Once upon A Time ...
there was a little girl-child living in rural midwest America. She was chosen to live life as an African American female. She had no awareness of what it meant socially or spiritually to be created in this unique image. Many years have passed by with many stories yet to tell.
This story begins the moment one conservative fellow believer stated that it would be important for her to explore what it meant to be an African American female leader in the Christian Reformed church. Her first thought was how bold of him to ask such a question... this white man sitting before her... a man that she highly respected and absorbed all he had to give. She wasn't really angry with his question, She was self-concious of the reality that she hadn't really thought much about how others would be effected by her presence.
She was so terribly empowered by the reality that she was where she was in the moment... more of an ongoing self-awareness experience of awe.
AND I STILL AM... In Awe! Where I am at in my thinking today is in discovering that being African American is an asset. This is where i choose to begin.. i pray that others will join me in this journey. one in which i will grow with others as i go. i call journey Operation Koinonia: like a military movement. YES! Its a movement of intentional relationship building across culture and race. I call it a movement because it began in my heart decades ago. And yet it is in this decade that my heart is filled with a new sense of urgency to take one giant step,forward one day at a time,, no, one moment at a time towards being an open living vessel for bringing other folk into a growing community of HEARTS IN HARMONY.
When you read my words and slowly decide whether you will ever read them again. i beg of you not to go away unfulfilled. In order to gain a good friend, you have to be a good friend. I intend to be a good friend to yous as you read and get to know me through my African American lens. I want to hear your stories and i welcome feedback in whatever form of expression your heart will dare risk.
Amen! again It's 2010
on the journey with ya!
Just Me Ange' B
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i must post a comment to myself
ReplyDeleteOPERATION KOINONIA IS the correct spelling
pronounced (coy-no-nee-ya)
Koinonia... its the greek word for fellowship which is not only a sharing in fellowship WITH someone; such as money, food, etc,; but instead is more of a sharing IN fellowship with someone; such as sharing in joy or sorrow... walking along side someone.
this koinonia is authentic Christian fellowship, not just a mere pat on the back, hang in there sort of response. This Koinonia is authentic fellowship. This kind of fellowship leaves a little residue. if it doesn't then it is not real. I STAND CORRECTED... Koinonia!!! Amen
Okay, I joined and I am so glad you are doing this! May the Holy Spirit join you in this endeavor. Mindy
ReplyDeleteToday was a day of peace and healing
ReplyDeletei am thankful for being created
angela
shalom
This is wonderful! I connected here because of my niece and nephew who heard you speak yesterday in Grand Rapids. She shared your blog address on her Facebook page.
ReplyDeleteI am on a path and have blogged about it where we have at least one similarity. Living in the moment. "one moment at a time towards being an open living vessel for bringing other folk into a growing community of HEARTS IN HARMONY." I love this!!!
I am an Inner Life Coach and I have been saying for years that we can't love our neighbor as ourselves because we don't love ourselves. I am currently on the Self Love Diet and working to "help men and women fall madly in love with themselves."
Then people can be hearts in harmony!
Thanks for your message!
Elizabeth in Oregon
Hey Family!!!
ReplyDeleteI find that the deeper God takes me on my journey with hearts in harmony partners that the more i realize the power of relationship building. I read today that Jesus wanted to heal people so that they would follow him and be in relationship with him. I so connect. I am experiencing personal healing as i risk vulnerability with my partners and i witness others healing. It is through this healing that our relationships grow. This is what it means to be an open living vessel. Its a tough love.