No More Marches...At Least 'Round Here

For decades those in and around the Richmond, Virginia entertainment scene have debated why it appears that no one really seems to get nationally or globally recognized for their art.  Particularly in the hip-hop arena (with the exception of Mad Skillz, better known as Skillz), no hip-hop artist from here has quite made that splash that is so coveted by an entertainer.  Regional successes like Chris Brown and Trey Songz aren't actually Richmond citizens, so they aren't included.  And so with each passing year, the city experiences another round of coulda-woulda-shouldas who fade into a variety of professions because, as many of them would say, they don't get the home town support.  Now...they could get the home town support, but they want it to come from home first....and in this town (as displayed by Skillz and D'Angelo), to be a respected musical artist you have to leave home and be shown on television before black RVA loves you.  Yes...even in 2014, we can't say it's official or good unless it's on T.V.; not cable access either...real T.V.

Wars and Rumors of Wars

I just finished watching an interview of the store owner of Sam's Meat Market on W. Florissant in Ferguson, Missouri.  Actually, it was one of his employees "Roz", a 25-year resident of the St. Louis suburb, who did most of the talking.  He was asked to come help defend the store by the owner earlier.  Standing in the middle of the stores' products being everywhere and no where at the same time, you could see the disappointment in his eyes.  "The people that went inside the store, these people were not anyone associated with the protests.  These people were opportunists", he solemnly stated.  The owner  complained about having to clean his store again for a second consecutive day in his thick middle-eastern accent.  The reporter was having a hard time following his frustration.  Everybody, everything in that image look so...so confused.

Losing Baggage

In the human service/mental health profession there are two types of workers.  There are those who work to quench the ever burning desire to help others; and then, oddly, there are those who work in this field to get paid.  Usually, it's the ultra-educated ones that are in it for the paper.  And who are the types who are most likely to do it for the help?  It's the ex-cons.

Husband Servant King

Just like the winter doesn't only consist of snowy weather, I'm going through a season that has a similar climate with a variety of weather conditions.  I've gone back a little on the wisdom that I've learned about how to act during seasons like this; which is to talk a little less...but I'm still removing layers and learning....which is a good thing.  Yesterday I was teaching a class on the relationship between hurt and grace.  And while discussing the humility needed to help us show grace to others, I began to process the type of love that's required for that as well.  And obviously, during that conversation the Holy Spirit began to deal with me about my own levels of humility, love, and grace.  And during that in-pouring I began to realize how important it is to love like Joseph.