Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 1-27-17

Letters To The Editor
On “Veritable, Measurable Love. . .”
LIFE
It’s been too long—five months—since I’ve shared my thoughts with you in the Florida Sentinel Bulletin. I will use a few words to share three reasons for that.
One. My focus, from my August writing until De- cember was, preparing for the December 3, 2016 Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).
Two. I wanted an experi- ence I had on October 2016 to be the first thing I sub- mitted to the paper when I started writing again.
Three. What you are about to read is so impor- tant I waited until all the election hoopla died, to give you a good chance to read the following.
I stopped producing Straight UP Poetry after Young Lyfe was murdered on January 5, 2015, not be- cause I was grief-stricken, but because I didn’t want people disrupting my work for the event with their sen- timents about Lyfe’s mur- der when they saw me in the street.
Understand this, I ap- preciate every expression of love and sympathy that is expressed, regarding this terrible thing that was im- posed on my family and our community.
Sometimes such expres- sions, as well-meaning as
they are, intervene on en- joyable moments that are far and few between, in a world without my man.
My Ybor City Jazz House family Eric and Crystal, in July of 2015, convinced me that the Tampa Bay spoken word scene needs Straight UP Poetry. I trusted them enough to resume that work, before I wanted.
Every time I hit the streets to promote the Straight UP Poetry some- one, as I anticipated, would say something to me about Young Lyfe.
“I loved him.” “I miss him.” “I’m sorry for your loss.” “I don’t know what I would do if such an awful thing happened to me.” I endured these comments with a smile for more than a year. Then it happened.
I walked into a West Tampa barber shop to drop off some flyers. Norrise Tremaine shouted to me from a barber’s chair, “I got something for you. I’ve been holdin’ on to it over a year.” We walked outside.
He reached into his car, retrieved a faded red enve- lope and handed it to me. It was addressed “With Sin- cere Condolences, From Michael Eddie & other in- mates @ Hardee Correc- tional.”
It staggered me. I could- n’t open it then. I still had flyers to drop. I thought the contents of the envelope might throw me off. I opened the envelope as soon as I got home, though.
There were two greeting cards inside signed with ex-
pressions of love, sympathy and encouragement from nearly two dozen brothers locked in prison.
I was moved to tears. Tears are welling up in my eyes as I type this. The fact that these brothers, who are living under the most oppressive conditions in the U. S., think enough of me to give up their commis- sary money to buy cards, an envelope and a stamp and take the time to write to me to encourage me epitomizes veritable, measurable love.
They didn’t have to make that sacrifice. I’m sure the cards, envelopes and stamps in prison are overpriced, every damned thing else in prison is. But, they spent money they need for decent food, deodorant, toothpaste and other neces- sities to send sentiments of love to me.
And . . . this brother Norrise kept the envelope in his car for more than a year, believin’ he would see me one day to deliver it. So I write thank you to: Nor- rise, Jeff, M. Charles, Cheese, James B., Eric Williams, Tony, Bro. George, Jasper Battee, Bro. Gruder, Jordy, Bro. Umar Shakur, Bro. Greg, TIN MAN, Dave, Domenic, Wes- ley, Ron Thibedau, Von, E. Ware and the brothers whose names I could not read. I love you deeply.
L’z Up! #straightuplife! #togetherforjustice To share feedback call
813-810-3582 or email lifeizpoetry@gmail.com.
Minister Believes ‘The Dream Will Last’
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Day has been just an- other day for me. This day was different because I de- cided I wanted to be of service. Tampa’s 2017 Pa- rade made a difference in my life. I knew that the crowd would be large. There would be a rainbow of colors celebrating the “DREAM.” I wanted the “DREAM” to come alive to me. It came alive in me and another lady as we began to serve “Hot Dogs and Fish.”
I have never seen her before. But for some rea- son, it seemed, as though, I had always known her. She welcomed me with open arms. I joined her on this day-long journey.
I grew up in Tampa in the 50s and 60s. I can re- member King saying, that “If he helps somebody his living would not be in vain.” I also remembered, in my ear when he said, “If you are a street sweeper be a good street sweeper.”
I began to say to the crowd you do not have to leave here hungry. The crowds began to pour in. Families were excited and enthusiastic and my prayer was for GOD to let his peace to reign throughout the crowd.
In GALATIANS 5:13-15, it says: “It is absolutely clear that GOD has called us to a free life.” Just make sure you don’t use this free- dom that Dr. King fought for as an excuse to do what- ever you want to do and de-
Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love, and that’s how free- dom grows. For everything that we know about GOD’s word, it is summed up in a single sentence: “Love oth- ers as you love yourself.” That’s an act of true free- dom.
One of the greatest ex- ample of serving in the Bible comes from JOHN 13:1-17, where Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. The feet of the people of that day were always very dirty, and much in need of washing. However, Jesus wasn’t really washing their feet. He was making him- self the ultimate servant to them. Becoming an exam- ple of how we should be and act. This verse teaches us that serving is faith and action.
All of us are servants whether we know it or not. You perform many acts of service every day. Every act of serving that we do is out of love for each other and for GOD. Servicing en- hances our spiritual being as much as it does those we are helping.
So, you see, you might have thought that you couldn’t serve, but all of you can and do. Rev. Mar- tin Luther King, Jr. said, “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve.” You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make subjects and verbs to agree to serve. We only need a heart full of grace generated by love.
True service is some- thing that comes from the heart. The true spiritual discipline of service in- volves putting others’ needs before your own.
In the act of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, he gave us an impressive lesson on serving that giv- ing back is a gift. Service comes in many forms, but in its intent and action, we grow closer to GOD. Serv- ice is freeing up others from their need, rather large or small. It helps them to be whole people. But, through our act of love, we become whole in the process. It is a win-win situation.
With the help of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., may I say that “I HAVE A DREAM” that all people free themselves up to real- ize the gifts of service they have been given and use them with love and I assure you the DREAM will last!
PASTOR SPENCER PITTMAN Straight From The Heart Ministries
stroy your
freedom.
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017