LIFECYCLE 101 – BATTLING FOR BALANCE

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

— Albert Einstein

Greetings Friends!

I’ve been in somewhat of a cramp for a few, however, here I am.  If you’re like me, there are times, seasons, periods, maybe even years in your/my life where we seek balance in life.  Scholars and theologians alike have argued for centuries about the realistic nature of “balance” in our lives.  Can we actually obtain homeostasis?  Is equilibrium something that we should strive for?

Even songwriters and playwrights have joined the debate.  Is their really such a thing as “50/50 love?” Can an ever changing life, full of ever changing dynamics achieve a state of balance?

I don’t know.

However, what I have observed in my life and the lives of others whom I have been blessed to share my lived experience with was taught to me around the age of  6 by my 13 year old neighbor Mark.  Not to choke on nostalgia, but I grew up in a time and space where children played outside and learned life lessons void of technology and formalized entertainment.  Mark was a great sage for my life because he could do bike tricks!  He had the coolest “Mongoose” bike and I had just got a “BMX” for my birthday.

(Now, there were many things I did as a child that nearly killed me in my attempt to be a world-class bike rider, and World Wrestling Federation Superstar; however, jumping off of various outdoor objects on my bike without helmet or pad has to make the top 10 list.)

After taking a couple of bunny hill jumps on street curbs and falling as I attempted to engage the brake after the jump, Mark said “Tim, you’ve gotta keep going to keep your balance after you jump, if you don’t, you’ll keep falling.”

That sentiment is truer today than it was then.  In life, we all take jumps.  We attempt to make our way in the world with varying degrees of risk and difficulty; no matter what the jump, no matter the mode of transportation, we have to keep moving in order to keep our safety, our success, our harmony, our balance.

Standing still is playing small.  Lack of movement is a sure formula for an unbalanced stage in life.  When I feel off balance, it’s time to move.  When you feel thrown off by life; move.  Keep moving for balance, keep moving for safety, keep moving and live!

Love, Blessings, and Balance,

T2

THE JUNKYARD DOG RETURNS…

As most of you know, I am a recovering pro-wrestling-aholic.  For most of my childhood, adolescent, and young adult life I faithfully watched professional wrestling.  I enjoyed the trash-talkin’, athletic, and brainless activity of following the ever repetitive story lines that were weaved into every Monday night saga.

The other day, I happened to run into a great “ice-breaker” question that tempted me to find the closest DVD player and watch Wrestlemania 2:  “If you were a professional wrestler, what would your ring name be and why?”  I began to think about that. and I came to the conclusion that I would be the reincarnation of The Junkyard Dog aka JYD.  Like JYD, I have become a mix of very hard work, a zest for life, and a broad sense of humor.  And lest I forget, JYD kicked his fair share of butt too!

So the question today is for you…

“If you were a professional wrestler, what would your ring name be and why?  –

Post a comment, ask your co-workers, kids, family, and friends.  This question is sure to bring laughs and reflection.

Peace, Blessings, and head butts!

T2

TRIBUTE TO STEVIE WONDERLAND

When was the last time you listened to some Stevie Wonder?  There are times and spaces in my life where I forget to turn off the “noise” and listen to the music of my mind.  Stevie Wonder has always been a wellspring of solice, encouragement, and love for me.  I understand that I am obviously not alone in the appreciation of Stevie Wonder and his genius.  Neo-Soul queen India Arie wrote and performed a song in Stevie’s honor entitiled “wonderful.”

The verses of the song are composed of her favorite Stevie Wonder songs (how creative!)

You are the sunshine of my life;  another Shakespeare of your time
You’re like a ribbon in the sky; you are a poet’s endless rhyme
You take me to a higher ground;  then you knock me off my feet
Lately I been thinking ’bout you, ’cause you been creeping in my dreams

You inspire me, the way you make me feel inside is amazing
Your honesty, your artistry is engaging
You are everything I hope to be

You have touched my soul,  I want you to know,  you are my hero
You got so much soul, to put it plain and simple… you are wonderful

I am the woman in red, I am girl blue, I am the black boy,  I am a golden lady too
You bring the music of your mind,  to elevate human kind
That’s why I share my emotions with inner visions I explode

You inspire me;  the way you make me feel inside is amazing
Your honesty,  your artistry is engaging
You are everything I want to be

You have touched my soul,  I want you to know,  you are my hero
You got so much soul, to put it plain and simple… you are wonderful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv1m1In17LE – Watch India perform her tribute!

Stevie, You are wonderful!  Thank you for giving us the “Village Ghetto Land”, and “Sir Duke”, and “Can’t Imagine Love without You!”

What are some of your favorite Stevie Wonder Jams?

