Chicago

I am not sure if you know this, but I did at one point live in Massachusetts, I took greyhound bus to get to Massachusetts from my home in Lansing, Michigan. Throughout this process I got to see a little bit of the surrounding cities and America, not from the perspective of the internet or photographs but from real life birds eye perspective.

At this time I was much younger, and was not as equipped and aware of the situation and reality of the environment. I remember at the time being nervous outside of cities like Detroit, and especially into Cleveland from Ohio. While traveling something I will never forget is when I approached into Chicago.

The decay and waste of a city, it was Detroit, but on a much larger scale.

I don’t bring this up, to mention the severity or depravity of crime versus city. Its nothing to be proud of, but more of something to be ashamed of. I myself have been on the side of injustice instead of justice. I know how the mentality and psychology of a person becomes corrupt and they abandon civility instead.

Something I recognized and saw more truthfully and honest about Chicago today, is that it has men and possibly woman too that are fed up. Not with change and correction, but with the anger and frustration of change.

My relationship with Detroit, has been nothing more than a Detroit baseball game, growing up. Those were some of the best days of my life. But also a reminder of how good I had it, back home.

America is not a pretty place, it suffers the wear and tear of sin, just like anywhere else in the world. What you see from the outside is, the representation of whatever purpose the person sharing the space with wants to see.

Even myself, here typing this today, you see a picture of me online and you think that is me. But you have no idea of the state or appearance of me today. I don’t say this to mislead you or deceive, but its a reality, and a fact.

The change and countenance of my personality has been a result of age and the changes of life and environment. Reality has a toll on the body and mind. The demand and requirements of daily life are implicit on the role of job, family and home life.

You don’t realize this, but there are individuals right now, who are living in homeless shelters who do not have the opportunity and privilege that I have today. Not every “bum” on the street is a person is abusing drugs and getting wasted every day, there are amongst them men and woman that are trying to do better for themselves, and for friend, family and society.

This is the issue I have with stereotypes and generalizing people. You cannot say that, because a black violent crime happens, all black people are now the stereotype and archetypical demeaning character that society has put in your face.

Likewise with other races and other ethnic groups. I lived and survived in the residence of a Russian born woman. And a Indian man. Those two people worked hard and made a living here in America. And I got to see for myself the work ethic and the personality and type of people they are.

I want justice and prosperity for all people, but one thing I’ve recognized in my 41 years of living is that your beliefs and your vision need to be clear. So that you can answer appropriately when a person makes a claim or demand.

I know now that without a shadow of a doubt that Christ is Lord, and king over man and humanity. I don’t think I need to bark it up and down the streets, or use a megaphone on the streets to declare it. I understand the necessity of work and operation of every day life. Some people are just trying to make it to their appointments, school, job, grocery or whatever other obligation.

I rely on bus to get around, I sit face to face with all different walks of life. I know my place in society, and they know theirs.

The struggle and reality of a person and people is not a color thing, its a everyone thing. We are in collective struggle, and its against sin and its collective evil on humanity and this world.

I don’t know Brandon Johnson, I have no idea of his background or life. But I do know that Chicago suffers the same disadvantages and reality as my city, Flint and Detroit and all over America!

I think the worst of what I’ve seen honestly is California. If you asked me the one place I always wanted to live growing up, it was California, but not anymore. In fact the idealistic place to live anymore, is exactly where I am at now. I cannot expect or demand anywhere to be perfect. I need to make the best of whatever place I am at.

I remember my last time in Ingham County Jail, and it was not a fun experience. It wasn’t the worst, its that kind of environment, where if you make a erratic or hostile action, it could mean the change and derailment of your life, or the lives of others. Actions do have consequences, and the same devil whispering in your ear is the same one, doing his best to aggravate and motivate me. This is why I do make a decision daily, to monitor and regulate the kind of things I choose to entertain and fill my mind.

Prayer and reading the bible is not something I take lightly, I used to scoff and laugh at others who did it, because I was more interested to get into whatever routine daily thing I had in place. For me, now its important to have a daily bible reflection, or verse to motivate me. Scripture can and does combat the negative attacks of life.

But just as I type this here, there is somebody reading out of spite, jealousy or rage who is adamant about taking me down. I know I have my share of enemies, I don’t know who you are specifically, but the air, the environment and my instincts and body, mind soul spirit all are in direct communication with.