opportunity to work out the situation.

I am not being helpful in order to work my way back into the good graces of the Creator; I am not trying to earn browny points with my peers. What is done is done. I can’t earn self-righteousness with good deeds. I am simply responding to my true realization that J’s situation did not deserve to be judged by me and was given (what I believe to be) a poor judgment at that. I am only behaving as I always should have because I know it’s the right thing to do.

I am very conscious of the fact that an explanation was never something to which I was ever truly entitled. Suppose, she never revealed the truth regarding to her fear and inability in dealing with SiSi’s discipline? Would I have made this realization of my judgmental-ness? Probably not. Would judging her have been any less wrong? No. But I have already begun scripting for the appropriate response for me in any situation where I find myself tempted to allow a judgment to run through my mind or across my lips. My one and only concern should be nothing more than, “I hope they are comfortable in their circumstances.” Or, “I wonder what circumstances allowed (whomever) to feel this way… or be that way.”

There was only one missing piece of the puzzle that changed my whole perception of the big picture. I made the mistake of allowing my brain to make assumptions that distorted the picture. I allowed my ego to size it up and put the puzzle piece in place. It was my own imperfection that allowed the flaw to take root and grow.

What I DID find interesting is that the whole relationship with J changed when I alone changed. The rewarding part of it is that SHE changed once I changed. The effort has been reciprocated. That is the icing on the cake… but I was not basing my change on any offer for desert at all. She is more open and receptive. Rather than see me as a threat – as someone who is trying to take over her daughter, she sees me as someone who is trying to help her get closer to her daughter.

Yeah, yeah… there are still some challenges that exist where J & I are concerned. And these challenges are not based on my thoughts on a matter, but on things that I have actually heard J admit about herself. But I still don’t feel a need to judge her. I simply make a decision whether or not I want to be a participant in other aspects of J’s life and J’s decision making consequences or rewards. There is nothing there for me to like or dislike because it only has an affect on me if I decide for myself to be involved.

Since this defining moment has occurred, I have seen my judgments magnified in other situations and it is amazing how it kind of blazes like a mirror reflecting the sun. My past attitudes were such a waste of energy and effort… not to mention that it set me back spiritually. A spiritual set-back is not a method of staying on one's spiritual path.

I have already accepted change.

the scales oF JUSTICE!

Justice, as our society recognizes it, is symbolized by the Scales of Justice or Lady Justice. Lady Justice, or "Justicia", is most often depicted with a set of weighing scales suspended from her left hand. Justicia is a Greek Goddess of mythology. Supposedly she measures the strengths of a case's support and opposition; hence, the symbolic scale. She is also often seen carrying a double-edged sword in her right hand which symbolizes the power of Reason and Justice, which may be wielded either for or against any party. Sometimes she is seen wearing a blind-fold which represents her blind impartiality regardless to fear or favor, wealth or poverty, or weakness or strength.

THIS manner of Justice is one to which I am accustomed and accomplished. But this manner of Justice is one that is spiritually debilitating to me.

The manner of Justice that I focus on today, is a part of KARMIC teaching. With the Creator as the judge, the scales will ALWAYS be balanced... but based on what? Well, if I am judged, I will be judged by others. ... and their judgements against me or for me WILL count because I have qualified myself for this opportunity and evaluaton. If I judge harshly, the opposite side of the scale will cause me to be judged me harshly. If I choose not to judge, but assign myself to humility and respect, I will be like-wise compensated for my expenditure of an act of love. In other words, I set the rules for judgement.

If you have not read Part 1 of my Judgement series, please do. 'HeRe CoMeS tHe JuDgE !' shares the life experience that brings about my ephiany and direction to bring judgement to another level.

Yep! You heard me. I am keeping my judgmentalness, but I am going to graduate it for better use. I was born with this power. I am just going to train myself to use it for 'good' instead of 'evil' - figuratively speaking. Spiritually speaking, I am going to use my powers in bringing judgment upon a person in a way that improves that person instead of destroying that person.

I know this sounds a bit "high and mighty", but it is more humbling and more helpful than you may think.

I read something that another author put before supposition:

If one considers it a sin to judge another, does that philosophy itself bring about judgement to the judger? If I exclaim that something isn't "fair", am I passing judgement on this "thing"? So, carefully, I begin to dissect the many ways in which I'd maintained my judgmentalness even while considering myself not standing in judgment of anyone.

