For those of you who have been consistently reading this blog since January 1, 2007, you know that blogging was an “act of faith” for an ex-perfectionist like me.  Like many of you, I am a fallen, imperfect person. I, too, have good intentions. But I’ve also got some bad habits and some great weaknesses.  Sometime my Big Dreams don’t cooperate.  So we probably have a lot more in common than you think.

During the past four years, you chose to love me, to challenge me, to encourage me, to pray for me anyway. And for that, I will always and forever be grateful.  Although we’ve never met face-to-face, I still love you more than you could ever imagine.  Your love lifted me out of the ashes of obscurity.

You’ve graciously endured my many mistakes during my humble beginnings.  You’ve watched me fail publicly, stumble badly, and fall flat on my face.  Yet and still, so many of you refused to give up on me.  You’ve made my private victories possible.  By choice, you became my “champions.”  So many of you loved me unconditionally and encouraged me despite my many shotcomings.  Because of your love, I kept getting up, showing up, and challenging you to take the next step towards making your own Big Dreams come true.

To this day, your love, your private words of encouragement, your comments still inspire me to keep blogging and doing what I love to do — write.  I hope and pray that all the culturally diverse members of our galvanized community will choose to “keep loving to love one another” as we share our thoughts and ideas. So please don’t stop challenging the rest of our blended, extended family members to keep risin’ to our feet after every fall our gifted souls survive until the day we can all stand side-by-side and meet the greatness of God’s faithfulness.

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” ~ Proverbs 27:6 NASB

Together, I honestly believe those of us to whom “little” appears given really can make a difference in the lives of the children who will become the next generation of leaders.  Do you? I hope so. Remember, upon first glance, looks can be deceiving. As always, the choice to dig deeper so you can climber higher than you thought was possible is still yours alone to make.  I believe in you.  But do you believe in yourself? Gee, why not? Think about it.

“But by grace still go I”

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

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” ~ Amos 3:3 KJV

S.I.N.™ Stop Incivility Now™ Quick question.  How many more women and children must die for nothing before real men like you and I rise up and start walking together in peace while working together as one to help cultivate a culture of civility? Think about it.

When the world least expects it, a swift paradigm shift will happen that is going to change the way men see women, treat women, relate to women. Matters not the colour of their skin. Real men will choose to Live, Love, and Lead United™ to stop the culture of incivility that condones sex trafficking, rape, and slavery in any form. Difficult? Most definitely! Impossible? Not!

Imagine the endless parade of possibilities that will appear when the women that real men love, honor, and respect finally stop living with Fear. My challenge to all who read this is simple. Stop Incivility Now™! Dare to dream bigger and act like you honestly believe it’s possible to beat impossible odds with God’s help.

As always, the choice for “this one” and “that one” to agree as one that it’s time to do something that has never been done before is theirs alone to make.  But please don’t take too long before deciding to do the right thing by letting love lead the way because it’s much later than you think. Can you imagine a world without women? I can’t. Can you? I hope not. S.I.N.™ Stop Incivility Now™

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

“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.

Quick question.  Now that you’ve finally finished celebrating the beginning of yet another decade, what’s next on your agenda? Do you have a plan for 2011?  Think about it.  Maybe 2010 wasn’t a good year for you.  Take a few minutes to find out what you can do better now that you know better.  What did you learn about you last year that will inspire you to make wiser choices from this day forward?

For the first time in you life, will you choose to see yourself differently, to think differently, to live differently, to love differently? Imagine the parade of possibilities that will appear when you challenge yourself to do something you’ve never done.  How’s your personal relationship with God? Did you love yourself enough last year to accept the greatest gift of all? Guess what? It’s still not too late to do so.  God is still standing, still knocking, still waiting on you.  So, what are you still waiting for.  Go ahead. Trust Him.  Believe.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.“  Ecclesiastes 1:1-9 KJV

For reasons only you and God know, did you discover that you still lacked the courage to “let go and live” in 2010? Did you fail to dig deep enough inside that cluttered place where you hid your secrets to discover why you chose to remain fearful instead of choosing to become powerful?  Why?  What are you still afraid you’ll find during your introspective search for the truth that will inspire you to “let go and live” in 2011? Think about it.

