Speaking on Our Thoughts...

just a few days ago, i was driving back home from an out of town trip with the family in tow, and i called a good buddy of mine, Dwayne Jones, to check in with him on a project we've got going. Dwayne and i are what i call "Big Vision" types: "brothers of the same mind, un-blind," as Chuck D. would say. telephone conversations with the founder of ibuildbyfaith.com have yielded some pretty amazing manifested dreams, including the construction of the Amun Ra Theatre Playhouse on Clifton Avenue in Nashville. he was the inspiration behind building a building in 3 days that has since gone on to mark a place in Nashville's cultural history. and it all started with a phone call. so talking to that cat always births something new into the Universe.

this time, Haiti came to the table. and Haiti wouldn't leave until it was fed.

let me give some necessary background on this cat who has become a hero to me, because believe me, he won't toot his own horn. Dwayne has taken to traveling around the world with one singular cause--making a difference in human lives. be it Haiti or Ghana or India, it doesn't matter, and it doesn't take a gigantic effort for him to load up a suitcase, make a contact, raise some money, and board a plane. he's not afraid of rough terrain, poverty, disease, and self-doubt. through all these, he straps on the breast-plate of his faith and quietly goes about the business of building shelter for people who need it, asking nothing in return.

sure, there are huge mission organizations in the world who have greater reach and scope, millions of dollars in resources (and the accompanying salaries for the administrators), and a much higher profile, employing star personalities as spokespersons and enjoying their names trickling off the tongues of everyone from media moguls to politicians. but as is often the case, most of the dirty work is done by the foot soldiers on the ground level.

Dwayne is the salt of the earth.

so as we were casually conversing about the larger visions we have of taking creative arts around the globe, i asked him what he was up to, and the conversation went something like this:

"So what's coming up, D?"

"Man, i'm gonna run down to Haiti."

"Haiti? When you going?"

"April 2nd through the 5th."

"Dude, that's like...soon."

"(laughing) Yeah, it is. But it's getting to be rainy season, and there are some folks down there that need some shelter."

"So, you're going to build something?"

"Yeah, one day. But for now, the orphanage i do work with (Gradec Orphanage) is in need of at least some tents. So i'm going to take some tents down and put up some shelter to protect the kids and staff."

"Wow. Where are you going to be staying?"

"(huge laugh) Outside! That's where they are, so i'm gonna pack a duffel bag and stay out there until we get it done."

"Man, that's quite a mission, man. Who you going with?"

"Just me. You know how I roll. I'd love some company, though. You want to go?"

"Wow...well...uhm...well...yeah. Yeah i do."

and that's how i got to it: 2 brothers headed to Haiti.

of course, i looked to my wife first, to make sure she was willing to hold things down on the home front (we've got 4 kids at home, and she just directed a big show at the theater and is deserving of some rest). she gave me her normal vote of support for my endeavors to change the world; i got on Facebook and made a small mention of the need for tents, and some of my greatest Friends came through with purchases that they've already shipped out to Memphis, where they will be sent over to the island; i called up the Shot Clinic and went and got my holistic-health nut body jabbed with vaccination needles i've not had in my arms in 30 years; and i put together a fund-raising page to help us get there.

i've realized that most people just can't "get up and go," but they do want to help in whatever way they can. so i'm asking my friends who stop by and read my blog, who helped get me off the roof of the theater several months ago and enabled us to expand our youth programming, who continue to help us to help others, to take a moment to contribute what they can to this one small weekend cause.

i've set up a page at the following link:

www.firstgiving.com/24tents

help out by donating what you can. i've set a goal to raise $2,000.00. that will cover our travel and supplies while on the ground. we won't be in a hotel--we'll be in tents ourselves, and we'll be eating out of our knapsacks, but we'll be there, and our goal is to assemble up to 30 shelters for the orphanage's children and staff. i don't know how the internet access is, but i'm going to work to update everyone here, to let you know what's going on and let you see what difference you're helping us make, tangibly.

keep me in your prayers, family. as you all know i'm pretty transparent on this blog. it's both my safe place and the place that keeps me connected to the world. now the world is getting ready to get a little smaller, and the notion of traveling to a far away place--although not scary to me--is made easier to digest when i know i'm not alone. i'll be there with my brother in arms, and you in spirit.

in that sense, it'll be more than just 2 idealistic brothers with packs on their backs, it'll be 2 idealistic brothers with a group of visionaries backing them up.

i thank The Creator and The Ancestors for you all. let's do this...