Here are MY steps to control this behavior that is not like that of the woman I aspire to be:

1. RESPECT OTHERS DIFFERENCES. When I say to myself that I respect everyone's beliefs even if they are not my own, I must be careful to note that the differences do not eliminate the truth of their belief, but I can JUDGE for myself whether their truth is good for me or resonates with me as a personal understanding and state of existance. Peace comes when I say that I see this thing or that thing as being a truth that I don't embrace for myself. It is not for me on the path that I am on in this life. But it IS true for you. I say this to myself of course... for myself... because my saying it to any other person is not necessary for it to be valid for them. It is true for them whether I have this understanding or not.

2. NEVER ASSUME. When witnessing someone else's circumstances, I am not guarenteed to have all the facts to judge THEM. I can only observe, with the rights to speak on my observations. If I have not cleansed my understanding of the fine line between speaking on my personal convictions of a circumstance and judging that person... I should just shut up! With J (referenced in Part 1), I can speak on the fact that she didn't participate in behavioral control of Si. This is a fact. But to assume that it is "because of" ANY reason, is judgmental.

3. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME. Someone else's behavior is their own life lesson to have. If she didn't tell me why she was unparticipative, that is her business and privilege. I must still refrain from coming to a judgment on the situation. I may never know the motives that drive another to perform a certain way.

4. USE "RIGHT JUDGMENT". The bible is not my only source of spiritual understanding, but it is a source that has some familiarity to most people... so, I use it.

- “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment” (John 7:24).
- If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom. 12:18)
- They should live “peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Tim. 2:2)
- Ephesians 4:15 refers to—”speaking the truth in love.”


In summary, to use Right Judgement, would mean to not judge a book by it's cover, live in peace with EVERYONE, live a peaceful and quiet life (living without drama and chaos) in all godliness and holiness... (live according to your understood spiritual purpose or path) and speak truth in love.

5. JUDGE YOURSELF. Harshly judge only yourself. If you have a conflicting situation or have a conflict with a person - judge yourself by your reaction to whatever is going on. When I examine/judge myself, the reflection in the mirror appears more clear and I can fix or enhance what I see about myself!

Whenever I have had a conflict and I am at the height of my agitation and anger, my sister-friend, Temple, ALWAYS says to me, "Ask yourself, why you have chosen to have this experience?" The first time she told me to do this, I was pissed! CHOOSE THIS EXPERIENCE, indeed! I didn't hardly choose to be miserable and unhappy. Like I chose to have been in emotionally and abusive relationships... or have to deal with selfish, idiotic people who didn't have a clue! ehem. That is what i thought and said to her. Her only counter was, "Why did you choose to share experiences with the type of people you are describing?" No, she wasn't calling them idiots, but by my own description... with my own experiences.... dealings with these folks were on me!

We are all born into lives that are laden with the choices that we have made to have the type of human experiences that bring us the understandings and healing that we need to make us more like the Creator to whom we are all connected and of whom we are made up. This is true for your mother, your friend, your nemesis, your attacker, your children... the list goes on. This is MY belief and she rocked me at the core of that belief with her question. I could have slapped her - but she'd have slapped me back, you think? (smile)

So, to this day, I continuously ask myself, in regards to J and SiSi and even her father, my husband... everybody & everything..."Why have I CHOSEN to have THIS experience?" Surely, there is a reason. It's not about them; it's about changing something about myself... to become more "me"...to become a more spiritual being.

So let me judge not, that I be not judged. Let me examine myself and speak the truth in love, compassion, and understanding. Let me not present myself as the "last word" on someone else's circumstances and let me go on unto perfection!

My healing has not yet come into play just by this recognition of new laws for judgment in my life. I will apply what I've learned without any expectation of compensation from another. And if I DO receive a form of compensation or recognition, I will not become haughty with self-importance - but even more humbled that the Creator has allowed me to become a participant in his teachings in someone else's life. I will be appreciative that the Creator finds me open to receive the teachings that I need to stay on MY own path.

I acknowledge that my previous vision of my self should be ammended and be replaced by a NEW vision; a RE-vision so-to-speak.

The Scales of Justice will now be used to balance the weight of MY essence and not someone else's.

------------------------------------

PART 2 of 3.

Part 1 - HeRe CoMeS tHe JuDgE !

Part 3 - Let The Healing Begin. (coming soon)

HeRe cOmEs ThE jUdGe !

I have made a horrible RE-discovery of myself.

