Well, it's here again, and I'm in a lot better space this year than I was last year - Lou's birthday is today, Saturday, October 25, 2014 - and, though I was a basket case leading up to this occasion, I've actually walked through the valley and come out on the other side in a much better space - emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, mentally and even physically than I went in.
LOU & GLO WILSON
Truth be told, I spent the better part of this week tripping on how I was going to handle October 25 without him being here - without surprising him with at least 3 zany birthday greeting cards (I could never ever choose just one); without all the silly, mushy stuff we said to each other. So as it got closer and closer to the date, I allowed myself to wallow in the blues for the past few days - literally - and when I say wallow, I mean I wallowed. I bawled, I cried, I sobbed, I prayed, I vividly relived all the treasured times we spent together - all the agonizing times we spent apart. I looked him in the eyes and traveled all the way back to the first time we met at Temple University's McGonigle Hall (in Philadelphia) - all the way to January 5, the date of our the last conversation we had about travel plans and moving arrangements. I remember reminding him that it was our grandson's birthday (as if he would forget that!), and laughing at how fast time was whizzing by.
I literally went through all the agonizing "why me?" "it's not fair" moments. I think it's what most of us call the blues - and I had it soooo bad, I didn't come outside for two days!!!
And just when I thought that I would surely cry my eyeballs out, I felt the most amazing aura of peace and love I'd ever experienced in my life come over me and permeate the room. And I heard Israel Houghton's song: "It's Not Over," in my mind - as if he and New Breed had just stepped into the room and started singing, as if to tell me that everything was gonna be okay; and this was not going to be ongoing pain, but the end of pain, which was now transformed into treasured moments.
It was if God had just stepped into the room and said it's time to come out of the valley and move forward ("Moving Forward" by EH). I sat on the edge of the bed and started smiling into the darkness, as I heard him say, "Hey Glo, between you, me, and the what? Lamp post - the lamp post can't talk; it tells no secrets - so really between you and me, we had a wonderful time here; we did a lot of things - they are all in here; that's what really matters. Right? It's time for you to get up and get your glow back." So as I celebrate Lou, I honor all that we shared, and what we were able to complete in our walk together. I take all that I've learned from him - all those wonderful 3:00AM conversations and thank him for the blessings, the fun, the lessons - and yes, the trials and tribulations we went through to get to the point of reunion and resurrection before his transition. I can now smile and listen to his music with enjoyment; I can remember the times he spent over that Fender Rhodes picking out the lyrics for a new song that suddenly struck him; or recording into the tape recorder a sound that he wanted to inculcate into a new song idea that struck him; impromptu jam sessions at the hotels where we stayed while on the road; or pulling out the old classic crooners like Johnny Hartman, Latin vocalists and others that he so admired to go over why they were great. (He loved Joe Cocker - I could never understand that one); revered the Beattles (I learned to enjoy them too) - and we both were comedy nuts - from Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby and Saturday Night Live and beyond.
Fiercely proud of his Caribbean heritage - Jamaican Dad, Barbadian Mom, born in Panama (Jamaica/Basha/Manian man), he would start the day playing Sparrow, Lord Kichener, and all the others he'd grown up listening to in Panama and Brooklyn. All that culture and music was infused into this wonderful 6'4" giant, and he embraced it all - and melded it into his new found cultural base as an African American Caribbean brother from Bed Stuy.
I'm rejoicing that his genius has been passed through our DNA to our children and their children, and that it's blossoming in them in so many wonderful ways - not necessarily as musicians, but as wit and wisdom; masters of humor and conversation; outgoing, friendly, warm hearted generosity. I have come to realize that Lou may have made his transition to the ancestors, but he's not dead - because he lives in each one of his children; he lives in that great body of music he gave to the world via MANDRILL - a great deal of which is still sitting on tapes in his brother's garage. He may have even lent some of his DNA to his nieces and nephews - via his words of wisdom, his love of children, his love of education was transmitted to them every chance he had to be with them.