Peace, Blessings, and Soul,

T2

SAFE IN NEUTRALITY…KINDA…

“The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

If you spend more than 30 seconds watching cable news, or hear more than one minute of a politician’s speech you become immediately cognizant that we are living in what Dr. King has so aptly dubbed “great moral conflict.”  Issues like immigration, gay marriage, the mosque in Manhattan, and others are moving some of the most hateful and divisive human qualities to rise up in the discourse.

Unfortunately for our society and our future, the only voices we are hearing are the extreme voices; many of whom make their fortunes acting out our biggest fears, prejudices, and historical neglects.  When such buffoonery is so commonplace, it would seem that the most comfortable place, the shelter from the storms of bigotry and ignorance would be found in the oasis of neutrality.  Well, kinda.

I have found that speaking out on these issues one one side or the other can cause great hardship to a life, a family, a career, or even a future.  The fear of the repercussions of this cold, hard reality has silenced common sense from the discourse.  This silence is dangerous to our children’s future and to peace in our nation.

I have chosen to find my home in a neutrality that has been around since the beginning of time:  The basics of human kindness.  The neutrality of “love thy neighbor as thyself” and “live peaceably with all people”, “all men/women are created equal”, the parable of the “good Samaritan.”  The list goes on and on of ignored neutrality that can still today offer sensible, collaborative, “bi-partisan” solutions to these massive debates.  These simple principles that God has shared with us make sense through the generations.

As I continue to study history and analyze the present, I realize that it is when we move to the left or right of these simple human principles of interaction and living; we inevitably lose our way.

I submit that its far past time that we as a society get back to the basics of our humanity.  Deal with the sins of the past, tell the truth about the present, and move forward in a neutral position that will SAVE your soul from hell.

Peace, Blessings, and Hmmmm….

T2

HOPE ON A TIGHTROPE – PART I

“I am no way optimistic, but I remain a prisoner of hope.”

— Dr. Cornell West, Hope on a Tightrope

Having spent the first 13 years of my adult life and career in community and youth development, I have found a plethora of reasons for my hope to wain.  The generational/familial curses that perpetuate themselves year after year; poverty and its grip on the motivations and self concepts of millions of children; the prison industrial complex fueled by decades of a war on drugs, and subsequently a war on communities of color, that in turn create a deficit of men of color in communities…OK, you get the picture.

My optimism was often shredded by the tribalism and hater-ade that is produced and practiced as a direct result of  scarce resources and systematic plantationism.

I tried not to participate in the deafening chorus of despair, however, I must admit, I attended choir rehearsal from time to time.  The only hopes I have are found in my faith in God, and my eternal sentence as a prisoner of hope.

My jail cell of optimism is grounded in the idea that God gave us more listening resources than talking resources, and one day, we as Americans may catch the hint.  I have worked in the very liberal social service sector, as well as the conservative business sector and I have found that no one is less human than the other.  We all want the same things: jobs, security, love, peace, safety, etc.  The way we go about them and in what order are debateable, however, I’m in a holding cell waiting for the day when honest disagreement can end in harmonious progress.

As a prisoner of hope, I have to be chained to the reality that there is no escape for me.  I must believe, I must tell the truth, I must hope, even when hope is on a tightrope.

Love, Peace, and Hope…

T2

HOPE ON A TIGHTROPE – PART II

“You’re made in the image of God. You’re a featherless, two-legged, linguistically conscious creature born between urine and feces. Thats us. One day your body will be the culinary delight of terrestrial worms. You know that. Be honest. Put on your three-piece suit if you want to, but thats not armor against death. The question is: Who are you going to be in the meantime, in this time and space? You don’t get out of time and space alive.”

— (Dr. Cornell West, Hope on a Tightrope, pg. 28)

Whoa!  Since he put it like that, there’s not much left to say.  The part of this quote that just floors me every time I read it is, “Who are you going to be in the meantime, in this time and space?”  This speaks to the fierce urgency of now.  We all have people in our lives (including us), who are not living up to their potential in this time and space.  We MUST continue to encourage movement.   We can’t afford the time to take the scenic route when it comes to moving toward our potential.  Education, Spiritual Life, Family Life, Career; you name it, we’ve got work to do!  Let’s not wait until the “shoulda, coulda, woulda’s” to move forward.  We have been blessed with THIS time and space, another is not promised.  YOU DON’T GET OUT OF SPACE AND TIME ALIVE!

Love, Blessings, and Urgency,

T2

THE SON IN ME FROM SESAME STREET

“Sing, Sing a Song; Sing Out Loud, Sing Out Strong! Sing of Good Things, Not Bad; Sing of Happy, Not Sad. Sing, Sing a Song; Make it Simple to Last Your Whole Life Long! DON’T WORRY IF IT’S NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ANYONE ELSE TO HEAR, JUST SING, Sing a Song.”

