They Who Change

 

Resilience to stand against the masses

They silence the hate in their hearts instead of their guns

They quietly walk among the simple as symbols of peace

They never boast or beg or bargain yet their paths are paved

Steady they stand to remind us of our transience

 

Humbleness to speak against injustice

They raise their fists in faith for freedom not for a fight

They recite the words of wisdom past moving the minds of tomorrow

They create the masterpieces crafted by the hearts of others

Enthusiastically they interpret the beat of humanity

 

Loyalty to a cause which is bigger than each individual

They wait in anticipation to glorify the greatness in us all

They sound the songs of the undesired and underprivileged

They wait for the moment of opportunity and they take it

Patiently they push us all to prosper with pride

When we become they, then they become they

IMPORTED FROM DETROIT

Recently I traveled with my family to Ethiopia for the Christmas and New Year’s holiday. It was such a beautiful country with gorgeous people inside and out, breathtaking views and mind-blowing history. There was something about Ethiopia as a country that just has a lasting impression on me as a place that excites the spirit. There are always those place that excite your sense of adventure, that excite your sense of thrill, but Ethiopia was the type of place that just set my Spirit on Fire.

Anyway, I digress. What has really been on my mind today was a t-shirt that my Pops was wearing in Ethiopia that said “IMPORTED FROM DETROIT”. I had to steal it from him! It is really cool, with the Spirit of Motown on the back. I ended up taking it from him and today is the first day I wore it. A couple of students made comments about it, but half way through the day I was walking across the freshly snipped green of our soccer fields down to my stuffy office that I began to think of how the slogan, “IMPORTED FROM DETROIT” really applied to me.

I always tell people I am a third-culture kid. I don’t know where Im from, I don’t know where home is; I don’t know where I want to be. I’m completely fine with that. I do like the fact that I am imported from Detroit, and I feel like I have always took pride in feeling “imported.”

Imported defined as, “bringing in something from outside.” “Bringing in” is the part of that definition that I like. So many people are comfortable with just being where they are the majority, where they grew up, where they are part of something they know. I feel like I have never had that really. I have always felt, “brought it” from the outside; Even when I was living in the country of my parents, the USA. You know what though? I love that.

I love the fact that wherever I am in the world I am “brought in.” So many Americans, and all ex-pats for that matter, are seen in the world not as Imports into their country of residents, rather “exports” from their mother country. It has always bugged me when people ask me where I am from, and I tell them the country I am in (whatever country that is at the time) and they laugh at me. I am not an American export. Right now I am a Tanzanian Import, I am a Tanzanian imported from Detroit, by way of Seoul, by way of Goma, By way of Chicago. I have import tags all over me, and I am proud of them.

I never want to be looked at as an export from any country because I am not. I am where I am to experience that place. Whether it is Ethiopia for 2 weeks, I am an Ethiopian Imported from Arusha, or I am in Tanzania for 2 years, I am a Tanzanian Imported from Chi-City! Once I live my life as an export from America I will miss out on the best part of living abroad. The local foods, communicating past the language barriers, living off of “needs” not “wants”, the absence of a comfort zone, and the adventure of exploring are all parts of importing yourself into where you are. When you live as an export you feel the need to make your life where you are how it was back “home”. Be an import and make your life where you are home.

The Fam in Ethidopia at the Church of St. George in Lalibela. Pops sporting the IMPORTED FROM DETROIT shirt

thanksgiving 2013

ThankFULLness

Full of praise and thanksgiving

Full because the sun has provided the love of life

Which shines off the smooth contour of our skin

And glistens brightly turning teeth to pearly whites

Full because in each relationship we find peace and hope

An everlasting peace that comes from undying faith

And a hope only found in a deep passion for others

Full because each day we wake a new person with new potentials

A new person to take on the ever changing world

And the potential to mold that world as a ball of clay into the world we wish to see.

Full because love has provided us the opportunity to sing,

To dance, to play, to run, to jump, to create, to imagine, to be free,

To learn, to share, to wonder, to wander, to be in awe, and to be happy.

Full because we know that thanks can be given and received.

Give thanks for you have been provided a chance to live incredibly.

Receive thanks because you are incredible and you deserve it.

“life isn’t about finding yourself, its about creating yourself.”- George Bernard Shaw

            Our first term is winding down here at St. Constantine’s and my batteries are ready for a good recharging. It has been a very interesting experience for me so far, just learning what it is to be a full time teacher and learning the culture of the school and new city. I came here to teach, but I have really been the one who is being taught. It probably is more so that I am exhausted of keeping up with all I’m learning needs to be done then actually my teaching load.

