THE BUTLER is.................THE GREATEST?????

 The greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹² Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.  Matt. 23:11-12


Today I sat between my beloved wife and some dear friends as I fought to hold back tears like freedom riders, and civil rights rebels fought back though peaceful means of attempting to force a country to live up to the ink penned in the Declaration of Independence & the U.S. Constitution.   Why was it such a struggle to be human, and allow the flood of emotions I felt watching this movie BASED on (not 100% accurate) the life and story of one particular servant in time?   I am not sure, maybe it was pride, machismo, or just quiet resolve not to just bawl because I was reminded of what had to happen, and I REPEAT HAD TO HAPPEN for me to be where I am today.

See whether you support this movie, the actors, or whatever reason you submit to not going to see it.....the truth is this:  My grandmother was a maid!  She remembers fleeing the south from picking cotton.  Lynching did happen, and I'm afraid to believe they don't anymore...but truth is truth. It wasn't too long ago that MY KIND wasn't welcomed in the very neighborhood I live....as a matter of fact the history of slavery in this area is gruesome too recount.   When I think of a few emails I received a few years ago, from Christians......I remember the racism, that I came to know of on the campus of what used to be Central Missouri State U.  Lastly when I remember standing in the hall of the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis with my Caucasian Pastor,  and a mixed band of believers...I couldn't help but be thankful that so many people (blacks and some radically brave Caucasians too)risked their lives, dignity, and laid down their pride so that one day I could look up with pride and dignity.  So I could walk my dog at night without wondering if it was safe for me to do that.   So I could actually have FRIENDS that were white without fear of being beaten unrecognizable.    So I could vote.  So I could have a decent shot, not always a fair one..but a shot nonetheless at having a good education & making a living wage comparable to that of my white constituents.    So that I'd have white friends that would pray with and for me, instead of prey on me and my family simply because of our color.

This is not a blog on the review of the movie THE BUTLER, but this is about my review of those that went before me, those that currently still believe in I HAVE A DREAM, and those that I have yet to win over to GOD's DREAM by me loving them ridiculously.   So when I look back at my roots, I'll cry.  When I look at my kids and seeing they have a shot at making a difference....I'll cry.  When I think of OUR PRESIDENT I WILL CRY....because many people died, and never got to see what they fought for....and I get to live seeing it come to past.  His time, OUR PRESIDENT, is waning, and you'll soon have someone else to complain about........and if you hear me ever complaining about who's in office, I give you permission to rebuke me....as I don't want to do anything that JESUS didn't do. 

SO why the greatest?  Because JESUS SAID THE SERVANT IS THE GREATEST...and I come from a lineage of GREATNESS, a culture of  servants......slaves and free ones that if one of them didn't make it........I quite possibly wouldn't be here! So I cried and cried out in thankfulness for what GOD is doing, especially in my life!   The MARCH CONTINUES DAILY FOR ME!  LGLP