DraFt DaY BluEs

It's that time again, ladies and gentlemen. 

The 2018 NFL Draft's coverage begins tonight at 7pm and continues until Saturday afternoon. 

I have to preface my posts for the new readers and subscribers by saying PLEASE never judge the content of the articles by the post title. There's always a greater point in play. So this article is for the sports AND non-sports fan as well. For the sake of this article, I'll venture to say this is a 70/30 split. 

Everyone who either rooted for last year's Super Bowl Champions or fell short are geared up for a hopeful run at a Championship. For many teams, they are hoping for their first. Many are hoping to be good and competitive enough to get back to the dance and fulfill the impossible. For every one of the 32 prospective teams, the future is indeed now. Every move and step taken could mean the rise or the eventual downfall of a chance to create a legacy and leave an indelible imprint in sports history. Fans, businesses, and economies rely on football among other sports to feed a growing financial and socio-economical need. Companies clamor to hock their product on banners, commercials during the Super Bowl, and countless online ads connected with fantasy football, football camps for children, and countless other opportunities to promote their products and brands. Clearly, it should be evident how big a business this is and how far its reach goes. Approximately $74.8B to be clear.

Last year was rife with protest, political debates, and controversy regarding major issues like domestic violence, racism, and drug abuse. All of that nestled in the greatest sport in our history: Football.

Just in the last few weeks alone, there have been multiple organizational meetings held to discuss the social issues of a specific player or two blackballed from playing in the league, what many consider collusion among NFL ownership. 

Add to that simmering undercurrent, a potential first round QB feeling the pressure to change positions because some NFL experts have deemed him "more suitable" in the league at a more physical position, like wide receiver. I can't even go to our lunch table at work and not hear about this one. It is clear when names like Michael Vick and Tim Tebow come up in the conversation, the tone becomes more serious and the scent of offense rises. 

Then add to that the rampant speculation of who will be picked and where, whether these young college players are worthy of a pick, and even deciding on what their future and "ceiling" is without them even taking an NFL snap. 

Message boards everywhere confirm what can happen when rabid football fans start talking about the sport, whether it be pre-season speculations, fantasy football, or this year's draft. Adding politics to this already volatile mix takes it to another level. There are people that hold the opinion that the only time the words "flag" and "football" should be together is when eight year old kids are the players. I'm not going to ask you (today) to choose a side. I won't be taking an opinion poll although my comments section is always available. I think you have access to enough information to make informed decisions. I just wanted you to get a glimpse of what this complex world looks like. 

So sports fans.......here are some questions for you:

If you have a team that you root for, what do you think they will do in the first round and why?

Is your team one of those that routinely get it wrong but you sense a turn for the better coming in this year's draft?

What is a "must" that your football team must do and  simply cannot afford to make a mistake in?

If your team needs a QB, is this crop of quarterbacks as good as advertised or are you unconvinced?

Has last year soured you on the NFL entirely?

What place do you think issues such as the flag, politics, and such have in the sport of football? 

If you understand the social issues involved, what would you suggest is the best way to make an impact on the problem?

Do you have a view that is different than these mentioned so far? Please share. Perspective is helpful in this moment. I think, if I can speak for myself, I learned a lot about myself during the height of these issues. Honestly, I am still learning more about myself as the intensity of the issues die down. I had certain leanings that stemmed from obligation rather than from viable information and experience. I think a lot of people are in the same boat, wouldn't you say?

Non sports fans.....here are some questions for you:

Do you believe you have the capacity to look at all sides of an issue and make a competent decision?

What place do you think issues such as the flag, politics, and such have in the sport of football? 

If you understand the social issues involved, what would you suggest is the best way to make an impact on the problem?

How well would you say (on a scale of 1 being worst to 10 being best) you understand the social issues of your fellow man?

Where do you derive your information when attempting to learn and understand such issues?

Do you view big business like the National Football League as socially conscious or morally corrupt?

If your child expressed a desire to play in the NFL, what would be your honest response and approach?

What is your view on sports in general?


That's just something to chew on. Thanks for reading and subscribing. 

ConGRatulATiOns tO MTWMY oN TheIr 100tH BloG pOSt

Congratulations to Mirror Time with Mista Yu on their 100th blog post. I had some adversity and challenge with putting out these blogs and I thought about quitting more times than I can count. But I didn't. Our faithful readers and subscribers have spoken and they're glad we stuck it out. 

Thank you to all the folks that have been so supportive and encouraging. Many of the comments and messages sent to me have been inspiring as well. This was made for you and we appreciate being a source of information and encouragement to you. Thank you again for everything!

HAPPY 100th!!!! 

As always, you may laugh. You might cry. But most of all, we hope you think. Keep reading, sharing, commenting, and subscribing. Let's make the ride to 200 a momentous one. Thank you all.

CoFfeE gRoUNdS

Personally, I can't stand coffee that tastes like dirt. I also can't stand paying nearly twice as much than other places for coffee that tastes like dirt, or in some cases, burnt dirt. Honestly what's the point of that? 

