Community Preparedness: Back to the Future

By Dr. Gloria Latimore-Peace

Presented By Omni-University

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1 Corinthians 13:13

There was a time that I would have been reluctant to quote a biblical scripture (KJV) as a prelude to a message for a diverse audience for fear of "turning off " that portion of readers who are not "Christians", i e., who are followers of other religious or spiritual traditions, or who regard themselves as "atheists", agnostics, idolaters, etc. However, since this scripture sums up the points that so urgently need to be made, I am willing to take the risk. Moreover, I regard the continuation of our previous message as vital to the interests of our community.

Among other points, consider these:

(A) Things are changing rapidly and prophetically, as well as unpredictably; current events are becoming historical events almost simultaneously.

(B) The "normal", for which we've been hoping to return, is indefinable under the current flux of affairs.

(C) We appear to be in a state of denial about our readiness to handle the continuing abrupt and/or potentially drastic changes, and as a result:

(D) We are at a crossroads between not knowing what to expect or to do and/or doing things with no clear idea as to whether or not they will benefit us in the long run. All that being said, it's about time for us to stop and take inventory of our spiritual, mental, physical, and financial condition. It is also time for us to share that information with our loved ones, i.e. those who are likely to be the "first responders " should something "happen" to us. And equally important: it is time to stop allowing the decisions of others to make decisions for us- decisions that, by right of self-determination, we can and should make for ourselves.

We used to have "leaders" back in the day but, today, as in ancient times, the leadership is in our collective selves. Thus, we will need to "Cast down our buckets where we are"[1] because "nobody is going to save us but us."[2] Fortunately, by the grace of God, we are a people of principles, whose strong suite is "improvisation", i.e. "making a way out of no way ". Thus, we must utilize the resources at our command: faith, hope, charity-and improvisation.

"Charity begins at home" is an old and very wise saying. The "Me" generation, the province of the "[I]ndividual ", is unsustainable; it is a luxury we can ill- afford. Hence, the "I's" must surrender to the "i and i"-the "we"- whose original modus operandi was based upon reciprocity, i.e., doing unto others -and in some cases- doing for others- as we would have others do unto/for us. It is this practice that has sustained us through so many of the "hard-knock times" of the past: 1 Corinthians 13:8-9 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophesies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. (9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. There was never a greater imperative for "Sankofa"[3]: for going back to fetch the tried and true ways that, by faithful adherence to them, have brought us thus far. We are blessed to have elders and ancestors [4] among us as "griots" to which our families can turn for their prayers, their advice, and their counsel.

We give thanks to our Almighty Source which we know to be Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent, for the favor that has been/is being/ will be bestowed upon us. We ask not what our country- the nation that we built, reparations notwithstanding- can do for us. Rather we ask what we can do for ourselves and then we do it with the quickness.

You are urged to view The H3O Art of Life Show which is an extension of the preceding message: "Community Preparedness: It's Armor Time, Featuring: Troy Harden, Assoc. Professor of Social Work, and Louis Kweku Wright, MSW. Please share your responses with us and post The H3O Art of Life Blog on your social media as well.

Umoja, Written and Performed by Kwame Steve Cobb and Chavanduka.

Kujichagulia, written and performed by Kwame Steve Cobb and Chavinduka.

Blognotes: [1] Booker T. Washington [2] Rev. Jesse L. Jackson [3] Sankofa- From the Twi language of Ghana, is represented by a bird with its head turned backward and its feet facing forward. [4.] Griot( gree-o) those whose duty it is to fulfill the purpose of preserving the history , traditions, practices, and customs of their kinship group.