Ann Fields (https://annfields.com/) did a beautiful job of relating information about herself and then proceeded to nominate me for the Epically Awesome Award for Epic Awesomeness. I hope I also do justice to the award in answering these questions:
What made you choose your current blogging platform? Actually, it was suggested to me by Ann Fields and I respect her opinions.
Introduce yourself and tell us about your blog? I’m a mother of 2 and grandmother of numerous little ones – some biological and some not. I am also a student working on my doctorate in Global Leadership at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN. My studies and my passions coincide (of course) around the area of diversity and unity and in particular Christians modeling for the rest of the world how you can have and should have both diversity and unity. Thus, my blog will have a wide spectrum of content but basically around diversity – educating all, expressing how people of color may feel, encouraging all, etc.
Are you a once-in-a-while blogger or a daily one? I try to blog at least once a month but I’m not always successful given my school load, full time job and full time ministry (Visible Unity, Inc.)
Do you wish to publish and if so, what type of book? Currently, I am not interested in publishing but if The Unity Process is successful in bringing people together, then I will want to share that information with others.
What is your favorite thing to do besides write? I grew up reading and I continue to love reading, although most of my reading now is for school. The next thing besides that is my grandbabies and their parents – playing, helping, interacting, etc. We can learn so much from children.
Thank you again Ann Fields. Unfortunately, I am not in the blog-o-sphere enough to recommend anyone. All of my hopes for extra time in my life are centered around finishing school.
I wanted to share a couple of pieces that I wrote that really seem pertinent to my current work focus.
Multiculturalism
We rub
I on you
You on me
If we rub enough, we all will see what was hidden underneath
Exposed for those who choose to see
Oh the glory, the wonder, the riches unfold
For He is the one, our eyes will behold
Multicultural Trip
I had a whole week of class and I was very tired. I was angry with my teacher and my classmates and I was ready to go home. When I got to the airport, I saw people from all over who talked to me and we laughed and we all valued our time together. So I was very glad to catch my flight home to be with people who showed me respect and valued me and what I had to contribute. Thank you God. You knew just what I needed.
The first piece was from a trip I took to South Africa that really inspired in me the possibilities that we could truly and authentically be in relationships with people from different cultures. Thus, the focus of my work on relationships and reconciliation.
The second piece was after class as a seminary student, where I did not feel included, valued or even welcomed by fellow Christians. Thus, the focus of my work on Christians.
I was having a text conversation with my son and wanted to encourage him, because we know life is not easy for black men, especially black men with a past and no college degree. I told him that what he is doing is taking the high road and that a lot of guys are not taking the high road.
Later, it came to me that the high road is tougher because it’s less traveled so there are stumbles and obstacles. It’s bumpy and hard. But the view is beautiful and you can see more. On the low road you see all the trash and what’s in the gutter. I’d rather be on the high road. How about you?
This can be applied to every aspect of our lives but in particular (for believers), how we live out Christ in our daily lives. We have so many Christians who are on the low road. Who choose to be complacent and complicit, blindfolded and in captivity to the system. Do you not see that we who believe are all brothers and sisters? Do you not see the pain of your brothers and sisters? Do you not see the atrocities committed by people who look like you and say they are Christians? Will you not speak up and do something?
Please join those of us on the high road and be blessed by God. Join us and do the good work. Join us and be enriched through your efforts. The view is better, the other people on the high road will bless your life and you will be that much closer to God.
It has been a while since I have been able to post anything. According to my site, it has been since July 2015. So, let me start the New Year off like everyone else with news, changes and updates on things to look forward to in 2016.
News
I’m excited!!! My efforts in bringing diverse people together for reconciliation and unity have produced some seedlings. On February 18, 2016 from 6:30pm-8:30pm at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center in Dallas, TX, I will be hosting the first Introductory Gathering for people to come and hear more about The Unity Process. If you are interested in hearing about something you can personally do to help yourself and those in your sphere of influence become more aware and engaged with people different from you, I invite you to come.
Changes
Because things seem to be rolling out for the work I’ve been involved with, I am in the process of making my work a non-profit organization. Visible Unity, Inc. will be an organization focused on experiential activities, advocacy work, and community building endeavors all focused on bringing diverse people together through reconciliation for unity. More information will be coming about this as we make progress in and through the 501(c)(3) process.
