Life After Being Played...

   Sometimes I get into pretty deep conversations with my friends. Not too long ago I was speaking to a certain friend whom I haven't heard from in some time.  "I've not seen you on Facebook much lately", I stated, "is everything alright"?  Almost immediately he responded with a string of profanities which were directed at a certain "lady" whom he felt had "played him".  He went on about how the relationship began as a friendship but later developed into something more; or so he felt, and before long he had invested not only his time but his money into her to some extent.  Unfortunately the relationship ended rather abruptly leaving him with the feeling of being used.  (Personally, I believe that his pride was hurt more than anything else because my friend is no novice to life and is at the age where one may feel that they have seen all of the many ways in which one can be played and they are now the teacher).  I listened intently to his story until he had satisfactorily expressed his frustrations to me.  And then I spoke;

   "Who has not been played at one time or another in their life"? It is, in fact, a part of life because there will always be those who will be looking for new ways to get something for free.  They may have beat you out of your hard earned money, they may have cleverly abducted your property, or maybe it was you who drove them around town all day in the hot, scorching sun as they ran their errands only to be given a crumpled $5.00 bill as you let them off at their home at the end of the day. And how about the "I'll pay you back when my Income Tax check comes"? Well, you know how that ends.  Oh, and don't forget the greatest robbery...matters of the heart.  So he/she took your love, (as you also took theirs). You became intimate, perhaps more than once, and the next thing you know you are no longer an item.  All of the plans the two of you spoke of before during the sex and pillow talk are now a fading memory.  But life does go on, doesn't it?

  Years ago I learned a saying that has helped me through many a game I had been involved in which is, "The best form of revenge is success".  Our lives are constantly filled with lessons learned; both good and bad, but if you live long enough you will find that the good and bad will balance out somehow, but only if you do not allow yourself to wallow in self-pity for getting played or allow yourself to become high-minded when you come out on top of a situation. Albert Camus said it best:  
"The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding."  (read it again until you can comprehend it).

  I am a much better person when I am doing good; regardless as to whether the same behavior is reciprocated unto me.  I feel sorry for people who are always angry, stressed, calculating, mistrusting of everyone and anything, mean. When we come to realize that we have brought nothing into this world and will not take any of it when we leave it we will re-evaluate how we conduct our daily business; both externally and internally.  

 So, my friend, let go of yester-year's pain, last winter's flop, that old ancient and brief relationship and stop revisiting the pain you felt from it on the people who love you today.  They had nothing to do with your old mistakes and neither should you any longer. 

  If we see with the proper eyes we will smile and find that we had a bit of fun along the way as we learned from life's lessons.

  Life is too short.

  I love you all,
  Dennis

Me & Al Green

  The other day I blogged about Seasons Of Change. I do not profess to speak my beliefs into anyone's life other than my own, (and experience has taught me that it is not always wise to speak what God has revealed to you about others to that person), but when it comes to myself, I can say all that I want. I'm still looking towards the wondrous and exceptional things that God is about to do in my life and I am mentally and physically preparing my body.  

I stepped out to worship this morning with purpose. Lately I have been longing for an opportunity to worship again with Bishop Al Green at his church, Full Gospel Tabernacle, here in Memphis. It has been months since I had been there. I told myself I wanted to belong to a church for God and hear the preached Word more than anything else. I've enjoyed every service I've ever attended at Full Gospel Tabernacle. Al Green's church is always lively with music, shouting, laughter and he doesn't pull punches with his preaching; but I always hesitated to join his church because I wanted to be certain I wasn't doing so because of his celebrity status and a few other things. So, over the months I have visited other churches and, (quite frankly), I have been so dissatisfied at what some folks call "worship" that I have often went to church through Joel Osteen on T.V.  