            For the past year I have had a picture of an amazing basketball court in Nepal as my computer screen’s background. On the picture I added the text of the quote by George Bernard Shaw above, “life isn’t about finding yourself, its about creating yourself.” I try to remind myself of this everyday as I am looking to develop my own personal values, beliefs, and practices as a professional now. I am not trying to just find out what the best way of teaching and succeeding in life is. I am working on creating that success in my own way.

            While reflecting on my last 3-4 months I have sometimes become frustrated as I feel like I’m searching with all my might for the right way to do things. Frustrated that when I was used to getting guidance and being directed by rules and procedures I am now left completely on my own in the dark. The quote above though acts as a fire blanket draped over that frustration burning in my brain.

            I could rant about how the quote could apply to interactions between people, and you cant just expect to find anything when you depend on others, so you have to constantly take things into your own hands and create the success. I won’t go into too much of my own thoughts of the quote. I just want to write these thoughts down so I can try to understand the feeling of inspiration I get when thinking about what I have accomplished and even more so the potential for more.

            I was reading a bit of the philosophy of the City Year organization. One of City Year’s keys to Putting Idealism to Work is to think outside the box. When someone thinks outside of the box they are not just finding the solution, but they are the creating the solution. Too many of our ideas and our doings are solely based on other’s guidance or expectations. We search and search and search for this guidance and expectation, and even if we find it there will usually be a flaw.

Nobody is perfect right? I disagree. When we create our own accomplishments we have done something perfectly. I’m talking about creating something that we personally believe is the best for the situation (be it ideas, solutions, objects…ect) and creating it to the best of our ability; Leaving none of our ideals and passions out of it’s creation. If we do this, then we are perfect. There can be no flaws in this creation as it has been done the way we imagined it.

This is the ideal that I have accepted in this past term. I’m no longer going to sit, wait, and try and find my answers and what I need to do. Instead I am going to create it all. I want to do it my way because when I do it will be perfection. If I try and find what others want me to do I will continually be behind, I will keep being left out of the loop and I will feel unaccomplished. Instead I will take what I know is needed at the school and I will do my best to create that in my own way.

Just as George Benard Shaw also said, “Some people see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not?” I want to be one who looks at this school I’m at and ask questions and search for answers. Instead I want to look at the potential of this school and dreams of the school and say why not.

 PJB players no longer basketball players. They are now eagles soaring together as a team. A life created by passion, enthusiasm and love.

So it's been forever since I've posted here. Life has led me down so many different paths and introduced me to so many great new ideas and ways of living and loving. I am now in Arusha, Tanzania about to wrap up my first term as PE teacher, coach and Athletic Director (sportsmaster as they call it) at St. Constantine's International School. The campus is beautifully tucked on the outskirts of the city surrounded by the Burka coffee plantation at the foot of Africa's 5th tallest mountain, Mt. Meru.

Experiencing Africa Arusha-style has been much different than experiencing Africa Goma-style, but it has been very exciting and enjoyable. Just like any experience it has had its ups and downs, but living in Africa just give a sense of peace through it all.

Early morning exercise has become a routine for me. Starting with about 2 months of Insanity I have begun running certain mornings. Below are some observations I made this morning on an early morning 10k run:

Africa

Arusha to be exact

5:45 a.m. and my sense are rested and relaxed

The chill of cold night is still encapsulated by the clouds.

The dew works, to no avail, to perfume the aroma of day old dung and musty foliage.

New life springs forth in greens and yellows, developing races and ethnicities unseen outside the womb of the rift valley.

Pavement pounds the souls of my shoes and gravel grinds under the strength of my strides.

Mount Meru acts as a muffler to the raging sounds of the city as the machine gets warmed up with early morning commutes.

Wild life are doing just that, living the wild life.

Birds give their own call to prayer battling the muezzin at the local mosque as toads and crickets scamper for cover in the multitudes of bush.

Young monkeys jump and run around, waking their parents as if it is Christmas morning.

The battle between the rising sun and resting night clouds produce the most tangible terrific blues, whites, grays, and oranges.

Children smile the smile which can only be given when a new opportunity to succeed is given, and with that smile the have succeeded to make the world a better place.