First, let me give you a little bit of background.

For 7 years I have shared a challenging relationship with my daughter’s biological mother. I am not describing my daughter’s mother this way to signify anything about her relationship with her daughter. I am describing myself to signify MY relationship with her daughter. We both love her. But, we both have different experiences with SiSi. Because my experience with her seems to demonstrate more control over SiSi and SiSi tends to be attentive to me more-so than her own mother (we’ll call her “J”), I found myself in a place of judgment … again. Yes, this is a roller coaster ride that I’m on. I judge J and then I chide myself for this and try to work thru my issues with J’s lack of participation… then I would find myself judging her all over again.

It seemed to me that even when we were in the same company, SiSi, who is autistic and has behavioral challenges, can make anyone present a potential focus and victim to her tantrums, was left for me to govern. J would back off or just sit there and I was the one who would manage and control the activities that would quiet SiSi.

I found her guilty of being slack.
I judged her as trifling.
I sought maximum penalty for J not WANTING to take care of her own child. I once told her that I would gladly take custody of SiSi and she could be free! I judged her for having the nerve to be angry with my suggestion.

~yeah! al-righty, then...

I just judged her… again and again.

Judgment is a form of prejudice. It’s when you form an opinion of something or someone without having all of the pertinent information.

So, let me get to the meat of this blog. This IS NOT a "bash J" blog. It’s an eye-opener for me and it leads me to a place to improve and heal MYSELF.

This past Saturday, J busted her ass to provide a children’s type birthday party for SiSi. She had not had a party of this sort since she was a baby. Normally, her father and I would provide her with a meal including her favorite food… chicken. We’d have loads of balloons and we would invite her mother and brother over to share in the celebration. We’d cut the cake, open some presents, talk loud with much animation, and call it a night. But J wanted to throw her baby a party.

She had her apartment nicely decorated… with 2 bowls of snacks on the table. Children’s music (not grown up music) was blasting from her stereo. Streamers. She invited guests.

I was impressed and angry at the same time. Impressed with the effort and care with which she decorated and planned. Angry because the snacks on the table were not on the diet that I THOUGHT she agreed to support. Trust me, I am judging the hell out of her for that.

Then I saw the people coming in. I saw a child running in and out of the house. The mother of the child just sat back and talked on the cell phone. J didn’t say a word. I got up and stood by the door because SOMEBODY had to be a “po-lice”! There were very small children present and SiSi does NOT tolerate too many small children. Why are all of these people here? Why am I hearing that she’d invited other co-workers with small children… but FORTUNATELY were unable to make it. THIS is truly NOT SiSi’s scene! There are too many people. Too much noise. Too much activity. She is AUTISTIC! Duh!

Yeah. I went there. Only in my mind, but, I went there.

I “made nice” tempered SiSi through 3 tantrums and then snuck out of the apartment because she had been saying, “Car please. Shoe please. Car please,” for the past hour.

My husband and I get home. Sit in the van for 30 minutes (until it sounds like SiSi is STARTING to calm down - we'd been checking by phone). We go upstairs, lighten the load of our clothes, and get into bed to take a nap. The whole while we are discussing SiSi's obvious displeasure at being left behind. Does this say something about her mother? I don’t think so. No judgment there. But, it does speak to SiSi being spoiled and knowing that she can bully her mother into giving SiSi her way.

Sure enough. I pull the covers up and the fricken phone rings. It’s just what I thought, but then again “NOT”. J was saying that she needed us to pick up SiSi. There is a tirade of screaming going on in the background and it’s obvious that J has been crying for a while. She admits that she can’t do it. She can’t manage SiSi.

Obviously we go and pick up Si from her Mom’s house. There was so much pain in J’s eyes. She sat on the bed and just shook her head and cried… “I can’t do it”. I gave her a hug and a kiss on the forehead. I felt her in a way I never had before. Sure, there will be some times when J pisses me off again about something else… but THIS situation would be off limits to my need to express my “piss-ti-vi-ty”. Speaking with her closest friend later (she has become a friend of mine, too – I’ll call her Lena), Lena told me more of the conversation she’d had with J. J admitted to feeling guilty about SiSi’s autism. So guilty that she could not get tough with her, strongly discipline her, give her boundaries. She was in denial about having an autistic child…. One day SiSi wouldn’t be “like that” and everything would be OK. Hence, the invitation to loads of people who could in no way understand the severity of SiSi’s mood swings, because her Mom wasn’t making truthful admissions to herself or anyone else.

