Blind Faith

Hello everyone, just to let you know that for the past couple of weeks I have not been posting because I have been busy with my regular job and two freelance jobs that I am trying to finish. But anyway, things have been well. On this past Monday, I celebrated by 41st birthday and wanted to thank everyone that called and e-mailed me to wish me a Happy Birthday. Strangest thing though, right about mid morning on my birthday, I started to feel a bit down, almost depressed and I can honestly say, I had no reason why. I felt fine, I think I look well, the bills were paid, I had a job and everyone I knew was alive and healthy. But, I just could not shake this feeling. For some reason, deep inside I felt undone; like there was something I needed to do. As the next day went by, I began to feel a little better emotionally (especially after my mothers dinner) but still, like I needed to hear a word from God. Now those of you that know me personally can attest to the fact that I am no Saint. I am far from perfect and am usually the last person to preach so what I am about to say is coming from Wyld Stylz the person, not Wyld Stylz the minister. However, on the flip side of that, I do believe that we are all ministers in a sense in that we minister to each other through our daily lives. But back to what I was saying earlier, about feeling like I needed a word from God. So at lunch on today, I am listening to Twinkie Clark’s, “Praise and Worship’ CD and a song comes on about faith. I love the song and am singing to the top of my voice. I guess that the people driving past me are thinking that I am a nut job on wheels. But you see, I’ve been doing this for so long now, I have actually learned to ignore them (LOL). Minutes into my musical retreat, I am really starting to listen to the words to the song now, as I am singing and really getting a message here. Right about this time, I come to a screeching halt as I am stopped by a red traffic light. I didn’t stop so suddenly because I was caught up or not paying attention to traffic but because I just really wanted to run the light. But something inside said, “Stop” (you know that little thing we call a conscious but is really the spirit). So I stopped. While I am sitting at the light, a fairly young, well dressed man begins to cross the street with one of those sticks used by blind people to assist them in their daily routines outside of their homes. You know the ones with the red end. Now this intersection is really busy all the time and made even more hectic with lunch hour commuters. Definitely no intersection to be footing for the sighted or the blind. I stopped singing the song and without being conscious about it, I look at this guy and start talking aloud to myself (which I always do) saying the following words: “Man this guys is out here walking the street all by himself, blind surrounded by all these crazy driving people. Now that takes some faith.” I ponder the whole situation for a minute to just kind of take it in. Now about this time, the word, “Faith” pops back into my mind. I begin to say to myself now, “How is it that this man can have enough faith to put himself out in this cruel, selfish and sometimes unforgiving world like he has, all alone.” And then I hear the words, “He’s not alone.” At this time, the traffic light turns green and I try to put the situation behind me and go back to listening to my music. Now remember, the song that I was listening to was about, “Faith”. It wasn’t until this moment I began to see that the word that I was needing to hear from God, was being given to me at that moment and by His will, I was to receive it. This unveiling, if you will, sent me into a strong moment of “unself”. Unself for those of you who may not know is a realm of spiritual consciousness that is free of artificiality; sincere and genuine; "an unaffected grace". But during this time, I started to question the reasoning behind the revelation, was this just a message to me or a message to share? Unself kicked in high gear again and revealed that I was to learn and to share. Through faith, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, we can all learn to depend on a Higher Power for our needs to be met during these and all uncertain times. We can learn to step out on faith for those ventures we have so long wanted to delve in. We can learn to become action individuals and not just those who sit around and watch life go by. We can step out and start those piano lessons, karate classes, aerobics activities, household projects and job searches. Through faith we can become better parents, partners, neighbors, co-workers and siblings. Why? Because through faith, all things are possible. Faith itself is like a seedling, you have to nurture it, feed it and assist in making it grow. I can gather that the first time the blind man crossing the street started to venture out alone, it had to be a frightening experience but through faith, it has become second nature. The obstacles he once faced are not as great, the fear is not as intense, the journeys don’t seem as long. If we learn to relate our everyday lives to the faith of a blind man, then we can begin to see the world for what it really is; our canvass. We can see ourselves and our lives, stronger, wiser, richer and even more attractive. I say attractive because with God, everything in the world around you looks different, but opening ourselves up to receive this, is a practice we perfect through faith itself. I challenge you and myself on this day to sow and grow in faith and put it into action because remember, faith without works is dead.

WYLD STYLZ