It's the only reason why I have largely avoided the franchise as much as possible. Some have done the same for different reasons. Everything from the target audience and a perceived elite class being aimed at to the overall price for a cup of java with all the perks (no pun intended). For me, it just boiled down to how the coffee tastes. I know plenty of folks that don't mind paying more for quality. Most of us have no problem doing that. However, when you reach into your wallet for that credit card or wad of cash, you are making an investment in the institution. 

If the abuse of chickens is an important concern for you, there are certain fried chicken purveyors that you may want to investigate a little further before making that investment. If you are not a supporter of certain hate groups, then there are certain well known household names you would do well to avoid. Now, if you don't like racism and racial profiling, you may need to look for another coffee grinder for your local non habit forming drug of choice: Your daily cup of coffee.

In a news story this past Thursday afternoon, "two black men were handcuffed and paraded out the door of a Philadelphia Starbucks for allegedly refusing to leave when asked by staffers and police in an incident captured in a video that went viral and prompted the chief executive officer of the coffee company to say that the "reprehensible outcome" should have never happened."

(courtesy of ABC News) The video posted by Melissa DePino can be found at this link: https://abcn.ws/2GXwMfp 

In an interview with ABC News, Melissa DePino, a 50 year old writer and mother of two, said a Starbucks barista shouted from behind the counter at the two men to make a purchase or leave. 

"They were sitting quietly minding their own business, and waiting for their friend to come," she said.

DePino said she was so appalled by the incident, she plans to not go anymore to Starbucks.

"Plenty of other local places to go," she said.

On Saturday evening, the mayor put out another statement saying he was "heartbroken" to witness what "appears to exemplify what racial discrimination looks like in 2018. For many, Starbucks is not just a place to buy a cup of coffee, but a place to meet up with friends or family members, or to get some work done," he said in the statement.   

If you have read any of my blogs, you know what I'm about. Just to be transparent, this is not how I wanted to cap off my 100th blog article (which is a milestone for me that I am proud of), however, I am not going to engage in a debate about if the two gentlemen were at fault, or if the police was, or if the barista and manager at Starbucks was, or if all parties contributed to this situation. You don't have to be a person of color to understand there are some problems in our world that require decisive action and definitive change. I'm assuming that you can make your own determinations on that without getting too high emotionally. 

What I would like to offer here is an opportunity for you to consider the line of thinking that I began earlier in this article. 

The situation you read about and watched the video regarding may not have happened to you personally but how does it make you feel? Does your heart burn when hearing this news? Are you indignant about investing your hard earned dollars in a franchise that directly or indirectly supports discriminatory practices? Is your cup of joe more important than this basic human principle? Companies don't tell you this directly but it is implied that they rely on your willingness to buy their product in order to be successful. If you don't buy what they sell consistently enough, they'll likely come to you faster than otherwise to find out why they don't have your business. You won't have to engage them. They'll engage you. Guaranteed. Who does it sound like has the power in this scenario? 

Now we have to realize that we indeed have influence in situations like these. There is not shortage of coffee shops in Philly, i.e. Grindcore, Greenstreet, and Elixr, just to name a few. That message speaks just as powerfully as the signs in the hand of a protestor. There are times in life where a stand has to be taken and, more often than not, our "voice" is best heard through retweets, You Tube videos, protests, but most notably,  the power of your money.

Kudos to Mrs. DePino who recorded this video that garnered more than 8 million hits and exposed a situation that could have remained isolated had it not been recorded. Kudos to the customers who stood up vocally for the two men in the face of law enforcement and the store's management. Kudos to the protestors who attempted to shine a light on this situation so that it does not go unnoticed or so quickly leaves the public's consciousness. Kudos to all of you who will share this article. Kudos to all of you that remember that what you choose to financially invest in is symbolic of your power and your heart. Use it wisely. 

Now that I give this further thought, this was the perfect article to commemorate my 100th blog post. I don't know who it's appropriate to thank. Hard to find a winner in this scenario. I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences if you have ever gone through or witnessed anything similar. Or just share what you would do if you have. We're just honored to hear from you. Thank you for supporting MTWMY. 

BuLLetPrOoF

Breaking point.
Tipping point.
Choking point.
Fancy words for the same boundary or limitation, depending on how you view it.
Everybody has one. Unique and similar all at the same time.
You have yours and I have mines.

But how much are you willing to take?

Ever since we were little kids, we learned (directly or indirectly) words like "enough", "no more", and "fed up".

If we offered a friend some of our newly opened bag of potato chips, and the friend gets a bit heavy handed and takes too much, we shout "that's enough" because they have gone past the limit of what we thought they should. However, we never told them how much they can take. We just expected that they would consider the giver of the salty snack would like to have some as well.

If we have a hard day managing the children at home with all the teen angst, attitudes, and the drama that normally ensues on a weekly basis, we declare publicly that we are fed up and we look for an escape wherever we can find one. A local library, the nearest watering hole, or just behind a closed and locked door for a short respite.

We look at life, maybe with some entitlement, and openly declare how much we will take and how much we will stand. If someone pushes you past your daily tolerance and you haven't had your coffee, God help them all, right? A recent experience caused me to ask myself if I am the best person to determine these limitations and set these boundaries.