— (Sesame Street, 1982)

On most evenings, I have the pleasure to put my son to bed.  We’ve developed quite the routine over our two and a half years together.  The first ten minutes or so are spent convincing my namesake that it really is bedtime, and Daddy and Mommy aren’t too concerned about basketball, football, or “Go Diego Go” at this time in the day.  It’s all about bath, butt, and bed.

After this careful sequence of events ends, we go into the “night-night” mode.  TJ picks out a book of his choice (usually one of Michael Jordan’s childhood stories as illustrated by the great Kadir Nelson), and we read.  After that, we turn off the light and go into prayer time.  We ask God’s blessing on everyone he knows.  Now, you may be laughing about “everyone” he knows at 2.5 years old, well, my son is already a socialite (wonder who he got that from?) and the list is long.  After our multiple Amens, I lay him down in his bed and implore him to “be a good boy” and go night-night.  50% of the time he obliges.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, I was listening to some first-school hip-hop, more specifically Kurtis Blow.  My son heard the ever famous chorus “They’re Playin’ Bas-ket-Ball, We Love that Bas-ket-Ball…”  He went monkey-nuts! He wants to hear Kurtis Blow every minute of every day.

What you may not know about my son, he’s an above average kid when it comes to intelligence (I have to give his mother credit for that one).  He figured, since there is a basketball song, there must be a baseball song…and a football song…and a golf song…and a, and a, and a….

So hear I am, substituting reading time for song time at night.  We sing everything from Kurtis Blow to “the wheels on the bus go round and round.”   I started to reflect on my favorite songs as a 2-3 year old.  What did I love to hear?  What calmed my sweet little soul before bedtime.  What made me smile during my innocence?  That one is easy…

Sesame Street’s “Sing”.

So I began to sing to my son…Sing, Sing a Song…

By the time I got to the second verse, I got choked up! Immediately, I wondered why I was near tears (well maybe an inch or two past “near”), about a Sesame Street Song from the early 80’s?

I know why. That song encourages children not to lose their courage and their song.  “Don’t Worry if it’s Not Good Enough, For Anyone Else to Hear…Just Sing!”

What happened to that child-like courage?  What happens to our songs?  Why are we so concerned as adults to sing our songs of comfort with every ounce of voice we have?

In a simple word; Life.  Life happened to us.  Life happened to me.  I allowed the deafening noises of doubt, greed, selfishness, pain, worry, fear, hatred, bigotry, and relationships to drown out my song and send me to a place where I really need to know “how to get to Sesame Street?”

Well I’m thankful that I have children, both of my own, and those who I call mentees, little brothers and sisters; who through their sheer joy and zest for life remind me of how to get to Sesame Street in my heart and sing my song.

Next time life sends you on a trip; search the mapquest of your heart, and get the directions to Sesame Street!  Find your song, and sing it!  Somebody else might need to hear!

Love, Peace, and Cookie Monsters,

T2

For your reflection: 

If you're watching videos with your preschooler and would like to do so in a safe, child-friendly environment, please join us at http://www.sesamestreet.org Sing with celebrities. Sesame Street is a production of Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit educational organization which also produces Pinky Dinky Doo, The Electric Company, and other programs for children around the world.

AND THE GAME BALL GOES TO…

For over a century one sports tradition has survived; the awarding of the game ball.  At the end of every football game the coach or captain awards a certain player for their significant positive impact on the game.  You often hear speeches from the coach about how the player is deserving of the game ball.  His toughness, selflessness, aggressiveness, encouragement, professionalism, skills, ability, and heroism are all lauded in the post-game conversation.

Well, as many of you know, I experienced the ending of one game in my life this summer.  As I look back at the contest, I realize that there was one person who deserves a “game ball” from me.   This passionate, tough, aggressive, encouraging, heroic titan of youth development took me under his wing and helped me become a better leader, a better father, a better friend, and a better me.

His selfless example of dedication to ALL children and their families gave me an unlimited reservoir energy and determination to do my job and do it well.  His nearly three decades of perseverance and leadership in and for the community of Kalamazoo motivated me to “bring it” everyday for our children and our future.

His undeniable love and protection of his beautiful daughter and precious wife helped me to try to improve my efforts at home.  He has no fear of politics or piles of poo-poo that too often dominate the social service sector. He just works for kids and families.  Period.

His approach to life is a witness to balance.  While facing some of the most idiotic, complex, heart-breaking issues; he and I would always find time to laugh.

His “take no prisoners” approach to accountability and responsibility in the community serves as a remnant of good days gone by.

He is the reason I played the game.  Any accolades I received are in part because of his friendship and example.

I’m proud to be his friend.  I’m blessed to be his mentee. I am safe as his friend.  I’m better because I know, love, and appreciate the winner of today’s game ball…

Bob, b.k.a., 4D Man, a.k.a., Robert Ezelle

Thanks to you my friend,

T2

P.S. Support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo and the Douglass Community Association…Our community counts on them!

http://www.bgckzoo.org   or http://www.douglasscommunity.org