The clouds battling Mt. Meru as the sun rises

Every Sunday

How I learned the value of Hard Work:

Every Sunday I couldn’t wait to hit the gym

Nothing recharges your batteries like passion

The focus, the effort, and the concentration

Ninety-four feet felt so small beneath my feet

The hardwood tasted gallons of my sweat so sweet

Just myself working I could never be beat

The sickening hard work became my habit

The pain of pushing past my limits, I have to have it

Most people live for moments that take their breath away

Well I began to make those moments my life everyday

Now I can never be stopped

Cuz my work ethic will never be topped

It all started back on those Sundays in the gym

One ball in constant transit from my hands to the rim

Just as my life is in constant motion from here to there

I know that success will be mine everywhere

I will always work hard, give my all, and never give in

All because of those Sundays I couldn’t wait to hit the gym

Selfless Service

So it has been a while since I have written anything. I have been struggling lately with motivation and inspiration to find the words to say and write. There are two more values that I haven’t written about that are part of my core values. Those two values are Selfless Service and Hard Work. One thing that I have been really struggling with and thinking a lot about is the idea of Selfless service.

            Service, or doing works for others, has been a staple in my life ever since I was a kid as my parents raised me to always lend a helping hand (or buck). Selfless service goes way further than that. Being a selfless servant goes further than just helping and giving to others. Someone who is able to lose him or herself for them is a true selfless servant.

            I was just recently reading the book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey and he was explaining three levels of maturity. The first level of maturity is dependence. As a newborn we are almost 100% dependent on others to do stuff for us. As we begin to grow and learn we work towards becoming independent. This independence is the second level that Covey mentions. In society today independence reigns supreme because freedom is the form to our function. We as people want to have the freedom to be completely independent. We want to think the way WE want, do what WE want, and work in the ways that WE desire. This is what our society holds most dear is the freedom to be completely independent from government, regulation, and obligation.

            I have always known that there is more to life than this independence and freedom. It is one reason that freedom has always seemed to me a selfish and debilitating disease that plagues society. For maturity takes on another level, which is the ultimate level of maturity, which Covey defines as interdependence. This is where Selfless Service comes in to the picture.

            Anyone in life can function within their own liking and can become independent because it is completely self-satisfying. Few people can really reach past that level of selfish independent thinking and begin to act and function for the good of themselves as well as others. Interdependence involves giving up personal and individual freedoms and comforts to strive for a higher purpose bigger than any one person could have independently. It is just a fact of life that people working harmoniously as one will accomplish more than a person working alone.

            To be a selfless servant, someone with the value of selfless service, one must first realize that there is purpose outside the individual. There is a higher purpose, whether religious, spiritual, or even logically, there is always something greater to strive for. Once someone understands this, that person must lose himself or herself for that purpose. They must put away their selfish ambition and give their whole being for the good of all.

            As humans we are all interdependent. We can accomplish things on our own, but true greatness can only be attained through cooperation with others. This thought of interdependence, selflessness and selfless service has been one that I’ve been searching to understand since high school. Recently I was reading through an old advanced composition (shout out Momma) journal and came across this editorial about school spirit:

“Editorials don’t always have to be negative, but it is not possible to write about school spirit at SFS without being negative. Its sad when all you ask people to do is wear school colors for one day and not even half the kids in the school are wearing the. I didn’t think it was possible to have a louder crowd for the opposing team at a home game until I made one of SFS’s sports teams in the 9^th grade. So what is wrong with our school? Is our mascot stupid? Do our teams that are top of the league every year suck? Is it too hard to read the words to the school fight song on a 10-foot piece of paper? The answer to all of these questions is no. The problem is in the minds of the students. Why cant they put away their pride for a second and not act cool for a second and cheer for something that is bigger than themselves? Maybe its just that we don’t think there is anything bigger than ourselves.”

So I know that that little passage was somewhat of a disgruntled high school athlete ranting, but in some ways I can see myself really questioning the idea of selflessness. Selfless service would include going to a sports event or art show or concert even if you don’t enjoy it because you want to support your peers. Selfless service would be not caring about what others think about you to sing the national anthem, sing in church or sing a teams fight song to increase the spirit and morale of all of those around you. Even in the small things in life, losing your own pride and interests to uplift the spirit and success of everybody is how you become a selfless servant.

It is my encouragement to everyone to lose yourself. Serve your family, your community, your society, your country, your race, your religion, and every other aspect of your life that defines your own personal success, but also the greatness of the world, and serve them selflessly. Serve them not because you are obliged but because as the world changes, so will you. Be selfishly selfless, and together we can change the world!

Mrs. Song is my role model of selfless service. The world is a better place to have this beautiful woman in it.

Integrity

So I want to start this post with a story. I don’t know how you all were with your parents growing up, but nothing made me happier than when I made my parents proud. In the same way nothing hurt more than when I let my parents down. You know that parents have done it right when their kids aren’t scared of any kind of consequence, but instead they are scared to hurt their parent’s feelings. In the same way the kids aren’t looking for rewards, but just that smile on their parents faces that shows that their parents love them more than anything in the world and are so proud of what their child is accomplishing. I was that kind of child, and I had those kind of parents.