She could not face the fact that her daughter’s father had to be the custodial parent… had to be. Nor that a woman who came in to the scene later was able to do what she couldn’t do. There was no animosity spoken about me per se, but the comparison of ability would always be present.

Humility is a great healing power. That doesn’t mean feeling sorry for J for her hurt feelings. It means being humbled by the truth of what really made J seem uninterested in taking care of her daughter. She felt ill-equipped to do the job. She was afraid that being forceful with Si would make Si not love her. She really CAN’T do "it". And she really WANTS to do "it".

And I felt like an ass. Nope. I’m not gonna have a “beat-down-shYne-party”. That would draw attention to myself in a way that would make me seem like I needed pity and empathy and support in seeing myself as an OK person. I will pay attention to myself and address MY issue.

I did not have all of the facts when I judged J as trifling.

I am prejudiced.
I AM judgmental.

Ilk! (That admission put a nasty taste in my mouth.)

Part 1 of 3

Part 2 - The Scales of Justice. (coming soon)

Part 3 - Let the Healing Begin! (coming soon)

I am Athena.

The doctor gives one last command. “Push! There you go…” The mother, father, and other birth delivery attendees are witness to a little bit of hustle and bustle.

Slap!

“It’s a girl!”, the doctor proclaims. Just like that a little girl, who will grow up to become a woman, has been exposed as ‘one with powers’ extraordinaire!

But do we use our powers for good or evil... so-to-speak.

You, who have been given the exclusive rights of power as a woman, are blessed with a goddess energy. Maybe even a combination of goddess energies.

Goddess Energy… the study of it and the full understanding of it are not really my forte, but truth resonates within me when I read or hear about goddess archetypes and I can see that they are very descriptive of attributes (both beneficial and debilitating) of women that I know.

I can, if I want to, summarize what has already been written. But, this is a case that I don’t have a personal experience to give this the relevancy that is due to it. I will provide a link to a site that I found and let you study it for yourself if you are interested.

What I will contribute to this blog entry is some self-work that I am doing of myself. I will take a look at some of the archetypes and discover one I feel best describe me. I can actually see a little of me in several goddess archetypes, but there is one that stands out the most.

I won’t go into full detail about the origination, childhood characteristics, adult characteristics and list of experiences that this goddess has reportedly had, but I will offer some comparison to the goddess most like me… the goddess most like Sheila, as shYne, as Mom, as Wife, and as Friend. These are only some of the personal relationship roles that I have been assigned in this lifetime. I am going to journey towards discovery of the goddess energy that best describe how I behave and how I see myself in these roles.

Look into my heart as I look into the mirror.


I feel most like Athena. I am extroverted and independent when I am an artist, when I am called upon to give advice as a counselor, and when I work. Sometimes I am so focused on a task, whether it be a presentation, or whether it be in “fixing” something or someone, I alienate others with by being or appearing judgmental. I so desire to prescribe a treatment that I give a diagnosis which is really a judgment. I desire and work towards freedom and enlightenment for diverse cultures and women. I will use the arts, dabble in politics, bathe in sociology, and now I have encountered and begun to study humanitarianism.

I don’t feel that I am particularly close to my mother and I have not learned a lot about womanhood as I feel and experience it from her. I do, however, feel a different kind of connection. Of course, as I get older and experience more, I am continually feeling closer and more connected to my mother.

I want to know a lot about the things that have meaning to me or that have become a part of my life. I will research on the internet, watch relative programs on TV and order books related to my interests and life dealings from Amazon.com.

I am a fighter. I am a survivor. I am an ambassador of the things which I’ve learned.

I am creative in communication.

I have my share of masculine characteristics. I see myself as forceful, I see myself as strong, I see myself as a protector. I have a side that is not concerned with romance, but relationships of all types are important and are revered. I also use my more masculine charactersistics to cover up some of the soft mushiness that dwells within... as though I see it as a weakness.

Like Athena, my connection with that which is patriarchal, makes connections with that which is matriarchal a challenge. Also, authority is a challenge. Freedom and emancipation is a strong part of who shYne is as a woman.

As a mother, I am endeared to the small baby, but the young child years are trying and sometimes burdensome to a degree that has made me feel incapable of providing the level of nurturing that is needed. I tend to enjoy my children more as the mature and become adults. I like having conversations with them and seeing where they are as young adults.