Updates
I have been busy preparing myself, learning and putting out feelers about The Unity Process. In July 2015, I presented a paper on The Unity Process at the Transatlantic Roundtable on Religion and Race in London, England. In September 2015, I went to the Mission Leaders Conference in Orlando, Florida to learn more and network with other like-minded individuals. In November 2015, I conducted a workshop on The Unity Process at the Overcoming Racism Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota. Later this month, I will be going to a training on community organizing by PICO National Network in Nashville, Tennessee.
My best trip, however, was when my sister, brother and I took the grandbabies (ages 10, 4, 3, 2) on a road trip to New Orleans, Louisiana for a family reunion this past Thanksgiving!!! They inspire me to make this world better so they won’t have to go through some of the same challenges that I had to endure.
I will endeavor to do better about posting regularly and I will keep you updated about The Unity Process and Visible Unity, Inc. I anticipate 2016 being a very fruitful year for the work of unity.
“God had to remove Jacob from all that was of comfort to him in order to reveal Himself to Jacob. What began as a crisis that forced him to be removed from his family and friends led to an encounter with the living God and a fresh vision of God’s purposes for his life.
God had to bring Jacob to a place of separation from his old life and remove all his worldly possessions. He was alone with God at Bethel; nothing else could distract him from an encounter that would change his life.”
TGIF, Today God Is First – Volume 1 Daily Devotionals are a service of Marketplace Leaders Ministries
A friend sent me this devotional from TGIF Today God is First because she knew of my time in Minnesota. My experience at Bethel in MN follows this same pattern as Jacob.
1. I was removed from all my family and friends and used up all my resources to do so. I felt a pull for me to move to Minnesota for studies at Bethel Seminary. Even with my mom being in the hospital, I just knew I had to go although I was somewhat reluctant. I didn’t know anyone in Minnesota but I knew that was what I was supposed to do. My family and friends all contributed to help me move.
2. I had a health crisis (tumor in head) that lead to an encounter with the living God and a fresh vision of God’s purposes for my life. I moved to Minnesota in December of 2005 and they found the tumor in March of 2006 and operated in May of 2006. I immediately knew that’s why I was called to Minnesota and that if I had not gone, I would have eventually dropped dead. I immediately signed up for the state health insurance (Texas would not have had this option.) that covered most of my bill. My new roommate had a magazine listing doctors who other doctors and nurses would go to and my main surgeon was the top one listed. The other surgeon (Ear, Nose and Throat – he removed my right ear to make room for the tumor removal) did not even send me a bill. I signed up for the hospital program and they eliminated all my debt to the hospital that the insurance didn’t pay for. I have no monetary indebtedness for all of this – 18 hour surgery, 7 days in hospital.
3. From my time in Minnesota, I became acutely aware of what I was purposed to do for God with my life. Minnesota equipped me, made me over and gave me a passion for bringing people together, especially Christians, and a passion to challenge people, especially Christians, to reconcile with others, especially those different from them.
As I am rushing around now preparing for a presentation in London, this is a good reminder not to be too stressed, not to worry so much and to trust God because I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. The process that I will be presenting was all given to me by God while showering or sleeping. Those are the two main places where thoughts, dreams and ideas come to me and so I must immediately jot them down.
Thank you God for reminding me. I needed the reminder.
If you know your purpose, walk in it boldly.
If you don’t know your purpose, be in prayer and discernment about it. Talk with those who know you and who you trust. Schedule to talk with me. I’m more than willing to join with you in prayer and discernment, listen as you share and ask questions to help you solidify your calling.
For the past couple of weeks I’ve had some words running through my head. They are from a song by Heart of the City Worship Band, a local group in Minnesota that is very diverse – White, Native American, Black, Hispanic, Asian and others. The only words I can remember, which began running through my head over and over are: “We will not offer you that which cost us nothing… so we bring a gift of sacrifice… we bring a gift of sacrifice… to you O Ancient of Days.”
It reminds me that God wants the best from us and he deserves nothing less. If we think about it, we sacrifice for things all the time. We sacrifice for money and more money, power, authority, position, prestige, etc… However, when we put money in the offering plates, when we go about our ‘Christian service,’ when we share with others, often there is no sacrifice involved. We give our left overs.
Keep these song lyrics in your head and begin to change what you are offering up. Don’t offer up your left overs. Offer up that which has cost you something. It doesn’t always have to be big sacrifices, but there should be some cost involved. Just think about the costs you make when you seek after money, cars, houses, a partner, clothes, power, prestige, etc. This will get you headed in the right direction.
