ROOTED.
"FOR THERE IS HOPE FOR A TREE, WHEN IT IS CUT DOWN, THAT IT WILL SPROUT AGAIN, AND ITS SHOOTS WILL NOT FAIL. THOUGH ITS ROOTS GROW OLD IN THE GROUND AND ITS STUMP DIES IN THE DRY SOIL, AT THE SCENT OF WATER IT WILL FLOURISH AND PUT FORTH SPRIGS LIKE A PLANT." JOB 14:7-9
LAST FRIDAY I WAS WALKING FROM MY PART TIME JOB TO MY STUDIO/OFFICE SPACE. I USUALLY TAKE THE TRAIN BUT I GOT A RIDE AND DECIDED TO WALK A COUPLE OF AVENUES. ON THE WAY, THERE IS A CHURCH I'VE WALKED BY MANY TIMES BEFORE. I'VE ALWAYS NOTICED THIS MAJESTIC EDIFICE BUT NEVER PAID ATTENTION TO THE DETAIL SURROUNDING IT. I SLOWED DOWN MY PACE. IT WAS AROUND SUNSET SO THERE WAS STILL SOME SUNLIGHT OUT. THE WAY LIGHTING HIT THE TREES SPOKE TO ME. I USUALLY FEEL THE NEED TO IGNORE THE FEELING TO STOP AND TAKE A PICTURE, BUT I DID ANYWAY. I STOOD THERE FOR A MOMENT AND ADMIRED SOMETHING THAT I HADN'T BEFORE. THE TREE ITSELF. I THOUGHT OF HOW THIS TREE STANDS FIRM THROUGH ALL SEASONS. HOW THE TREE RIDS ITSELF OF THE LEAVES IT NEEDS TO LET GO OF, FOR A SEASON, AND REPLENISHES THOSE LEAVES WHEN THE SEASON IS RIGHT. THROUGH EACH SEASON, THIS TREE GOES THROUGH STORMY WEATHER YET REMAINS FIRM. IT IS BALANCED. IT KNOWS ITS PLACE. THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS ROOTED. BARRING CATASTROPHE, THE TREE WILL LIVE OUT IT'S COURSE MAINTAINING THE CYCLE OF LIFE THROUGH ALL SEASONS. THE TREE IS ROOTED AND SERVES ITS PURPOSE. THIS MADE ME THINK ABOUT MYSELF. ANYWAY THE WIND BLOWS HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY MOTTO. THAT BEING SAID I REALIZED THAT SOMETIMES WHERE THE WIND TAKES YOU, YOU DON'T NEED TO GO. IN THAT MOMENT IT CAME TOGETHER FOR ME. I NEED TO BE LIKE THAT TREE AND NOT ONE OF IT'S LEAVES.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN AS SOMEONE WHO GOES WITH THE FLOW. COOL WITH WHATEVER IS CLEVER. BEING A FOLLOWER. CONVINCING MYSELF AT TIMES THAT THIS WAS WHO I AM. I'VE NEVER BEEN KNOWN AS SOMEONE WHO STOOD FIRM IN CONVICTION. FOR THE MOST PART I'VE KEPT MY IDEAS, OPINIONS, ADVICE AND DREAMS TO MYSELF. BECAUSE I WASN'T ROOTED, I'VE LIVED A SUPERFICIAL EXISTENCE. UNSURE. WANTING TO BE LIKED. LOOKING FOR ACCEPTANCE. MOTIVATED BY THE POSSIBILITY OF FINANCIAL GAIN AND NOTORIETY. I KNEW SUBCONSCIOUSLY I HAD MORE TO OFFER, BUT CONVINCED IT DIDN'T MATTER. ALLOWING MY LIFE TO BE DICTATED BY THE DESIRES OF OTHERS. EXPERIENCE IS A GREAT TEACHER AND I WOULD NOT BE WHO I AM TODAY WITHOUT THOSE EXPERIENCES. I'VE SPENT MUCH TIME PONDERING WHAT DIFFERENCES WOULD HAVE MANIFESTED HAD I BEEN ROOTED. LUCKILY, I DON'T HAVE TO WONDER ANY LONGER.
THIS TESTIMONY HAS A LOT TO DO WITH FAITH. WHEN I SPEAK OF FAITH, PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS IS MULTILAYERED. FAITH IS DEFINED AS COMPLETE TRUST OR CONFIDENCE IN SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. NOT ONLY DID I LACK FAITH IN MYSELF, BUT ALSO IN GOD. BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD HAS STARTED TO HEAL WOUNDS THAT HAVE PREVENTED ME FROM BELIEVING IN MY TRUE PURPOSE. THE FACT THAT I AM CURRENTLY WRITING THIS PIECE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE WOUND OF INSECURITY BEGINNING TO HEAL. THIS NEW FOUND SPIRITUALITY HAS ALLOWED ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE & HOW TO BE ROOTED. IN ORDER FOR US TO BE WHO WE ARE INTENDED TO BE, WE HAVE TO STAND FIRM IN WHAT WE BELIEVE. FOR ME THAT IS ASPIRING TO INSPIRE THROUGH MY GIFTS, REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCE OR IN THE PRESENCE OF OPPOSITION. THAT'S CONVICTION.
IN LIFE WE ALL GO THROUGH SEASONS. GOOD TIMES AND BAD. REJECTION AND ACCEPTANCE. WITHIN THOSE SEASONS WE EXPERIENCE STORMY WEATHER. WHEN THINGS GET ROUGH THOSE MOMENTS SHAPE US. WE NEED TO HOLD ONTO THE THINGS WE BELIEVE IN, BECAUSE AT THE CORE THAT IS WHO WE ARE. NOT GIVING UP WHEN THINGS GET DIFFICULT. NOT SLOWING DOWN WHEN WE PROSPER. STANDING FIRM, LIKE THAT TREE. I CONTINUE TO WORK CONSTANTLY ON RIDDING THOSE UNWANTED LEAVES AND REPLACE THEM WITH NEW ONES IN DUE TIME.
I AM A CREATOR, A MUSICIAN, A GRAPHIC DESIGNER, A LOVER, A FRIEND, A BROTHER, AN UNCLE, A SON, A DENIM AND PLAID AFICIONADO, AN ENTHUSIAST OF POLITICS AND COMIC BOOKS AND A PERSON OF FAITH. THIS IS WHO I AM AND WHO I'VE ALWAYS BEEN. LIKE THAT TREE, I HOPE TO BE THIS PERSON THROUGH EVERY SEASON. LIKE KID CUDI SINGS, "I AIN'T RIDING NO WAVES, TOO BUSY MAKING MY OWN WAVES."