As a wife, I am close, yet distant at the same time. I will always protect myself… protect my heart. I love my husband as a partner, but not so much as a “Provider of All Things” to me. I have to be able to provide for myself in order to be happy.

As a friend, I am dedicated to a fault. The fault is that I am a “fixer”, which can at times be the “controller”. Abstaining from this behavior takes great effort. But the effort is worth it because when my friends are in need they feel freer to lean on me if necessary. My friends are those that I share common causes. Sine their cause is my cause, I will work for them as I work for myself.


Athena’s dark side: Medusa - intimidating, critical, judgmental toward weakness in others, her air of authority and inapproachability keep others at an emotional distance.

Athena’s wound: Her heart -- out of touch with the two goddesses of love: Demeter, the maternal love, and Aphrodite, sensual love - Her masculine image concealing her vulnerable, underdeveloped inner feminine self--She is emotionally hypersensitive.

Athena’s gift: Today, is to empower women’s contribute to the political, intellectual and creative life of our cities, therefore, elevating the integrity and quality of our civilization by bringing forth the qualities of the feminine which have long been suppressed

I have Athena energy.

With whom do you share the most in common in regards to energy?

http://goddess-power.com/index.htm

Age Before Beauty

Dedicated to TheActress.

shYne

Many people feel that once we’ve reached a certain age there are personal accomplishments that we should have made. If not, we are past our prime… we’ve missed the boat…

But I've got to tell you, "Age ain’t nothing but a number!"
.
It is important for all of us who want to truly “live” for the duration of this lifetime with continued success and opportunities for success – to make a decision about the reality of AGE. Ask yourself, "Is it a clutch or a crutch?" Do you embrace your age, which brings experience and maturity, and wisdom… or do you use your age as an excuse for not trying to make your dreams and aspirations a reality.
.
Are you
..........past your
.....................prime?

--------------------------------

~Past Your Prime~
You know you're past your prime when,

if you brag about having an affair,

someone asks who catered it.
--------------------------------

Girl, It’s Prime Time!

I’m going to share with you a story of someone with whom we are all familiar. I am going to “tell the story” in a chronologically bulleted format so that the focus of my point will really come together...

1917 – Isabel Sanford was born

1930’s - Isabel is a teenager
Isaebel Sanford, a New York native always wanted to act. Because her mother didn’t find it a “realistic dream” for her no-long-hair-dark-skinned but attractive daughter, Sanford would sneak out of the house at night and perform in the local nightclubs. She only confessed to her nighttime activities after winning third place in an amateur contest at the Apollo Theatre. Still, she made her next step into the working world as a cleaning lady instead of an actress.

Around 1940 or so…
Sanford married, had three children and worked in the New York City welfare department as a keypunch operator. Her desire to act didn’t become a reality until she was in her late twenties when she joined the American Negro Theater.

1946 - Isabel is now 29
In 1946 Isabel made her stage debut.

1960 – Isabel is 43
She moved to Los Angeles in 1960 with the hopes of launching a movie career. Sanford acted in bit parts on TV shows such as "Bewitched" and "The Mod Squad," and had a semi-regular spot on "The Carol Burnett Show,"…

1967 – Isabel at 50
It was her performance in the 1965 Broadway production of "Amen Corner" that caught the eye of director Stanley Kramer. He cast her as the sassy, sharp-tongued maid playing opposite Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, in the 1967 film classic "Guess Who`s Coming to Dinner?"

1970 – Isabel is 53 years old
Three years later, TV producer Norman Lear hired Sandford to play the recurring role of Louise "Weezy" Mills Jefferson, Archie Bunker`s neighbor on the hit TV show "All in the Family."

1975 – Isabel is the tender age of 55
In 1975, the characters of Weezy and her husband George Jefferson (played by Sherman Hemsley) were given their own spin-off sitcom. "The Jeffersons," ran for 11 seasons.

1981 – 66 year old Isabel get’s her “due”.
Sanford won the Emmy for the Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 1981.

Sometime during all of this activity, Isabel was divorced – becoming a single mother of three children.

Although, we may have spotted Isabel Sanford here and there in “other people’s movies” and shows and broadway plays … as an extra or having a “bit” part, most of us consider THE JEFFERSONS her “ship that came in”. Honey, her name was in lights! This role is what put her in Ebony, Jet, and other media formats that graced our coffee tables, end tables, and kitchen tables when WE were growing up.