I'm a management professional, which essentially entails managing multiple employees and taking bullets for upper management. Recently, I had to issue corrective actions for an employee who was liberal with the attendance policy in a way that the company deemed excessive and irresponsible. I extended myself much to aid this employee and keep them informed every step of their learning curve with the company. But every good grace went out of the window when I had to have that conversation. Essentially, all I really did was act as the "messenger" for a directive that came from far above my station. Some could call me a tool or an errand boy but I was just a member of management following a directive and enforcing a company mandated rule. Well, in delivering that message that day, even though sprinkled with grace, I sustained heavy gunfire. I was slowed and endured a small amount of pain, largely because I had on my "bulletproof vest". That vest was my capacity to remain internally grounded, despite the external situation. My mind was racing and my emotions were rising but I kept the focus on the reason for the meeting, the intended message that needed to be sent, and the proposed direction going forward. I went into the discussion understanding my position but it was still difficult because all of the ire and rage was aimed at the messenger. The decisions were not mines but I did carry them out and I was placed on the line of fire. That's the job of a manager, I guess. What if I set the boundaries of what I would take and endure from an employee too rigidly? I probably would have lost my job right there in that room. What if I set the limitations with too much liberality? I could have been facing a two hour conversation and creating alibis and trying to keep the proverbial peace, resembling a toothless lion or a spineless jellyfish.

How much are you willing to take? We're not bulletproof. We are going to go through stuff in life and it will hurt us. It will slow us down on the path to destiny. It will make us rethink things and even perhaps make us want to chuck it all and run and hide. We would love to set the comfort levels to an acceptable range, wouldn't you? But can you guarantee you would grow to your necessary capacity? If we were in charge of our own growth, would we grow? Would we be effective? Would we learn anything about ourselves that would stimulate personal change? Did that very uncomfortable conversation make me stronger or did it further tear at an already frayed emotional fabric? I guess the bottom line for me is that we got to go through things. Emphasis on the phrase "go through". Speaking for myself personally, it was best for me that I learned how to endure no matter how long or how hard things might be. We're all faced with the possibility of being a "messenger". Keep your vest on at all times.

Breaking point.
Tipping point.
Choking point.
Everybody has one.
You have yours and I have mines.

ClaSS Is iN SeSsioN

I offer some thoughts to those of you, regardless of your spiritual or religious affiliation or if you hold no regard or association with any sort of organized religion. This could still be of some value to you and worthy of thought.

If I can ask you a question: Do you remember your first day of school?

I'm really asking about the nervousness and the anxiety and the wonder if you'll make a new friend or if anyone in your class will like you. I don't mean if you fear your teacher may be mean. Or if you could sit at your lunch table alone every day because you're not cool enough or pretty enough or rich enough or you just don't like yourself and figure why would anyone else. Those are real issues that affected all of us in some way, shape, or form. I'm just talking about preparation for your first day. How did you prepare? Why did you prepare? Why was this important?

A very likely scenario is that your parents took you to the store to buy school supplies in preparation for your first day. You probably also went school shopping for clothes, whether it was casual or a uniform mandated by the school. Either way, these were parts of your preparation for your education. Your parents likely had a truckload of paperwork to complete on your behalf that you never saw or noticed.

Preparation is a corner stone to any organization, hopefully successful plan, or movement. Benjamin Franklin said "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." This sentiment will be important a little later on in this article. But I really love a quote by Abraham Lincoln.

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first hour sharpening the axe."

This takes us to the reason I wrote this post. I have a pet peeve that I have shared publicly and privately and lamented about in my personal private time in prayer and meditation. It's likely a small matter to most (who probably are guilty of this) but something that, to me, indicates a larger, more pressing issue. How is it possible to sit under the tutelage of a teacher completely unprepared to learn? Putting aside how the teacher may or should feel, what does it say about the student's willingness to learn?

That is very common and I learned that in one setting recently. I was in one of our corporate monthly meetings several months ago. These are normally anywhere from 1-2.5 hours once a month. In a hurry to get to the meeting, I left my notepad and found myself overwhelmed with the information that was being given and totally incapable us retaining most of it. That became a detriment to me later on the following week when I needed to utilize some of that information. I don't normally forget such things and I try hard to be prepared for most situations but I forgot that day and it cost me a little embarrassment and slowed some of the operation's progress because I was unprepared. It wasn't that I was disinterested or unwilling to learn. I simply neglected to prepare adequately. Small example I suppose.

There is a growing trend where students are purposely neglecting to learn. This is often encouraged by fellow students and, in some cases, by the teachers themselves. I have seen this behavior for more than two decades in religious circles. We are engaged in a culture where listening to the preacher or teacher is our only requirement. Almost as if we are doing the teacher a favor by just being present. I often wondered how long we would continue to view the elephant in the room and never address it. I wondered when personal responsibility and accountability would show up. Sadly, there is no mandate from leadership to bring their proper materials to the meetings or be prepared to take notes in order to retain the important information that may be provided. There is no preparation. I don't really know why that annoys me so much. I think I am afraid for those that think their growth is not important, especially those who have children that watch everything they do and follow their examples. On your first day in school (and likely every day after that going into your college and post graduate years), not having notes or the ability to document what you hear could cause you to fail your tests and be unable to progress to the next grade. You will essentially fail the course and be "left behind".

