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thechristianrecorder.com
VOLUME 173, NO. 8
MAY 2024
Failure and the Human Experience Rev. Barry Settle, Contributing Writer
Mark 4:35-41 Howard Thurman uses his meditation, “The Inward Journey,” to discern what it means to live a life of intentionality. He holds up the orderly life and the life of crisis as the two ways one may live one’s life. He continues that regardless of one’s life orientation, one must wrestle with the reality of failure embedded into the human experience. Thurman notes that life is a pattern that is continually unfolding, revealing a wider pattern and that one’s recognition of this pattern comes from an intentionally lived life. Although Thurman’s words are a lot to unpack, what resonates with me is the “reality of failure being embedded into the human experience.” Merriam-Webster defines failure as “a situation or occurrence where something does not work as it should.” From this technical definition, surely, we have all been the recipients of this as our reality. Things in our lives have not worked
out as they should–careers, education, marriages and personal relationships, business ventures, health, etc. If you are like most people, you have experienced failure. Other words I will use are heartbreaks, disappointment, illness, personal trials, trauma, and trouble. As much as we plan to avoid it, we face it more than we probably want to acknowledge. Thurman’s point is that we must not look at failure as, for lack of a better word, failure. We must embrace these occurrences as realities ingrained and rooted in our life experience— in our faith journey. God uses the reality of these “failures” to grow us and shape us into the women and men that God desires. The obvious question is, “So, does God want us to fail?” To that, I would answer, absolutely not! However, I will say that God views failure much differently than we view failure. We would identify with the weeping that endures for a night, possibly as a failure. Still, God identifies with us finding joy in the morning (Psalm 30:5).
We would identify with what people meant for evil in our lives, but God identifies with God, meaning everything that happened was for our good (Genesis 50:20). God is more interested in you growing, which is why failure is embedded in the human faith experience. What I am saying is don’t be afraid of failure because no one can avoid it. To never fail is to never try anything. Jesus brings this reality to us that in spite of storms of failure, know that these experiences will not destroy you, but if you embrace them, they will make you grow in understanding that all things are working together for God’s good and God’s glory – it will make you grow in understanding that he who began a good work in you will see it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ. I can testify that I have failed several times over. I am familiar ...continued on p2
The War in Israel Is Causing Discord and Disruptions on Our College Campuses James B. Ewers, Jr. Ed.D., Senior Columnist
I enjoyed my days as a college student. In college, I met students from many parts of America and other countries. As a result, I developed life-long friends.
the day, they were simply called black schools. I will never forget his presence on our campus.
College was a time for receiving new knowledge, new ideas, and new ways of thinking about important events. My teachers were the best academically and they wanted us to do our best each day. Plainly stated, they cared about us.
It was a defining moment for me as I was developing my philosophy about social justice issues. During that time, it was important for me to gain perspectives from men and women who had courage and persistence.
These times also had with them social unrest which led to marches and demonstrations. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came to my college, an HBCU, to encourage us to become involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Back in
My first protest march was in my hometown of Winston- ...continued on p6
Preserving Our African American A Cancer DiagnosisIn His Own Words Landmarks Rev. Maurice Wright II
Jeffrey L. Boney, Forward Times
One year ago today, the doctor said three words that changed our lives. “You have cancer.” Following his words, there are about 30 minutes I still cannot account for. When I came to myself, Rita and I were sitting before a doctor at the cancer center, getting the news that my cancer was already in the middle of stage three.
U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee secures over $4.1 million to redevelop Wesley Chapel AME to Gospel Square in Houston’s Third Ward. When it comes to our history in this country, the Black Church and Gospel music have been a part of the solid foundation that have given black people the faith and perseverance to get through some extremely tumultuous times.
For Better or Worsein Her Own Words… p3
The High Priority of Discipling Our Children.… p13
...continued on p7
History and Theology: A Tale of Syncretism.…
p25
He told us that I would need both radiation and chemotherapy, and I would have them at the same time for eight weeks. ...continued on p2
When the Shepherd Gets Sick - Who Tends the Sheep?.… p30
Participation Beyond Tokenism: African Participation in AME Polity … p36
Dawn Dance Reflections…
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