I challenge you to seize this opportunity for personal growth to take time, to make time, to sit down in your secret place and have a quiet talk with God and yourself.  Humbling, isn’t it?  While on bended knees, ask God to give you the inner strength to face the truth about yourself.  Yes, it will hurt to accurately identify in plain and simple terms the main reason(s) why you repeatedly failed to exceed the self-imposed limitations your own eidetic imagination erected in 2010.

What “bad habits” must you let go of and replace with “good habits” before you can boldly and courageously live your life like never before?” Think about it. What “bad choices” did you make in 2010 that you cannot afford to make in 2011? Have you failed to forgive yourself for what you did, or didn’t do, in 2011 to sabotage your own success? If not,  don’t you think it’s time you did? Think about it.  Like unconditional love, the gift of “Forgiveness” is one of those priceless, eternal gifts that never stops giving.

Do you finally “know yourself” well enough to feel safe and secure within the comfort of your own skin to begin “living without limits , loving without conditions, and leading like Jesus Christ did – by example?” If not now, when? Think about it.  Do you honestly believe that you have the courage to let go of what’s still weighing you down or holding you back long enough to live “for the first time” in your life? If not, don’t you think it’s time you finally started making a difference in your own life before too soon becomes too late to do so? If not you, who? Think about it.

What, or who, are you still anxiously holding on to right now that you need to let go of by faith before you can honestly expect to excel, succeed, and achieve your “Big Dream(s)”  in 2011?  If you don’t own a journal to write introspective, empowering notes to yourself, do yourself a huge favor.  Get up, go out, and get one.

If you’re a creative person like me, create your own.  Imagine that!   Because Change is inevitable, you’ll definitely need one as you struggle to take every step necessary to make your Big Dream come true this year.  Remember, some things are just too personal to share with anybody else except God.

Before we part ways this day, please take a few minutes to define “Greatness.”  What does Greatness look like? If Greatness walked by you right now, would you recognize it?  “Can Greatness Be Measured?“  Think about it.  As always, the choice to love yourself enough to “let go and live your Big Dream(s) in 2011″ is yours alone to make.  Enjoy the journey.

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

“Teaching children and adults to read, write, and comprehend is not only our essential duty and investment in America’s future; it is also an act of love.” – John Corcoran, author of The Bridge to Literacy and The Teacher Who Couldn’t Read

Mr. Corcoran is a former adult nonreader who decided to make a tangible investment in America’s future. Please visit Mr. John Corcoran’s Blog to see what I honestly believe is an excellent example of “Personal Leadership.”  As a sign of respect, I’m shining a light on this philanthropic literacy advocate for having the courage to “face his fears and embrace Change.”

“Out of 191 million adults in the U.S., as many as 44 million cannot read a newspaper or fill out a job application. Another 50 million more cannot read or comprehend above the eight grade level.” -from the 1998 US Government Report, The State of Literacy in America, released by the National Institute for Literacy (NIL).

Quick question. Who, or what, is still stopping the millions of illiterate adults who never learned how to read above a 5th or 8th grade level from doing the same? Hmmmm. Think about it. In the meantime, check out the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

It’s still true.  One person really can make a difference. Difficult? Most definitely! Impossible? Not!

Copyright © by Roderick O. Solomon except where otherwise noted.  All Rights Reserved

When was the last time you picked up a book containing an idea so powerful that it challenged you to think differently, to see yourself differently, to live differently, to love differently, to lead differently? Do you still find yourself repeating the same self-defeating habits this year that you developed last year to justify your fear of Failure and Success?  As Dr. Phil McGraw would say, “How’s that working for ya?” If the truth be told, probably not very well.

Facing your fears and embracing Change will challenge you to replace your old habits with new ones.  I’ve heard Mr. Steve Harvey and others say, “If you want something you’ve never had, you must do something you’ve never done.”  Reading thought-provoking books that challenge you to pick up a dictionary will present divergent thinkers with ample opportunities to encounter ideas so powerful they can move mountains. Imagine that!

When time permits, I will post a series of brief excerpts from Come Morning for you to explore.  In case you don’t have a dictionary handy, just click on the links provided.  Don’t be afraid to dig deep. Ask questions. Take notes.  Start a journal if you’d like.  Yes, “reflective reading” is required. So please take your time and enjoy the journey. Doing so will reward you and enrich your reading of Come Morning in ways you’ve never anticipated.  Hopefully, you’ll discover the “novel idea whose time and season has finally come.” Since there’s always a first time for everything, expect the unexpected to happen when least expected.

