Keeping It Real

Revive me, O Lord, for Your names sake! For Your righteousness’ sake, bring my soul out of trouble. In your mercy cut off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul; For I am your servant. Psalm 143:11-12

I now know why “gansta rappers” are always talking about keeping it real. They return to their old “hood” and hang with the homeboys and home girls. They do that because they need to keep the fire going. They need to receive some type of feedback and inspiration from those who are still striving for the dream, from those who are still struggling. At one time, they were able to pull inspiration for their words and characters from the hardships they were facing. At one time, they had an unlimited supply of information and ideas because they were out there hustling, hooking, and starving. They knew what it was like to wonder where the next meal was coming from, whether their family would be put out on the street for non-payment of rent or whether tonight was the night they would get caught by “5-O”. They received stimulation of the mind from that environment. They had no other focus but getting out of the “concrete jungle”, they had no other purpose but to write, rap, act, dribble, or pass their way out of the “crab barrel”. Now that they have achieved the goal that they were working towards, they have become complacent. Life is good, things are easier, and people are compliant. They are no longer struggling, striving, or stressing. They are no longer fed the negativity and are moving further and further away from the “hood” and closer and closer into the very environment they used to dream about. They find themselves becoming the very person they used to rap about. They have become part of “the establishment” by virtue of the fact that they can now afford it. They now see the other side of the fence and although the grass is not always greener, they can now pay the water bill in order to water the lawn.

So, what is my point? I often undergo the same struggle. I know, I know, I’m no “gansta rapper”. Nevertheless, I struggle with reading the Bible, and writing about God’s word. Why? Because when I no longer have any pressing issues in my life, when my prayers are answered, when things are status quo, I become complacent. I tell myself, I will read The Word later, which then becomes tomorrow, which then becomes days and weeks. Oh, I will not completely turn away from it, but it becomes a glance and a peruse. My prayers are not as intense and inclusive. Yes, I will still pray for others, but somehow the same intensity is not there. My heart is there and I mean what I say, but the fire…

So when people ask, “Why God let bad things happen?” I am no expert but I can look at my own life and know that it is to bring us closer to Him. We would forget what it was like “in tha hood”, and become complacent. He would become an after thought. Things would be so good that we would no longer come to Him with supplication and prayer. We would forget that He, not we, make it all possible. We would forget to thank Him. It would become thank Him for what…“It’s all good.” We would forget that HE IS GOOD. We would forget that we serve Him and not the other way around. We would forget to worship Him.

So I say, thank God for trials, troubles and tribulations. He is good and worthy to be praised. Work in me, my Lord until I am who you want me to be. Lord continue to give me reason to give thanks and praise. Lord continue to give me the fire, because You are the Living Water. Continue to give me issues so that I…can write…about You.