This shouldn't be difficult for any current student to understand. So let me ask those of you that participate in religious services: Are you a student?  If so, wouldn't the Sunday and/or a midweek service night be your classroom? Isn't that where you are getting refilled and encouraged to face the week ahead? Isn't that where you get some correction and where you may find some answers to your struggles? The teacher or preacher is sharing words with you presumably from a manual that you do not currently possess or are not able to say you have memorized in full. How then can you verify that the words are valid and not contrived by the teacher him or herself? How can you authenticate that the location of the scripture passages are the correct one and not an error? Having the words on the screen is not clear evidence, merely a presentation of information.

How do you think your first exam would go if you were advised to study from an assigned text but instead you just took notes from the teacher only and avoided studying the text as advised? There's no question about it. You would fail and perhaps in epic fashion. The teacher on a Sunday morning is not responsible for making sure you study from your "textbook". It is advised or, at least, should be. It should be encouraged, hopefully, so at the very least, the student's focus will be on the Word and not on the specific vessel teaching on that occasion. Any good school administrator worth their salt will tell you that every student is responsible for their own education. In other words, they have to study for themselves. The teacher can't make them do that, only hold the student accountable to do so.

I'm afraid that we are in a culture that encourages less and less use of the Bible. Even if you don't ascribe to the Bible as the infallible Word of God, you should still be able to see that no matter if you're preparing for a certification like I am, or if you are studying to complete a college course, or if you are preparing to make a verbal presentation at an annual function, you still need to be prepared using the manual or guide your organization views as critical to your successful growth. In addition, if it's your intention to properly represent said organization, school, or community group, you must be fully acquainted with the organization's belief system, values, statutes, or protocols. This is one time where reading truly is fundamental.

When I look around and see my peers in the classroom without their textbooks or any means to document what they are or may hear, I question what they will do during a test. I fear that they will face the unannounced wholly unprepared. That is not the time to ask the teacher. They will not be able to answer you. When the test begins, the teacher remains silent. All the student has at his or her disposal is what they heard, learned, and retained. That makes a culture where this kind of preparation is directly or indirectly discouraged very scary to witness. Where are we headed as a people? Where does your spiritual growth rank in your priority list? From my vantage point, the main textbook is fading farther and farther into the background and the years have shown that less and less are holding onto it as a guide for life. Now it appears to be becoming an appendage that people put in fancy embroidered cases to show their religion proudly. Almost like a t-shirt or a fish magnet on their back of their cars. If the Bible is truly basic and necessary instructions for life, what does one's life look like without that instruction and the capacity to navigate through life's tests?

It's not too late to change the culture around you. If you can't envision doing that, at least, change the culture within you. At the end of the day, the only one responsible for what you know and how you apply it is you. Class is in session. Are you listening? Are you prepared? Will you pass the test? Just something to think about before your next "Pop Quiz".

WhaT tHe HeARt wANts

Honestly, I have heard this more times than I can stand. 
God knows my heart.   

It's not that I disagree. I was actually sharing a similar concept with the children in our Sunday School just this past weekend.

If your Samsung television goes on the fritz while you're watching your favorite show, you don't call your Ford dealer to get assistance. The manufacturer is always the best source of information and wisdom since they are the actual makers of the product. Who knows your heart better than the heart's maker? He does know your heart. He knows every thought, intent, and machination inside of it. Let that sink in for a bit.   

I know there are plenty of folks that get their advice from Dear Abby, the local fortune teller, or their best friend who just seems to know a little something about everything. But at some point, we all come to realize during our investigation of life's little mysteries, we could find it necessary to go directly to the source. You won't have to go anywhere else once that happens. You won't be placed on hold and transferred to another department that doesn't understand or is not experienced with your kind of issue. You may not like or enjoy the answer but you will get the correct diagnosis of the issue.   

Ask your friends if they ever heard the phrase "The heart wants what the heart wants". This is not a sentiment that I agree with for a lot of reasons. I know of a lady that really wanted a man to be her husband and she did everything within her power and means to have that man. She was successful. It just so happened that this same man was already married for more than two decades with multiple children. The heart wants what it wants, right? We don't need to look too hard to validate what we want and justify why we should have it. We can be as mean and cold and devious as the situation may require. As long as we get what we want, I suppose? This is just a worst case scenario that is practically a staple in our world. But how does this look within organization?  

