What was the last gift you gave yourself?
What have you been paying attention to?
What pattern has characterized your life recently?
What's the connection between midsummer and mystery?
Is your mind a safe place to be?
How do you respond to being alone?
How do you celebrate life?
In Loving Memory of Mr. Marcellus James Daniel
In Loving Memory of Mr. Marcellus James Daniel
On the Occasion of Losing Another Child to a Senseless Act of Violence
It has been said many times by countless people that the time has come for senseless acts of violence against our youth to cease, but this message seems to be falling on deaf ears. Are we preaching to the choir when we say that the killing must stop? Are we wasting time and energy trying to get the message across to those who need it the most? When we see children fall at the hands of someone who fails to value life, someone who fails to appreciate life, someone who fails to realize the potential of life, we are witnessing and experiencing a reality that must not be. No longer can we say that it was meant to be when a child is beaten, shot, killed, and left to rot. No longer can we say that it was their time. No longer can we say that it was destined or predetermined that they crossed the path of a bullet or a bully that would bring an end to their physical presence on Earth. The senseless acts of violence that continue to plague our communities surely must end.
This morning, I attended the funeral service for a 15-year old young man who dreamed of attending college and who planned to use his athletic ability to become a professional athlete. He excelled in football and basketball and was known for his quiet demeanor. His life was just beginning. Too many of our young people are suffering at the hands of people who are lost and who need help. Our youth are trying to make it; they are trying to survive, to stay alive, and careless people full of ill will are cutting their days short. This is not a new phenomenon. This is not an isolated incident. While the killing of our young people, whether we admit it or not, has become commonplace, the mothers, fathers, family and friends of those who are taken from us too soon, will never get used to the loss. We can speak until there are no more words left to say, but the question remains, what can we do? What can we do to transform the hearts, minds, and spirits of those who seek to harm, to kill, and to destroy? We must become agents of change.
The young people who have fallen at the hands of the perpetuators of senseless acts of violence are in a better place. They are reborn and now reside in a place where they no longer have to worry about looking over their shoulders. They don't have to duck for cover or fear the dark. They don't have to fight or be afraid any longer, but they can now enjoy eternal peace. While I celebrate their transition to a better place, I look to those who remain. Our youth must realize the importance and value of life and save as many as possible from the grips and strongholds of those who fail to do so. I look for the responsible adults among us to be teachers and role models. Life is a classroom. As long as we are living inhabitants of this Earth, we have a responsibility to lead and to teach. We all know someone who can benefit from words of encouragement and support. We all know someone who is on the verge of doing something to endanger their lives or the lives of others. Let us not only speak about bringing an end to senseless acts of violence but also let us roll up our sleeves and do what we can to bring the matricide to an end.
Marcellus James Daniel
1992-2008by John D. Evans
Your brother
Remain inspired
Lead Effectively
Leaders are dominant muses with a responsibility to inspire. Too often, leadership is taken for granted and leadership is abused. With leadership comes power and with power comes responsibility. We can no longer claim to be leaders and fail to inspire. We must no longer argue over ideology - the definition of good and bad - but agree that life is good, love is good, and that our being can be good. In order to effectively lead, we must be willing and able to be good, to educate, and to inspire.
This is our time – a moment within a never-ending continuum of time – our time to contribute to the world and to make it better for the world to come. Leaders who lack empathy, leaders who fail to listen, leaders who are uncompromising, leaders who are irrational, leaders who fail to inspire are not effective leaders. Anyone who has earned or accepted a position of leadership must serve. Leaders must serve as models, positive examples. It is imperative that leaders are effective. Effective leaders inspire.
The Evans Poetry Collection
P.O. Box 2177
Oak Park, IL 60303
www.jdpoetry.com
"Promoting Global Peace from 2006 to eternity!"
Whatever Happened to Censorship?
Profane language, also known as cursing and swearing, is no longer shunned, but in countless circles of our modern society, profanity is encouraged. In homes, businesses, and schools across the country, children are using offensive and profane language as everyday speech. Profane language is rude, vulgar, unattractive, and impolite – it is negative. Although children are using profanity, there is hope for today and tomorrow. All leaders have a responsibility to effectively lead and a charge to teach that profanity is no longer commonplace.
Our response to profanity shall become: No more! No longer must children be allowed to use language that offends and demeans. No longer must we turn our heads to the words and phrases that are the epitome of verbal ugliness. We were created to be poetry, beautiful beings. As beautiful beings, we must no longer tolerate profanity. We must no longer use or permit others to offend us with profanity. It is ugly to be profane. We must showcase beauty in our communiqué. We must discourage the use of profanity; we must censor ourselves.