We Will Not Offer You byHeart of the City Worship Band
We will not offer you that which cost us nothing
We will not give to you the least of what we have
For you forgave us and healed us with your suffering
And you are worthy of the best that we can give
So we bring a gift of sacrifice – The way in which we live
We bring a gift of sacrifice – The offering that we give
We bring a gift of sacrifice – Even in the darkest days
We bring a gift of sacrifice – The sacrifice of praise
In San Diego for my first class (DMin in Global Leadership), I found out about the Self-Realization Gardens in Encinitas, CA. Everywhere along the garden path you can turn your head and see the Pacific Ocean. It was very peaceful. I took pictures and put the text of the messages that I received from God as I walked through the gardens. The very first message I received was peace, rest in God’s peace. This was just what I needed to hear. There can be peace in diversity. There should be peace in diversity. Click on the link below to see the pictures.
As we close out 2014, I just want to share the lyrics of a Stevie Wonder Christmas song. I think it says it all. My heart is heavy with the state of our world but these words encourage me. I pray someday comes soon.
“Someday At Christmas”
By Stevie Wonder
Someday at Christmas men won’t be boys
Playing with bombs like kids play with toys
One warm December our hearts will see
A world where men are free
Someday at Christmas there’ll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life’s really worth
There’ll be peace on earth
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmas we’ll see a land
With no hungry children, no empty hand
One happy morning people will share
Our world where people care
Someday at Christmas there’ll be no tears
All men are equal and no men have fears
One shining moment, one prayer away
From our world today
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmas man will not fail
Hate will be gone and love will prevail
Someday a new world that we can start
With hope in every heart
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmastime
Christians, believers, and white people who get it and all (Christians, believers, and white people) who don’t –
Please take notice of what’s going on in the US. So far, it’s just been the destructive voice of the few and the rallying voice of some that we have heard this year. But I tell you, if you continue to sit by and think everything is okay, you will be in for a rude awakening. As more killings, discriminatory acts and attacks, etc. continue to happen, people of color collectively will rise up and demand change. Might I remind you of the Bus Boycott and how effective it was and they didn’t have all the social media and technology that we have available today. People of color weren’t in all types of critical positions and levels of employment back then. While you may think you’re safe in your little world, please know that when massive boycotts occur, massive strikes happen and other large scale events occur as a sign of protest, your safe little world will be affected, infected and invaded.
Speak out in your churches; imploring your church to join in the fight. You can either join the fight willingly or unwillingly but you will become involved. You can either help or just be in the way. Which do you think Jesus would require? Martin Luther King Jr. said, “[The person] who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”
While on vacation in Costa Rica (which is BEAUTIFUL!!!!), I was inspired by this view from our hotel room to write this poem.
Allow – Ask – Do
Nature is so beautiful and peaceful, something that cannot be packaged, bought or sold.
It soothes my heart and spirit and does miraculous things in my soul.
The refreshing rain intermittently comes to cleanse the earth and cause more growth as a whole.
The rich and different varieties of every color and hue, size and shape, texture and feel.
Amazing and inspiring as they all are interspersed on numerous hills.
Interacting and not, supporting and not, propping up, colliding yet all are still here.
Allowing for difference
Allowing for observing
Allowing for intrusion
Bending and touching as they will.
Oh, that we humans would take note and learn from nature.
Communities of diverse plants living together each individually yet so beautiful together.
Interacting, supporting, upholding, respecting and embracing one another.
Just like nature, we are different, distinct and yet come from the same source.
Each created by God to a particular time, place, race and purpose.
A people of God and if we are believers, then people of blessing and not curse.
Asking:
How can I help you today?
How can I ask God to bless you today?
How can I serve you today?
As God helps, blesses and serves me.
To get away is so important to do so we can relax and reflect.
Whether the leaving is mental or physical, it is something we should not neglect.
We will become more focused and purposeful in our talk; then our walk, it will affect.
As I’ve learned from a country of peace I, in turn, share this with you.
How refreshing and rejuvenating embracing peace can be if one embraces it true.
I vow to go home and do more to bring peace in all that I do.
Being peace in the midst of chaos.
Doing peace work at every opportunity.
Modeling and teaching peace to all I encounter…
To help bring peace to our world.
Pam Y. Fields 
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