Chinaza's Childhood Innocence

  "Daddy meet my new friend Alicia!"  Though she'd just met the young sister all of 5 minutes ago.  This brings back memories of the many Detroit playgrounds Mama took us to when we were children.  It also reminds me of the many friends I met at the Stone Pool playground, Weigel recreation center playground and even playgrounds inside of the Jeffries Projects.  Most notably the playground where the Pitchfork family would kick our (myself and my sister Mimi) butts and send us home crying.

Nevertheless, the playground is where we watch our children be children, and not where they ask us "Daddy are you ok?", "What's wrong Mama?".  They get to chase other children around and test their cognitive skills.  We get a chance to relax and enjoy observing our little angels use what we've instilled in them :-).

  This also allows me to reflect on my own life.  People you may have known for 20 may act brand new as if they don't know you when they are looking directly into your eyes because of the familiarity in the first place lol.  The contrast between the unlearned and under-developed innocence of children  and the trained dishonesty and disloyalty of adults is amazing.  And here I am thinking things get better with time...

Play on baby girl and enjoy this day.  Unfortunately, it will not last forever.

Peace

Excerpt 4 from "The Book of Bandele: Life of a Project Prophet".

Chapter: July 4
Verse: 2:14 p.m.

  While at times I may have major differences with my father I can say this for sure, he showed up when I performed in any competition.  Some of my friends even called my father "He-Man" instead of Mr. Glenn.  Many didn't have fathers or father figures in their lives.  My father attended many of my sporting events, sometimes without me even noticing.  There were times when my friends and I would sit in our locker room and ask each other if our fathers would show up.  We depended on that energy and support for our performance.  Some of us would be disappointed by the time we'd reach the field, diamond or court.  The disappointment wasn't based on anything about our mother's what-so-ever.  We knew she'd be there.  If she wasn't there we knew the reason for it and accepted it as it was.  Fathers, we MUST be there.  Particularly for our sons sporting events and performances, ultimately for our children altogether.

  Sometimes daddy wouldn't arrive until later which made my assumptions run wild.  Did he care?  What the hell could he be doin' instead of being here?  My attention would be distracted from focusing on the crowd.  Then, all of a sudden, out of the cheers and boo's of a play that I participated in I would hear "Get'em Woonie!!"  or "Good play son!" (tears).  I knew that voice, for I had heard it many times from mama's womb.  It was Haywood, showin' & provin'.  He gave me advice that...

To be continued.

Excerpt 3 from "The Book of Bandele: Life of a Project Prophet".

Chapter: 6-22-10
Verse: 10:07pm

I saw a little girl today who happened to be legally blind. This isn't the first time I've seen a blind child but there was something different about this baby. I believe she was all of 6 or 7 years of age. With the assistance of her older brother in the front and her daddy behind her she joyfully hopped down the stairs, counting out each stair as she hopped. Just as jovial as my daughter Messiah was when she was 6. At first thought I was sort of disturbed, thinking about how she couldn't see what we see. My Ori or my higher spiritual head told me she is blessed to not be able to do so. You see, she actually has to judge with her head & heart and not the bias and trained eyes that we have. In addition to learning to use her internal eyes she also had to learn to trust.

People who can't see need people who can see to help them along the way. People who can see should recognize their role in this and not manipulate the person who is blind and seeking assistance. All productive relationships are built on foundations of trust, first and foremost. If this young sisters trust is shattered by her father and brother it will be shattered for every man and some women who enter her life from that point on. This was a family establishing trust with each other. By the peaceful and loving energy I picked up from them, I believe they knew it.

Ase'