What's going on my Constituents?
I hope everyone had a safe and merry christmas along w/ getting everything you wanted and deserved.
This year for was the first time no one asked me "What do you want for Christmas?" or got an official gift to open. I'm not complaining though, it just gave me time to reflect on what's really important and focus on "the true meaning of Christmas (Jesus and his birth)"---sorry for the cliche.
Of course I would have loved to get flossy material things to flaunt and play with. Of course I would have loved to shower my loved and close ones w thoughtful and considerate gifts....But it didn't happen.
But what I did get is something I receive everyday, and that's an opportunity to wake up and magnify god's name and manifest his will. I don't do it effectively all the time, but I try. I also got my health, my family/people still alive and I'm not struggling. A lot of people can't say that.
And with that in mind, I'm content and grateful.....but with my birth mom's in town coming to visit me, that put a lot of monetary pressure on me. Not pressure from her, but pressure from myself and fantastic visions of holding my mom's down.
Last week I went to the ATM and before I inserted my card the monitor read "Do you need more time?" You all know the only time the ATM says that is when a card is already in the machine. Just to humor myself, I pressed "yes" and requested a bank statement from the cardholder's checking account. Low and behold the ATM receipt came out and disclosed it was $2200 in the account! Not a big sum but for a person going to the bank w a humble intent to w/ drawl $20, my initial hair-brained, trifling self thought 'Jackpot'!
After being caught up in the moment, the ATM starting beeping and again read "Do you need more time?"...I was torn a part b/c that was an easy come-up to help w bills and shop for Christmas right around the corner. Luckily a good friend of mine was next to me and told me not to do it; but you don't satisfy your hunger after taking one bite out of the sandwich. I need more confirmation. I called and conferred w another confidant of mine who convinced me to concede to the correct, Christ way (couldn't resist the 'c' alliteration).
The last thing my man said was "...nah, don't take the card son, God will reward you and look out for you in the future." As soon as he said that, it instantly clicked. I had to and DID return the card to the bank (I was at the ATM b4 the bank closed...fortunately! The temptation would've been extra strong if it was closed)...not so God will reward me and look out for me in the future, but because I saw this as a chance to "thank" God for the many millions of small/big blessings he's bestowed upon me to get this far.
Just to adhere to bank examples, just a month ago I left my wallet, the same wallet my old man gave me Christmas of '95, on the sidewalk in broad daylight for over 40 minutes and I came back it was there! I mean I literally drove from one side of town to another to eat some food, realized I lost my wallet, got back in rush-hour traffic to trace my steps and it was there! (insert a mother's "Thank you Jesus" here). So I had to Do the Right Thing and return the ATM card. And me finding my wallet is just one example of the many gifts I receive everyday. Did I bring it back?
Speaking of "Doing the Right Thing"...I was thinking, why are my people usually forced to do the right thing. Why do we have to get in trouble, get reprimanded, then try to rehabilitate ourselves? I guess most of the time, it's in our environment's dna to act greasy, but I truly believe most brothers WANT to do the right thing...it's just that our community doesn't aford us that luxury(doing the right thing) for the sake of being soft.
Take Mike Vick for instance. This cat recently won an award from the Eagles for "courage." While some media figures were out-raged he received the award, I understand the mentality of his teammates to vote him for that reward (Facing unruly crowds on the road, being blackballed for a certain time by the league, facing peta boycotters, being under an intense microscope, etc).
And I concur w their decision. And following Mike Vick in his subsequent interviews from prison, I truly believe he was contrite for his mistakes and appreciative to get a second chance. I also saw a man that was thankful to get a huge burden off his back. What was that burden? The burden of trying to keep it "real" or "street" for his fans and people from the "hood". Especially when those same people from the "hood" got him in prison the first place.
I saw a dude FORCED to do the right thing from the government, and eager to do it b/c he was just tired of previous actions. I saw a man relieved to do the right thing, and if anyone questions his street credibility or authenticity, Vick can rely on his legal predicament as an excuse. Either way, good for him.
But what's our excuse to "Do the Right Thing?".....Do we need one, or is it in us already?
i think we do have it in us already. the issue is whether or not we choose to do the right thing, and the extent to which our decisions are submitted to God's way of doing things usually determines the choice to do right or wrong. you chose to allow your decision that day to be directed and submitted to Spirit of God in you, which will ultimately lead to a profitable result. imagine if people allowed all their life decisions to be led in the same way...
ReplyDeleteall I can say is "wow"!
ReplyDeleteFrom a cultural standpoint, not taking the money out of that person's account is considered being naive or not using common sense. That was what is referred to as a "ghetto blessing" where I'm from. But then again, where I'm from....alot of cats would have been compelled to simply rob a person they know had 2 stacks, while all they were trying to get from an ATM was a dub! It's called a "come up" or "lik". My point, I question whether we have it in us?
African-American culture has sub-cultures within that culture. (Hell, America has sub-cultures within American culture across the board. Sometimes I wonder if a person's culture is based more on economic status as opposed to race or heritage...but I digress.) Of course, certain people have it within them to be honest and to carry themselves with integrity. But for cats like me, you, or better yet....the cats Vick grew up with....right and wrong becomes relative.
Most importantly, congratulations homie! That story, that act of integrity....that's the true measure of the person you are. That was the best way to hold your Mom's down during the holiday season and the biggest "I love you" you could have given your old man. My faith wavers often (especially now). But I have always known that people measure my parents and the job they've done in raising me, by my actions. My parents were wonderful! Anytime my actions can reflect that, I'm happy. They deserve at least that much. Me knowing just a little about your people's as well, they too deserved for you to honor them in that way. Big ups my dude!
AND!!! Maybe that's the answer to the question you posed? For those who need an excuse to "do the right thing," they may not have been blessed with the family structure we grew up in. And for those of us that innately have it in us....we can thank our parents for that.