I heard something today that made me say, Hmmm. Here it is.
We think the opposite of lov e is hate, but it’s not. It’s indifference. The reasoning is hate implies there is still some emotional tie. You have to care or feel something to hate. Indifference, you feel nothing. You don’t care.
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My Soil was so enriched Sunday at Church. It came from fellow members who went beyond to show me care and love. You see our church greeters are warm and kind to everyone who enters the doors. But what i’m about to share was beyond that.
I walk with a cane most times because of lower back problems that affect my balance. All of the senior parking spaces were taken. The only one possibly open was reserved, so I had to park a little farther away. As I crossed the parking lot I heard someone behind me call my name. The person wanted to give me her parking spot that had been reserved for her because she had to unload some things so she had to be close. I told her, No but thanks. I walked on.
I must tell you it was a very cold morning. When the greeter saw me nearing the door he opened it. He asked me if there was anything I needed and that he could help with, I said, just to get inside. He smiled and said, May I hug you? It was like a son hugging his mother. I’m not old enough to be his grandmother 😀. It was purely kind affection. He’s kind to everyone but there seemed to be something different, something special, something tenderer than usual. A little later the same gentleman’s wife walked past me on her way to the sanctuary. She realized I was sitting there in the foyer, backed up and gave me a hug and a kiss. She interrupted her purpose to step back and hug me. ❤️.
I had only one student in my Bible study class. She and I had a good discussion. We had fun. We shared, laughed and learned together. I realized the fire I felt when teaching had been missing. It returned. Richness.
During the service, we had a consecration ceremony for all leaders; ministers, elders and ministry volunteers. We were prayed for and anointed with oil. At the end of the ceremony we were asked to tell the people around us that they were a gift. This is our theme for the year. We did. The person behind me leaned over and with emphasis said, I know you are a gift. I didn’t know who it was until I turned around but I still didn’t know why she said it like that. It didn’t matter. Yahweh had just dropped some more nutrients to my soil.
The final additive was made by another son-like relationship. I had gotten in my car and was looking for a phone number to order lunch. There was a knock on my window. I lowered the window and the person who was studying there said, I just wanted to share some love with you and leaned in to give me a hug. I didn’t know I needed that but I did. Yahweh knew. He sees. He walked out of his way to do that.
Now, alone each encounter may not seem like much but collectively, they meant more than gold. They were simple, unexpected and powerful. My soil darkened several shades of blackness. The blackness signaled the richness, the added nutrients, that which will nourish, and strengthen me for days.
Rich Black Soil. Healthy Growth. Blessed Life.
The eyes of the LORD are in every place. Keeping watch over the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3
Sometimes, I get so focused on the things going on around me that I need to be reminded that Yahweh sees.
Yes, I need to be aware. I have a responsibility as a citizen and human. Knowledge and understanding is necessary for wise decision making and action. But it is Yehovah’s plan. He sees what I don’t see. My movement must be aligned with that plan.
Yahweh sees.
Like many churches across the country, a corporate fast began. On January 1 many people declared resolutions. For the Fast, I set goals. Goals that I expect to enrich my Black Soil.
The first two were the highest priority and I got those done. I am now back in the habit of making my meals. This is not only healthier but economical. With food costs, actually all costs, rising, this helps.
I will continue working on these goals and replacing them with new goals as they become habits.
Who makes pineapple and lemon juice using the whole fruit? I’ve been reading that are benefits to the peel of pineapples and lemons. Usually, to make these juices, I peel them. Lately, I have juiced the whole thing.
You ask why and how? The how is simple. I have a Nama J2 juicer that handles everything quite well. If you don’t like pulp you may need to strain it but I love it all.
Now for the why.
There are benefits to both peels. We know grated lemon peels had flavor to dishes but is there anything else. Oh, so much more. And for the pineapple peel. I didn’t know it was edible.
Benefits of lemon peel.
Benefits of Pineapple Peel
WHEW!
All that goodness we normally trash. I am now juicing it all. This saves time. I don’t have to cut the pineapple peel off and I don’t have to peel lemons. But warning! Wash everything, thoroughly. Especially if non-organic. It will be thicker so strain if you don’t like pulp. Happy juicing! 😊
Lab experiment to replace tuna salad
Sometimes you just want a sandwich. Sometimes you just want a salad topping. This jackfruit based offering gives me just that. It’s simple, quick and few ingredients.
Here is my final meal. It is jackfruit, celery, serrano pepper, avocado and salt to taste on a bed of spinach, arugula and tomatoes. The salad dressing is a homemade avocado/cashew milk dressing.
