Monday, February 22, 2010

My Encounter with the Man Driving the Mercedes

Picture: My Mercedes outside of my new gated community.

Like most black men, I love me a nice ride. Actually, silver is one of my favorite colors for a car. I also like my music loud – but I must admit when I ride with it blaring I get a little embarrassed. Especially at a stop light. Dick Gregory is quoted, “Black men like to have their car stereos loud so that they can forget their problems.”

I remembered Dick’s comment while I was in my dirty Jeep Grand Cherokee stopped at Garrett Morgan's invention, http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/gama/gamlife.htm. Then I did something untypical. I asked the guy driving a silver convertible Mercedes, “Why are you driving with the top down on this cold misty day?” Of course, I had to motion to get his attention. He had everyone in their vehicles near him listening to Sade’s Soldier of Love,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvDaJaU5My4. Pretty hot track, by the way! The frail looking dark skin 30 something fella looked at me with so much intensity that I wanted to drive off. I could not thanks to the trash truck, the Monte Carlo with McDonalds ‘graffiti all over it (looked something like this one: http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/75/31/mcdonalds_ghetto_car.0.0.0x0.500x375.jpeg, the sparkling clean Audio A8, and the Ford F-150. I was literally boxed in. This time I am okay with it (the confinement) because the young man went onto tearfully respond to my question:

“I have terminal cancer. I may not live another three months. So, I wanted to see what it was like to drive a convertible. I never have until now. I wash cars at the car lot down the road, and the manager let me take a spin. I am trying to get it all in before I die.”

The light switched to the color of money. He drove off. I sat there with the horns of aggressive drivers ringing in my ears. Shocked! Get that, the young man was proceeding with his day; while I confined myself. He went on to live for the day as I sat there blown by his disclosure…

Those of you who ‘question’ my encounters. Stop! This one and most are TRUE. LOL!

Somebody/Something is trying to tell ALL of US SOMETHING every single day.

Lord knows I need to answer that ‘Call’.

Brian E. Payne sharing another installment.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Where is your Faith?

Please listen to the Christian's responses in this song.

Instead of us trying to 'solve' the problem for people we MUST direct folk back to the base: FAITH. I have said time and time again, no matter where I stand in the theology of Christianity, faith will NEVER leave me. Never. My momma instilled that. Can't get rid of it.

Listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OWTlGDdNnY&feature=related

Saturday, February 13, 2010

20 Years Ago

Touching. Truly Touching it was when Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News reminded me that this week marked the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. As expected, the people of South Africa celebrated and honored a frail man who is one of the bravest men to walk the face of this earth.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#35357401

http://www.nelsonmandela.org/index.php

Brian E. Payne sharing.