Faith in Action

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to send an email to members of the Baltimore City Council in reference to the Sudan Divestment Bill. 

I’m proud to announce that the bill passed and was signed into enactment by the Mayor on November 27, 2007!  YOU MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE!  I especially want to thank Tanae and Adam (all the way from Ohio!) for sending emails to City Councilwoman Helen Holton in regard to the bill.  [if you sent an email as well let me know and I'll be quick to publicly give you your props.]  See that - right from your keyboard - at work, home, or school you helped to pass a bill to support the people of Darfur.  Don’t you feel empowered?!  You should. 

I just received an email from Joe Madison as well informing me that DC just passed its own Sudan Divestment Bill!  The avalanche is growing and pressure is mounting on the government of Sudan to end this tragedy.

So what next?…you did know there was a next right?  This is not a 40 yard dash people.  This is a marathon.  So now we have got to make sure that Baltimore, the state of Maryland, and DC make the legislation come to life.  No equivicating!  Don’t just have the press conference legislators! Divest the money! 

I’ll be making a list and checking it twice, E-ACTIVISTS, to make sure the legislation is really enacted.  If it isn’t, you know I’ll blow the trumpet. 

FYI: I’ve learned that last month a new documentary starring Don Cheadle called DARFUR NOW came out.  This can be a great tool in raising awareness and encouraging action on this issue.  Here’s an idea: Get a group of your friends together and go see the movie.  You might just win over some new Darfur Activists.  Great idea right?  There’s only one problem

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Joe Madison is testifying for the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.  He drops stats, facts, and figures left and right.  While half of my brain is listening to him - the other half is trying to organize my thoughts and sound half way intelligent while testifying. 

Madison is done and Walter Fauntroy goes next.  Like a good preacher he makes a little joke before starting to warm up the crowd.  They chuckle and he proceeds. 

While he’s talking I get my stuff together.  I think I can pull this off impromptu style now.  It hits me in that moment that growing up in the Black Church prepared me for this.  All those times that I had to stand and welcome visitors, respond to the welcome, sing a lead on a song, or pray over the offering prepared me for speaking confidently in front of people.  Thank you Church! (I gotta give a nod to the Future Business Leaders of America Club in high school too.  Did I mention that I placed 2nd in the county in the Impromptu Speaking competition?)

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7:11AM - racing down my street toward the main road.  Yes - I’m a little above the speed limit and weaving a bit in and out of traffic, but I’m not driving recklessly. (I don’t think so anyway)  I don’t drive crazy when I’m running behind schedule.  I refuse to make hair-raising turns, ride people’s bumpers, or rush pedestrians through crosswalks.  Driving like that is just rude to me.

I’m making pretty good time.  I’m praying as I approach every traffic light and yes - God is answering my prayers.  All I see is a long line of “greens” - allowing my foot to remain heavy on the gas.  It’s early so there’s not too much traffic on the road. 

I’m in downtown Baltimore now and about to get on 95 headed toward Annapolis.  I’m sitting at a red light eating my peach flavored oatmeal when a white woman with a blue coat and a cardboard sign begins to walk down the aisle of vehicles.  Her sign reads: “I am homeless and hungry.  Can you help me?  God bless you.”  I don’t feel too good about giving the homeless cash these days, but I knew that I could help.  I rolled down the window:

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