As I watched this movie about the life of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, I could not stop the tears from running down my face. It was 1 am Saturday morning. My normal bedtime is 9 pm. But this particular Friday night I was unable to sleep and came across the movie. As I watched, I became flooded with so many emotions that overtook me like a tsunami. What gave these women the courage to fight? Where did they get the tenacity to survive such a racial environment? What fueled the desire to be confident, successful, and BLACK?
I wiped the tears from my eyes until the shirt of my pajamas became wet. Thinking back I realized that I was already very emotional from the previous day as I listened to the book “Bound for the promised land” on audible. I listened to the life story of Harriet Tubman who suffered tragically as a slave, BUT, found her way to freedom and later rescued many slaves from slavery to freedom. You are probably wondering why am I watching and listening to such horrific stories. You see, I have been doing some self-reflection for several months in an effort to become a better version of myself so I can walk into a new season of my life.
Now, I sit and ponder. Harriet Tubman never learned how to read and write. She was not sure of the exact date she was born. She suffered pain so greedy, it weakens my very being! As I think about all these women, I felt shame for not having accomplished more, for not standing up more for myself, for not doing greater things when I have greatness inside of me. I BECAME ASHAMED! These women had paved a path so clear all I have to do was walk in.
This is like God saying ” I will go before you and make all the crooked places straight for you” Isaiah 45:2. Somehow I was feeling that the path has been clear for me and I did not walk in.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has exhibited more strength than any human being. Lives have been interrupted, job losses, business closures, education interrupted, and much more. So, after listening to the book and watching this movie, I made a conscious decision to walk BOLDLY in the path that was created for me, by all these heroes.
I am still alive. I have hope in Christ Jesus. I have Faith. I am educated. I live in a free country. I know my exact date of birth. There is never a day that I need to walk a half of a mile to go to the bathroom! In other words, everything I need to accomplish great things is already given to me.
Today, I choose to be the very BEST VERSION OF MYSELF. Will you join me?
