Why I want one hour with Dave Chappelle.
I often quote my second fave Philosopher, Heraclitus (Immanuel Kant #1), as having said, “All is flux. You cannot step into the same river twice.”
Turns out, not only I, but Plato misquoted this pre-Socratic Ephesian. His actual quote?
“In the same river we both step and do not step, we are and are not”.
Interpretation:
“…the world is in a constant state of change and, while one may step from the banks into the body of a river one has always known, the waters flowing over one’s feet will never be the same waters that flowed even a moment before.”
I am, indeed, evolving.
What does that have to do with Dave Chappelle? He’s become my favorite contemporary Philosopher, disguised as a Comedian. Many are; but Dave, his mask IS his masterpiece, because there’s really NO MASK (Cryss-ism). Geez I’m lucid this time of night😲. Anyhoo,
See his Netflix special
“Equanimity”
Not to be confused with the two released late last year. You’ll see what I mean, especially in the end.
Most who know me well are aware of my love affair with music. It’s always evolving, ever enchanting, and a great equalizer amongst humans.
You grow, you live, you love, you lose, you grieve, you learn. As I’ve evolved, I’ve discovered a great shift in my top three priorities. A Paradigm shift, if you will. Abraham Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs” has become more than a conceptual paperweight on the desk of my psyche.
God, my KING, is my NUMBER ONE priority, now, and forever.
I won’t lie to you, and say it was easy, because it wasn’t. Music has ALWAYS come to my rescue. When I’m sad, I can wallow in blues, or certain jazz numbers; Robert Johnson, The Allman Brothers, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Miles Davis, Joe Sample. When I’ve had enough of my own whining, I go to Gospel, R&B, Rock, and even a bit of Heavy Metal; Richard Smallwood, Doug Miller, James Cleveland; Anita Baker, Jill Scott, India Arie, Roberta Flack, Barry White (yessss), Winger, Dio, Motley Crue, Journey, Foreigner, Heart. Feeling creative, a bit of Alternative Rock; Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Train, Creed. When I’m feeling like a hyperactive Jack Russell Terrier, I go to the “light and easy favorites, of yesterday and today”. CSN&Y, England Dan and John Ford Coley, James Taylor; Carole King; Fleetwood Mac. Ah, when I’m in my version of love, The Spinners, The SalSoul Generation, Dan Fogelberg, Sade, Adele, Staind, Phoebe Snow….ad infinitum.
Tonight, I was talking to God, whom I call “The Great Orchestrator”, about a few things. I believe He gave each of us an instrument, unlike any other (our gifts), and the perfect sheet music -THE WORD! When we are in sync with God, obedient, and have pure love for God AND one another, it’s the perfect “song”. Of course, we have written our OWN metaphorical music, over time, and can’t figure out why everything is in disharmony, but that’s another blog.
Anyway, I was telling God how incredibly complicated things have become for me, of late, and that I know it’s because I keep getting in His way, when He tries to lead and guide me. No, it’s not that I can do better, it’s plain ole fear. Fear, for me, leads to self -sabotage ( yeah, only me, right? ).
I have another love. It’s DANCE! I was a dancer and figure skater, up until my 20’s. I still secretly choreograph in my head, when I see certain movement, or colors, or witness leaves blowing in the breeze, or hear a particular song. Dance is the physical manifestation of music, for me.
So, I’m sitting here talking to God about how I’m wrecking His perfect plan for me, and watching the Iran Contra Hearings on YouTube. (What?) Suddenly, another video appears, and it’s David Letterman and Oprah. I have ADHD, so you know I watched. Paul Schaefer and the Orchestra begin to play, “Dance With Me”, by Orleans. “Wow! I haven’t heard that song in a while. Love the harmonies”, Crystal says to Cryss. So, I/ she looked it up, and began to sing along.
“Dance with me. I want to be your partner, can’t you see? The music is just starting. Night is calling, and I am falling. Dance with me.”
How sweet. How simplistic and sweet.
“Let it lift you off the ground. Starry-eyed, and love is ALL around us. I can take you where you want to go…”
Then, it happened. The epiphany. GOD, you’ve done it AGAIN!
You said my daughter is in a “place”, and I need her free, so I can not only use her, but bless her. So, as He’s done many times before, He spoke to me through the MUSIC. He simplified the sheet music, so I could read, and play my instrument.