Celebrating the Birthday of Lou Wilson of Mandrill:
Saturday,
October 25, 2014, marks the 73rd Birthday of Lou Wilson, the love of my
life. It's been a challenge to make it through the month of October
with so many memories and realizing that his Birthday will soon be here,
but he won't be here to celebrate it with us. Birthdays are a big deal
in our family and it would usually be planning some way to surprise,
shock and awe each other with some outlandish gift or homage. But now,
I'm dealing with the memories, the fun, our beautiful children - Kira,
Rais & Adiya; our fantastic grandchildren - His brothers: Ric (Doc), Carlos (Carl),
Wilfredo (Wolf) = the Group; and his wonderful parents Doris & Wilfred Wilson, and his kid brother Alonzo, who made their transitions before him - All that went to make
up this wonderful, creative, talented, big hearted, complex Fine Black
Man. He exuded music; his life was one long series of lyrics. So Happy
Birthday Lou Wilson (Tall/Dark&Chocolate) - I celebrate you and the
joy you brought to so many of us while you were here among us, and the
treasured memories while you are with the Ancestors - Say hello to Gil Scott-Heron, Mom & Dad (yours and mine); Jitu Weusi, Amiri and all our friends. I know you're all having a blast.
Just had to make this known - Israel Houghton: my favorite praise and spiritual entertainer will be in Philadelphia at the Dell on Thursday, August 1.
I missed him in Brooklyn on Monday, July 29, but you can best believe that I will definitely be front and center at the Dell.
If I haven't told you lately how much I admire and respect this brother for his body of work, for what he's gone through to become who he is, and for the fact that he is true to who he is, then let me go on record and say so now.
Israel Houghton is truly gifted and talented. His messages, via his music, lyrics, phrasing, and expression have been known to lift yours truly, and I'm sure countless thousands of others, out of the very pit of despair.
ISRAEL HOUGHTON
I am an unabashed fan, from the first time I heard him on Joel Osteen, at Lakewood Church nearly 10 years ago. He serves as their praise and worship leader in one of the largest congregations in the United States. Based in Houston, TX, in the converted Compact Arena, the church averages approximately 16,000 people per service, from Saturday night service to two Sunday morning services, an afternoon Spanish language service, and an evening young adult service.
I watch the service online on most Sundays, and, to me, the Sunday Service would not be complete without Israel Houghton's songs and music, and the assistance of the ensemble of Da'dra Crawford Greathouse, Cindy Cruze Ratcliffe, Steve Crawford, and that kicking band that plays in the background. You feel the spirit and energy expressed through the talents of these people. Top that off with Joel and Victoria Osteen's message, and you can go out and conquer the world, both inner and outer.
New Breed, his band, has traveled with him to South Africa, England, and other major parts of the world. They augment to his distinctive sound, and are each great musicians in their own right. (By the way, if you haven't already, make sure you check out his South African album - fantastic!) And it appears that he's not the only talented one in his family. He and his daughter Mariah Houghton did a duet together entitled, "So You Can Feel My Love," that is so moving and beautiful, I had to play it over and over several times.
Of course in addition to the time honored songs that so many millions of us listen to, such as, "I Am a Friend of God," "Moving Forward," "The Power of One," "Alpha and Omega," "If Not For Your Grace," my new all time favorite is "It's Not Over!" which I sometimes play at least six or seven times before getting out of bed.
Israel has a way of energizing an audience that is pure magic. I attended a concert at Brooklyn Tabernacle and the entire audience stood and sang along with him throughout the show.
The Dell Music Center is at Ridge and Huntingdon Drive in Philly. The concert begins at 7:00pm. For additional information, log on to Israel & New Breed, or look up Israel Houghton online. Like I said, this is a short alert, but it's an important one. Make it your business to make it to the Dell Music Center and check out brother Israel Houghton. Get lifted. Stay Blessed & ECLECTICALLY BLACK Gloria Dulan-Wilson
If I haven't already stated it before, let me say so now: I am totally in awe of Joel and Victoria Osteen, and have been for at least 10 of the 13 years he's been minister of Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. So when I received a communique back in November that he would be bringing hundreds of volunteer youth,called the Generation of Hope, to Washington, DC for a week of community service, culminating in his signature Night of Hope, I made up my mind to be there. As far as I know, he's the first spiritual leader (notice I did not say religious) to do something of this magnitude.
Of course the fact that Lakewood Church, which holds 16,000 people, is literally packed for their Saturday evening service, as well as for the three Sunday services, coupled with the millions, including yours truly, who watch him live online every Sunday (www.joelosteenministries.com/watchonline 9:30AM, 12:00 & 1:45 PM, EST), expanded by the repeats on YouTube and Lightsource.com, means that I am not alone in my admiration.
