Do you remember nursery school? Today they call it preschool. I do. The place: McKenzie Courts Center. The administrator/teacher: Mrs. Henderson. The first lovingly, strong academia influence in my life. She and her staff taught us skills to prepare us for elementary school. It wasn’t just the a,b,c’s, colors and numbers. When I left there I could read and write legibily. They taught us how to behave in social settings outside our home. They required our best in all areas. I never thought of that place as a place for poor, black kids. I never felt the sting of “separate but equal” unequal segregation. Jim Crow overshadowed this sanctuary, but I didn’t know it. I felt safe. Mrs. Henderson and company did that for us. I remember we ate, we slept, we played, we learned. But most of all we were respected and loved. You can’t get much richer than that:My Black Soil. My roots got stronger every day. I was a little kid enjoying life. I believe Mrs Henderson is enjoying a well-deserved rest in heaven. Thank you.
learning
The Long Way ‘Round
Sometimes I find myself questioning God about Carl’s healing. I know without a doubt that he answered my prayer that fateful night quickly and clearly. He confirmed it every step of the way in the hospitals and rehab through nurses, speech therapists and Carl’s progress. Yet, here we are almost 4 years later and there are still areas that are not completely healed. The brain trauma due to a lack of oxygen caused by the several episodes of ventricular tachycardia still affects his memory sometimes. He says it’s like being in a fog and when it clears he remembers. I guess I didn’t think it would take this long. I asked God why was it taking so long? Was I doing something to slow down the progress?
One day while reading Exodus, I believe I received my answer. In Exodus 13:17,18 God says He led the people along the path of the Red Sea rather than the short route through the Wilderness of Sin because the wilderness took them through the land of the Philistines. The Philistines were large in size and proficient in war.
So it happened, when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearer; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war [that is, that there will be war], and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea; the sons of Israel went up in battle array (orderly ranks, marching formation) out of the land of Egypt.
EXODUS 13:17-18 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/exo.13.17-18.AMP
It jumped off the page. He didn’t choose the shortest route. They were not ready for what they might encounter. Think about it. They had not needed to war for 430 years. Egypt handled that. He took them the long way so that they could learn.
- Learn Him and His ways;
- Learn how to strategize;
- Learn how to fight;
- Learn to be His nation
More questions. What had I not learned? I realized maybe it wasn’t about me. Maybe there was more for Carl to learn; maybe for us to learn together. Hmmm…
Thank you Lord for “the long way ’round.”
Trying New Mobile Editor
I have been away quite awhile but I didn’t stop thinking or writing. I have questioned many things and I have learned much. I am making serious lifestyle changes. I am excited to see out future unfold.
Who Would Have Thought
Who would have thought designing a website for yourself would be more difficult than doing it for someone else. This is not the first webpage presence that I have created. This is even more basic than the others. Am I really a difficult client? The concept was easy. The domain name was relatively easy, even though I had to modify it. The original choice was not available. I can’t even find a happy face. I am laughing.
Choosing a layout is proving a to be a challenge. I might fire myself. Just kidding. I have decided to walk completely through the WordPress process. When I am done I might be a WordPress expert because I am sure I have or will have discovered a substantial amount of “what NOT to do’s.” This new blog that I am creating will ultimately become MY website. Maybe that is why I am being such a difficult client. Big smiles and laughs. I am going to find those emoticons.
Laughing at myself. I needed that.
Reflective Inventory
A few days ago my son asked me what was the purpose of my blog; why was it “random thoughts.” I told him that I had thoughts about many different things, so I didn’t want to be limited to one train of thought. He then said, “Oh, it’s just your journal.” That stung. Was it the characterization or maybe his perceived tone? Nevertheless, he made me take inventory and that required reflective thought.
From that process I solidified the purpose and structure of this blog. It may not be very marketable but I hope it will be fun or at least memorable. I want to be free to dabble in poetry and storytelling. I want to share insights from my personal bible studies. Who knows I might do a series of teachings on a subject. I want to share information regrading mental health and my rich culture.
I want to share
spontaneous images like seeing a double rainbow or light shooting from a dark cloud. I even want to share a new experiment in my laboratory (kitchen).
Yes these are the kinds of things I want to share.
Now, I know what I want to accomplish with this blog. I want to
- Inform
- Provoke thought
- Inspire and encourage
- Challenge
- Learn from others
- Engage in conversation with people who have different backgrounds and experiences.
It will still be Random thoughts.
It will still be My journal.
No Conflict
The word science comes from the Latin “scientia,” meaning knowledge. … This system uses observation and experimentation to describe and explain natural phenomena. … Less formally, the word science often describes any systematic field of study or the knowledge gained from it. www.sciencemadesimple.com/science–definition.html
or for the more particular
a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws: the mathematical sciences. 2. systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation. dictionary.reference.com/browse/science
The bottom line is science observes what is and gains knowledge from it. From where does what is observed come?
It is my belief that the what was created by God. There was a divine entity who executed a divine plan. Mankind has been observing and experimenting to understand God’s creation since the beginning of time.
God Created. Science learns.
No Conflict.
"Black Soil" Living 