Many men, especially Black men, move through life wearing a smile that holds more weight than most people will ever understand. It is a practiced smile, a protective smile, a survival smile. Behind it lives a world of pressure, expectations, quiet fears, unspoken disappointments, and dreams we were not always told we had permission to pursue. I know this kind of smile well because I wear it too.
Browsing: Ain’t That A VHIT
I had to come to an uncomfortable realization: some of the obstacles in my life weren’t placed there by systems, circumstances, or other people. I was building them myself.
There’s a saying I heard not long ago that settled deep into my spirit: “You will never be used greatly until you have been wounded deeply.” At first, it sounded poetic. Yet, the more I replayed it against my own life, the unexpected losses, the disappointments, the moments of confusion, and the seasons I didn’t think I would survive, the more I realized there was truth in those words.
There are moments in life when staying quiet, though comfortable, is no longer faithful. Times when reflection alone is not enough. When prayer must be matched with posture, and conviction must finally find its voice. These are the moments when the world is not asking for a melody; it is asking for clarity. When the world needs a trumpet, a flute will not do.
There are moments in life when staying quiet, though comfortable, is no longer faithful. Times when reflection alone is not enough. When prayer must be matched with posture, and conviction must finally find its voice. These are the moments when the world is not asking for a melody; it is asking for clarity. When the world needs a trumpet, a flute will not do.
We are living in a time where life is moving faster than ever. Prices are rising, tensions are high, distractions are everywhere, and many of us are simply trying to maintain balance in the chaos. We set goals, make promises to ourselves, and speak about “next steps” and “new seasons.” However, intention alone won’t carry us through these complex times. Discipline will.
Grief has a way of hitting our lives without warning. It doesn’t wait for the “right” moment, nor does it care about our plans, responsibilities, or the image of strength we try so hard to uphold. It arrives as a reminder that something meaningful has shifted in our lives. During a recent Sunday sermon, the pastor said something that echoed across the sanctuary and settled in many of our hearts: “Grief is the proof that we loved deeply and gratitude is the reminder that God still loves us.”
You see, paper, whether literal or digital, has become both our shield and our shackle. It’s how we document, justify,
So, as I keep walking this journey, I’m learning to balance the fire with stillness, the mission with the moment, and the purpose with peace. Because at the end of the day, both the gift and the weight are part of what makes me, and maybe you, exactly who we’re meant to be.
Sometimes, we get so caught up in chasing what’s next that we forget what got us here. We forget the people who believed in us when we doubted ourselves, the ones who stayed up late helping us study, the mentors who gave us tough love, and the community that kept us grounded when we didn’t have much to stand on. Whether it’s a degree, a promotion, or a little more financial security, those wins can slowly make us forget that success doesn’t mean we’ve “made it”, it means we’ve been entrusted with a little more to give back.