Joel Osteen is known world wide for his message of hope, faith, prosperity, fulfillment, redemption and resurrection. He opens all of his “sermons” with a humorous tidbit to break the ice and get the audience in a positive, receptive mode. He uses a combination of life experience homilies, humor and scripture to drive home his point that through God all things are possible; to stay in faith, stop talking how big your problems are, and talk about how big God is; to supersize your desires, believe for an Ephesian 3:20 Decade of Prosperity; and use forgiveness as your first line of defense when things appear to go wrong. Listening to his message sets my day for the positive as opposed to expecting the negative; and walking around with a cloud over my head and a chip on my shoulder.
His message, to me, is a combination of Biblical studies, Will Rogers, Ernest Holmes, Rev. Ike, and other saints and sages, rolled into one. His commonsense approach to living your faith has turned many a life around, and buoyed up those whose lives appeared to be in the toilet. Focus on the good you want to see, not just the challenges you are facing, which is another way of accentuating the positive, eliminating the negative. Osteen's encouraging message is to “stay in faith” for those who think they're not “worthy” of blessing, or guilty of some permanent "sin" (something that orthodox, organized religion has brainwashed so many into believing). Osteen, rather, teaches that we are all children of the most High God, and that God is not mad at anyone; God is in love with you.
Pastor Osteen's wife Victoria is as much a messenger of faith as he is. They are indeed married partners, who walk their talk. Even the most cynical person has melted after hearing her message. They are the power couple of New Thought spirituality. Their message overarches many denominations, appealing to those who do not necessarily adhere to organized religion (such as yours truly), while appealing to those who do.
So on Friday, April 27, I hopped the Chinese Bus for DC,hoping to have an opportunity to interview the great minister. However, on the original date for the Night of Hope, Saturday, April 28, you might say that God and Mother Nature had other plans. DC weather that day went from cold to bitter cold mid-day, to rainy, wet and cold, by the afternoon, necessitating the postponement of the event from 7:00pm that Saturday to 4:00pm that Sunday, April 29th. The dangers of water on the electronics on the outdoor stage made it too hazardous to continue. So the Night of Hope morphed into an Afternoon of Faith.
It had been conjectured that there might be a reduction of audience as the result of the last minute change in schedule. However, the Osteen “faithful” were not to be deterred, and the Washington Nationals Stadium quickly filled to overflowing by 4:00.
Osteen's message: You're an overcomer; you're a victor, not a victim, you are the head and not the tail, appeals to people of all stripes, nationalities, races, age levels, and circumstances. And it was definitely evident that Osteen and his family – including his brother, Paul, a physician, who travels to Kenya East Africa four months of the year, and has been doing so for quite some time; and his mother, Dodie Osteen, who is a 40-year cancer survivor -- live their faith, and walk their talk.
Seated in a special section of the stadium were the Generation of Hope youth who traveled to DC as volunteers to paint homes, clean up trash, read to children, and other community service tasks. They wore their signature red t-shirts emblazoned in bold white letters: “I AM THE SOLUTION”
The Night of Hope program opened with his praise and worship team of Da'dra Crawford Greathouse, Steve Crawford, and Cindy Cruz Ratcliffe, who sang many of praise and worship leader, Israel Houghton's classic songs (Houghton was on tour elsewhere). Such Lakewood favorites as “I Know Who I Am”, “I Am a Friend of God,” “I'm Still Standing”, among others, had the audience on their feet and singing along with them. Guest choir members from a variety of local churches, wearing purple and black, added texture to the service.
After opening with his signature affirmation: “This is my Bible; I can do what it says I can do...I will never be the same, in Jesus' name, Amen!” Osteen began one of his many stories of faith that have given so many hope to move forward (also the title of a favorite song “Moving Forward” - Israel Houghton), and not get stuck in negative thinking.