Last night I attended Praisesongs of the People curated by former poet laureate Amanda Johnston held at Kindred Stories Bookstore, Houston, TX. The event featured 6 of the poets in Ms. Johnston’s anthology of the same name. It was an uplifting and entertaining poetry collection of people of color on this MLK Day celebration: Asian, Black and Mexican, all Americans. There were 3 poet laureates in the house: Amanda Johnston and Lupé Mendez. TX state laureates and Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, Houston laureate.
The poems were also educational. One specific poem really hit me with a fact I suspected but had not given it much thought.
Lupe shared a poem that let us into a part of a conversation with his father. His shared some feelings about experiences growing and living in America as a man of Mexican heritage. What really hit was the similarity wisdom he shared with his son that happens in Black families. It was “The Talk.”
“The Talk” is instruction on how to survive as a black male when confronted by police or any other white person who believes he/she has the authority to control your life. It doesn’t matter if you have done or are doing something that provokes this confrontation. You’re black, therefore you are probably guilty of something. This is not paranoia. It’s fact. So “The Talk” gives wisdom that increases the probability that you will make it home safely.
I spoke with Lupé after the event about this and to get his permission to use his name and story. He told me :The Talk” was very definitely a part of his community’s conversation and life. My observation is that it is even more imperative now in this Age of I.C.E..
While forces try to divide us, this reminds me that we have more in common than we have differences. Let’s protect and support each other when it is right to do. Let’s work together.
Thank you Amanda for the duration. Thank you Kindred Stories for the hosting. Thank you Poets for sharing you life. Thank you Lupé for letting us into your reality.
Can you positive example of where you’ve felt loved?
I experienced a car accident that totaled my car. Some friends, a couple, helped me buy a brand new car. They paid the down payment, taxes and registration without my asking. Their action supported their statements of love.
For those who are not aware, I do not like to cook. Here is a quick recount of my entry into the lab. First thing was to change my attitude. I changed how I viewed my kitchen. It was no longer a place to cook food but a place to experiment with food. So it began.
The first thing that changed was my husband and I deciding to stop eating beef, pork, chicken, and dairy; but not all at the same time. We still ate turkey and seafood. I decided one day to stop buying ground turkey and sliced turkey for sandwiches. I thought why not break down the turkey and grind some, and cook the rest for different uses. I did and it was a fun, time consuming endeavor. Next experiment was bread. I did like to bake so I expected this to be a more enjoyable experience. I remembered when my children were young how much fun we had baking bread together. This is how they learned fractions. At the same time I began to grow peppers. I wanted to make my own hot sauce, mustard and ketchup. I was on a natural food kick. LOL.
When my husband was treated by Dr. Baxter Montgomery for heart issues, a raw vegan dietary plan was the main prescription. This was a new challenge. We had moved to Texas and anticipated eating Cajun and creole dishes. I know it was not New Orleans but the influences are alive and well in Houston. That dream died. We became not only vegan but raw vegan. The lab was revived. Enough of that. You get the point.
In these past three years I have fluctuated between vegan and pescatarian. I have gained all the weight I had lost during the years we were raw vegan/vegan. We ate no processed food. (Side Note. When the doctor told me I didn’t have to prepare everything from scratch, I tried the closest to clean processed vegan food. Big mistake.) I began gaining weight and got lazy because of the convenience. Not only have I gained weight but joint pains, brain fog and fatigue have returned.
Like many churches in this country, my church began this new year with a corporate Daniel Fast. The dietary portion of this fast is much like I eat anyway, so there was no sacrifice for me in that area. My fast had to take a different form. My fast was eliminating convenience. If I purchased prepared food, it had to be strictly clean and vegan. This could only be done once a week at most. This requires me to prepare all the other meals. I am vegan . I have to cook or make raw preparations. This requires discipline and planning. This is my fast.
So now, I am back in the lab. To get started I decided to make a salad dressing that I enjoy at a salad restaurant I go to. It is jalapeno avocado dressing. They told me no dairy was used to make it but I am not sure.(I just checked. It does include dairy products.) My experiment uses no dairy. Mine is avocado, non-dairy milk, seasonings, vinegar and habenaro. It tasted okay but I have to adjust the flavor profile. Too mild.
On my way to the lab to try a new burger recipe with lentils and quinoa.
See you soon.
I just took that step that requires commitment. I have just registered my domain name. It is blacksoilliving.com. So why is this a big deal? Well, it requires me to commit to consistant posts. It also allows me to upgrade my site. So stay tuned. This is the beginning of the Redefining.
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