Lynn M. Dixon's Blog, page 3

Your Time!

In the Book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah was building a wall and others tried to distract him from completing the important work by trying to engage him in petty conversations. He finally said, “Why should I come down and talk to you?” It may seem a little point blank, but as we mature, we learn to be more succinct in our dealings with others.  

In essence, he was saying, “I’m about my Father’s business.” Or it could be said that he was ‘on a mission.‘ As we age, we learn to guard our moments and our time. We have heard the sayings such as “time is precious; time is money; or time waits for no man.” The sayings are countless but they all add up to saying that time is our lives slowly dripping through that hourglass.

We are more able to be more like Nehemiah and cut to the chase. We do not let unappreciative people take up our time and waste our substance. We carefully weigh our options and decide who or what is worthy of our precious moments here on earth. We understand that time is always ticking and we become more adamant and firm by learning to simply say, “No to the frivolous.” Say:  Nope. Nada. I don’t think so. Not this time. (Or whatever comes to mind)

Babbie Mason, a gospel songwriter, wrote and sang Stay Up On The Wall. She said
“Don’t come down.
There is too much work to do.
No time to turn around.” 

Follow her instructions and stop playing the being nice game when others try to take up your time with things that serve them, but not you. When asked to participate or take part in some activity ask yourself the following questions: “Will it benefit me? Will I be appreciated for giving up my time? How will it serve me?”  It may sound selfish but actually it is a way of showing self-love. Remember, the first law of nature is self-preservation.

So, if it is worth your time, then do it. If you are doing it with resentment hidden deep down inside, then it might be  time to simply say, “No.” They will get over it. Or not. But you will feel so much freer for having saved so many more moments of your sainted life for you. So there!

Lynn M.
May 3, 2025

The Winans

In the late 90’s, I had the honor of attending an outdoor gospel fest in downtown Chicago with a dear friend. She had received VIP tickets and together we saw several acts but I specifically remember seeing Mom and Pop Winans (Delores and David, Sr.). The Winans are a black gospel-singing family that hails from Detroit, Michigan -my birthplace.

Though I left there as a very young child, I am always happy to link my early beginnings to great names such as Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, the entire Motown legacy and other greats such as Author Wayne Dyer. Somehow, Detroit seems to have a mission to turn out those steeped in spirituality and destined to comfort the souls of many.

I looked up the meaning of Detroit. It is French for ‘the strait’ or ‘the narrows’ because of the narrow waterway (Detroit River) between Lake Erie and Lake Huron. It is where the waters meet and the French explorers called it Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit. The Native Americans, the original settlers, called it Bending River because it was the meeting place for good hunting grounds. 

In 1958, Marshall Fredericks sculpted the downtown monument called The Spirit of Detroit  which represents the city’s spirit of hope, resilience and the human spirit. It is inscribed with these words: “The artist expresses the concept that God, through the spirit of man, is manifested in the family, the noblest human relationship.” (Wikipedia)  And on that note, I focus on this family -The Winans. Delores and David Winans had ten children and many of their children have gone on to console and comfort hurting hearts with their rich vocals as gospel musicians.

Most of us knew and loved the songs  of the brother-sister duo known as Bebe and Cece Winans in the mid-90’s. I did not know that their parents sang until I saw them perform at that downtown event. Since that time Cece has been catapulted into another stratosphere and is basically flying high and solo these days. Just the other day, a coworker told me that she listens to Cece while working to help her have a calm and  stress-free day.

Also back in the 90’s, I remember seeing and hearing Vickie Winans at our church. She was most spectacular and truly held her own. She was married to Marvin Winans at that time . He has also appeared in cameos in film, is a minister and is quite well-known in the gospel circles.

But last night, quite by chance, I found a new Winan. Or maybe, she found me. I saw a woman’s new version of Marvin Gayes’s on YouTube. I listened to her soulful version and she happened to be Debbie Winans. She is the younger sister of Bebe, Cece and Marvin Winans. I later segued and found her doing a beautiful piece with her brother Bebe called Midnight Hour.

And, as I further searched, I came across Deborah Joy, Winans who is of the next generation. She is the daughter of Carvin Winans and sings many songs for the Greenleaf TV Miniseries. She is the granddaughter of Mom and Pop Winans and the niece of CeCe Winans, Bebe Winans and Marvin Winans. And, oh my. She ministered to my soul for hours. I may be a little late to the party but I am happy that I found her voice as well.

I thought, “Wow!” Detroit has done it again! Motown may be gone, though the historic gold remains. Through the shambles of the black community with the ever-churning city of Detroit, the Winans are like that steady drummer that brings up the rear. They truly epitomize hope, resilience, and the human spirit being shared with the world from the family-the noblest of human relationship.