SHE WAS 53 YEARS OLD when she got this part.

AND for an actress, recognition for your work as an artist would be in the form of an Emmy Award and she was 61 before she got this recognition. Also a part of "her-story" is Isabel's ultimate recognition… she received her star on the Hollywood walk of fame when SHE WAS 86 YEARS OLD.

And in the SAME year - - - she died.

Now, I ask you… are YOU past your prime?

Isabelle was never past hers in regards to her dreams and aspirations. She continued to progress to the end. She was NOT a superstar at the age of 20 or 30 or even 40. But she craved those bright lights and stayed in them or around them as much as she could… even when she worked as a maid… even when she worked as a keypunch operator… even at the risk of getting a beaten by her Mama for sneaking out of the house… even when she was a divorcee raising her kids as a single parent…

Truly her journey in "age" came before the "beauty" of her success….

Or did her journey toward the success of her dreams

cause her to age beautifully?

I’ll take it either way!

----------------------------------------

Quick Success or Progressive Success

In the 80’s there were singing groups and bands that made BIG hits. They made a record with very little recording experience and history (and in some cases, talent) and it was truly a hit… they were known as ONE HIT WONDERS… you know… Anita Ward – “Ring My Bell”, Stacey Lattisaw recorded a few remakes that had her in the limelight for a minute, Amy Stewart remade “Knock On Wood”, Sarah Dash from LaBelle recorded “Sinner Man”. They would shake things up a bit and *poof* they were gone!

And then there are artists like Tina Turner, Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross.. there are too many songs to list for over too many years. They just got better... no, they GET better with age… but then they were on a creative path with a particular style that they were born with and refined thru the years… old or new… you know when it’s one of these aged genius’ that is singing…. It is THEIR OWN style.

And what about Apple or Dell? Apple brought this computer age in to the light… but Dell (and other such companies) is keeping the light burning. Apple made it big as a baby in the industry… actually giving birth to the industry… but they can’t touch the success of Dell today!

The interesting thing about the Apple and Dell comparison is that Apple “stumbled upon” success and Dell had to work to overcome the previous success level and exceed in order to become more successful; hence the pay-off is greater for it.

And for Golden Oldies like Nikki Giovanni and Maya Angelou... the world is truly an oyster! They are icons of their art!

Going back to the singers - the "get-it-quick artists" stumbled upon a successful tune (that may have been pre-recorded) and that’s all the wind they had. But the long timers are the artists who are having their songs re-made. Occasionally, you will find a singer who starts off on other people’s material and takes it to another level, like Luther Vandross. Remember “A House Is Not A Home”? Well that one was recorded by Dionne Warwick another long-time Diva of the music industry. But noone seemed to realize just how empty that house was until Luther used his artistic creativity to take a “done” song and bring it to where it has never been before. He put that empty home right back on the market and then he went on to his own level of perfection.

It doesn’t matter if you make it as a newcomer or as a matured dreamer… just don’t stop going until you achieve your goals – and make it.

But most importantly… ENJOY THE TRIP! I believe that Isabel enjoyed hers. I don’t think she would have changed the timing of her Hollywood Walk of Fame Star… how can a woman born in 1917 - aspiring to be an actress when working as a housekeeper - living the African-American-limited-opportunity-and-be-a-woman top that?

Exit stage right, I say!

...and no encore necessary!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

As a child, I enjoyed Christmas trees! I enjoyed decorating them, looking at them, smelling them (the "live" trees, that is), and I loved the anticipation and build-up of what was going to be under them on Christmas day.

But, as a young adult I began to question the relevance of the Christmas tree in respect to the birth of Christ. I mean, what is a Christmas tree REALLY about? During the brief time that I lived in government assisted apartments, I began to question the validity and righteousness of spending lots of money on a tree, decorations, and lights during a time that my sons and my peers children needed new coats for the winter. That was the first year I refused to put up a Christmas tree. I was lucky that I didn't have to look into the dissappointed eyes of my young children. They were going to my mother's house and she always made a grand event out of the Christmas tree tradition.

Chrismons™ are handmade Christmas tree ornaments of various Christian symbols. My mother makes her own Chrismons and take great pride in adorning her tree with these white, gold, and chrystal beaded beauties. I must admit, her tree does have an extraodinary aesthetic beauty... but what is it beautifying? What does it MEAN? From whence did this worship of a "tree tradition come?