By opening this book, your hands will unleash the catalyst that produces the paradigm shift responsible for setting a force in motion that can move mountains. Upon first glance, what may appear to be nothing but “creative chaos” will give you a reason to hope. Reading the text will challenge you to raise your level of thinking. Your heightened awareness will unearth the “forgotten dreams” buried beneath the “abandoned visions” still cluttering the “valley of sun-dried bones.” Your new perspective will bless your gifted soul with meaningful access to what can enable you to decode the source of your deepest fears – the truth. — Excerpt from “The Prologue”

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 KJV

Copyright © 2007-2010 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness is no longer available for purchase.

Here’s a thumbs up from North Carolina about Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness.

“It has been years since a piece of literature has evoked such thought and inspiration in me so to you…I am grateful. After completing the book, I was eager to share this with everyone I know. I let one of my family’s long term friends (a pastor) read the book. She was so moved that she decided to focus a few of her bible study and sunday school lessons around your work. This is truly a labor of love that has been well worth it.” –Ms. Dywanna Sheridan

Copyright © 2007-2009 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

Quick question.  Now that you’ve finished celebrating the beginning of a new year, what’s next on your agenda? Think about it.  Maybe 2008 wasn’t a good year for you.  If not, what will you choose to do differently in 2009?

Did you discover that you  had the courage to “let go and live” your “Big Dream(s)” in 2008? If not, take time, make time to accurately identify in plain and simple terms the main reason(s) why you repeatedly failed to exceed the imaginary limits of your own self-imposed limitations in 2008.

What, or who, are you still anxiously holding on to right now that you need to let go of by faith before you can honestly expect to excel, succeed, and achieve “Greatness”  in 2009? But first, how would you define “Greatness?”  Think about it.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.“  Ecclesiastes 1:1-9 KJV

What “bad habits” must you let go of and replace with “good habits” before you can boldly and courageously live your life like never before?” Think about it.

What “bad choices” did you make in 2008 that you cannot afford to make in 2009? Have you failed to forgive yourself for what you did, or didn’t do, in 2008 to sabotage your own success?If not,  don’t you think it’s time you did? Think about it.

Do you finally “know yourself” well enough to feel safe and secure within the comfort of your own skin to begin “living without limits , loving without conditions, and leading like Jesus Christ did – by example?” If not now, when? Think about it.

Do you honestly believe that you have the courage to let go of what’s still weighing you down or holding you back long enough to live “for the first time” in your life? If not, don’t you think it’s time you finally started making a difference in your own life before too soon becomes too late to do so? If not you, who? Think about it.

If you don’t own a journal, go get one, or create your own, because you’ll definitely need it during such a season as this.  As always, the choice to “let go and live in 2009″ is yours alone to make.

Copyright (c) 2009 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

“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.

THE INSPIRATION FOR CHANGE

“Our generation’s fears of what’s lurking in the shadows of Change made Failure, Poverty, Rejection, and Violence our closest companions. But that was before Pain became greater than our individual fears of what follows seasons of Change. Until Pain inspired us to face our biggest fears and embrace Change, the strong and weak alike felt content to strike the same defiant pose behind our silent and violent peers just to avoid Rejection. But our vain efforts to avoid the inevitable failed. Without Pain to inspire Change, we found no reason to conquer our fear of Failure due to our constant failure to overcome Fear. Minus the inspiration for Change, our socially alienated souls never negated what emotionally divided the blended extended families of humanity’s global village from within.

Without Pain, nobody became strong enough to rise above the rim of self-imposed limitations just as the previous generations who never overcame their addiction to Pleasure. So, the weakest of the weak failed to become bold enough to speak those things that are not as though we had already achieved what our peers believed was impossible. Alas, it didn’t take long before the weakest of the strong forfeited the right to make better choices once Fear silenced our voices. Imagine how hopeless the weakest of the weak felt after hearing the rumor, half-truth, and true lie that only the strongest of the strong would survive the longest.

Nevertheless, Pain and Change kept working together for good until our generation realized that we could trust God without reservation. With all humility, we asked the Almighty to give us the strength we needed to beat impossible odds. So God made us struggle until the weakest of the weak became strong enough to keep risin’ after every fall. We kept embracing Change until we overcame the same fears you’re facing during your dark nights of the soul when all appears lost. Can you imagine how peaceful the world became once our generation stopped repeating the self-defeating cycle of self-destruction you’re trying to break?”

Copyright © 2007- 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.