Somewhere Over The Rainbow? Right.

You do not need what Dorothy found. Remember her discovery in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? She and her trio followed the yellow-brick road only to discover that the wizard was a wimp! Nothing but smoke and mirrors and tin-drum thunder. Is that the kind of god you need?

You don’t need to carry the burden of a lesser god…a god on a shelf, a god in a box, or a god in a bottle. No, you need a God who can place 100 billion stars in our galaxy and 100 billion galaxies in the universe. You need a God who can shape two fists of flesh into 75 to 100 billion nerve cells, each with as many as 10,000-connections to other nerve cells, place it in a skull, and call it a brain.

Moreover, you need a God who, while so mind-numbingly mighty, can come in the soft of night and touch you with the tenderness of an December snow.

Black in America

Tonight I watched the CNN documentary special, “Black in America.” I found it to be very interesting and intriguing. Tonight the documentary starts out with a strong and loving black family (The RAND Family) learning about their white ancestor and meeting some of their white relatives for the first time. Other discussions were issues such as education and our young children in America. Single mothers raising children, children born to interracial parents, health care issues, single women dating, the church; AIDS and it’s affects on our black women; homicide in the black community.

Tonight special ended with the bond of the RAND Family.

Tomorrow night the CNN Documentary Special “Black in America” continues. This time the discussion will be “The Black Man in America” it will be very interesting to see how exactly how CNN reports “The Black Man in America.” How about the Black gay man? Will CNN follow the black community, place us in this esoteric group, and refuse to discuss us. On the other hand, will our presence be acknowledged? If so, will the mere mentioning of us be positive or negative?

I eagerly await part two of CNN’s “Black in America.” I think CNN has done an excellent job in presenting the issues that plague Black America. However, while I am aware that the documentary is not about “Black Gay Men” in order for it to ring truth, we should not be overlooked. We, Black Gay Men are Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Brothers, Friends, Uncles, Pastors, Actors, Professional Ball Players, etc. We too are a vital part “Black in America.”

My Clarity of Wisdom

About a month ago, I was experiencing some discomfort in my chest and had trouble breathing. I drove myself to the Emergency Room at a local hospital. After carefully examining me and learning all about my medical history, the doctors decided to keep me overnight. That really surprised me; I’ve always been in good health. My doctor informed me that they wanted to be careful, considering the fact that my brother died of a heart attack at an early age. As I lay in that hospital, concerned about my health and uncertain about my future, millions of thoughts flooded my mind. It’s amazing the clarity of wisdom that comes when you’re uncertain about tomorrow.

I thought about my family and whether or not I should call. I decided not to. I wanted to wait to for the outcome of the tests before sharing news that could alarm any of my family members.

I thought about the one person whom I had been good friends with for about 20 years, we were like brothers. I thought about how he chose to push me away—when I needed him the most—and I could not understand why. I was definitely missing something. However, in his own justification he firmly stated, “I cannot allow your issues to become my partners issues.” His words echoed in my head. Wow, our 20-year friendship was less about friendship and more about how helping me could have negative affects on him and his partner. At that moment, the machine monitoring my blood pressure began to make a strange, alarming noise. The nurse came in and informed me that the machine will alarm to indicate when a patient’s blood pressure is a little high. She then gave me medicine to lower my pressure. I realized then, that as much as it hurt, I had to let go of the stress and pain that I was feeling from this 20-year friendship; I could not allow it to continue to affect my health. Although I was still his friend, he had chosen not to be mine.

This decision was one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make, I put off making this decision because of the thought of losing such a good friend. At times, just thinking about making such a decision would place me on the edge of despair. I would hurt to the point of numbness. I was wounded by painful circumstances of a loved one’s distressing actions.

The next day, the doctors put me through quite a few tests, all which came back negative. My doctor attributed my chest pain and trouble breathing to either stress or a panic attack. Whatever the case, I was happy.

After leaving the hospital, I made time to talk to my friend. The result of our conversation confirmed what I was so sure of when I was laying in the hospital bed. I had made a 20-year investment in a friend who easily turned his back on me when I needed him the most. I could forgive him, but I no longer wanted him to be a part of my life.

Sometimes friendships and relationships end. However, we have to lean on God at all times and grow from the situation. This is how the faith muscle becomes strong.

Via Dolorosa

As a Same-Gender-Loving person have you determine what road in your life it the hardest?

The most notorious road in the world is the Via Dolorosa, “the Way of Sorrows.” According to tradition, it is the route Jesus took from Pilate’s hall to Calvary. The path is marked by stations frequently used by Christians for their devotions. One station marks the passing of Pilate’s verdict. Another, the appearance of Simon to carry the cross. There are fourteen stations in all, each one a reminder of the events of Christ’s final journey.

Is the route accurate? Probably not…No one knows the exact route Christ followed that Friday.

However, we do know where the path actually began.

The path began, not in the court of Pilate, but in the halls of heaven. The Father began His journey when He left His home in search of us…His desire was singular—to bring his children home…

The path to the cross tells us exactly how far God will go to call us back.

NO REGRET

Relased date scheduled for 7/25/08