His message throughout was one of perseverance and redemption: “There are many who are sitting on the sidelines thinking that time has passed for them, and that it's too late. I urge you to get back in the game. It's not too late. You might say, 'but Joel, I've got too many flaws; I got too many weaknesses; I've done too many wrong things.' You got to get back in the game. No mistake you've made is too much for God. You're not supposed to be sitting on the sidelines. Get a fresh new vision today. Forgive yourself for the mistakes you made, and you will see God do amazing things. I once did a sermon about some of the great men of the Bible: Joseph was a cheat; Jacob had an affair; Paul was a murderer; Noah got drunk; Jonah ran from God; Miriam was a gossip, Mary was a worrier; Thomas was a doubter; Gideon was insecure; Sarah was impatient; Elijah was moody; Moses stuttered; and Lazarus was dead. But they all got second chances. So what's your excuse?”
Dodie Osteen, the matriarch of the family who survived metastatic liver cancer spoke of how she studied all the scriptures in the Bible that pointed to her healing – she has now been cancer free for 31 years, and looks young and fit at age 79. Her advice, read and meditate scriptural messages everyday, and “like American Express, Don't leave home without it!” She also advised those who were facing life threatening diseases to not give up faith or hope, and to get treatment everywhere you can, and ask Jesus to guide you to the right doctors and the right medication and the right help. “I also made a list of all the people I had offended and wrote a letter to each and every one of them asking them for forgiveness. When I asked them to forgive me, I felt clean inside – all the way down.”
The message hit home with a lot of the audience, including yours truly. We, who consider ourselves modern and sophisticated have probably not considered how serious carrying a grudge around affects our health and well being.
Victoria Osteen, the other half of the dynamic husband and wife duo, delivered a message on the importance of love and respect as the underpinnings of a successful marriage. Stating it was more important to agree to disagree, without being disagreeable, and that no couple ever sees thinks or feels the same thing or the same way all the time. It's unrealistic to expect that, because no two human beings are ever going to agree 100% of the time. “It is more important to understand and respect your spouse for their unique characteristics, and accept that you have more to unite you than to divide you.” It was a message well received by the audience. The Osteens recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in April, and have a son and a daughter who are both in their teens.
Osteen credits his wife with his success in stepping into the role of principle minister after his father “went to be with the Lord” thirteen years ago. “She saw in me what I didn't see in myself,” he stated. It is as important at times for someone to have faith in you when you don't have faith in your own abilities. Someone to call forth the greatness in you that you may not be aware that you have. Osteen had worked behind the scenes producing the television ministry for his father. His wife constantly told him that he would be a great minister like his father. He stated that when he told her that he could never get up and preach before a crowd, she would respond, “Just preach to them the way you preach to me.” While this always gets a laugh from the audience, it is a clear message of how words of encouragement can make the difference between success and failure. And how couples can support each other even when there appears to be a lack of opportunity.
Dr. Paul Osteen, the eldest of the family, has been traveling to a hospital in Kenya for nearly 10 years, to assist families who have little access to proper medical treatment. He told of a young lady who had suffered from a massive tumor in her leg that made it impossible for her to walk. It had grown to such a massive level that her leg had to be amputated. She was fit with a prosthetic leg and was healing and totally ambulatory, able to be with her family and friends as a result. They also provide medical training so that their work can continue.
Osteen's message is that “you don't have to beg for anything from God. You can say God, I receive your blessing, I receive your love; I receive your favor. Be like a big sponge and say God I'm going to soak up your goodness today. I'm going to talk you into having a blessed year. I'm going to talk you into having a favor-filled year.You would not be alive unless God had another victory in front of you. God would not let you breathe unless you were all done; some of you think you have made too many mistakes, or that you're too old, or that you don't have enough talent; You would not be drawing breath unless God had something big for you in your future. Somebody needs what you have. Somebody needs your love; somebody needs your encouragement. Somebody needs your gifts. Make up your mind inside that you're not going to go home the same way you came in. Don't focus on what's wrong; thank God for what's right. Don't focus on what you don't have; thank God for what you do have. You have to look back and thank God for how far you've come.”
Osteen, in closing, encouraged the audience to affiliate with a local Bible-based church in order to continue to shore up the message they had received at the Stadium. He acknowledged that he was happy to have such a large following on television, but it was equally important to be involved with a community church that offered a faith based program.
After the two hour program had ended, it was nearly an hour and a half before the entire crowd dispersed, with many remaining to express their gratitude to Joel and Victoria. The amazing thing was to watch him as he moved through the people. Several audience members noted how patient, pleasant and unassuming he was. There is a genuine sincerity about him that sets him apart from many of the so-called televangelists.