            I have had the times when I look into my parent’s eyes and see the joy that what I am doing with my life makes them proud to be my parents. I have also looked into their eyes and seen the pain of disappointment due to my actions. There is one moment in life that sticks out to me more than any other where I saw the pride my parents had in me, and that happened in the 6^th grade.

            At the end of every school year at Seoul Foreign Middle School we would have class awards ceremonies in which each student would receive an award for the year. The teachers always did a good job of getting everyone an award, and every year they would of course have the big special awards… but I never got any of those. My 6^th grade year I received one of the awards that they just personalized for me like they did every other kid in the class. The award I got was the integrity award, and I really had no idea what that meant.

            When I took the award home and showed my parents I saw a true sense of pride in their eyes that I will never forget. I just threw it on the table angry that I didn’t get best athlete award, but my parents picked it up and explained to me what it meant. They taught me that the academic and athletic awards are rewards for accomplishments, whereas my integrity award was a reward for the person that I was. It was then that I learned the lesson that it is not the action or accomplishment that is important, but it is the motive and character behind it that is really important.

            It is hard to explain the school setting I grew up in and the academic culture of our school. Not only did the administrators and teachers set the standards of the school extremely high, but also it was located in the heart of Seoul where the culture pushed academic competition to unhealthy levels. When the students weren’t in school they would be at SAT prep classes, math classes, and English classes. Test scores and GPA’s were the driving forces in the majority of my peer’s lives and there was hardly anything beyond that, except maybe being part of some resume building after school activities. So even by the time we were in the 6^th grade students were doing anything and everything to get their grades and their accolades. They did what they had to do so that they could achieve.

            My parents raised and taught me differently. I was taught to do what I had to do because it is the right thing to do. Even in the 6^th grade I remember having the attitude that, “I don’t really care what you think, but I am going to do this because it is what I’m meant to do.” The fact that my teachers would see that I was a person of integrity at such a young age is one of the greatest awards I have ever received. After seeing how proud my parents were of me receiving the integrity award I made it a priority to live everyday as a man of integrity, though it is a daily struggle. Ever since the 6^th grade integrity has been the driving value in my life.

            I love looking at the word integrity just for the meaning of the word itself. The two definitions that I lean towards of the word are “moral uprightness” and “the state of being whole and undivided.” (According to my generic computer dictionary) The way I see moral uprightness is doing the right thing all the time. It is very straightforward and easy to understand, but not easy to live out. It is so hard to do what is right in every circumstance of every day, but that is what integrity is. The next definition of being whole and undivided also pairs with this definition of moral uprightness. To be a person of integrity you cant just have a high moral standing, but that moral standing must be who you are. Many people will chose to separate who they are from the decisions they make. These kinds of people can show integrity, but I do not believe that they are people of integrity. To be a person of integrity, one cannot divide themselves from their decisions, but understand that their decisions define who they are. Integrity is just one of the parts of a human that makes them whole, but it is a characteristic undivided from who a person is.

            In life I believe that there is a higher ideal of human being that everyone on earth is striving to become. Religions exemplify this person through their prophets be it Jesus, Mohammad, or Buddha to name a few. We can also see other prominent figures in popular culture that people depict as these ideal personalities such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Mother Theresa. It is something woven in human nature that there is a higher code of morality that goes beyond our own understanding. It is when this code becomes woven into the fabric of a person’s nature that they become a true person of integrity. They don’t only stand up for what they believe is right, but they have a greater understanding of what is right, and that understanding guides them through life’s toughest decisions.

            Though we as humans ultimately know what is right we often miss the opportunity to do right. To live with integrity is not something that is possible without a conscious effort. It is easy to live in this world to make decisions for our own good and with no greater knowledge than our own understanding. As humans though we must be held to a higher standard of living where we make decisions based on what is best for ourselves as well as those around us. We must search for a greater understanding in even the smallest decisions that we make so that we always make the correct decision.

            This is the way that I see it: We are all part of a complex world and live in it as individuals, but each of us plays in integral role in the world. That word, integral, is very important in explaining the importance of personal integrity.  According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, integral means “necessary to make a whole complete; essential or fundamental.” Each one of us as individuals are necessary to make this world complete, and each one of us plays an integral role in changing the world. To be an effective citizen of the world we must have personal integrity, which by definition means that we are personally whole and undivided. As we can personally become people of integrity, we can achieve our role as an integral part of this world and make the world a better place.

