Friday, October 28, 2011

Wandering Generalities Oppose to a Meaningful Specific

The older we get the more it seems like time just keeps on passing us by. I was recently reflecting with a friend and I told him I just turned "50". He reminded me that it was almost two months ago! How did eight weeks fly so fast? As we continued to talk he said, make sure you don't fall into "wandering generalities oppose to a meaningful specific," with the things you've set your mind to do.

Okay, after I stopped to give his expression some thought, I had to think about how deep a simple phrase can really be. Honestly this made me reflect on everything I currently had on my list and reviewed it to make sure I wasn't just being "busy," but actually taking care of "business." Now of course it's important to be balanced and have fun in life, but also remember what your goals are and what you are purposed to do.

I've started to notice in some of the conversations I'm having with friends, clients and new acquaintances, many are disappointed with themselves for not really going after what's in their heart to accomplish. What I've observed is there are as many different reasons as people for why they aren't going after what they really want. The three biggest reasons seem to be fear, or they don't believe they deserve it, or they feel they've waited too long and it's too late.

My response is first, fear is "false evidence appearing real." Don't give into fear. It cripples people all the time and it is actually the opposite of faith or believing. Secondly, you must believe in yourself and what you were put on this earth to do. No matter what you've heard otherwise. Third, as long as you, we, us have breath in our bodies it is NEVER too late to go after what you really want. Learn as much as you can about what it is you want to do, find out who else is doing it, and start surrounding yourself with people of like mind.

I believe if you really don't fight and try to make your dreams a reality you will be mad at yourself. If that happens, you will wake up one day asking yourself for forgiveness. Always remember nothing beats a failure but a try!


Healing Without Hate: It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!

Visit www.WendyGladney.com & www.forgivingforliving.org. You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog: Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Gaddafi's Death

Most of us are aware that Muammar Gaddafi, Longtime dictator of Libya was killed. They are still investigating all of the details pertaining to his death, but video tapes showed graphic images where his lifeless body was being dragged through the streets and over pavement with lots of blood. What's interesting is the men that were tormenting him chanted continuously "God is great," while they continued to beat him. I ask is this conduct just? Is it moral?

With all that is going on throughout the world and across the globe the question of "justice" could be asked. Justice means the quality of being just, righteousness, or moral rightness. It is the moral principle determining just conduct.

I am not a political correspondent nor do I even want to pretend to be so, therefore the main purpose of my comments are centered around the question of humanity and what is right. As I was raising my children, I always taught them that right is right if no one is doing it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it. The question I pose is what are we doing? Is it right?

President Obama did address the death of Gaddafi in a press conference. He said that Libya won their revolution. Gadaffi was known as one of the world's longest serving dictators and now he is no more. He was accused of crimes against humanity, but the way he was murdered was that humane? With all of the violence and hatred that has been stirring for all this time did this action bring peace?

Forgiveness has to be part of any dialogue and solution if we want to even have a hope of a better future for the next generations to come. I'm not saying that Gaddafi (or anyone else for that matter) was correct in his actions, but have we searched and sought all forms of understanding and possible reconciliation?


Healing Without Hate: It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!

Visit www.WendyGladney.com & www.forgivingforliving.org. You can email her at wendy.gladney@gmail.com. Also follow her blog: Wendygladney.blogspot.com. Wendy is featured on Radio Free 102.3 KJLH on Dominique DiPrima's Front Page Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Keeping the Peace

This week my heart and mind have been heavy as I thought about what to share. I very much desire for my blog to be entertaining, educational and enlightening. But at the end of the day, I must also write about what I feel and believe. Recently I've noticed some negativity among people I hoped to respect, even people I would consider leaders in the community. One thing I know for sure, no one rises to the top by knocking someone else down.

I really believe it is a shame when an individual publicly humiliates another person, especially when there's been a history, friendship and even a working relationship that once existed. I ask how can someone say they are an advocate for peace and yet they try to destroy another person's reputation and possibly even their livelihood? If you have a problem or a disappointment with a person, it might not be a bad idea to just pull them aside and help them.

To confirm my thoughts about this week's article, what I found interesting is when I was in church this morning the pastor talked about judgment and being careful when we pass judgment on another. After all, we've all heard the saying, "he who is without sin cast the first stone." So understand, I am not passing judgment, I just want to give all of us something to think about. Leaders construct not destroy.

Of course, I had to look at the bible before I brought closure to this thought. James 4:1 says, " where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?" Usually when we try to breakdown another it is because of pride. We know pride comes before a fall...In the book of James, he goes further to say, "If anyone among you thinks he's religious, but does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless."

In closing, I just want to say, if we profess peace, then we need to stop fighting with one another and practice what we preach. Figure it out, work it out with your fellow brother or sister. Life is short and we should build up instead of destroying others. Extend the olive branch, believe me if you're sincere it works. This step can lead to forgiveness and that can eventually lead to peace.

"...that old law about an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing. Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


Healing Without Hate: It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!