“Dance with me, my child. I want to commune with you, can’t you see? Your real mission is just starting. Night is falling, when you usually pray, and I AM here, calling. Dance with me.
Let ME lift you off the ground, my daughter. You won’t sabotage these blessings, for they are for YOU, ONLY. Stick with me, no matter. I can take you where you want to go, moreover, where you should be.
He does. He did. He can. He will. That’s tonite’s dance, to the Music of The Great Orchestrator, and the reason for the change in hierarchy.
​So, it’s taken me months to figure what I should say, concerning the end of the Obama Presidency. Nothing in my head. Go figure, a Writer with no words. So, I went to my lover- MUSIC.
“CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SON
THERE’LL BE PEACE, WHEN YOU ARE DONE
LAY YOUR WEARY HEAD TO REST
DON’T-CHA CRY NO MORE…..”
CARRY ON, YOU WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER, CARRY ON
NOTHING EQUALS THIS MADNESS
NOW, YOUR LIFE’S NO LONGER EMPTY
SURELY HEAVEN WAITS FOR YOU…”
Thank you, Barack Hussein Obama, and family. I remember openly weeping, on the day of your inauguration, and having someone ask me why. Why? Because I saw Jessie Jackson weeping, and knew he was remembering standing two/three feet away, as a bullet ripped through the face and head of Dr. King. I wept because I NEVER thought I’d see it, in my lifetime. Because, Michelle Obama is not just your wife, mother of your children, and awesome FLOTUS, but A LADY. Our girls need to see those examples. Because of Dr. King, John Lewis, Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Andrew Young, Jessie Jackson, Freedom Fighters, Abolitionists, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Thurgood Marshall…. Because of each and every person, who’s name never made the paper, or the news, or the history books. Because we may never see the likes again.
Because my Mommiekins lived to see it. A Woman who used to have to enter establishments through back doors, if she were allowed in, at all.
I’ve always understood citizenship, intellectually. I’ve cried because of things said, and done to me, because of the color of my skin. Sometimes, it was so subtle, I wasn’t even aware.
Make no mistake, I’m scrappy, like my Mommiekins. Injustice does not sit well with me, AT ALL. A pen and some paper in my hands….
Back then, my Mommiekins went TO the fight. She began the dialogue. She knew every local government phone number that began with 396 (lol). Mostly alone, she called wrote and didn’t let up until she’d affected change. I often stayed at home wondering why she would risk her health like that. She made me go with her many times, ignoring my ire. Freezing cold, at Annapolis. Downtown, Uptown. Talking to Councilmen and Women. Still didn’t GET IT. She said we elected them, now they have to do their jobs.
I GET IT, MOMMIEKINS. Thank you. It is now, in my heart, and will always manifest itself in my actions.
I don’t usually get super personal on FB, but…. I’m in love. It’s such a heady and beautiful feeling. I’ve been swept off of my feet. A gift from God, no doubt. Gosh, I’m blushing.
Anyway….
We’ve known each other all our lives. Save for GOD, he’s actually, my first love. A part of my DNA, I suppose. Yet, I let him go. Not all at once, just a drifting of sorts, you know… until there’s nothing.
Life happens, you grow apart, you have different experiences, but you NEVER forget. You just can’t seem to forget.
Those moments that creep up, when you least expect. You think of him, and hairs on the back of your neck stand out, because you’re taken by splendid surprise. Your knees are weak, and you close your eyes, just for a moment. Your senses transport you back to… back there, back then; at that time, in that space. You literally feel, hear, see, and smell EVERYTHING, just like it was.
Then, you put it out of your mind.
Maybe, when it rains, and you remember – droplets landing on your skin, creating perfect rhythms, to which you danced joyously- carelessly. You composed songs no one heard, but the two of you. Then you put it out of your mind. You have to, right?
Funny thing. When God has a plan for you, it WILL come to fruition.
A visit, or two. Randomly ( no such thing) having to come in contact with one another, for this reason, or that. Chit chat that turns to talk, and then to conversation. Quiet glances turn to meaningful stares. Feeling the past and present collide, and knowing a future was inevitable. Being grateful.
I am most fortunate to have been afforded the opportunity to be joined with my love, once again. I’m never letting go. Where we’ll go together? Well, I’ll leave that to God. For all we’ve done in the past, this is new, and scary, and glorious.