Raise your hands if you're part of an organization. Everyone's hands should be up. We are all part of some kind of organization whether it be a school, a Fortune 500 company, a college or university, a biker club, or some sort of community based committee. We belong to something. Actually, it is important to many of us that we are involved in some kind of organization. It is good to be around like minded individuals who believe in something worthwhile and who think they can help make the world a better place. (I don't advocate extreme versions of any organization in that description. Just inching towards a larger overall point)

I am a part of several organizations and you know what I noticed? If the heart of the leader is not towards the people, it doesn't matter how many committee meetings you have, or how many events you plan, or how many teleconferences you have sit in on, you will not be able to convince the people who work hard and give their service diligently that the organization is going in the right direction. Many a great man have tried but you honestly can't delegate heart. You can give out tasks, duties, and assignment. Any good administrator can do that but you simply can't give somebody else something you don't have. You can't reproduce heart unless you actually possess some yourself. 

But that's exactly what many leaders of organization do. They say "get out there and show your stuff" but they cannot teach you. They say "I can't promote you until you meet criteria A, B, and C but your work duties and, largely, the work culture make meeting A, B, and C impossible. D and E might be available but they simply don't help you meet your goals. They tell you what you can do but, as leaders, they are ill equipped to help you get there. Still they retain the expectation that you should do so, just without their assistance and without infringing on their personal schedule. 

Do the cries of the people make you look up from your cell phone and acknowledge there's a problem? Do the outpouring of organizational voices compel you to adjust your rigid plan after years of failure have become your trademark? Does the needs of the community outweigh the personal aspirations and one dimensional views of one selfish man?

Have you ever had a leader that you have worked for or around for over a decade and he/she still doesn't know your name or find it profitable to look you into the eye and hold a 3 minute conversation with you? I have. Have you ever tried to connect with a leader in your organization and they won't look up from their Facebook page long enough to say hello? I have. How about a leader that believes their shack is a mansion and you are the hired help? I most definitely have. Working is not something that offends me. Having to use outdated, rusted tools to work when others are available offends me. This is symbolic of leaders without heart for the organization, the mission, and the people needed to carry it out.

The sad part is that the people are not as blind as these kind of leaders think they are. Just because they don't publicly voice their displeasure or speak through company surveys, they recognize that there is an empty space in the chest of the leaders where their hearts are supposed to be. It's only a matter of time before they decide to stop following. Anybody can give directives. Anyone can say what you need to do to be successful in only 5 easy steps.  Anybody can step back and blame the organization's lack of progress on your efforts and your failure to do more. In modern times, that's called a pyramid. What's really impressive is a leader willing to put his or her hands to the tough situations and grind until the situation is resolved. Those kind of leaders are obviously harder to find than ever. If you ever find yourself looking for competent and effective leadership in organization, don't look for the sound of a leader telling you what they are going to do or what you should do. Look for the leader that is actually putting their hands to the work and find their effort valuable and worthwhile enough that they will do it themselves if no one else will. That could be an example worth learning from. If you are a leader of people in any capacity, what does your heart want? Now ask if that answer is best for you or for others.

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9 NIV)

TipPinG sCAleS

I don't know if this even moves the needle for you. You got a busy life and you got kids and the news is just a small appendage to the hectic lifestyle you lead. Occasionally you might hear about an event that tickles your fancy or you may hear about a tragedy that hits home for you. Maybe it makes you so uncomfortable that you change the channel to something funny or benign instead. You had a hard day at work. Who needs all that messy reality stuff, right? You might prefer the "other" reality TV instead. Oh by the way, did you hear that Becca is getting married again? Um hmm.

For the few of you that have a heart for community and humanity and fully recognize that any time and in any space in time, our lives could be irrevocably changed by a bullet fired on all grounds, a speeding car driven by a distracted teen, or turning on the kitchen faucet and seeing brown water, this might be just for you.

This isn't a discussion about whether there is equality in our world or not. That's a pointless argument. All you have to do is look around to get insights. All you have to do is converse with some of your city's citizens and actually listen to what they have to say to gain wisdom. 

There's no real surprises here except that so many just refuse to acknowledge what is clear, evident, and present in the every day. Some of us are privileged to get a free refill of coffee in places that's not normally allowed. Some are allowed to circumvent policies where others would be harshly rebuked, fined, or sanctioned. 

People have been fighting for equal rights since time began. Our history books are way late to the party. I can't even tell you that life is fair and in a level playing field, we'd all make the same decisions and ensure the same results or outcomes. I don't know. 

What I do know is that there is an elephant in the room and he stinks and he's messy. Ignoring the damage caused is a willful act. It's not neglect and it's not a case of being too busy. It's just two eyes that are uncomfortable with what they see and seeing means inherent responsibility and a simple human response to change that must be met. Most people just don't like accountability. If it can be free and easy without consequence, then it's much more desirable. 

You have more rights now than we've ever had in history. You have the right to pick up your remote control and turn the channel but incase you choose to keep it where it is, you might see what I saw on two local news broadcast in the city of Charleston, SC. 

Two children missing for a week with amber alerts. Only one has five minutes of coverage, and impassioned pleas of how much the parents love their children. 

Two families grieve the loss of family members gunned down in acts of random violence. Only one has eight minutes of coverage with eulogies, stories about how much the deceased means to the community from friends and family, testimonies from co-workers, politicians, and others, along with rewards and Go Fund Me accounts. 

