Do it with Meaning: He Called, I Answered

 

“In the meantime in between time” is  a saying that was meant to have meaning. However, it is just a popular saying that most people say without truly knowing its definition. This is something that people are not just saying but are actually doing. They are moving from place to place, job to job, school to school, and church to church trying to find purpose, meaning, and community. We are literally in between time for the time being, or at least we think. 

If we are truly honest, we feel lost, confused, and misguided simply because we don’t have direction, dare I add purpose. This is because there is no meaning behind what we are doing. We are simply floating between one thing to the next trying to keep up with society and the latest trend or movement. Which I call the “blind leading the blind.” If we are truly honest with ourselves there is no spark or meaning behind what or who we are following. 

What I come to realize is that what works for one person doesn’t always mean it works for the next. Not to mention, many people aren’t honest about how they are living nor how they truly gain the wealth, ideas, or success behind what they are trying to achieve. Additionally, what I find so ironically pleasing is that more and more individuals are becoming aware of the schemes and scams behind the movement. Which in return causes disappointment, anxiousness, and confusion. This is simply because what appeared to be real was false evidence appearing real, and no I am not talking about faith that appears in the Holy Bible. 

Better yet, it isn’t faith but deception enticing others to follow down a path that leads to dead ends with little to no knowledge of the true meaning behind what our purpose here on earth is today and in the future. Let me stop and ask you a rhetorical question. Do you truly believe that God created humans for nothing? Do you believe he fashioned us into our mother’s woman to be here on earth to chase after fleeting things such as wealth, material things, and resources for our  family or friends to enjoy? Well, the answer is no, because it is meaningless and a grasping after the wind. 

King Solomon, one of the wisest kings to have ever lived said these words, “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 1:14) See King Solomon had made it his life’s mission to seek wealth, women, possessions, knowledge, and wisdom and still found it to be useless without God, you know Jesus Christ. So, this is why I highlight to you that without purpose or meaning in life it is all meaningless, especially when it is done out of our selfish ambitions. Therefore, I have four steps you must take in order to avoid this treacherous and meaningless path. 

Step 1: Seek Purpose Over Money:

Oftentimes than not, if we are truly honest with ourselves we are seeking money as a true meaning for fulfillment. However, if we stop to think about those who have obtained this goal, they aren’t truly happy. If they were, they wouldn’t spend their time bullying, mocking, and hurting others. Stop to think about it for a second. Have you met or knew someone who had more than you, but made it their life’s mission to make your life miserable? This is because they don’t have true happiness nor do they have purpose. 

If they did they wouldn’t be wasting their time trying to extract your precious light and energy to compensate for their lack there of, they would be too busy in their own purpose. So, sit still for a while and seek the true living God for guidance on what your purpose is on earth. Be patient with Him for the answer, as the answer will not always come immediately.  Be ready for His answer and get to work, don’t delay, as delaying is a sign of disobedience to God. It shows a lack of trust, and faith, just know it may be something out of your comfort zone!

Step 2: Stop Striving, Avoid Selfish Ambition at ALL Cost:

As I mentioned earlier, self ambition is what is driving society into the ground quickly. Everyone is seeking to gain wealth, land, and possessions to take on a false persona just to say they have the “juice.” But do they really? Paul, a disciple who at first persecuted Christians due to his own ignorance was completely sold out to God because of the grace granted to him by God on his journey to Damascus. He said this “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interest but each of you to the interest of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4, NIV) See Paul knew what it was like to seek one's own agenda because before his encounter with God he was following a dangerous path that literally cost him his life. 

Step 3: Don’t Wear Yourself Out Trying to Get Rich: 

If we are honest with ourselves, we are wearing our minds, bodies, souls, and spirits down to the ground trying to get rich. As a matter of fact we have that “I got my mind on my money and my money on my mind” mentality down pack. But the sad part is, we aren’t happy and we are fooling ourselves if we think we are happy. From the outside looking in, we look tired, worn down, and frustrated because there has to be meaning to life other than chasing that “almighty dollar.” There truly is no meaning to chasing a dollar because once we obtain all that we strive for we feel lost and confused because there is no purpose behind it.

For instance, in the Bible it states, “do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle” (Proverbs 23:4-5, NIV). Here the author of this book was highlighting that one minute we can be up and the next minute we can be down. You can store up all the riches you want, but it doesn't guarantee that it will be there the next time you check. So again, I ask, why would you wear yourselves out to get rich? 

Why wear yourself out and miss out on following purpose and meaning to life or spending time with loved ones who can be here one day and gone the next? Not to mention your health, we would be devastated that we wore ourselves out trying to get rich for it only to evaporate while leaving us in a debilitating state. Imagine the depression and sorrow that comes from chasing something that is fleeting. 

Step 4: A Lack of Purpose Leads to Idleness & a Loss of Direction: 

Lastly, a lack of purpose leads to idleness and a loss of direction. Meaning, it is meaningless and chasing after the wind. Just because we appear to be busy and “chasing the bag” as encouraged in today’s society doesn't necessarily mean there is purpose or even a true movement behind it. If there was purpose behind it, we wouldn’t be worn down or on the bridge of a mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical breakdown because we are spending the majority of our time working for something that leaves us feeling empty, lost, and dare I mention, exhausted. So, ask yourself this, am I fulfilling my purpose? Am I following God’s calling? Or am I a busybody trying to keep up with the Jones’? 

