“Ideas are not truly alive if they remain locked in a single mind. Our need to transfer them to others focuses us to consider why and where we want them to go, and how we want them to get there.” — Henry M. Boettinger

Are you someone who has a brilliant idea, a vision, but still doesn’t know how to effectively present your “intellectual property” to the millions of fallen, imperfect people you hope and pray will benefit from your “Big Dream?” Are you an “introvert?” Does the thought of public speaking buckle your knees? Here’s something to think about. Why not sit down and write a book?  Gee, why not? Think about it.

C’mon Manchild! You’re kidding right? Me, write a book. I’m not qualified to write a book worth reading. I don’t have a Ph.D, nor do I have a Masters degree. Why I didn’t even go to college. I barely graduated from high school. Besides, I don’t even know where to begin writing a book that anybody would honestly believe is worth reading.

I hear you.  But despite the excuses you’ve raised, do it anyway. Difficult? Most definitely! Impossible? Not!

Why not start writing your book, your daily column, your magazine article, your screen play, or your stage play today, right here, right now?  Writer’s block huh? Fear of Failure huh? Maybe you’re not hungry enough yet.  Maybe you still don’t think you have what it takes to excel and succeed as a writer, huh?  That’s okay.  I’ll still love you anyway.  In the meantime, here’s something to think about that, hopefully, will challenge you to overcome your Moses complex.

Remember what Moses told God when the Most High called him into a position of leadership and challenged him to confront Pharoh? Did you hear his fear of Failure? How do you respond to the challenges that show up to test your faith in God and yourself?  How will you ever know what’s possible if you never try to do the impossible? Hmmmm. You have nothing to lose but your fears and inhibitions and everything to gain. Besides, who told you that you couldn’t write a book worth reading? probably the same people who told me to give up and walk away from my Big Dream.

Had I listened to the skeptics, cynics, and pundits who kept telling me “no, never, impossible, and can’t,” I’d still be singing the “woulda, coulda, shoulda blues.” My faith in God and myself would have never been tested. But I refused to let those to whom much appears given tie me up in the “nots.” Are you still tied up in the “nots” because you simple refuse to honestly believe you can achieve your Big Dream(s)?

If I could beat impossible odds with God’s help and finish writing the vision that has evolved over the past 10+ years into Come Morning, you can do the same. But you must honestly believe it’s possible for a humbled beginner like you to do so. Because my faith in God and myself has been severely tested over the past 10 years, I can honestly say that I can trust God today absent any reservations whatsoever. I honestly believe that nothing is impossible to God. Do you? Gee, why not?

After the great fall I survived, I refused to believe “the greatest lie ever told and sold.”  Ridicule and Rejection haunted me daily.   Setbacks and Failure stalked me relentlessly.  Nevertheless, I kept getting up, showing up, and doing what it would take to make my Big Dream come true.

Why? I believed in me because God created me to do something nobody else would choose to do.  I refused to remain hopelessly lost in a deceptive spiritual darkness so thick that it makes one too many talented people too sick to care whether they lived or died.  It’s what Adversity taught me, not what Success bought me, that inspired me write Come Morning.

Okay. Okay.  I got it Manchild.  Look, I’m a busy person.  Gotta chase that cheese before it moves again.  I’ve got places to go and people to see despite all the frozen snow that’s still covering the city.  So what’s  the real reason why writers write?

“Love.”  Surprised? Don’t be. How many of you still think “Money” is the real reason why successful writers write the books voracious readers read?  Not!  Love inspires writers to write the books that choose us because we honestly believe we do have an idea to share that will improve the human condition and make the world a better, and hopefully, a safer place to live.  God’s love inspires writers to pen the books the next generation of leaders believe are worth reading.  Love is the reason why “Talent Alone Is Not Enough™” to achieve “Greatness.”

Successfully writing the ever evolving book that chose me challenged me to share in the light what I learned in the dark about achieving Greatness has changed my life forever.  God always does the unexpected when we least expect it.  Why? Our Father loves fallen, imperfect people like us with good intentions, bad habits, and great weaknesses like ours.

In closing, do you know what Greatness is and where it begins? How would you choose to define Greatness if given the opportunity to so for the next generation of servant leaders? For those of you who don’t know, please check out “Can Greatness Be Measured.”

Copyright © 2008-2011 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of granting Mr. Troy Davis a new trial an “evidentiary hearing” in order to prove his innocence.  Click on “A Second Chance” for additional information.  As many of you know, I’ve been closely monitoring the status of Mr. Davis’ case and praying on bended knee for an innocent person who deserves a new trial.

Yes, I’m posting this breaking news story with tears of joy streaming down my face.  This developing story will get updated as time permits.

In all fairness to the sister, Ms. Kathy MacPhail-McQuary, and the immediate family of the murdered police officer, Mr. Mark Allen MacPhail, here’s a recent Athens Banner-Herald article that presents their side of this tragic story. Comments related to this news article have been included.

Martina, it’s true!  Prayer works!! Your relentless efforts to save your brother’s life have not been in vain. Here’s an Essence Magazine article about Ms. Martina Correia that will inspire you to “never give up.”

As promised, this post has been updated to correct my previous mistake.  Mr. Davis’ sister, Ms. Martina Correia, contacted me yesterday to inform me that the U.S. Supreme Court has graciously granted her brother an “evidentiary hearing” instead of a “new trial.” Click on evidentiary hearing in this paragraph to read the NAACP‘s statement.