Although this is about the news, it's not news. This is fairly standard operating procedure on many news broadcasts....in certain areas of the country. 

Is this a media issue, a financial issue, or something else altogether? What are you seeing in your city and the media's coverage of it? 

It's really beginning to appear that hearts of men and women are growing colder by the day. Close your eyes. Turn the channel. Look away. It's getting easier to insulate ourselves from truth. 

This isn't a rallying cry. I'm just asking some questions that I hope promote some dialogue and perhaps help us to understand and listen to one another. It doesn't affect you and maybe it never will but do we really want to wait until that impossibility becomes possible?  In the event I'm unclear, I'm saying there's a chance. Please share your thoughts, answers, and comments. Maybe we'll take a step up instead of a step back. 

"There are none so blind as those who will not see. The most deluded people are those who choose to ignore what they already know." ~ John Heywood

DeaTH of A sPoRTs FanATiC

There will be a ceremony.
But there will not be a body in the casket.

There will be an epitaph.
But there will not be any need for flowers. 

The day is swiftly approaching. I can feel the winds of change blowing. I can sense the tide is turning. Only those that suffer the same "affliction" are in a position to understand.

Has it ever occurred to you to ask how a "sports fanatic" is made?
Despite the popular boasts on message boards around the world, they are not born from the womb. They are indeed made.

They're made from geographical and familial expectations and traditions. They're made from within marriages and long standing friendships. They're forged out of respect and pride and unseen obligations. Most sports fanatics are hard pressed to trace where their intense fandom even started from. They simply follow. Or blindly do so.

If you have known me for even a brief time, you have heard me speak passionately about the New York Yankees, Mets, and Knicks and NY area college basketball, all of which have begun to wane in interest as the years go on. But I have always been able to wax poetic about the New York Football Giants and the Michigan Wolverines. Out of all of my sports loves, these two have been a constant. I have held onto these with a white knuckle grip....until now.

Many of my readers will speculate as to the "why" but it doesn't have anything to do with anthem protests, touchdown celebrations, my teams' win-loss record, or Papa John's. I don't believe what I am about to say this but I am not as excited about sports as I used to be. I don't think I am a "fanatic" anymore. 

What does that word mean anyway? "It is a person filled with excessive and single minded zeal, noted by militant or extreme devotion."

That's what you see played out on forums and message boards when you make a disparaging comment about someone's team or their favorite players. You could like get death threats or be firebombed with obscenities and racial slurs. That's extreme. I have been known to get into intense verbal altercations about my teams and "First Take" has got nothing on the kind of battles we used to and still often have at our break room lunch table. We are engaged in fiery debate almost daily.

Winston Churchill said, "A fanatic can't change his mind and won't change the subject."

Philosopher George Santayana said, "A fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim."

But something in me has definitively changed. Any one that is a fanatic of football will calm in demeanor in the off-season. That is normal but what I am experiencing is not. It used to be top priority to know what games were being played on a given night. I arranged the rest of my life to accommodate the viewing of sporting events. The time spent in my man cave watching sports was extraordinary and inordinate. It wasn't that I was not conducting a busy lifestyle. This sports lifestyle just meant more to me but that has changed. 

I have missed games last year and never careened off the side of the road, grabbing my phone to feverishly check scores. I no longer stay up late at nights in a dark room, gazing into my laptop to do fantasy football research to get a leg up on my peers. Most of my conversation with friends and family do not revolve around sports. I actually endeavor to spend time with my family and enjoy my downtime. I take classes to better my professional life. I meet with friends at the local coffee shop to talk shop or just connect. I actually make it a discipline to spend time reading, studying, and meditating on my Bible. I'm learning how to feed my goals even during my "free" time. I am growing up in a tangible way.

Many of my friends that wouldn't dare call me on a Sunday afternoon now know that I am available for them. They can barely recognize me now. I can barely recognize myself. Why am I sharing all this you might ask?

It's simple, at least, to me. If we're ever to truly evolve and progress, we have to be open to death. What has been the norm or the standard has to be pruned away so that the new growth can bloom. A seed buried in the ground doesn't remain alive there. If it did, it would produce nothing of value. That seed must die so that the new growth can take place and the tree can become what it is meant to be. So here I am, dying to a part of myself that I have literally fed or have been fed for nearly 50 years. Today, I am openly admitting "that person" no longer resides here. I still love sports and that is not likely to change but the fanatical side of me is dead. And I am happy to bury him never to rise again.

2 BleSSed 2 B StRessED

So um....how many times have you heard that phrase?

You can find it anywhere from a bumper sticker to a T-shirt. Know what else you can find? The stress you're too blessed to have. What does this phrase even mean? I have some questions.

When Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers and left for dead? Was he stressed?

When that same Joseph ran out of the Potiphar's house while his boss' wife screamed rape, was Joseph stressed?

What about Moses after traipsing around the wilderness with a bunch of ingrates who wanted to do some things to him? Was Moses stressed?

What about Jesus as they pounded metal spikes into his wrists and feet and spat on him and struck him repeatedly? Was our Lord and Savior just a wee bit stressed?

