Just Believe

"I believe in God and his son Jesus," that's how Rapper, Lil Wayne started off his concerts and that's how he ended them on his last tour. "....and I'm so proud of that," he would say that with such a strong conviction that the arenas would go crazy. .."and don't let anyone make you feel any different no matter where you're at in life because we can accept everything except for Jesus." This isn't the type of conversation many people would expect at a hip hop concert but Wayne could have cared less because he has a personal reason for always saying that.

It was very visible from award shows like the B.E.T Honors to The Grammys that the need of faith and the path towards it is the highlight of everything for most right now and it's not just a popular trend but an actual need that is keeping most people together. It really is the only thing that is keeping many people alive at a time when they can easily call it quits in the game of life altogether. It is where strength comes from. At a time when without strength many could crumble. It's so serious that we don't even have the luxury to worry about anyone questioning our beliefs because it's about survival and the preservation of our souls and where our souls will eternally be at peace. "At the end of our lives no one has anything to do with where we're going, " said Vanessa Hughes who lost her son Justin a few years ago. In explaining her relationship with God she said, "I'm in this for the final outcome so I can be with my son. I know what God has pulled me through and I want everyone to have the opportunity to be blessed so that they can survive and overcome any obstacle and my work to do so is my mission in life." We all have different missions. We all have different hearts. We all have different perceptions. We are all simply different but for many of us God is truly all we have.

On February 17th, 2009 one of my best friends Sadeya got a phone call that her mother, Yvonne got hospitalized and doctors discovered she had cancer. She already made plans on how she would have to adjust her life going into the summer so that she could be by her mother's side as she recovered and dealt with chemotherapy. We were making all these plans and then I woke up on Sunday morning and got a tex from Sadeya that her mother passed away. Just like that. We were making plans and the plans had already been made. Everyone has a million questions about why and how could this happen so fast. There is no answer that could even satisfy the why. Why couldn't she have had more time? That's what we were wondering and the answer is there is no more time. There's no time to wait for tomorrow or deffer trying to get ourselves right. So we don't have time to worry about the opinions and objections of atheists or those who will accept everything but challenge our journey to become better as we attempt to understand why we are here. All we can do is take something from those who do believe and be inspired by them- Holding strong to our beliefs, we have the hope that we will be together again with those who have already transitioned before us. That is the ultimate goal and the most important one for some of us. It is the only one that matters and that is my message for my friend. "Don't get caught up with what anyone will say to keep you from where you want to ultimately be because you never know why they don't want you to believe or why they would entertain thoughts to discourage you to be a part of what God has in store for us...but know that they are not trying to go to the same place you're trying to go to." We are all very different and fine that way. This is what Ms. Hughes taught me and what I myself hold on to. Now I can pass that on to you, Sadeya my friend. Be strong, surrender and have faith. Most of all know that you are blessed, loved and that you will survive. Earth is not the end of life. You are far from alone, you are part of a growing equation that continues to multiply. Please condition your mind to only tune in the positive and just believe. We are stronger then we often realize. To believe is all he wants us to do and it's all we can all do at this point. Live, learn and love.

love and light