An Unexpected Path

On April 4th I celebrated my 65th birthday. All my life, 65 represented a major milestone in living. The 65th birthday always meant transition into one's final chapter. You work all your adult life looking forward to retiring at 65. Job well-done. Rest is your reward. As I approached this birthday, I considered what to do to share this next leg of my journey with others. As an anthropologist, I naturally wanted to chronicle such a pivotal year and decided to start this blog. As a person of faith, I wanted to include a dimension of spirituality. As a Black Lesbian, it is also significant to write about this particular component of my life as it has emerged and continues to emerge.  

As I considered all these things, the question of where to begin loomed large. What would make this "thing" I am so compelled to write interesting enough to engage others in connecting and joining me on this journey? How can sharing this journey serve to encourage and strengthen others? How can my journey help spread hope and encouragement in a world that seems to be sorely threatened by despair and hopelessness? At 65, I am more convinced than ever that life is meant to be full and rich and replete with joy and the confidence that God created all of us to be powerful and whole and healthy. At 65, I am more convinced than ever that God delights in who we are and is excited about the remarkable persons we become each day!

Four days before my birthday I was diagnosed with cancer of the bile duct and things became interesting for me real fast. Suddenly I find myself on a path I had not expected. So, as I take this journey @65, hang out with me and join me on a very real adventure. There are many things I have wanted to say after years as an activist , community organizer, preacher, and educator. Now seems to be the time to find those voices; here seems to be the place to share them.