“Nevertheless, there is at least one defining moment that occurs in the life of every generation when limit-testers, who honestly believe there are destined to become great, will choose to face their fears and embrace Change for the first time.” — Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness

After almost 2 years of waiting, what I’ve been calling “America’s Defining Moment” for 2008, has finally arrived. On Election Day 2008, American voters will get up and show up at polling locations to choose the 44th President of the United States Of America. During America’s Defining Moment, the whole world is watching America right now and anxiously waiting to see whether or not American voters will choose to face “our deepest fears,” overcome our biggest fears, and embrace Change. For our children’s sake, our generation cannot afford to get it wrong again.

Please click on “The Inspiration For Change“ if you’re a first-time visitor or just simply don’t remember what inspires Change.

For the first time, our generation can do something tangible to galvanize our fractured, financially faltering country, a country that has been racially polarized and emotionally divided from within for too long and for all the wrong reasons. For the first-time, our generation can achieve what the diligent descendants of our enslaved, albeit resilient, ancestors had enough faith in God to believe that the inspiring words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech would one day become a reality.

One of my “Big Dreams” for 2008 was to live long enough to witness President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk side-by-side into their destiny by beating impossible odds and completing the task before them with God’s help. The Obama family has done their part to give all Americans a reason to remain hopeful, a reason to believe that better days are coming, a reason to believe that we can all achieve great things. Matters not the colour of the skin our gifted souls are wrapped within.

My wife, KWiz, and I voted early. We both chose to cast our votes for President Barack Obama. Now, it’s up to each and every one of us to do our part to help the Obamas make history today as we pray on bended knee. Together, we can begin the arduous process of tearing down the imaginary wall that has divided America from within. Imagine the endless parade of possibilities that will appear if we choose to honestly believe that our generation can “achieve greatness.” But be forewarned.

“To impede Change, the predatory employees of Ain’t Fairusee’s mega-corporation must keep you and your generation from achieving greatness. Since your antagonists still believe the end always justifies the means, choose the battles you fight and the paths you walk wisely.” — Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness

Since Power concedes nothing without a struggle, will you have the presence of mind to choose the path you walk and the battle you fight wisely? Can you stop going-along just to get-along with the spiritually-blinded status quo who remain shackled and chained to a “win-at-all-costs slave mentality?” During America’s Defining Moment, what will you choose to do when Adversity strikes, when your cars get booted and towed away, when poll workers lack the resources they need, when the ballots are printed incorrectly, when the weather refuses to cooperate, when the police set up road blocks to intimidate you? Think about it.

During America’s Defining Moment, will you choose to love loving one another instead of loving to hate another person just because of the colour of their skin? Will you choose to do the right thing by casting your vote for Senator Barack Obama because voting for Senator John McCain simply doesn’t pass the common sense test? Do you have the inner strength of character, the confidence, and the courage to cross politically divisive party lines and dance to the beat of a different drum? I hope so.

For the first time, our generation can choose to elect a brilliant person, who just happens to be a Black man, as the next Commander-In-Chief of the United States Of America. Imagine that! Only God truly knows whether or not the culturally diverse members of humanity’s global village will choose to walk together in peace by faith and work together as one for the greater good during “our journey towards greatness.”

During America’s Defining Moment, always expect the unexpected to happen when least expected. Matters not what happens next. Trust God.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Copyright (c) 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

Breaking News Update

Less than one hour ago, the 11th Circuit Court Of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia issued yet another “Stay Of Execution” for Death Row inmate Mr. Troy Anthony Davis. Click on “Stay Of Execution” to read this CNN breaking news report.  Click on AJC for additional information about today’s surprising decision.

Please scroll through the Archives to read the previous posts about Mr. Davis’ story. This particular post will be updated as this international news story develops. It’s true! God always does the unexpected when we least expect it. It’s always too soon to quit.

Copyright (c) 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

“I am unwritten. Can’t read my mind. I’m undefined. I’m just beginning. The pen is in my hand. Ending unplanned. Staring at the blank page before you.” — Natasha Bedingfield

Click on the highlighted word “Unwritten” to watch Ms. Natasha Bedingfield’s video. I hope you will enjoy this visual masterpiece as much as I have and still do.  May this inspiring song cure your writer’s block.

“Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten” — Natasha Bedingfield

Yesterday’s homecoming celebration of Mr. Tim Russert, television journalist and moderator of “Meet The Press,” has inspired this post. To Tim’s wife, Maureen, may God’s love comfort you and your family during these difficult days. To Tim’s son, Luke, may your father’s precious soul rest in God’s peaceful presence always and forever.

Never again will my Sunday mornings be the same without the privilege of watching the one man whose effective example of “personal leadership” has inspired millions of ordinary, everyday people to “Go Get Em!!” May today’s post challenge all who read these words to live without limits, love without conditions, and lead like Jesus Christ did — by example.

If tomorrow never comes, how much more valuable would your yesterday become to you today? If you knew beforehand when your last tomorrow was going to come, what would you choose to do differently with the rest of your todays?

“For the first time,” would you choose to finally face your biggest and deepest fears? Would you challenge the people you love to dig deep enough inside the heart of their gifted souls to unearth the courage needed to learn how to love loving one another?

If tomorrow never comes, how would you choose to live the rest of your life today? Think about it. But please don’t take too long because it’s later than you think.

Copyright 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.