  I sought God on the drive across town as to what my lot should be. I felt that I needed to not only belong to a church that I liked but I also wanted to be somewhere God could utilize my gifts. I was greeted with love and kindness from several members as I entered the sanctuary. They told me how good it was to see me again and I felt It was almost as if I had not been away. It was then I decided I would make Full Gospel Tabernacle my home today.  I soon learned that Bishop Al Green would not be in attendance due to having a recent surgery.  I was not disappointed by this news for I was there for me and for what God had for my life and I was determined to proceed with my desire.  

  Subsequently, we had a glorious worship and praise service filled with anointed singing from the choir, a couple of soloist, and dancing in the spirit.  And just after the offering was collected the church was surprised by the appearance of Bishop Al Green who later confessed from the pulpit that God told him to "get dressed and go serve those folks communion". The worship continued.

  I went forward as Bishop Green announced that the doors of the church were open. I gave my name to the sister who came over to record my name. After praying for two women who came behind me he looked over my way and said to the recorder, "And what's going on here"? She read him my name from the tablet and he said, "I know who he is. I got his CD in my car". (I confess, I was both honored and humbled), He then shook my hand tightly and welcomed me into the church body after saying in a playful, rhyming tone, "Doctor Spain don't bring me no pain". I, and others, laughed out loud at this.  I will also be joining the choir this Thursday.

  "This is my season for grace and favor. This is my season to reap what I have sown."
  - (It's Working) William Murphy

  I love you all,
  Dennis
  

    

Seasons Of Change

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me lay an invincible summer" 

-Albert Camus

  Every so often I can feel it more intensely than I can at other intervals. I'm speaking of the change of season.  I liken the feeling as to when the moon is closest to the earth; a condition known as apogee.  I can almost taste the anticipation of something exciting and new about to occur.  I also know that I am not alone with this feeling of anticipation and that there are many who are also  sensing the winds of change in their own lives. I do not merely speak of things such as finding money on the ground or getting an unexpected phone call that lifts your spirits.  I'm not even referring to the promotion on the job or being hired for a new job altogether.  No, what I see in my inner man is purely a spiritual working that will coincide with the natural in ways not normally heard of in these days and times.  Unheard of because our communion, (communication), with our spiritual father is usually limited, contracted, specified, time-sensitive, self-imposing and short sighted.  Such is the nature of all prayer that is not guided by our spirit man.

"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words".
Romans 8:26 (NLT)

  It appears that God has given me a theme for this year which is simply "Life is too short".  I cannot allow myself to become complacent and satisfied with living a mediocre life. Recently I have been reminded of my talents by a good friend.  "Mr. Spain, do you even know who you are?", I was asked.  Since then I have been seriously meditating and searching for more of me than meets the eye.  

  Perhaps you could/should ask yourself the same questions I have asked of myself. 

• Why must my dreams be lived out through the lives of others in movies, music, reality shows or even those neighbors across the street?
•  What prevents me from seeing the world, experiencing strange and exotic lands and people and dining in the greatest restaurants?
• Who said that I had to be relegated to a life of work, work, and more work with nothing to look forward to but more work?
• Just because I am ill/handicapped/have high blood pressure/suffer from diabetes/have aches in my bones/can't see well while driving at night/am not as sexually active as I would like to be/struggling with being too thin or too heavy; does this mean that I am unable to change these things about myself and become better than I ever have been before?

  My friends, as it has always been so it still is today; many of our answers to our questions are found when we go to that quiet space for the answers which cannot be given by any person speaking in his/her natural mind. The old folks called it the Secret Closet. It could literally be that, or you could hop in your car all by yourself and just ride. Perhaps you have the luxury of sitting on a tranquil beach or take a long stroll in the cool of the evening.  Whether at work or home or play; you must find your secret place; devoid of all distractions and demands from the outside world, friends and family. I promise you that if you do this you will find your purpose through Him. You will also discover that your burdens will become much lighter and your inner peace will increase.
  Now, the question is "will you have the courage and the faith to do what you know must be done after learning what it is you must do?" We are such creatures of habit and are not easily persuaded to change. So for this, some may need a strong, spiritual partner/friend along the way.

  Much more greater things to come.
  I love you all,
  Dennis