EVERY WONDERFULL MOMENT OF L.I.F.E.!

This week I had the wonderfull experience of sharing another one of my dreams. Since I can remember I have always loved music. BUT the first time I snuck down into the basement and played my father’s album, Motown’s Greatest Hits, and listened to Stevie Wonder’s My Cherie Amor...OMG! I remember my dad yelling, “Michael! What are you doing?!?!” After pausing for about 5 seconds and almost peeing on myself because of his stern voice…my voice shaking and hesitating and scared response was, “Oh…nothing...” lol

That first note and I was hooked! Since the early 80’s I’ve loved listening to Mr. Stevie Wonderful and various artists, which are now considered to be old school R & B (lol) on WKYS with Donnie Simpson in Washington D.C. every morning with my mom on the way to Ft. Meade, MD.

This week I had the beautiful opportunity of hearing Mr. Wonderful again, but this time live in Atlanta. And as expected, he did not disappoint! As a matter of fact it was so surreal and L.I.F.E. changing that I could feel EVERY note and lyric! It was like I was 5 years old again in the basement!

Mr. Wonderful has a beautiful spirit! His light illuminated Atlanta on June 24th! This was so evident through his performance. Not only did he sing many of his classics: Living for the City, Key of Life, and my all-time favorite As! He also shared his compassion with several individuals in the audience. Leo, an 18 year-old male fighting cancer sat behind him the entire concert. Marlon, a child seeking to be adopted, had the opportunity of rapping with Stevie. And then Stevie allowed a random guy come on stage and jam with him and sing to the audience….simply amazing!

This night was also special because it was an opportunity to celebrate my best friend, Cynthia’s 43rd Day! This was her perfect birthday, and Mr. Wonderful made a wonderful moment last a L.I.F.E.time!

Thank you Stevie for sharing your spirit and such a moment full of WONDER that will last a L.I.F.E.time!

Love & Light…

As

Did you know that true love asks for nothing

No no her acceptance is the way we pay

Did you know that life has given love a guarantee

To last through forever and another day

Just as time knew to move on since the beginning

And the seasons know exactly when to change

Just as kindness knows no shame

Know through all your joy and pain

That I'll be loving you always

As today I know I'm living

But tomorrow could make me the past

But that I mustn't fear

For I'll know deep in my mind

The love of me I've left behind

'Cause I'll be loving you always

4 L.I.F.E.!

In Death There's L.I.F.E.

A few weeks ago I was prepared to share with the world about the success of the RUN4LIFE Camp and the amazing experience of impacting the lives of 22 metro Atlanta youth. I remember being in a meeting and someone asking, “How do you know when you have had success with your youth?” My response was simple, “When an individual is able to look at L.I.F.E. and understand it from a different perspective.” Once you have that mentality the sky’s the limit!

That day I was on top of the world until I learned that one of the kids that I used to work with was murdered here in Atlanta. All the talk of success in that moment did not mean a thing to me.

I totally understand that we (RUN4LIFE) have been and will continue to impact the lives of many youth, but you also have to understand this young man’s story. He was in the foster care system and although he was adopted and loved by many, when I knew him, he felt very alone. He looked up to his mentors, brother, and his foster mother, who died a few years prior, but he was also a byproduct of the “infamous foster care system.”

The details of his death are sketchy at best...got into an argument with someone and then gunned down! The thing that hurts the most is that he used to always say, “I probably won’t make it to 18.” According to his time table he lived longer than he thought. This week he would have been 22 years old. Although he was legally a man, he was a kid…What kind of L.I.F.E. is that to lead? To think the ceiling of your L.I.F.E. will cap out at the supposed age of adulthood? And the very fear that he confessed years ago over came him. He never wanted to be alone, and when he was murdered he was there…alone.

The reason I am sharing this is to shake us up, including myself! As long as this continues we have to be aggressive to shake up the established “norms”…the lackluster expectations of the foster care system, the blaming nature of our culture, the insidious violence, and BE FEARLESS in being proactive to save our children. He was one of our children…because ALL of our children will one day mature to become the adults of our society.
Franklin, you are loved! You are missed…

“You may be one person in the world…but to one person you may be the world!”
Volunteer, mentor, and/or positively shape the lives of your children and BE the change my beloved beautiful people! Someone out there needs your presence!

4 L.I.F.E.!