“Strength, Courage and Wisdom. It’s been inside of me, all along.” – India.Arie
If you know my taste in music, you know that India.Arie’s music is right up my alley.With powerful songs chock -full of life and love, India is a performer who gives her all, all of the time and truly engages each and every listener. To describe my relationship with India’s music, let me just say that I feel that every song she sings was a song in my heart that I didn’t even know existed, and each time I listen to each note and lyric in her songs, that special melody in my own heart becomes more audible, and more beautiful. Back in August 2013, I learned she was playing a show in Boston, MA, on November 24, 2013.I knew that I had to go, no
matter
what.
Besides going to the concert, I really wanted India to know that I really appreciated her talent, and I also wanted to let her know about the World Race. I wanted her to know that I really am one of her biggest fans, and I also really, really, really wanted to give her a World Race support letter and a LOVED. T-shirt because I wanted India to know ( or get a reminder at least) that she is LOVED. Buried deep with in these dreams was a dream (and the dream is still there) that she would/ will partner with me on the World Race.
NOTE OF REFLECTION: Here’s the COOLEST part, which literally just came to me as I’ve been composing this post: For MONTHS I was feeling that dreaming for her to partnership with me was a selfish thing, and I was clinging onto guilt that wasn’t even mine to cling onto! I want it to be known that at this very moment, I don’t feel guilty for dreaming that she would (and still could) help me go on the World Race, and I’m still holding onto the dream! Anything can happen!
Ok, back to the story …..The moment I saw the words “TICKETS FOR SALE” I also knew I really wanted to go with one of my best friends, Emily S. I did some research and learned that if I bought a VIP ticket to the concert, (for an extra $70) I could participate in a meet and greet with India, so I myself could meet her and give her all of the stuff I wanted to give her, but if I did that, Emily wouldn’t be able to come to the concert with me.
Well, I yarped and yarped, and wouldn’t you know it, Poppa had already planned for me to give India LOVED shirt, a personal note, and a World Race support letter & attend the concert with Emily! Two days before the concert, the VIP deal was not available any longer, so Emily and I got balcony tickets and we were on our way to see the one, the only, India. Arie!
Before the concert, as Emily and I were walking past India.Arie’s tour bus, we ran into a man named Ollie who was helping with the tour. I saw his badge and excitedly asked him to help me deliver a personal note and World Race support letter to India, and he said he would (& I truly believe he did!) After the show, I even had another opportunity to give Ollie a LOVED. T- shirt to give to India! It was incredible!
Even though I wanted to meet India and talk to her and give her all of the things myself, I don’t think I ever yarped to meet her, I just yarped that I could give her my letters and the T shirt. I’m thankful that I had the chance to give the stuff to someone on the tour in the first place, and a super awesome bonus was enjoying the concert with Emily.
I think the coolest part of the whole experience (so far) was putting my faith into action. Shooing the self- doubt and the lies away from the corners of my mind and honing in on the faith to write India.Arie a note and truly believe that she would read it was a huge challenge, but it was an incredible faith builder. Actually taking action to make a dream a reality reminded me of James 2:17: “In the same way, faith by itself, if it does not prove itself with actions, is dead.”
As we stretch our spiritual muscles and trust and depend on Him to plant His faith within us and then transform our dreams from “pipe dreams” to reality is probably one of Poppa’s many favorite things to do for us.
Regarding my dream with India, I’m not exactly sure what will happen next, but I’m still holding onto my dream (and even expanding it) I am now dreaming that India.Arie would continue to learn about the Race and its vision, and that miracles would continue to happen for the Kingdom! I don’t know what will happen, but what I DO know is that I trust that Poppa has a plan about it all!
What’s a dream that you have? Or, better question, what dream has Poppa placed in your heart and has been asking you to act upon?
Has He been asking you to write support letters to celebrities? Has He been asking you to trust Him more with financial decisions? Has He been asking you to go back to school? Has he been asking you to apply to go on the World Race? Has He been asking you to propose to your girlfriend? Has He been asking you to start learning the guitar? Has He been asking you to volunteer at a shelter or even your church?
What are you waiting for? Ask Poppa to help make your pipe dreams into reality!