How many people perpetuate this tradition as a must-have-meaningful symbol of Christmas and the celebration of one known to many as "Christ"... how many people have a clue? How many people continue the tree tradition because of the nastalgia of it all? Who want to bring to their children some of the experiences they had as children...? They pass the baton.

I know that some people have at least a clue, but most of these informed folks STILL continue the tradition in spite of the fact that they have become aware that the tree tradition is in direct contradiction with their spiritual/christian beliefs and upbringing.

Read the synopsis of the "Christmas Tree Story" that is written by another author. Then, study to show thyself approved... and rightly divide the word of truth for yourself. -- 2 Timothy 2:15

------------------------------------------------

The Story Of Nimrod, As It Relates To Christmas And Easter
Wilhelm J Wolfaardt

Nimrod, the grandson of Noah, became the first king known as Sargon I. He built Babylon and Nineveh. Being warlike, he wore a type of helmet with a horn in the front; a trait inherited by the druid Vikings of the Celts, descendants of the Assyrian line.

.
Nimrod means "tyrant". He led the Sumerians of Babylon to pay tribute to the skies (sun, moon, stars, and planets) with the sacrifice of their children. The Tower of Babel was built for this purpose, echoed in other cultures such as the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas. Since the head of this government was such an idolatrous tyrant, Shem (Nimrod's uncle) killed him. Nimrod's mother, Semiramis, consoled the people by making them believe the child she carried was Nimrod "reincarnated" -- And named him "Duzu" (Tammuz), Babylonian for the son who rises. This Duzu went into the groves (forests) and placed a gift on a tree to honor Nimrod each year at the winter solstice. It has been said that Duzu was the offspring of Nimrod, who mated with his mother. Nimrod became known as Baal, meaning LORD, and was worshipped by the Babylonians as the sun in the sky -- thus the origin of "going to the heavens" at death.
.

Trees and branches became symbols of Nimrod. Because Nimrod was "cut down" by Shem, a tree stump became a place of honoring him. Thus, the Hebrew Scriptures speak of the pagans going into the "groves", and bringing a "branch to the nose", and going into the forest and cutting down a tree, decorating it, and propping it up a so that it will not totter. The winter solstice was the time when the sun was thought to be "reborn", so December 25th was celebrated as Baal's (Nimrod's) birthday. By tradition, the artificial idea of a New Year following this birthday celebration became an integral part of every human culture, based on this pagan idolatry. Generally, all mankind is fast asleep, dreaming this old Babylonian dream.

.
Christmas is an attempt by Catholicism to revise and adopt this paganism. In the year 525, a Scythian monk named Dionysius Exiguus visited Rome. He witnessed the ancient pagan celebration of the winter solstice (then called Paganalia or Saturnalia), and this offended his devout sensibilities. Scripture itself demands that we observe the Messiah's death, not His birth. But, since the pagan mind was so oriented around fertility and birth, it developed the way we see it today, blending the most important features of pagan interpretation. "Babel, the Great Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth" -- has intoxicated the masses, and she herself is drunk with the blood of the set-apart ones.

.
What is her name? It's Easter! Semiramis, Nimrod's mother, became known as "Magna Mater", the "Great Mother", and was worship-ped as Mother Earth. The Sun "mated" with the Earth each spring, and the "Rites of Spring" symbolized by the "May Pole" and "Easter" came 9 moons/months before the December 25th "birth" of the winter Sun. Her Assyrian name, Ishtar, gives us the word "Easter". The Romans called her Astarte, and the Phoenicians used Asherah. The Hebrews called her Astoroth, the consort of Baal. Her emblem is the flower of the lily. She is the "goddess of the dawn", and her statue stands on a bridge in France. The French made a colossus of this image, and it now stands in New York Harbor, facing "East" -- in itself a word referring to the rising son/sun -- from which her name springs!

---------------------------------------------

So, you tell me... is the inclusion of the tree tradition with Christmas a compromise or confusion?

I have no desire to participate in the tree tradition. I CAN'T participate in it for fear that I will feel as though I am celebrating incest... worshipping someone who was considered a tyrant and thought himself wise enough to have his followers sacrifice their children. I refuse to sit in judgement of Nimrod. But, I do not have a desire to worship him and revere him as an example of my own aspirations.

-------------------------------

Creator,

Continue to bless me to be able to "rightly divide" truth. I've only just begun and I've a long way to go, but thank You for keeping me on "the path".

peace.

shYne