My Boy do Kanye West, Just Give Me Some Celine Dion...

Often times I get frustrated with knowing what is the right thing to do. Taken from the movie "Do the Right Thing" by Spike Lee, I find myself exiting rooms with that movie title. It's as though I can’t feel good except I am at least trying to be correct.

This frustration at times causes me to dislike the fact that I care for others as much as I do. At times I feel plagued by smiling when I want to frown; walk away, when I am so ready to punch someone who is being rude to me, or just acting up; apologizing when I feel I have done nothing wrong- this really burns me at times.

This morning I began to pray about my attitude and how things in this life frankly piss me off! The only thing that can sooth my soul lately when I feel this way is Celine Dion album entitled, All the Way: A Decade of Song.

After all I have been through I still feel bad every so often. Even though I have countless victories; they are not enough. I have had so many wins that if my victories were recorded I would be the World Greatest (a description of Mohammed Ali the once Heavy Weight Champion of the World- written by R Kelly).

Nevertheless, I don’t feel like a winner everyday let alone a champion- sometimes I feel like a hopeless river wandering through valleys never being reunited with the sea. Its times like these that I usually go dancing, or fine something interesting to do like traveling. What I never do is accept this temporary circumstance of weakness, failure, and lost.

I am always thinking about what I can do to stand. I use music and exercise to change my mood at times to effect me positively. For instance, I will jog or lift weights and pray as I exercise. If things are really bad I do the above, plus pull out music that turn my heart on the Lord like Jonathan Butler, Al Green, Celine Dion, Donnie Hathaway, Luciano and Soca music. If I am still down, I will jog and preach to myself the word of God until my change come. By chance if none of the above work, I repeat every step again tomorrow until I am better; if it takes days, then days it take. The point is I never ever get tired enough to give up.

You and I both need to have tested and proven ways to get out of the dumps and make sure we are not living where a visit is not acceptable. I know some will not like the tools I used to get back up again. Yet, I find hope in the Holy Scripture that says the earth and everything in it belongs to God Psalm 24.

I don’t discriminate when my life and joy is on the line. Jehovah gives us what we need when we need it. If it does not hurt my body, take away from my relationship with God, distract me from being a witness, or hurt others -Babe it's on. What I need may not be a sermon, prayer, Tele-evangelist, or fasting. I believe at times, all I need is Crossroads Entertainment Complex, or a reggae band called Storm on Friday nights at Bukum Café in Adams Morgan, Washington, DC. I do what I must do to stay above my drowning.

I submit to you to hold on to the table, water hose, the sofa, kitchen sink, end tables, and whatever else to stop yourself from fainting. Quitters never win, and winners never quit. The shadow of death is not death; it’s only a shadow. If you want to see a change, then change and see.

My scripture today is:

Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.

2He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.

3He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake.

4Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.

6Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

Footnotes:
Psalm 23:5 It is difficult for those living in a temperate climate to appreciate, but it was customary in hot climates to anoint the body with oil to protect it from excessive perspiration. When mixed with perfume, the oil imparted a delightfully refreshing and invigorating sensation. Athletes anointed their bodies as a matter of course before running a race. As the body, therefore, anointed with oil was refreshed, invigorated, and better fitted for action, so the Lord would anoint His "sheep" with the Holy Spirit, Whom oil symbolizes, to fit them to engage more freely in His service and run in the way He directs--in heavenly fellowship with Him.

Psalm 24
A Psalm of David.

1THE EARTH is the Lord's, and the fullness of it, the world and they who dwell in it.

2For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the currents and the rivers.

3Who shall go up into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His Holy Place?

4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted himself up to falsehood or to what is false, nor sworn deceitfully.

5He shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6This is the generation [description] of those who seek Him [who inquire of and for Him and of necessity require Him], who seek Your face, [O God of] Jacob. Selah [pause, and think of that]!

7Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, you age-abiding doors, that the King of glory may come in.

8Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

9Lift up your heads, O you gates; yes, lift them up, you age-abiding doors, that the King of glory may come in.

10Who is [He then] this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah [pause, and think of that]!