I found you there....

I found you there....

Visiting Carnton Plantation here in Franklin I found the name of a confederate soldier from South Carolina who is a distant relative....and I reflected

I found you there not all alone

But with your friends today

Fallen swayed, from beautiful home

Resting there, so, so far away

Impassioned in an honored call

Defenders from invaders rage

In stone garden found reposed

Numbered ,letters marked in a page

I found you there my valored kin

Forgotten, I take my blame

Barely seen through weathered days

Mourned and cared for just the same

Now the time, to remember, recall

To kin and country and to reclaim

To never again forget the cost

By the man whom bares your nam

Charleston Shootings and historic figures.

This is a moment I wrote to a story on Yahoo News. The discussion was about Dylan Roof and another man who planned to murder white people and burn Charleston, Denmark Versey. One tragically succeeded and the other a minister of Christ failed. One is a villain to Yahoo News ( and rightly so) , but one is a hero. Both are villains!

My comments



Let me get this correct, this story vilifies  (and rightly so) one mass murderer, but would glorify another who planned to carry out an even BIGGER mass murder of people ( VERSEY) . The people in Haiti did revolt,killed every white person horrifically, and now live a nation that is the excrement of the Western Hemisphere,and that is exactly what this statue of Versey represents.But I would never call for it to be taken down, but to learn the true history of the man it portrays, as I would any statue of a historic figure.


Slavery was a world wide institution from the dawn of mankind, it still exist today in Africa, and the Middle East, in countries that espouse a particular religion. Yet, I see none of the people enraged by what happened in Charleston doing anything about slavery today, they like returning to a time deep in our past. I suppose it gives their life some type of validity.

Go to a Habitat for Humanity build, you will find almost exclusively white folk building. When black children are abandoned by their mothers,it is mostly white folks caring for them. This is a good thing, because people need help. But please stop living in this myth that people are out to get you because the color of their skin, it is grossly over exaggerated. The attitude is rare within my "community" , rare.

The people of Charleston, and I am from the Low Country are beautiful people, quick to forgive, quick to encourage, quick to come to the aid of those in need. This is no myth, this is real, and it is real because in this region of the country, for all our faults maintains a strong and deep abiding Christian faith, not perfect by far, but real,relevant, and pervasive.

White and Black folks are different, we see the world different, but if we impress ourselves to the Christian duty of civility, just maybe we can fulfill the mandate of the Gospel in our own lives and that of our dear South.

History is history we should not negate or resign to it, but learn from it.

Yahoo news, your world is upside down. You glorify immoral behavior, gang violence , you propagate violence when ever possible. 

Emmaline is 9

On the 13 day of March, in Hermitage Tennessee my heart was made fresh when my daughter Emmaline was born. Everyday, even in the darkest of times, her little voice will whisper " I love you daddy ", and all the worlds troubles, if only for a brief moment evaporate. My life would be shallow without her.

 Sometimes we are reluctant in sharing such a statement, thinking that we must love God more than humans, and surly we should. However, it is in the flesh of humanity and especially our progeny that we express our love to God and His is expressed to us. In the daily kindnesses that we show each other, in the giving to meet a need of friends or strangers, or just listening to someone, we show forth his presence in our lives, His imprint.

In His most infinite love toward me, he gifted me with my family, and in a special kindness , Emmaline. She is there  giving the gentlest of kisses to her daddy, when the weight of the universe seems to be stranded on his shoulders. She reminds me on days when I have forgotten, that I have a purpose.  Not a purpose to recite a well held system of theological truths, but to give them away in bed time prayers, comforting words when there are boo boo's on skinned knees, or in enjoying their truths in the wonder of a storm or starry night.

God is not jealous when we cherish His gifts rightly, He is pleased.....Therefore today, March 13, we will celebrate Emmaline's birth and cherish with special flare God's gift, His expression of love to our family, all packaged in the beauty of a little girl.

Cotton Pillow

I gazed upon an angels face

As she rested upon her pillow

Thinking with most covetous eyes

Never one mental frame would I dare share

For there on that cotton resting place

The purest of creamy skin, flowing blond hair

Eyes of clearest blue, opening for just a moment

She dreams of creatures, places, I've long forgotten

The toss of her head from side to side

I am arrested in my heart, thinking she may wake

Resolved in my selfishness,

Knowing this heavenly voyeurism would be over

I find myself casting my voice toward the divine

Hoping to be heard in the only request I have today

  "Please, let this time, these images be suspended forever, to be captivated in safe retreat in my mind."  

   Allow death to come before a thief, as time or decay robs me of what I have witnessed today.

The purposeful image of divine imagination

Resting on a humbled man's cotton pillow.

Happy St. Valentine's Day..... She Closes Her Eyes

She closes her eyes, drifts away

Eyes flickering as she dreams

Memories of things, bought to mind

Of kind whispers, it would seem

A time that now, recalls a smile

Of something, no one ever “new”

Would remember, from long ago

A recollection, of only you

Rocking there with grey hair down

The peaceful Southern breeze

Recalls with warmth, within her voice

Of a name, now said with ease

Past and Present the line now blurred

Between smiles, corners to edge

A not so common beautiful thought

And a not forgotten pledge

Would hope all others, shared such dreams

That appoints the heart to melt

Reposed in shadowed love, so sweet

And a passion, she has ever felt