Breathe

Today marks the first day in a long time that I have watched the sun rise from my window pane. Experience nature all around me by the trees as they shake and shimmy in the gentle breeze. It is in these times that I am thankful to be alive, to have life and attempt to live it to the full.

In this season of reflection, I am reminded of my summers in North Carolina. It was always so much to do, but the pace of doing it was different. My brother, cousin and I were locked outside with a pitcher of ice water married with plastic cups as the adults got a break from us -- the noise makers.

On the days in which no one would be home, I went to work with grandma, the librarian and often times the library became my summer home. It was a space where you had to be quiet, books were everywhere, and maybe, just maybe, grandma was planting seeds for me. The seeds of learning through books where you can go anywhere, be anyone, and most importantly, be so much.

And how could I forget the apple tree tucked in the back corner of the yard. Below it, was a sandbox that granddaddy built for us to play in. We used to climb the tree to see how high we could get, a competition of sorts. Bragging rights were our reward. And the sandbox, became a place that would catch us when we fell. We would even be allowed to pick apples off the tree for the apple pie grandma would make for dessert at times.

In the midst of the breeze, the library and the apple tree, God is and was there allowing us to breathe, be at peace and experience life. In these moments, we can live again. So breathe and live life with reflections of the past that can charge and change your future. Breathe and take a time out.

Overflow

I remember my former lay leader used to say "my cup runneth over and my saucer is full as well" and I used to chuckle to myself that that didn't make no sense. Or so I thought...until now.

I was in a small cafe tucked in the interior part of a European city recently and I ordered a cup of tea. They brought out a mildly worn tea pot and the tea bag tag was hanging outside of the pot. When I went to go pour it, I forgot what I was doing and filled the cup up to the point where there was some residual tea in the saucer. Then my lay leader's motto hit me. Oh, how my cup did runneth over.

My cup runneth over in the realization that every round can go higher and higher in the presence of the Lord. Remembering 2 Corinthians 5:7 that we live by faith and not by sight, it is sometimes easier to "want to see" than actually seeing. What do I mean? Well, I have been praying that God show me the next steps for my life. I want to walk in God's will for my life, but can I handle the next steps. By trusting in the Lord, that ability is possible.

Until then, I will fix a cup of tea and wait on the Lord.

Barbershop Theology

I went to the barbershop today to get my hair cut as usual. Today, however, is Thanksgiving Day. But my barber offered his services for a cut today and I agreed. And before I had left, the presence of the Lord showed up as well.

Hmm...Barbershop Theology...You come in and get your cut and talk about culture and faith to a people that go to church often to a people that do not see the relevance for going to church at all. This wasn't your ordinary church service.

So I found myself getting my bald head and beard tightened up. I think we covered everything from relationships (metro, hetero, homo, no - sexual relationships), ethical dilemmas found, how we worship, the differences in organized religion and more. And as these Timberland, black tee wearing, goal oriented African American men began to spit culture and theology, I began to listen. Listen to what their hearts were saying. What's going on my black brother, what IS going on?

The frustrations that they shared, the contradictions that they have experienced in the church and even the sinful lives that we live, all seem to dance in my spirit of a time that I could relate to. The gift of presence is a marvelous thing, but can I truly exercise this...and not be in my Sunday's finest. And what about the preachers pushing the Bentley's whilst their members push themselves to make it to this 'holy space'. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty. Early in the morning, my soul shall rise to thee. And then there was an outburst, "that's how I need to go...like the story in the Bible where I am taken up from here all at once!" No 'body' to leave here on earth versus the 'spirit' only ascending. Deep, my man. Deep.

Three African American males. Doing the dog gone thang. Entreprenuer, Pentecostal, barber, club owner, model, engineer, Seventh Day Adventist, preacher, Father, Christians, daddys, United Methodist, and even a cultural anthropologist all in dialogue. In our earthly chanced meeting. In divine order that we could speak on the Word and relate it to how we live.

Will lives be changed by it? I know that mine will. I can smile on this day as one of the best days to have ever witnessed God at work.

Giving thanks, living thankful.

Is This What They Meant?/Thanksgiving Thoughts

This is truly a "What in the World?" moment for us all to just laugh. I want to be in style but, er, uh, is this what they meant about getting rid of the "saggy pants" in the Atlanta article? Would you love to see this catch on? Comments?

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

I am thankful that you take the moments of time to check out "What in the World?". It started as my frustrations with some of the things going on in the world, but has become a place where culture and theological thought converge. Thanks for the encouragement, the prodding to get another installment issued and your constructive feedback. Hope to have another one for Christmas...Until then...Hoov

The Black Walnut (07/05/02)

I was cleaning up my office and ran across this ironically... Maybe this is still true even five years later. Enjoy.

A black walnut grows on a tree and is green while it is still attached to the tree. This is where it gets its nourishment, support, guidance and rules for living. There comes a time, however, when the black walnut must fall from the tree. After it falls, then it will sit around on the ground or may be harvested by humans.

