NOW SEE ME!

Now See Me! "Eyes that look are common eyes that see are rare.", "Whatever you expose yourself to is what you grow into.",

"Whatever your ears hear will become the language in your life."- International Prelate Chief Apostle Dr. Lloyd Benson, Sr. The quotes used above describe my generation to a "T." The question is, do you see what I see in the quotes? They depict and shed light on the visual, literary, and audio aspects of my generation. The first quote represents the visual aspect of my generation today. Are you seeing us or are you just looking at us? Many times, we want someone to see us. We search out for those who can understand our past yet see a bright future; able to see the value and potential in us and be able to pull it out of us. In the bible when Moses was a baby, and there was a death warrant sent throughout the land that all male children were to be killed. Moses mother had to decide. It was either let him die in the present or propel him to his future. When his mother set him out in that basket floating down a dangerous river yet knowing that destiny outweighed the risk. When Pharaoh's daughter was at the river as my leader Apostle Benson once said, "she not only pulled out a baby, but she pulled out a leader, a nation." Meaning that knowing the risk of possible disappointment, frustration, and the overall sacrifice, yet staying true to the walk. What we are exposing ourselves to on a daily is what we believe will help us to grow and mature as people. Social Media has become our life guide, parent, and teacher for some who need guidance. Now social media has become an outlet to many wanting to have a voice. To those that are seeking understanding and most of all acceptance. There are people in society today that have categorized social media outlets as nothing but the devil on a screen. However, maybe it's the only way that my generation feels that they are heard. Perhaps they have created a culture using social media to be the person that they've always dreamed of being. The screen has become a platform to say what they feel. As my mentor, Pastor Lloyd Benson, Jr. said,

"people are only showing you highlight reels." Is it possible that we have recreated ourselves using social media tools at hand? Is it possible that we created an environment that we dream to have but fight to obtain? Are we only showing people what we think will gain our acceptance? Or are we calling out just through words, but no one takes the time to read in between the lines. The content which flows through our ear gates is it destruction or a demonstration of what life is all about or suppose to be. My generation is big on music and to be honest. It boils down to only certain genres that drive and navigate our lives. Have you ever been somewhere, and you heard a young person sing out of the blue? I mean they are as we say "dropping bars" loudly and out in public. Well is it possible that to them that's what they are feeling at the time? Could it be that they want someone to pick up the vibration of their cry? According to the National Ocean Service whales "make noise to communicate, locate food, and to find each other." Could it be that the reason why music plays a significant role in my generation is that we are trying to say something? We are trying to say something, but some of us don't know how to put it into words. We are trying to communicate through lyrics, seeking food which is the anecdote to our depression, anxiety, heartbreak, disappointment, and we make noise so that someone will locate us but our voices are seemingly being lost in the crowd. We are who we are according to what we feed ourselves. We hope that others see us and not just look at us. We are exposing ourselves to what we believe as living it up yet knowing that sometimes it brings pain and destruction. Speaking the language of the time to be considered "trending" however not understanding the magnitude, and power in the words we speak. Do you see us or are you just looking at us, exposing ourselves to what we think is the right way to go and grow, and speaking what we feel yet still ignored?

Aaliyah Courtney, Staff Writer

Global Link Magazine / 4th Qtr. 2018 15 www.wlcm.org