See this was something I struggled with at the beginning of my journey because I thought I was following the blueprint that was manmade and handed to me by society. But in the end, I felt like I wasn't achieving meaning or purpose in life, I was just a busybody and how I knew was because of how I felt by the end of the day. A busybody is someone who is chasing earthly things instead of heavenly things. God clearly spoke through King Solomon and said this “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it” (Proverbs 10:22, NIV). Hence, if you are a busybody you are working in vain and in idleness. 

Here is a verse I’ll leave you with for reflection, Timothy a disciple and follower of Christ said these fruitful words. “Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.” (1 Timothy 5:13, NIV). Here Timothy highlighted what happens when people have no purpose just seeking to do things and although they are on the move they are still idle because they have no purpose and they are headed in the wrong direction. 

Beyond the Shadows: Stepping into Your Light

 Growing up in the hood was something I prided myself on. Especially as I became educated, I felt like I made it until I realized how vital wisdom was then just gaining knowledge. When I became a teacher, I truly noticed that most information I needed to truly succeed was being withheld so that I didn't succeed more than those who didn't look like me. I was the first in my intermediate family to not only graduate high school, but college as well. So the world I was stepping into was foreign to me and I wasn't prepared for the amount of hurdles I would face when entering college and the workforce. Once I got my first job as a teacher I quickly realized that I was a little fish in a big pond and that many people purposely withheld information to hinder me from becoming more successful than them. What haunted me the most was that people who thought I was ignorant in regards to book knowledge only accepted me if they could one up me intellectually. 

My biggest mistake was I didn't play dumb nor did I dumb myself down. I felt like I had to make it known that I was just as intelligent and aware of the information that they shared or "taught" me. This eventually made me a huge target for bullying because not only was I young, new to the field, and empathic, but I was an African American woman. Sadly, I didn't pick up on what these people were doing to me until I spent more time alone and grew closer to God. I eventually realized that the people who realized my gifts before I did became obsessed with me and how I made what I knew look easy. 

So I not only had to battle the day to day struggles and stress of being in the workforce, but I had to overcome workplace bullies who made me their daily target and ridicule. They quickly realized I didn't desire to be a part of their clique and this in my mind made them intimated by me and dare I say rejected. Although I face much hardship in these workplace environments, I fought daily to maintain equilibrium so as to not show that I was weak, which I wasn't. I eventually realized that I was dealing with narcissists who needed to project their insecurities onto me while also trying to deem my light and mimic my character. I did forget to mention that as a teacher, I was loved by my students and families as well as students in the school. 

So this drew attention to me that I honestly didn't care to receive. I was just being me which is authentic, kind, loving, and patient. Once I realized that this not only attracted "light" but “darkness" too. I had to become aware of my surroundings and the people I allowed to be in my circle. This is because my enemies became smart, they tried taunting me though sending people who disguised themselves as my friend but really were my foes. So, in my opinion, wisdom is greater than knowledge because once I understood the structure and the strategies they used to oppose me, I used my wisdom to abort their mission to derail me off my path. 

I would love to say this made it easier for me, but it didn't. It actually made them become even more enraged resorting to witchcraft to monitor me. At first I didn't realize what was happening to me until I spent even more time alone with God and recognized that these individuals were sending demonic attacks to physically take me out. However, because I serve an all knowing God, He protected me while allowing me to see how wicked some of these people were in the workplace, educational institutions, and churches. The more I trusted my instincts the more I was able to recognize patterns in people who would eventually betray me. 

It’s like my spirit knew something would occur before it manifested physically. Since I started to recognize these patterns and trust my gut, I spared my life on numerous occasions and I thank God that I listened. It's like these people have a tell and this is why being attentive and listening more than we speak is a life saver. For instance, James, a disciple of Jesus said this “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone, should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19, NIV). Once I realized how information was gained from me through speaking too soon or allowing their attacks to make me angry in order to gain my energy I had to flip the script. 

I noticed I was dealing with low vibrational and insecure people who need their flying monkeys to validate them. I knew I was more powerful. Further, I want you to realize that if you are experiencing what I am experiencing that you are not alone. Don’t allow these people who are targeting you to silence you while attempting to steal your joy, peace and creativity. If we form a community who stand together and break the barrier they try to entrap us with, which is isolation, we can overcome evil with good. 

A Journey I Didn’t See Coming: A Backstory

 

There is no misunderstanding that being black in America is arduous and can be a fight that continues for most black people, the majority of their lives. Not only are we mimicked, but we are hindered simply because we have the grit, intelligence, and creativity to thrive in a world dedicated to suppressing our voices. I believe this ideology in America is carried out in the work place, educational institutions, and churches where many of our current leaders are a depiction of their ancestors driven by greed and power. 

From my personal experiences, I have been met with cruel individuals who see my light as something that can be bought and duplicated without going through the trenches. My journey wasn't easy even though I made it seem easy and most people who saw my excellence always found ways to put roadblocks in my path simply because they could. 

Well they held the power and they used it for malicious and evil intent in order to gain attention and take credit for ideas they didn't put the time to develop. Not to mention, as a woman of faith I was met with even more oppression because like my ancestors, I experienced great opposition and was surrounded by those who took advantage of my intelligence which is coupled with spiritual wisdom given to me by God. 

Similarly, I have met other black women and men who walked with integrity but were met with the same abuse of power and were pushed out of spaces they dominated all because they refused to drink the kool-aid. However, I always held onto my faith and realized that the battles I faced were not carnal, but spiritual. 

For instance, Paul, a true believer and follower of Jesus Christ said these words, "For we struggle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12). This means we face spiritual battles that are not always seen through the natural eye. If we stop to think about it, it has to be dark and evil spirtual events that we encounter because it has gone on for hundreds of years, from generation to generation.