In many of his past services he's had such guests as the Rev. T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer, among others, who have served as guest speakers, because of their equally over arching message of faith, belief, redemption, trust, and forgiveness.
Joel and Victoria Osteen have been guests of President and First Lady Obama at the Whitehouse, as well, because of their message of hope and encouragement to a jaundiced world, struggling to get back on its feet after a major economic downturn, and the effects of massive foreclosures, and unemployment. What rang true to them was his message to stay in faith and to expect unprecedented favor.
Osteen has appeared on many talk shows during the course of his ministry, and has been consistent in his message – from Larry King Live to Oprah Winfrey – and this consistency has endeared him to the many who likewise read his books, tune into his Sunday broadcasts, and turn out for his Night of Hope. He will not allow his belief to be swayed by world opinion, cynicism, popularity or special favors and dispensation. It is this unswerving conviction that has made him so well liked – Loved – nationally and internationally. It's what catapulted him from a church of approximately 4000, to a converted sports arena that holds 16,000.
There are many among us who disparage his message, who are so cynical that they focus on the minute issues and miss the over arching message. No matter by what name you call him, there is only one God, the Living Spirit Almighty, and we are all individualizations of Him.
As an African American, and one who has come through some real challenges, his is one of the main messages that's have kept me centered, focused, and alive. Because of his inspirational messages “I'm Still Standing.” Of course, no one has all the answers, and it's up to each of us to apply what we learn to our own circumstances in life. Osteen is part of a greater picture, that we are each divine in our own way, but we have the responsibility of accepting and tapping into that divinity. I encourage you to check him out online, on TV, on YouTube. Balance the Continuously Negative News (CNN) with the good news.
Rev. Joel Osteen, Ernest Holmes and Rev. Ike are the reason I always end my writing by saying to you all: "Stay Blessed"
So.... Stay Blessed & ECLECTICALLY BLACK Gloria Dulan-Wilson
I could not in clear conscience let another second go by without having done this: I must express my sincere and profound gratitude for a set of ANGEL/FRIENDS who would not let me go down in the dust.
When you have people in your life who absolutely have your back, like I have just discovered that I have, you know that these are no ordinary people, but have to be elevated to a new level of being. Therefore I have coined the term ANGEL/FRIENDS.
I had recently hit a wall, which so many of us in the US are facing, where we've run out of options, and everything appeared to be crashing down around me. I had prayed, meditated, and done everything I could do in my human capacity to try to avert the inevitable. But it looked as if everything had tanked, and I was going down for the count.
Though I continued to pray and meditate, I had quite frankly, literally run out options. At least I thought I had. As Joel Osteen often says, while we operate on the natural, God operates on the Supernatural, and makes a way out of no way.
And that is exactly what He did. He gave me a band of ANGEL/FRIENDS, who rallied around me - despite hurricane Irene; despite the fact that they themselves were facing challenges of their own; despite the fact that on the natural realm it was deemed impossible, they pulled me through, jerking me out of the very jaws of seeming defeat.
In paying tribute to my ANGEL/FRIENDS, I am also thanking God, the Living Spirit Almighty for having brought them into my life. Without His empowering them to move heaven and earth collectively, I doubt seriously I would be sitting here writing this to you today. As Israel Houghton says in his song, "I'm Still Standing!" "Thanks Be to God."
So to my ANGEL/FRIENDS: Asante Sana, merci beaucoup, gracias, danke schoen, arigato, and above all thank you so very much for being there for me. I extend my sincere appreciation to each and every one of you; my blessings, my gratitude, and my hope that your lives will always be filled with love, peace, poise, prosperity, success, happiness, health, wealth, abundance, fulfillment - or the next best thing.
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Well, it’s official! Today is my birthday! March 21, 2011 - yaaaaaay!!!
I started celebrating on Saturday, when my handsome son Rais, and his lady, Ruby, came up to take me out to brunch. I totally enjoyed the time we spent together.
Normally, I’m hanging out at one of my favorite clubs, starting the weekend off with a bang befitting an Aries - you know, we who are born on the 21st start the sign, and start the Zodiac calendar (after all Aries is the First Sign of the Zodiac) - and not stopping until at least the last day of Aries morphs into Taurus.