Lynn M.
April 26, 2025

Let’s Create!

Nothing lifts us up out of feelings of despair like creating a work of art. Creating something new helps us see colors, light and the bright hues of hope. They each remind us that we are still alive!

It could be the writing of a poem, a blog post, a letter or even a song. It could  be an artistic painting or the sketching of a memorable face. (Faces are hard to capture)  Or it could be baking a delicious cake or a batch of special cookies. If in the kitchen, we could experiment with a new recipe.  The other day, I tried to make some of Panera Bread’s famous broccoli cheddar soup. I must say that it came out okay.  

Or it could be the building of a piece of furniture simply to challenge ourselves. My mother and father used to upholster pieces of furniture. I’m certain that it strengthened their bond and it gave them a chance to relish in their handiwork while watching visitors crowd on the freshly-finished couch.

Back in the day, the guys used to park their cars under a shady tree and work under the hoods of their cars. Thus, the term shade-tree mechanic evolved. That was before the high-tech electronic systems took over the cars’ operations. Many men and even women found solace as they fidgeted around with the mechanisms. We had a neighbor named Penny who was often seen under the hood of her Mustang out in the alley.

Whatever creative skill brings us a lift, we should embrace it. That is where real inner peace resides. As our hands move as we sew, knead dough or paint a cabinet, our thoughts smooth out. What formerly seemed paramount and pressing fall away into a native nothingness. It goes away like the end of heavy rainfall. Then, there is a calm along with a refreshing scent that beacons us toward new beginnings!

Lynn M.
April 19, 2025

Breathing Deeply!

Thich Nhat Hanh writes of the importance of having breathable spaces in his book,  Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life. We all need a quiet place where we can rejuvenate our minds and find that sacred stillness that heals our souls.

It may be found in a quiet room in our home, a library, on a lake or waterfront or perhaps in a place with a nice scenic view of a tranquil sky. We each find those calming feelings in different places and spaces. Some of us find that sense of calm while painting, writing, cooking, fiddling with a gadget or whichever activity that brings us back to our centers. Hahn writes, “We must be very careful to protect our fate and our peace.”

Over time, we learn that our peace is ultimately our personal responsibility. We cannot totally rely on others to entertain us nor keep us feeling balanced. It is certainly great to have someone to share our thoughts with who can help us get back on track. The compassion and empathy offered by others is a dose of medicine to the soul. Hahn said, “a feeling of compassion means literally, to suffer with. When you love, you naturally act in a way that can relieve the suffering people.” And we thank those who walk shoulder-to-shoulder with us, until we feel stronger.

But as life moves forward, there may be times when we have to go it alone. We may only have those silent, invisible angels that stand close by and whisper directions in our ears. During those times we need to have our breathable spaces where we allow all concern to fly out of the window. Then, we can listen attentively.

Hahn reminds us to breathe. He titled another book, Breathe! You are Alive. Deep breaths allow us to blow out the stale thoughts and breathe in the fresh air of renewal. We can then reawaken ourselves and feel a certain peace down in the cores of our being. And that often requires time for simply sitting in the silence as we get back into total alignment like a car. We will know when we are back on the path because we will quietly rise and go on about the business of living.

Lynn M.
April 5, 2025

March 2025

Women’s achievements on display,
Green shamrocks all around do lay.

Lucky charms are an Irish draw,
Sifting dreams right out of straw.

River dyed bright green in Chicago,
From secrets that the plummers know.

March madness does include quite much,
Like the basketball games, and such.

Those weather woes do take their toll,
Making us bow down as they roll.

And, Dragon Freedom splashing down,
A blessed landing with little sound.

Dolphins laughing, dancing, play.
As others came from space that day!

Lynn M.
March 22, 2025

A Mending Heart!

I had not really known Angie Stone’s music but after her recent passing, I listened to a couple of her songs. I was particularly struck by her No More Rain in This Cloud. I found myself listening to it over and over for both the rich beat and the  thoughtful lyrics. It took me back to times gone by, but it spoke to my heart. She sang that she was all cried out and that there was no more rain in her cloud. She said that the seasons had changed and that her sunshine had come.

Most of us have memories of heartbreak or some situation that we had to get over or push past. Some hearts heal and some people find themselves talking about something that happened for an entire lifetime. In  the novel, The Tale of Despereaux which I am reading to a group of fourth graders, Author Kate DiCamillo wrote: “There are those hearts that never mend again once they are broken. Or if they do mend, they heal themselves in a crooked and lopsided way, as if sewn together by a careless craftsman.”

 During this Lenten season, we believers may find ourselves going into deep self-reflection and introspection to shine a light into the dark places in our beings. We discover how we can clean up our acts and power toward our silent dreams. We also should take ownership for areas where we need to improve when dealing with others.