In both cases, the black walnut begins an aging process by which it turns from green to a dark brown or black hue. Then it wrinkles up similar to what happens when a grape turns into a raisin. At this point, the drying out process has taken place. Then you are able to remove the black stuff to reveal a hard core or shell.

A hammer is then needed to break it open and if the black walnut is not covered, the shell can go everywhere.

Aren't we, the congregation, the Body of Christ, like the black walnut? We were born into this world and a little green, or new to our environment. We had that parent or guardian provide for us, give us nourishment, and that guidance that we so needed, but may or may not have listened to. We then fell from the tree, still green, and got cut off from our parents/guardians to begin anew. We may have been still green in our spiritual walk as well. At some point, we either cut God and the church out of our lives or ended up accepting that there is a God and began to go to church.

We became "pew" members by just going to church and rushing out of the church doors, having spoken to no one. Then we began to get older doing a little within the church (our aging process like the black walnut). Then something got a hold of us and made us shed how we used to be or like the black walnut, shed that skin to reveal another shell.

God is trying to break that shell and keep you covered at the same time so you can receive the blessings that He has for you and not get spread all over the place. I heard a pastor say once that you have been spared so many times from death and destruction and in so many situations. What have you been spared to do? Was it so you could be saved? So you could receive His Word? Spread His Word? Usher? Acolyte? Sing in the choir? Attend Sunday School or Bible Study? Serve on the Hospitality Committee? There is work to be done in the Kingdom.

In God's time and our obedience, our shells can be broken.

Who Am I?

I found myself craving some chips and a soda and it wasn't any in the house. So at 10pm, I ran out to get me some from the local 7-Eleven. Good ole, 7-Eleven. Most of the times dependable and they had what I needed tonight. Some comfort food.

I was cleaning up the other day and found my favorite shirt and actually had it on as I walked to the store. But what would people say about me? Who would they think I am (as I pulled up my pants for lack of a belt)?

You see, my shirt says actually more about what I used to do versus who I am today. It is a snapshot from a time when I used to live in Georgia and liquor was my preferred drink. Yes, I survived "FREAKNIK". Now for those of you who never experienced this event, it really was a chance for African-Americans to come together in Piedmont Park of the outskirts Atlanta and hang out for an entire weekend. Basically shutting the city down. If you thought you were somebody, you were there. If you were nobody, you found your way there, by hook or crook. This was a weekend when the economy went up, but also the hem lines, the attitudes, the violence and the club prices.

So the shirt I was wearing has an "NFL" type of logo on the front that stands for "National Freaknik League" and a big "97" on the back as tall as the front logo. So I am on my way to the store with this ten year old shirt and my jeans that I have trouble keeping up without my belt. Never leave home without it!

So who am I? To the store owner, I am just a customer. To other customers, I am some middle aged wanna be young person (was it the gray in my beard?). To others, a fellah that just couldn't let the ten year old t-shirt go. To me, I am the same guy from ten years ago, however, I am smarter, wiser and more grown up. I am not an alcoholic and have given up liquor since then. I am not a party-goer, but still like to dance. I am not faking my age by wearing trendy clothes. I am Ashley Hoover.

A young, black, gifted brother with a lot of potential still yet untapped. I am a Christian, a Cultural Anthropologist, an Encourager, a Believer, a Nature Maintainer, a Sports Enthusiast, an Artist, with potential that again is still yet untapped.

I am sure you have seen me hanging on the corner, throwing trash to the ground, laughing with my friends walking down the street, coming out of the liquor store, sitting in a classroom, singing in the choir, playing sports, taking my kids to school, mentoring, tutoring, and hoping for that day...

when you don't judge me by my exterior (my Freaknik shirt and baggy jeans), but by my interior (the potential that is yet to be birthed if given a chance and can be nurtured by someone like you).

Matthew 7:1-6 "Do not judge or you too will be judged".

In Style or What?

I remember wearing my jeans inside out, backwards, with paisley designs on the pocket, with leather (like) patches on the front panels, holes down the legs, holes in the back and now this.



My waist is here, but I wear the waist on my jeans approximately four to six inches below my God-given waist. But why? Is it so that the ladies can check out my boxers or briefs? Is it so I can appear cool? What is it that has made cities around the country put "a style" of sorts into law?

I was offended thinking that it was racially motivated until I was in California recently and saw the same style on some Latino youth. Then I thought that maybe it isn't racial at all. Then when I heard that the law also included thongs and sports bras, I knew this was ridiculous.

So we are going to arrest women as they work out and possibly jog because someone is offended? I will admit that all of these styles cannot be made to look cool by all body types to say the least. But a law?

Has the government gotten to the point where they will tell us what to wear and "what not to wear?". I would love to leave that to the individual households, but some people do not care what they look like when they leave out. Today it is saggy pants so you can see the underwear, what's next?