But this time I’m doing it a little differently. Notice I didn’t say I was slowing it down. But I am re-arranging my schedule in such a way as to be more “reflective” of what it means to be an Aries in this stage of my life.
I know that this is a milestone year for me - not telling you which milestone it is - although all my classmates, my kids, sibs, and my Mother know already - it’s still classified info, for the most part.
But then, every year is a milestone, in some sense. I certainly have learned a lot and seen a lot over the last year that has caused me to make a paradigm shift in terms of what it is I want to be, do, have for the balance of my time here.
I have definitely decided that I want to live happily ever after. And not just in the fairy tale sense of the word. Id really like to be a part of whatever it is that brings us from Lodebar to up top; from being Champions; from being victims to being victors. That would make me very happy indeed.
Black people, of which I am definitely one, have had more than their share of struggle. We tend to have to do double the work to get half the benefits. I certainly have been down that road several times before. And even though we use the phrase “work smarter, not harder”, the meaning and applicability often escapes us.
So I am dedicating myself to sharing whatever information I may have with as many of us as I possibly can, in terms of how we can do well while doing good for each other. However, that said, I am coming out of the "struggle" mode and mentality. I know that it’s something that has been our mantra since the Black Power days. But I am beginning to realize that the concept of struggle is what keeps us struggling. I am now going to focus on succeeding and surpassing. It's going to be hard, but I'm really going to work on it. I am tired of struggling, particularly when it generally leads to more struggle.
If I know something that is of benefit to us, I am going to share it. If you don’t take it and use it, it’s your problem. I am no longer going to try to drag you kicking and screaming to unity and solidarity. At some point you have to value wisdom when you hear it; and take definitive action.
I am going to do whatever it is I need to do to optimize my health, energy, vitality, intelligence, skills, wisdom, knowledge, understanding - and prosperity.
I am going to celebrate my friends and what they’re about, their accomplishments.
Above all, I’m going to celebrate my three fabulous kids: Kira, Rais and Adiya - who have survived my parenting and lived to tell about it.
I am especially going to celebrate my Mom, Ruby Love, who just turned 88 with all her faculties intact, and my Brother Silas Sylvester, who actually survived all my cooking experiments and is just as handsome as ever. I also celebrate my Brother Warner Jr. who still stands despite his long term illness.
I celebrate my new found friendship with my former mate, Lou Wilson - and the fact that we can still laugh and joke and communicate despite the craziness.
I celebrate all my friends here in Brooklyn, in Harlem, Upper Harlem (a/k/a Washington Heights), Africa, Haiti, Brazil, Japan (blessings to them).
I always believe that good people always find each other - and that’s why you who are reading this and I are friends and associates.
There are so many things that are on my plate to do, I just want to make sure that while I’m doing them, that I am getting as many blessings out of this adventure as possible; and that others are doing the same.
I have a tendency to smile a lot, and I know that to some people it’s kind of off putting. We in New York have developed this habit of wearing our “game face” a cross between a scowl and a “don’t mess with me, man” attitude. I used to do it, but found that doing so actually increases stress as well as frown lines.
Besides, I don’t want to be around someone who looks as though they would just as soon kill you as say a kind word. So, I smile - and it makes me feel happy - and others smile back. Smiling is definitely the best game fact - you know the old saying, "Keep smiling, makes everybody else wonder what you're up to."
The New York I came to when I first graduated from Lincoln U, people smiled and started conversations with you whether they knew you or not, regardless of your race, color or whatever. And that’s who I am now. And that’s who I plan to be for the next 4 decades I have remaining here.
So, by the time next weekend rolls around, I will be in full swing in the celebration of my birthday, working on Happily Ever After.
Those of you who want to contribute to making that goal a reality, I am totally open. I accept gifts, blessings, wishes, parties, toasts, of all kinds.
In the words of Israel Houghton’s song, “I’m Still Standing But by The Grace of God.” and that is truly something to celebrate and be thankful for - and indeed I am. To all my fellow Arians - Happy Birthday - I know it’s going to be difficult, but please try not to set the whole world on fire.
Luvya Stay Blessed & ECLECTICALLY BLACK Gloria Dulan-Wilson
I'm like a kid in a candy store. I always love birthdays, yours, mine, my kids, my grandkids, others - but especially mine.
