IT’s HARD OUT HERE!

It is hard out here! So many things ravage through ones’ mind in this rat race, dreams deferred or put on hold so that we can get our basic needs met. We are stalked by child hood dreams and aspirations that will not cease to exist in our subconscious. The slogans are shoved down our throats since grammar school ” if you believe you can achieve” No one ever mentioned that some times in life depending on your socioeconomic status, race or where you were born demographically opportunities can be limited.

And getting a college degree does not equal financial stability. Depending upon the amount of loans you have taken out you may find your self in deeper debt then where you started. On that long journey to success that includes financial freedom how does one stay sane, moral and still have the audacity to hope when your on your last tank of gas and groceries need to be bought? How does one exercise restraint and not turn to dope dealing, stripping, prostitution and other means of hustling? Regardless of how religious or spiritual one may be; out of desperation to survive radical thoughts invade the human mind. It is easy for someone who has arrived at financial freedom to shout empty rhetoric like, “just believe, have faith, persevere” without including a practical formula for embodying these concepts.

Everyone’s journey is going to be different and may require more faith or more patience than another. It is essential to  understand environmental influences and family dynamics do affect a persons progress in some way or another. Having faith requires one to see or imagine a vision that has yet to be captured by the physical eye, like imagining what has to be done tomorrow though it has yet to come. Belief comes in to play by believing that your vision is real and, has yet to be manifest despite what your current circumstances appear to be. If there is no vision, we are left blundering around subject to all forms of attack; allowing our current desperate circumstances to be our ultimate reality.

Remember it took African Americans over 400 years to gain physical freedom, the Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years before reaching the promise land.

In order to gain freedom in any degree one must have a vision, have faith in that vision, un wavering belief in the vision. Lastly, take the steps toward manifesting that vision, without deviating off the correct path. In the event we lose our way; we need to turn on our GPS or God Path Source and get back on track!

May this passage be a reminder of what true faith looks like;

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

-Hebrews 11

Why Are You Running Away From Yourself?

  Time and Time again we are constantly seeking escapism or some form of distraction from our everyday problems. We seek refuge in food, unhealthy relationships, social media, drugs, work and so on. But what really are we running from? Or running towards?  In that journey, do we arrive at the destination that we were so adamantly seeking?

Ultimately in life we realize early on that any type of pain externally or internally is undesirable. Naturally we seek to avoid what ever is inflicting that particular pain. Essentially when we run away from inflictions we are seeking peace whether consciously or subconsciously. Paradoxically while we seek peace we are derailed by delusions of peace. For example a drug attic remains addicted to a substance because they’re chasing elevation, not realizing the search for elevation did not derive from using the substance, it was an internal desire. An abused women remains with her abuser hoping that one day; he will become that charismatic man that ignited passion in her before the despair. The abused women hasn’t realized the  passion she seeks began before her acquaintance with him it was internal. The excessively ambitious entrepreneur is obsessed with a distorted idea of success, amassing  wealth but  suffers silently of emotional poverty and emptiness. 

More importantly it is impossible to find freedom externally when the cage lies within. It is becoming more evident since ancient civilization escapism has become a habit of humanity. Take prophet Jonah(peace be upon him), God called him to enlighten the people of Nineveh, teaching them to worship One God and  desist in their immoral behavior. Prophet Jonah became frustrated with the behavior of the people of Nineveh and allowed his emotions to stir him off the righteous path. In a state of anger he boarded a ship hoping it would sail far away from Nineveh. Instead of running away from his problem the ship ran into a raging storm. It was customary at that time to draw sticks to determine who would be thrown over board  to prevent the ship from sinking. Prophet Jonah’s name was pulled thus into the raging waters he went. When he awoke Prophet Jonah was in the deep dark belly of a whale. It wasn’t until he was in the depths of darkness and ultimate solitude did he realize; there isn’t anywhere to escape what the Creator of all creations has ordained him to do. With this deep understanding of purpose Prophet Jonah cried out to God and was freed physically from the belly of the whale and mentally.

 Through the ancient account of Prophet Jonah it is evident that running away from ourselves or problems will only lead to enslavement as opposed to liberation. True freedom is; identifying our purpose, having unassailable faith that whatever trial we’re experiencing we have  divine assistance and, the mental capacity to accomplish any goal or overcome any obstacle. Deep in the darkness of our soul is where we will find purpose, liberation, ecstasy, peace and God. All other paths are temporary mirages and are sure to fade away.

 I leave you with Peace.