I believe I am a blessed man but I question if I am impenetrable against stress. I was on the way to work one morning. I was having challenges with my allergy since the pollen count was so high but nothing too extreme. One of my eyes began to itch slightly but nothing too out of the ordinary. I went into work same as I always do as one of my peers screamed out "What's wrong with your eye?"

Then another peer came over and said the exact same thing but with much more animation. I raced into the bathroom and half of my left eye was totally blood red. I busted a blood vessel somehow. I didn't feel anything or sense that I was tight about any particular situation. The medical term is a "subconjunctival hemorrhage". It looks scary but it should disappear within two weeks or so. That's not the part I want to draw your attention to.

Stress. Out of all the things that could've cause my eye situation, this is the one thing everyone that saw me diagnosed as the cause.

Stress. How does it look? How does it feel? What does it taste like?

Most people don't think it's possible to be stressed and not know it. I think it's a common thought to have some stress-related symptoms but not associate them with stress. You could be sad or angry about a situation and not associate it with stress. You just may focus on the person that is getting on your nerves. But while you stand slighted, part of you is being diminished. When stress is on the scene, you lose something. Stress causes disease and disease always takes no prisoners. It destroys everything in its path. Disease is ruthless, merciless, and heartless. It does the only thing it knows how to do: Obliterate.

My blogs are always full of personal anecdotes, pearls of wisdom that I am blessed to receive so I share them, and often some painful realizations that I come to privately but I share them publicly for the betterment of someone else. This time is no different.

I truly thought that all of the challenges I was dealing were given to the Lord. (See I Peter 5:7) I was wrong. I put all my stuff in the Lord's storehouse but since I had a key, the temptation to open the door and retrieve some of that same stuff was greater than I originally thought. I picked it back up again. I don't know where and when it happened but I must have. How else would I be stressed? I didn't fully trust God. That's the real truth. I tried to use my intellect and insights to "figure it out" and it cost me something. Something I may not be able to get back.

What could happen if we truly trusted in the Creator of every thing and less on what we think and what we believe and what we want? What would happen if we permanently cast all of our cares off of our shoulders? What if we legitimately trusted in God for everything? How different would our lives be? Would we be able to truly detect how blessed we are? Could we more than adequately explain why we are blessed and it goes beyond a t-shirt, a catchphrase, or a church membership?

If you are blessed, what does that entail? How does that state dictate how you treat yourself? Or how you treat others? How does it affect the way you pray? Or what you ask for when you do pray? If you are blessed, does it make you nicer? Does it make you stronger? Does it make you fearful of returning to a "non-blessed" state? Will it cause you to take more faith steps than normal? Lots of folks know what it means to be stressed but (it seems) not as many understand what it means to be blessed.

Like I said. I have some questions.

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do prospers." (Psalms 1:1-3 NIV)

ThrOugH yOUr EyEs

Margaret Wolfe Hungerford coined the phrase, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

William Shakespeare once said, "The eyes are the windows to the soul."

It's all in the eyes. What do you see when you look at me? What do you see when you look at you? What do you see when you look at others around you? What do you see when you look at the world?

I am not content with closing my eyes while I listen to the screams of nations crying out for aid.

I am not cool with closing my eyes while underprivileged families go four and half years without clean water.

I am not comfortable with labeling little children terrorists or refugees. At the end of the day, they are just children. At the end of the day, are we screw-ups simply because our parents were?

I am not thrilled about a systemic, structural, and social condition that allows the face of racism to morph into one less overt but still just as evil.

It's nearly impossible for me, in my old age, to buy that silence, particularly on important issues, does not equal consent, or at the very least, a weak endorsement.

I can't honestly say I am the greatest champion of world causes but if you pillage villages, forcibly unseat kings and emperors, rape their women and children, enslave their people, hunt endangered species into extinction, and steal every valuable natural resource you can find, you don't get to mock the condition of the said country. That's the truth, the *hole truth and nothing but the truth.

I am hopeful that my grandson's classmates have been allowed to play with "brown children" now at his elementary school. He's been pretty lonely at recess.

I am not willing to accept that charitable giving can still somehow make the rich richer and keeps the poor and less fortunate very much poor and less fortunate.

I can love watching old mysteries like "Perry Mason" and "Peter Gunn" and still clearly see what that era's view of beauty looks like. It's still a struggle to understand in 2018.

I am still incredulous that my favorite sport (which I try to quit but I can't let go) is still often run like a dictatorship at times. (I used 'dictatorship' for lack of a more suitable, more PC word.)

I don't believe we can be found blameless when we restrict or forbid ourselves from using our voice and our resources to help others. (Pick a social issue. They all probably apply.)

I live in a place where often southern hospitality is reserved for those who talk like, have similar back stories with, or have a physical resemblance with the ones being "hospitable". Your top ten lists are a sham!

I am not able to resign myself to see an impressionable African American boy with a "Coolest Monkey in the Jungle" T-shirt on as being cute or acceptable.

I am not okay with friends only offering "thoughts and prayers" when a helping hand is required and available. And that's from someone who firmly and adamantly believes "prayer changes things."