We’re in this for the duration, and I’m happy, again.
​I’ve learned quite a bit, this year. QUITE A BIT!
GOD LOVES ME MORE THAN MY FINITE MIND CAN COMPREHEND!
I am valuable. Go figure.
Quiet has a most beautiful melody.
Life is short, so cherish and make time for those whom you care about.
Pain has depths unknown, and unfathomable variations.
I’m getting my “weird” back. I love it.
Never allow your peace to be disturbed…. AT ANY COST.
Don’t allow others’ behaviors, responses, expectations, etc., change your character.
Transparency can save lives.
When you are most broken, God can really work on and in you.
Humans are full of surprises.
Humans can be so predictable.
It’s okay to be happy. Stop waiting for the other shoe to drop, or it will.
When God prepares you for something, He has to purge you, mold you, bend you, stretch you, shape you…… Not always pretty, sometimes quite painful, always enlighteningly wondrous, and definitely necessary.
WHEW, 2016! Whew!
I AM CHANGED! I AM EVOLVING! I don’t have to explain, defend, or apologize for it.
I have NO IDEA what God has in store for me, in 2017, and that’s okay. He’ll show me.
Whatever it is, I’m ready, Lord. Empty me, that I might be a vessel. Humble me, that You get the glory, and Your people are blessed. USE ME TO DO THY WILL.
It is my prayer that whatever it is that He has me do, will cause a ripple effect of blessings that we’ve not seen the likes of.
I’m praying the same for each of you. That you will receive an overflow of blessings, find peace and joy, and pay it forward.
​Mondays…..
Great Monday morning, FBF. God has afforded us another opportunity to live, breathe, move-we’re healthy in some way; or senses are intact; we are (for the most part-lol) in our right mind; we have food, shelter, and clothing;many of us our own transportation, or a means to access it; or Spouses/Partners, Children, Parents, Siblings, Friends, Business Acqaintences, bless God, they are with us. Look at this beautiful fall weather!
Where is she headed TODAY? Glad you asked. When I was on that daily grind of 7am-8pm, then school afterward, I DESPISED MONDAYS. I felt like Charlie Brown every time Lucy moved that ball, when he tried to kick it, “UGGGHHHH”. My Monday mornings usually began with a call about work, before I even got there. Someone saying, “reroute yourself”, because blah, blah, blah happened. That’s when I would fall back on my pillow, and dream of my 17,500 sq. ft. residence; of horseback riding across my 150 acres, and then a refreshing dip in my 25m pool, at my home off the coast of Amalfi, Italy. Dragging out of the bed, if I ever got to sleep at all, stumping my baby toe (lawd, that hurts)…..my favorite phrase was “let the games begin”.
Even though I believe the week begins on Sunday, Mondays were always my nemesis. The day that set the tone for the entire week. I booked reservations to be tired by Wednesday , and was begging for Friday, by Thursday morning.
I love Mondays, now. Not because of the difference in my work, schedule, or responsibilities. Certainly not because pain, and immobility have decided to leave the building; no, none of that. Because I NOW recognize the great LOVE and Mercy of God hitting the RESET button on my life, yet again😀. It doesn’t matter what day it is, there is someone, somewhere, He called home, and it wasn’t me. There’s someone, somewhere who slept outside, or in a car last night (maybe with their kids), and it wasn’t me; there’s someone, somewhere with NO job to go to, nothing to do, no HOPE, no family to say “good morning” to (do people make time for that anymore?); sick in mind, sick unto death, sick or dead in the spirit; someone doesn’t remember who they are, nor do they know their loved ones; someone, somewhere, is planning suicide, or attempting, as we communicate (God have mercy); it’s NOT ME.
My body may be doing its own thing, but it’s SO much better than it was yesterday. I may not be able to do what i used to do, but God is showing me I still have value and can contribute to blessing His people. THAT’S SO AWESOME I’m obviously alive, and functioning well enough to blog. So many blessings; ones I’m not even aware of….and I used to be SOOOO mad about Mondays.
Welcome, Monday!!!!! Thank You, Lord, for another day. I commit to doing Your Will, with gratitude. It is my prayer that, at the end of the day, I’ve done, said, prayed for someone, etc., so your waking me will not be in vain.
CollectiveMindz 