A Testimony: Caught in the Slipstream

Hello, hello...Welcome back.

 I am a Christian...

I needed to start with that just to level the conversation. I don't spend too many posts talking about my faith, because, I don't think I knew yet how to articulate it. But this post is all about that.

Recently, I have been mulling over this imagery of being caught in the slipstream (a slipstream is defined as a stream of fluid [as air or water] driven aft by a propeller or an area of reduced air pressure and forward suction immediately behind a rapidly moving vehicle). The images that these definitions evoke, are "riding" or "being caught in this force."   

 If I were to visualize this concept,  I see a giant rock, rough, mossy, "lived", stuck in a rushing river.

What you see of this rock is the roughness, the moss, the cracks, the things that you don't think as beautiful.

What you don't see is what is happening underneath and around the sides of the rock, is the work the rushing river is doing to smooth out the edges--erosion.

There are many slipstreams that I have been caught in, in my life, the one that I want to spend some time on is being a member of my church ministry. I am currently a ministry team leader in my church- Citizen Heights.

I came to this particular team at a time when I was still a young Christian-- there was a lot (even though there still is a lot) of work needing to be done in me. I was moved from one team, which I loved, had a rhythm and enjoyed very much, to a team that I was so afraid of--This team is in the direct presence of our Pastors---eek!

There's a timidness in assuming a role like this one, as a new Christian. As a new Christian, you are still "trying to measure up." And being in direct contact means being measured, right? This idea of perfection that we associate with pastors are that they are the "holy, holy, holy," almost the untouchable, but not because of them, because of how we feel we "measure up."

 I think we allow that narrative to be the detail we use to isolate ourselves, especially when we don't seem worthy--- but that could be another post in and of itself and it's not just in comparison to our pastors, but to other Christians in general.

But there I was, knowing I had some things to work on, but I was also being called to support this ministry team and essentially the HEART and VISION of this house, the Pastors.

In this sense I am the rock stuck (or planted) in this rushing water (presence of the pastors) and without me acting (we're going to come back to this), my edges are being smoothed. The things happening underneath the water are life changing.

Serving in the office team, in the proximity of the pastors and their hearts and their vision and their love for people, in how they express it to their families, to their friends, to the team that serves them, rub off on you merely by you showing up.  Being saturated by their character is what transforms and changes you.

I imagine this is what being at the feet of Jesus is like. Just sitting in His presence, doing nothing but, soaking it in and letting the river do the work.

But there are some actions that I have to take in order for that process to be accelerated, I need to show up. I might not always be ready to fully hear what is happening around me, but being in proximity changes me. It grows me up. There are things that compliment the actions of the river:

• Showing Up
• Being Present
• Participating in small groups
• Leading a team
• Being part of a team

And one day the slipstream becomes a little different. The slipstream, almost 5 years later becomes me a loose, more smooth rock, riding the rush of the river.

My journey is different now, I once needed to be planted steady so that the things underneath could be smoothed out. And then when I became smooth enough, I became loose and can ride the rush.
 That's where I am at now, I am riding the rush of the river. Still on the slipstream of life,  being refined, and smoothed out, until I am snagged again, planted for another season of smoothing, before I can ride the rush again.

What I'm Reading: Around The Way Girl by Taraji P. Henson

When I was a kid my parents and really, I think more so, my dad, maintained that my love of reading would have some sort of knowledge acquisition element. He probably also stated my love of critical thinking and writing without even knowing it.

When I was a kid every book I read and particularly over the summer was followed by a book report. I loved reading but those of you with a secondary degree, probably have reasoned that reading for fun is something you yearn for, but might not get to accomplish, even as your Amazon wish lists continue to grow.

Over the last few years I've been able to reclaim my joy of reading through a book club with my sister and just finally catching a rhythm in work and life. So I might as well return to the lessons my dad taught me and share what I've learned....

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Around the Way Girl: A Memoir By Taraji P. Henson

If you are a fan of celebrity Taraji P. Henson, RUN, do not walk to get this book. And don't just get this book on your Kindle or digitally, invest in the hard copy of this book, because it is WORTH IT! Of course there is a draw to see what glimpses of the individual you might get. Especially when all you tend to see is the characters she is portraying on the big screen or tv. 

So when I picked up this book, I didn't expect what I received, but I should have been prepared because the authenticity that lives through Taraji Penda Henson, in her social media and through her interviews is the same around the way girl that allowed herself to be vulnerable in this book. 

Being able to take a glimpse under the makeup and couture clothing was refreshing, exhilarating and a truly tremendous experience.

There is a quote in her book that I think captures the essence of what this book meant to me "There is no one way to present a black woman; we have a voice and we have the right not only to have that voice but also to see it reflected back at us..."

Now she was talking about representation in acting, but in it's simplest form this quote reminds me of two things 1. She herself as an individual and an actress is a complex person--duh, we all are? But in that how often do we take for granted who we THINK we know celebrities are and who they TRULY are? That's what this book did for me--- it reflected back at us the voice that we collectively have. There are so many details littered throughout the pages of this book that remind me of the stories and experiences that I have grappled with. And its exhilarating to see wisdom throughout these pages and to at least catch a glimpse of some road map when faced with some of those same life lessons.

2. This quote in it's essence reminds me of the book by Henry Louis Gates, Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Man . It's a reminder that we're not unitary individuals. That just because we have an outward commonality, it doesn't mean that we are all the same.

When it comes to acting the portrayals of the experiences of people of color are so limited and have only just lately started to see some diversity.

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 This book, touches on so many aspects, who the key figures were in her life and what she learned from them. That it takes a village to raise a person and behind Taraji is an entire village that has supported her as she rose to her acclaim and continues. I think the most vibrant, telling sections were the chapters on her son. Those ones broke me, I definitely shed a few tears through them. And as a future mother of a young Black man, she highlighted some of the hopes and fears that future mothers of young Black men will carry.

All in all, this book left me excited to have a different understanding of the woman that is Tarji P. Henson--- it also made me wish I had her in my corner and after you read this book, you'll understand why.




via GIPHY

I recommend this book with 2 thumbs up!