Do Your Best To Be Prepared!

We can only partially prepare ourselves for specific situations, even knowing their inevitability. We have all encountered such circumstances, such as when a beloved family member must move from the hospital to hospice care, when a dear friend or family member is diagnosed with a terminal illness, or even when we visit specialists like urologists, proctologists, or dentists. Although there are certainly more unpleasant professions than dentistry, the sound of the buzzing instruments, the smell of burning flesh, and the sensation of scraping and pulling can be mentally taxing for the patient.  It matters considerably when you have to return for a follow-up and or fitting.  Don’t wait until we’re too old to regret what we placed on our bodies and souls.  Such is the life of not caring for one’s health and teeth.  Live wisely, my brothers and sisters.

I Am A Rock!

I had a unique dream the other night, most of them I can’t remember, but I remembered this one.  My dreams aren’t usually nightmares unless I had eaten beef that afternoon.  However, this dream made me feel that the universe was trying to tell me something.  A large rock was the main focus.  It was rounded around the edges but very smooth.  The rock appeared to weigh about 40-50 pounds and was translucent.  It never got in my way wherever I went, but it was always there no matter where I went.  The rock was always where I could see it; it stood out but seemed acceptable wherever it was.  It seemed to move on its own accord.  Whenever I came across the rock, I felt confident, safe, and protected.

 

When I woke up, I felt refreshed but was curious about this dream.  The rock didn’t play any significant part; it seemed to let me know that it will always be where I am.  I don’t remember any critical events, or anything else about the dream, other than the rock being everywhere I went.  I have some spiritual thoughts about Jesus being a cornerstone, Peter being appointed the rock that Jesus will build His church on, and men making their houses on solid rock, but finding a connection is still complicated.  I know that Jesus is my rock and refuge and that He will always be with me, but dreaming about a rock.  What does it mean?  I’m sure something meaningful is behind it, even if I may never understand.

Woke Is Not A Joke!

Believe it or not, the words “Stay Woke” were used by blues singer Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter back in 1938 in a recording of the “Scottsboro Boys.”  It told the story of nine young black men, ages 12-19, falsely accused of raping two white women on a train in Alabama in 1931.  The men were not executed but were jailed for years.  Even after their release, they never fully recovered from the mistreatment.  The evidence unquestionably proved their innocence, but it didn’t matter.  Collectively, they spent over 130 years in jail.  The appeal trials lasted over 80 years when the women finally recanted their previous stories that they were never raped, and the story was made up from being arrested for vagrancy.  No forensics or other evidence were considered other than the white women’s words over the black men.  What did you expect in the 30s? It doesn’t look too different from now.  Politicians and the justice system are still lying about the truth.  Now Governor Ron DeSantis Campaign Slogan for President is “Our Great American Comeback Never Back Down.”  It sounds like a takeoff from Trump’s MAGA; bring back the old way of mistreating people, and we can rule in tyranny again.

 

            As you can see, “Stay Woke” or “Woke is nothing new; it’s an awareness of being attentive to the critical fact and issues regarding racial and social injustices.  It’s for people to stay awake during these times when they are trying to cover up past misdeeds and claiming that those things didn’t happen or were done by others that should be forgotten. We don’t want anything to let our kids know the truth, for they might be blamed for their parent's sins and woke returned during the Black Lives Matter movement, which brought attention to the killing of young black men by the police and fake vigilantes under the disguise of being patriots.  It seems all the red states are finding ways to use the law to suppress voting registration, redistricting, and excluding people of color from participating in government and education.  It seems that rewriting history and banning any account from days gone by should be stricken or not even taught in schools.

 

            The Supreme Court verified that systemic racism exists by ending Affirmative Action.  What I found about this disastrous move was that Judge Thomas, a recipient of Affirmative Action, decided because of his toll and guilt.  He has obtained his dream and let the others find their way in education.  Justice is not and cannot be colorblind.  To me, this system was built to protect its own, and those who are privileged will do anything possible to protect it.  Laws are wrapped within hidden laws that enable the users.  Yet, their truth is also their falsehood, so they campaign to reject anyone who can it.  We’re not the only ones who see it; God also sees it.  Vengeance is His, and those of us that believe in Him have the faith to know that the wicked will be exposed.  When we put our trust in man, we will be very disappointed.  Even amid this chaos, there is an opportunity.  Let’s all be calm in the middle of another storm and watch the Lord fight our battles.

 

            There will be a time when there are no more excuses, and we will have to face the fact that we are all liars.  The time will be unexpected when we feel all is well.  In our unrepentant life, we will feel a burden that the living cannot lift.  The guilt we denied to ourselves has accumulated over the years, lusting for money, power, and authority regardless of the costs we paid.  It will be too late for any regrets because it will follow us to the grave.  How will we want to be remembered?  It will depend on who is writing the history.  Will the story be objective or biased?  We can only hope that it is truthful.