Even when the mighty World Trade Center fell to the ground, it is the integrity of the building that stood for the hope of the future. (Picture from ground zero, 2005)

Widsom

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”- Confucius

Intellect is very important to develop and challenge in an ever changing world. This is why education systems are put in place and children are required to go to school in the majority of countries in the world. Intellect is something that can be conditioned and practiced until it is mastered. Intellect separates the smart from the dumb.

            Though intellect is a foundation for progress in the world I believe that change can only come through wisdom. Wisdom is intellect, but inspired intellect. Wisdom is knowledge that comes from a deep understanding of self and surroundings. I believe that that wisdom is an unwavering knowledge that develops from the spirit of an individual.

            What does that mean, that it develops from the spirit of an individual? Many people can unlock true knowledge just by studying and training their brain to recite facts. This is the great skill of intellect. It is the few people that can search deep within themselves and use their intellect along with their faith and belief in truths that go beyond the realm of physical proof to make a decision.

            Religion is one way in which we can start to understand the importance of wisdom. We see countless times in the bible the mention of wisdom, and God putting those who have wisdom in power. Wisdom is a gift given by God to his people, which is what we see with characters in the Bible such as Solomon. A great passage in the bible which describes wisdom can be found in James 3:13-3:18. It says:

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

            This passage describes wisdom as something greater than what can be acquired here on earth. It describes wisdom as a heavenly quality. It is a heavenly knowledge that is characterized by peace, servant hood, mercy and sincerity. Those who have wisdom have righteousness. Wisdom is also rejoiced in other religions. In the Qur’an in the second Surah it says:

2:167

Those who followed will say, "If only we had another turn [at worldly life] so we could disassociate ourselves from them as they have disassociated themselves from us." Thus will Allah show them their deeds as regrets upon them. And they are never to emerge from the Fire.

2:168

O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.

2:169

He only orders you to evil and immorality and to say about Allah what you do not know.

2:170

And when it is said to them, "Follow what Allah has revealed," they say, "Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing." Even though their fathers were void of wisdom, nor were they guided?

2:171

The example of those who disbelieve is like that of one who shouts at what hears nothing but calls and cries cattle or sheep - deaf, dumb and blind, so they do not understand.

            Just as the Bible states over and over, so does the Qur’an, wisdom is heaven sent. Wisdom is not something to be achieved through following others, but it is something to be revealed to us by heaven. Just as people of faith are on a quest for sanctity, we are also on a quest for understanding that comes from wisdom.

            Now wisdom can be defined in that spiritual way, but there are many people who do not have faith, but this does not mean they are not seeking wisdom. Wisdom is a knowledge that can be characterized by choice and decision. Sure we can understand the symbiotic relationship between African Oxpeckers and Elephants but that does not make a wise person. It makes us an intelligent person because it does not involve critical thinking, decision making or demand a trust greater than what is known. A wise person is one who can step back from a problem, view it from all angles, throw away any preconceived notions and make the proper decision. Intellect precedes knowledge, knowledge precedes understanding, and understanding develops ones knowledge and intellect into wisdom. It is not about what you know, but how you use what you know. That is how you become wise.

            I value wisdom as the greatest of all qualities because with wisdom comes the understanding that it is not a choice whether or not to be respectful, to have integrity, to serve others or to give your all in everything, but it is an obligation. I want to lead people in a way that shows it’s not a choice whether to be a good person or not. It is everyone’s obligation to not just be a good person, but a great one! It is this wisdom that I have learned from my parents and all the great leaders that I have had in my life that I want to lead with. I want to lead with the wisdom that no matter what the world will be a better place because I am part of it. This is the wisdom I wish to instill in every player I touch and every person I can touch with this blog.

Here is a spoken word poem I wrote on Wisdom… I will try to record it and post it on here soon.

My name is wisdom

Son of love and intellect

Grandson of maturity and respect

Enemy of closed-mindedness

And let me tell you this

The world is in serious trouble

We’ve become so free

Others have no right to be

They’ve been stripped the opportunity to succeed

Happiness and industry

Has been replaced by money and greed

Now days people cant climb the ladder

Without stepping on someone else’s feet

But I am what the world needs

I am the foundation

The father of prosperity

Wisdom is my name

And I am always looking forward

Always looking beyond

Always looking toward

That better day head

When success is measured in self-satisfaction

Not only daily bread

And in those days we will see

A society based on equality

Integrity and unity

We will all live in a perfect and peaceful community

I am wisdom…. Follow me