Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Their Deepest Fear

With a myriad of emotions I read an article in the Washington Post regarding Michelle Obama.

When Senator Obama entered the presidential race I shared with my husband my opinion of the near future. That opinion rested in the fact that one of the tactics employed in an effort to defame the character of this couple would primarily be focused upon Michelle Obama.

Why do I feel this way? Reality.

As educated women, shoot, let's be real – as women of color from all walks of life, by embracing our uniqueness without apology, we are daily faced with the bluntness of the reality of the 'Two America's'. There are those who may beg to differ, but fact is fact and I live on purpose and in reality, therefore I know first hand of what I speak.

What I'm confident of in the case of Mrs. Obama is that she did not enter this ring wearing blinders. I do not say that she has not been unscathed by public assaults. I do however commend her for how she has handled each attempt at assassinating the character of her and her husband with the grace, style and intellect that she possesses in abundance. As she has, the level of their opponents fear is continually being exposed with the intensity and absurdity of each subsequent attack.

In my opinion Mrs. Obama is the recipient of the meaning a of a passage from the novel Business Unusual that is a play on words taken from Marianne Williamson's work -- Our Deepest Fear.

“Their deepest fear is not a belief in our inadequacies, but the knowledge of our power. It is our light, not their belief in our inadequacies that they fear.”

To Mrs. Obama and all my sisters I encourage you to go forth being the woman you were predestined to be. Go forth with confidence, grace and above all, without apology.

Until next time remember -- There is no such thing as an acceptable loss in God's Kingdom!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

RECLAMATION

Reclamation: The act or process of reclaiming. A restoration, as to productivity, usefulness, or morality.

Over the past weeks I have participated in many discussions regarding the unsavory shadow that is being cast over AA Christian fiction.

Every genre, to a degree has its questionable offerings however, this should not be for Christians. Sad is the commentary that sees books from publishing houses and independents being falsely marketed as Christian. A sadder state of affairs are 'Christian' submissions needing to be screened by event coordinators before acceptance for public offering. The saddest is works of standards being bypassed because their predecessors have so offended booksellers and the reading public.

Discussions have revealed mindsets believing that the questionable cloud preceding AA authors of standard are filled with: 1) Lack of knowledge of what true Christian fiction is; 2) Double-dipping marketing strategies and most harmful, 3) We who applaud works/authors masquerading as Christian rather than calling it what it really is.

Content of what you write comes with the option of choice. Marketing the work does too. My questions today are simple:

1. Why do some choose to erroneously market in the Christian genre?
2. Is it a ploy to increase sales?
3. Is it an orchestrated ploy to operate under the guise of propriety while attempting to serve two masters?

President John F. Kennedy had a vision for the nation he was elected to guide. Without hesitancy he made a very candid statement: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your county.” I ask those of us who have been blessed with the gift of writing for the Kingdom to consider looking inward and apply the aforementioned in a similar way. Ask not what popularity and abundant cash receipts can do for you -- ask what obedience to the gift entrusted to you can do for the Kingdom.

I leave you with these questions:

1. What is it you are willing to do to reclaim the Christian genre?
2. Are you willing to look beyond notoriety in order to be true to what it is that you write?
3. Will you honestly seek to understand what is and what is not Christian?
4. Are you willing to pull your friend’s/peer’s coattail to let them know, you love them, appreciate what they have extended to you, but you will no longer support their contribution(s) that taint the genre?
5. Are you willing to disciple those who are seeking to make a change?
6. If you are seeking transition, will you commit to being teachable?
7. Are you willing to pay the price for your stance for the Cross?



Until next time remember -- There is no such thing as an acceptable loss in God's Kingdom!

Linda!