I am very guarded against "reacting to the headlines" but "ignoring the content". That is an ever present danger for all of us.

I am gravely concerned how easy it is for so many to callously attach themselves to a legitimate movement that is decades overdue. If one's not careful, we could forget what this is supposed to be about.

Is there a proposed date on the calendar when we will start thinking generationally and not just about the fleeting moment we're in? Just asking for a friend...

So what does your world look like? Do you see hope? Can you see humanity beneath a hue or a tint? How do things look through your eyes? Sometimes even the simplest of things can become pretty blurry.

Thank you so much for reading, sharing, and subscribing to "Mirror Time With Mistayu". Hope this was worth your time.

KinGS aNd KinGdOMs

Honestly..
Sincerely..
I am in a quandary.

I don't think the world is ready. But then I believe the world is anxiously waiting.

What is the impact on a house and all its inhabitants when the foundation is undone without ample time to prepare? What does the fallout look like? What does the plan for recovery look like? Is there actually avoidable recovery that can be made?

Read your bibles and you have access to the blueprint of kings and kingdoms. Empires and nations. Rising and falling. It's almost as old as time itself. Like Solomon scribed, "There's nothing new under the sun!"

If one doesn't want a family secret to be told or seen by future generations, they have multiple options. They can burn the books that tell the story. Our they can burn the storyteller so they can't tell the story. They can tear down every symbol that represents that truth and build something else in its place. They can use trickery and deceit to cut off the strength of their enemy and pluck out his eyes. They can feed an emperor a royal feast of meat and wine and when he is merry, fall upon him with a sword. They can procure a nation through back door politics, bribes, and conspiracy. Dressing up a King in the garments of a slave and taking his crown doesn't make him less of a King. Ask the Romans about that. That comes from a place far deeper than royal garments, a crown, and a scepter could ever truly provide.

I know you can hear but are you able to listen. I won't demand that you spend your ten dollars or dictate how you spend it but I do have a suggestion. Do what, in the minds of many, is unthinkable. Momentarily put aside what you think you know and understand about Black culture and African Americans in general. I know it's difficult to blot out the images you've been given your whole life but just this once, walk through those double doors without reading reviews or asking your friends what they think. Take your friends and your family out for movie night and go see Marvel's Black Panther.

Why? Hear me and hear me well. This could be a moment that changes everything. Maybe not the world you currently find yourself living in but it could enhance your vision. That's the key to changing everything. Who would've thought that enlightenment could come through a comic book movie? You're going to be pleasantly surprised and amazed. It's so much more than that. It's a door into a world many never wanted you to see. I'm awestruck that even in 2018, you're even being given the opportunity. This is once in a lifetime stuff! This is eye opening, mind changing stuff!

Black Panther. Not the connotation from the Civil rights movement or anything that has been painted as negative, divisive, and anti-American. What you may be witnessing predates all that and speaks to something much more profound. This is the one movie that got the whole world shook. Communities...shook. Ideologies...shook. Your sense of normal...shook. This might be THAT moment where you find out who your true friends are and I mean that with all seriousness! Your circle of friends may dramatically change and you may find this movie will either enhance or mess up your life. This movie possesses that kind of impact. It's the truth shovel for centuries worth of buried lies. Can't cut the nose off of this one. Can't burn the pages and pretend it doesn't exist. The bell has been rung and it can't be undone. People treat you the way they see you and often because of how you see you. What if everything you've been taught left out some very important details? What would change about your right now if you possessed that knowledge? How do you proceed if you found out your whole life was founded upon a lie? Your name. Your family. Your heritage. Your affinity for a specific vocation and subsequent career goals. Everything you thought you knew was all wrong. This movie, if you can hear the distinctive sound it is guaranteed to make, could be game changing to say the least. 

This movie is the one even non comic book lovers and non Marvel Universe fans MUST see. It bears an clear and emphatic message history books have conveniently omitted. If truth (even draped in a fictional piece of cinematic ambiance) matters to you, you may find this refreshing and unsettling at the same time. I can sit here and tell you about how this isn't about pimps, hoes, slaves, black on black crime, and uprisings against "the man". I can opine about how this will give insights into a world untouched by a need for that uprising in the first place. I can give you bullet points like Strength. Vitality. Civilized. Ingenious. Innovative. Dominant. Kingdom. I can go all day on this but I won't. History has proven that a mind that refuses to be changed is a powerful monster. It will lie, cheat, steal, and destroy to maintain what it has and even gain more. It is an immovable object. If it can't be changed then it has to be broken. Consider breaking pattern for one day. Go see it with people whose opinions you value. Go see it with those who have never been to a movie like this and never wanted to. Pay for their ticket. Go see it with the entire family. Go see it with the naysayers of comic book movies. If you have no other choice, go see it alone. Just go witness it for yourself.

I won't ask you to share this or like this or agree with any of this. I know it's scary. It's big and imposing. It makes some uncomfortable. I honestly understand and I don't blame you. But I believe it's time for this story to be told by this storyteller for the collective ear to hear.