Mind over Matter. The Gray Grey Area.

Who. What. Where. When. Why. How.

It matters.

The majority of experienced, well read persons remember a historical person such as Mr. Mandela. No denying the significance of the prompt model. Mr. Mandela. Prompt for his times. A prompt for our times.

To say the least, Mandela expressed as a person of strong conviction, that ultimately led to his conviction. Because he held strongly held convictions. My apologies, my own mind wanders when I “say” this run on sentence.

Convictions, simple to him. But. Seen as too complicated to many. Because they did not agree. It did not fit their “mold”, their purpose, their narrative. So, let’s just”charge” ‘em extra, isolate ‘em. That’ll show ‘em who is in charge. Charge ‘em heftily,

For the way he thinks.

Ah. How simple becomes complicated.

If you believe in a Higher power…(No. not Com Ed or Con Ed or Common Core Ed) Then it is worth considering the wisdom of wandering.

There was another great figure the world recently lost. A person equally as memorable as Mr. Mandela.

Mr. Abe.

It would be remiss to not acknowledge this great person of progressive tendencies in his native culture. A person ready, willing and able to reach out and at the same time stand tall. To reach out on behalf of his persons to extend, within the cultural confines limitations of his culture, mind, you—not an easy task. Steadfastly sowing careful seeds of trust. To control a narrative of working toward peace aligningly. To reach out to others. To walk side by side when and where possible. Until another individual decided to cut Mr. Abe’s life short.

Because he disagreed.

Whether you choose to believe in God, or Heaven, or Adam and Eve and the Serpent, the Protestors, the Luther’s, the Baptisers. Consider this when deciding what matters in your mind. What matters—whether you plan to go over or under. At least give your self the respect to figure it out. Avoid and dis allow the “Doubting Thomas’es” to take up residency in your mind.

Reflect on this historical writing about Abraham the Wanderer. To study, kids, means to delve, dig and discern into the meaning of a person’s words and actions and what makes a person “tick”. When and while absorbing some of of Abrahams’s life, his life reveals that his faith included struggles against doubt and disbelief in God’s power. Abraham’s ancestors were idolaters (Josh 24:2) and perhaps this background explains why he did not always have full confidence in God’s power. TWICE he showed cowardice and told Sarah to tell only a half-truth (Gen. 12:11-13; Gen. 20-2).

He laughed. (Gen. 17:17) when he was told that he would have a son with Sarah. Despite his faults, Abraham was still used by the Lord because Abraham wanted to be used by Him, and thus, the Lord was able to mold His character.

One means God used to shape Abraham into a reformer and missionary was his many wanderings. Traveling is an education in itself. It opens a person to new ideas and the possibilities of change.

For example, Pilgramages to Jerusalem were an important and required part of Israelite worship. The changes the pilgrims experienced when they had to walk distances, sleep in other places, eat different food, encounters another climate, and meet other people enhanced their faith by their vulnerability. Their worship, with its sacrifices, new offerings, sacred dances, and reciting psalms, helped God’s people to confirm their identity and traditions.

In his travels from his birthplace in Ur to his burial site in Hebron, Abraham visited at least 15 different geographical areas. Most of the important reforming and missionary episodes in his life are connected with his journeys. (Citation: SSN/SDABSAD)

Because there is a lot of talk this year about who is in decline, needs to recline and/or stay in line, it is worth admitting. Mumbling is not the same as wandering. Personally guilty of talking to myself, I cannot pass judgment on another who may “speak below their breath”.

Big time.

However, I will take pause, I will pause when someone “says it out loud”. Maybe even flail my arms in waving them over to ask, “Will you please repeat what you said?” And if they repeat the words with a conviction and of a LACK of remorse. That will, indeed make me pause. So. Who, What, Where, When and Why does the pathological non-truths come on board.

Beats me.

How in the world does one tell the difference?

Well. One thing I know for sure. You will know it when you feel it. Wandering helps to figure this out. Really.

Because, you see, I want to know, desperately sometimes, WHERE I am going. Up or down. Have had the share of the back and forth. Not to be confused with saying I am now entitled to anything more than anything, or anyone or, That, They, Them.

Mr. Mandela, Mr. Abe and Abraham collectively expressed that possibilities are possible if one sticks to the conviction of their convictions.

Any persons. Black, White, Brown, Bone, Tall, short, Blind, Deaf, Mute, Lame. That. They. Them. Discrimination is in the eye of the beholder. Or the policy maker. Before one gets too comfortable. Worth noting.

The list includes, grandparents, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, step this, step that. Most importantly—Parents. And if you choose any where along the line to become a parent. Reminder.

Parenting is not a popularity contest.

So. Unless You are pining to return to the halls of your high school, this too includes, the jocks, nerds, shop kids, dancers, cheerleaders, freaks, geeks and weirdos.

The person. A person.

It was kinda fun then. Is no longer fun now to behave as if you are better or worse than you really are. True freshman or octave singer. Be you. Be what you are and be the best. But hang onto your conviction along the way because chances are you will need it more than ever in the future.

Mold yourself into a person of strong character, alongside the slings and arrows of your parents yes’es and no’s. Challenge when appropriate, or YOU think appropriate and then accept the consequences.

The others in the neighborhood are not there to look out for you. They are waiting to leap frog over you. Play in the gray, grey area of your head. Don’t allow the doubt to take up residency in your mind. The world you are now growing up in is a much different world. Than before.

Sad. Yes. But a life lesson worth its salt in knowing now before you head head first into a tree.