Rather than continually crying in our soup, we should learn to give life the light touch. Everyone has some levels of remorse and inner pain, so  it is unfair to walk around and spread our gloom onto others. We must snap out of it as we give thanks that we are still here which means that we still have something to accomplish on this earth plane.

 A smile is contagious and it makes others happy to see us coming as opposed to running and locking their doors when they see us approaching. I had two older sisters, who have passed on, but both of them kept music playing in their homes as they moved through their lives. It created  a welcoming and joyous  atmosphere for their guests. One even had a plaque on her wall which read. “Dance through  life with a rhythm” It spoke volumes. So quite like Angie Stone sang, we should vow that our sunshine has come!

Lynn M.
March 8, 2024

Have You Ever?

Have you ever?

Been jeered, taunted and harrassed?
Followed and trailed around like an ass?

Had bathrooms blocked when you needed to go?
Yes, the childish antics go on and on, and so,

Stomping overhead and shadowing feet,
Trying to make others feel a sense of defeat.

So sad to see grown folks acting like kids,
And kids acting out what they heard at home.

It is a most unfortunate skid.

It’s exhausting, tiring; will it ever end?

I shake my head and I pity the fool,
Who obviously learned very little in school.

The school of life, that is.

Lynn M.
February 23, 2025

A Composite!

When called upon to perform what appears to be a herculean task, we pull on all the resources we have within us to get the job done. After privately wondering if we can do it, we begin to chug along, down the track quite like The Little Engine that Could– a beloved children’s book. It subtly teaches us that we can accomplish great things once we put our minds in gear.

As we start to plan for success, we learn to take it one day at a time and continually take swipes at the mighty oak tree.-one feat at a time. We should continually focus on what went well at the end of each day and try to downplay the hiccups in the road. There will definitely be some bumps in the way and quite like speed bumps, they are there to keep us rocking steadily. We always acknowledge those areas that need improvement.

The older we get, the larger our compositions are and thus, we have a broader composite. We have more life experiences built from former tasks, former learning and former performances. There was a 1999 version of Alice in Wonderland where Alice (Tina Majorino) reflected back on all her teachers and instructors that helped her evolve along her journey. When she was at a certain point, she could see each lesson being taught  in her mind’s eye as she went on to fulfill her purpose. The Buddha said, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”

So regardless of the anxiety we may be feeling when called on to do something that is challenging, we can rely on the lessons that we learned as far back as in our childhoods, in high school or in our professional work. We begin by applying The Golden Rule while remembering to treat others the way we want to be treated. That is a surefire base for building a chance at success.

We do our homework and make sure that we are on point. Once, we are prepared and know our material, we pray for the strength to match the courage to take this on. We do our self-talk and say, “I got this!’ We stand back and let the doors to all we have learned and retained fly open to greet us and assist us to reveal a composite sketch of who we have become. Then, we simply carry on!

Lynn M.
February 16, 2025

Pushing Through!

It is Black History Month and quite by happenstance, I just read three fiction novels by three black female authors. We will know that fiction often has sections that are a part of the author’s personal journey- whether lived or observed.

Each book touched me in a different way and reminded me of things that I had been through or observed in the lives of those around me. The bottom line is that each work touched me. It took me back to some of the phases of my former selves as I grew and evolved over the years. I patiently gave each author the room and space to tell their stories through their varying techniques.

For we know that writing in itself is therapeutic and writers often write for themselves. It is important to get it out of their systems in order to heal and move forward. And, if by chance a reader can relate to the story, then all the better.

As I read Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia, A Taste for More by Phyllis R. Dixon and Yesterday’s Promise by Vanessa Miller, each took me back down memory lane in some way. I was reminded of the old commercial which sang, “I Haven’t Got Time for the Pain,” as I read about the relationships that were engulfed in pain, hurt and unspeakable betrayals. It made me think of the crap that I too had to put on the back burner and focus on survival. I had watched too many dear ones fall by the wayside because they could not shake off the disappointments.

As I read, I silently shook my head and thought, “Been there; done that.” Life is a many splendored thing and yes, we even get splinters along the way. We just have to pause, pull them out, add some salve or balm ,push through and most pointedly deal with daily issues at hand. And as my father used to say, “Let the chips fall where they may!”

Lynn M.
February 10, 2025

February 2025: A Poem

February is the month of hearts,
Those extending love must do their parts.

They show lovingkindness and give hugs,
In some cases, there are heartstring tugs.

Whether agape or romantic love,
Both descend down like a little dove. 

Black history, too, is on display,
As great ones sprinted in a relay.

So much love to spread to those around,
Which warms and lifts us up off of the ground.

Lynn M.
February 1, 2025