Love Is In Need of Love Today

I recently listened to an interview with Ms. Peggliene Bartels, King of Otuam, Ghana – yes, you read that correctly, a female king.  Ms. Bartels worked as a secretary at the Ghanaian Embassy in Washington DC and was later selected as tribal King of village in Ghana.  The interviewer enquired as to how Ms. Bartels was able to go back to her job at the embassy and fit in with her coworkers while being King.  To this, Ms. Bartels answered, “I was a secretary before I was a king, so I continue to treat all my coworkers with respect.”

This answer truly warmed my heart because it seems as though mankind has lost the ability to love or respect fellow human beings.  Where is the respect that comes from acknowledging each person as being just as worthy as we are?  Sometimes we believe that our economic status or station in life or address, affords us the right to treat others with scant courtesies.  Stevie Wonder addressed this poignantly when he penned the song ‘Love’s in Need of Love Today.’ 

Here are some of the lyrics to this song which speak to us all –
Good morn or evening friends, Here's your friendly announcer
I have serious news to pass on to every-body, What I'm about to say
Could mean the world's disaster, could change your joy and laughter to tears and pain.

It's that love's in need of love today. Don't delay. Send yours in right away.
Hate's goin' round. Breaking many hearts. Stop it please. Before it's gone too far.

The force of evil plans to make you its possession.

And it will, if we let it destroy everybody.  
We all must take precautionary measures if love and please you treasure.
Then you'll hear me when I say.

Oh that love's in need of love today, love's in need of love today.
Don't delay, don't delay.
Send yours in right away, right a-way. 
Hate's goin' round, hate's goin' round.
Breaking many hearts, breaking hearts.
Stop it please, stop it please. Before it's gone too far, gone too far.  

People you know that love's in need of love today.
Love's in need of love today, don't delay, don't delay.

The vitriol being observed in our public discourse is disheartening to say the least.  Politicians [who are supposed to be statesmen] don’t think twice about demonizing each other in order to push their agenda.  It is truly a situation where the force of evil has made us its possession and we are destroying others with our words and actions.  From today, let us try to respect every person we come in contact with.

Let’s give love some love today!   I’m just thinking . . .

What Will Your Legacy Be?

Another truly gifted person has left this earth – Whitney Houston.  Last week we took the time to examine our lives after losing Don Cornelius.  This week, as I look at the great memories Whitney left us; I ask myself (and you of course) – what will we leave the world after we’re gone?  It has been said that we will all die, the difference is the legacy we leave behind.

I’ve often said that we were each born with a purpose – some may become famous because of it and others will not – but we were all sent to this earth with a purpose.  To my mind, it appears that we don’t really believe that we have a purpose, hence we live the way we do.  If we believed that we were placed here with a purpose we would certainly live with conviction to be the best that we can be.  When we do small things with great love as Mother Teresa advised us to do, we are sure to leave a legacy.

One of my favorite hymns by Charles Wesley came to mind as I contemplated Whitney’s passing.  The first verse of the hymn reads – ‘A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify.  A never-dying soul to save, and fit it for the sky.”  The first line says it all – a charge to keep I have.  Please note that the charge (responsibility) belongs to us – to you and to me – to glorify God with our talents.  We were created with gifts and talents which when used to their fullest serve to bless others and glorify God.  Our souls are to be nurtured and prepared for when we are called to face God – because we all WILL be called some day.

The second verse says, ‘To serve the present age, my calling to fulfill.  O may it all my powers engage to do my Master’s will.’  We are to use our talents now – not when things are perfect, or when others recognize us – to fulfill our calling because our present actions will soon become our legacy.  The man after God’s heart – David – was said to have served God’s purposes in his own generation, then fell asleep and was buried with his fathers (Acts 13:36 NIV).  David didn’t wait until his conditions got better, he lived his life daily serving God’s purposes hence we are still reading his legacy thousands of years after his death. What engages all your thoughts/powers/abilities right now?  Are you engaging all your power to fulfill your Master’s will for your life?  Are others being blessed by your talents?

Today as we mourn the loss of Whitney Houston, we also celebrate her life and honor the legacy of the music she left us.  Most of all, we owe it to ourselves to live each and every day of our lives fulfilling God’s purposes for our lives in our generation – here and now.

What will your legacy be?  I’m just thinking . . .

Examination Time

This week we learned of the passing of the genius behind Soul Train – Mr. Don Cornelius.  Mr. Cornelius’ death was said to be a suicide and this crushed us [his fans] even further.  The first thing many of us asked was, “Did his life become so hopeless causing him to end it?”  There are many reasons being branded about as to the cause – illness, marital issues etc. – but our grief over his passing is still overwhelming.  His death is cause for self-examination for those of us who are left behind.  We often think that celebrities have it made because their money can afford them many luxuries while the majority of us can barely afford the necessities.  Albeit, at the end of the day we are all souls having a human experience – rich, poor or in-between – created by God for God.

I must admit that his passing really shook me to my core, not because he was a celebrity but because I know what it is like to look at a situation that appears to be hopeless.  Nobody can cast aspersions here, because we all have had our moments of doubt and despair when life situations just bombarded us leaving us little time to breathe.  Socrates, the father of Western Philosophy was always in the pursuit of knowledge; one of his more popular quotes is, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” From my perspective, this quote reminds me that a life which is not evaluated from time to time lacks room for improvement and growth.  Please note I make no judgments on Mr. Cornelius’ life, this statement is meant for us who are mourning his death to take a moment and examine our own lives.  Are we living authentically?  Do our actions reflect our deepest beliefs?  Is there some person or thing lacking in our lives?

The old Presbyterian Catechism began with this question, “What is the chief end of man?” The answer was, “To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”   This question points to the purpose for our lives. It is my belief that we were all created with a deep yearning which can be filled only by God (Creator of the Universe – or any other ‘Spiritually correct’ name you may call Him).  Unfortunately, some of us try filling that void with various things like food, sex, alcohol, success etc., which cannot satisfy this yearning.  Philosophers all agree that mankind is going nowhere despite his craving for more – gadgets, material wealth, power, and prestige – if he does understand himself in the world.  We need spirit care more than anything this world can offer – the care of the spirit which can communicate with God.  

There will be times when we will all face despair, however, with the assistance of faithful friends, family and professionals (therapists, coaches etc.,) we can overcome.  Please understand that no amount of money or popularity can shield us from troubling times – they WILL come to us all.  In addition to the people God puts in our lives, He has placed His Spirit in us which acts as an anchor to keep our souls grounded through the inevitable storms of life.  When things appear hopeless, before giving up we can seek out Godly friends, and professionals and most of all seek God.   

Shouldn't we take some time from the busyness of life to examine our lives? I'm just thinking . . .