I've heard others say they stop counting birthdays after a certain point as though that stopped them from coming. But to me, it's not about counting years, or whether I look younger, older or exactly my age -- it's the fact that I'm still here to celebrate it.
It means God The Living Spirit Almighty has a great and mighty work for me to do; S/He wants me here on this side of this plane of action to get it done. It means that I'm still a vital part of the human fabric. I get to write one more day, laugh and joke with my friends; design another outfit so someone can walk up to me and ask "where'd you get that?" Or somebody will read something I wrote and say "tell it, Gloria, tell it!"
I love my birthday because my grown kids have a "race" to see who can get their birthday call in "first". Usually starts somewhere around midnight. Although my eldest, Kira, always emails me a day or two in advance to ask me where I want her to send my gift. My baby child, Adiya will call sing Happy Birthday in a comical voice, and we'd talk for about an hour or two. My handsome son, Rais, generally forgets -- so the girls have to get on his case.
I used to have big birthday bashes -- especially on milestone years -- I guess it's especially during these time that I really miss Perks - our hang out during the 80's and 90's. Each year, Hank Perkins would throw a major birthday bash for me -- we always had people show up from all over the planet. Rain or shine we boogied til we couldn't boogey no more. I've tried giving birthday parties in other venues since Perks was sold, but it never turned out the same. I guess the vibes just weren't there.
I love birthdays also because it's an opportunity to celebrate the person - which is pretty easy to do when you're an Aries. It's kind of difficult to keep us from bragging about who we are and what we do Truth be known, Aries are not necessarily known for their modesty. You generally know we're in the room. So, for us not to celebrate would be cause for concern -- if you ever hear an Aries say they're just going to stay home and meditate on their birthday -- ask them if that's before or after the party. The second question would be to make sure they're all right and not trying to cover up some illness.
Of course, because today is Sunday I am somewhat limited in what I can do -- but like the true Aries I am, I knew something appropriate would materialize. And there it was. I knew that God, the Living Spirit Almighty was really smiling on me, because as nearsighted as I am, sitting on a bus, heading for a seminar, and I still managed to see a little sign on a side walk announcing the appearance of ISRAEL HOUGHTON at Brooklyn Tabernacle. You notice that I put his name in all caps? It's because I just love the music and lyrics of this brother.
So for my birthday, I am going to the Brooklyn Tabernacle on Smith Street between Livingston and Fulton in Brooklyn, for a concert with my favorite praise and worship music leader of all times: ISRAEL HOUGHTON!!!!!
Israel Houghton is performing today, March 21, my birthday, FREE, at Brooklyn Tabernacle -- and I plan to be there front and center. Singing my heart out, and soaking up all that great inspiration Israel Houghton's lyrics impart. I wrote about him back in December when he appeared in the Bronx. I went to see him then and he did not disappoint. If you've never experienced his music and his lyrics, you are in for a treat. He's Joel Osteen's praise and worship director, but he's so much more. ISRAEL HOUGHTON is a feel.
So if you are looking for something special to do to help me celebrate the first day of my Birthday, meet me at Brooklyn Tabernacle today, Sunday, March 21, 3:00 PM. And if you can't make it there in the flesh, I know you'll be there in spirit.
So consider this an invite of sorts to my birthday. I am not only celebrating myself, and thanking God the Living Spirit Almighty for life, love and friends, but I'm celebrating you as well, because you are on your own God-designed mission, and our paths have crossed and moved in concentric circles sufficiently enough that I can call you friend.
And by the way, happy birth day to my TWIN, Earl. Hope you're celebrating in the grand style to which you have become accustomed. And to all my Aries brothers and sisters, you rule! Have fun, enjoy and
Stay blessed & ECLECTICALLY BLACK Gloria Dulan-Wilson
FOOTNOTE ON MY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION:
Israel Houghton was fabulous. The line outside the Brooklyn Tabernacle was down the block and around the corner. They had 8 overflow rooms and still had to turn people away. He truly made my birthday a memorable one. If you ever get a chance to attend one of his concerts, or catch him in Houston at Lakeside Church (Joel Osteen Ministries) where he is the praise leader, do so. Thanks for the many birthday greetings. Stay blessed. Gloria
