When the saints go marching in
When the saints go marching in
When you go marching
When the saints go marching in
Lord, I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in
When the unpredictable comes
When the unpredictable comes
When the saints go marching in
Lord, I want to be in that number
When the unpredictable comes
When there is no more war
No more sickness
The poor have what they need
Celebrations sing and sing
When you go marching
Lord, I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in
Rejoicing drown out tears
When the saints go marching in
No more children dying
No children crying
When the saints go marching in
Lord, I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

So the president is talking to his enemies, to those who do not agree with him, to those who are different and to those who dislike his policies. He learned that from Jesus. President Obama is doing an excellent thing by having open discussions with Republicans. Now, there is no guarantee that people seeing the same thing will report and believe the same thing. He will win some and lose some. Overall, I think it is a good thing. And I congratulate the president, because that is indeed an act that represents change. Jesus spoke with the sinner, the righteous, the Pharisee and the Sadducees all the time… Why change that?

It is a whole different political world out there. There are some crazy patterns forming reminiscent of things in the past. However, for every movement of darkness, fear, prejudice, and bad behavior there has been a counteracting movement of truth, love, hope and peace. So be not afraid, I say that to myself, too. I need to hear that—that we need not fear—in the midst of rumors and rumors of crashing, warring, losing, hating; yes, rumors of war…

Who dat? Those Saints. Do I say more? Who dat? 144. Thousands more. Who dat? Those Saints. After Katrina? Who dat? Losses and losses. Who dat? Those saints. Katrina leads to celebration. Rejected, unknown, doubted team members – who dat? Dem Saints. Wow. Let that be a lesson for us all. Go folks of that great city and state: Who dat?

Maybe what happened for the Saints can and will happen for the people of Haiti. This is what we believe and this is what we hope. History tells us that reversals exist, and I believe one day Haiti will turn over a new leaf. There will be permanent celebrations of new life… I was just in Boston and had two Haitian taxi drivers. 

The first taxi driver kept saying: “In six seconds, 200,000 people dead. Lord have mercy. I almost died, because my wife was there and for a seven days I did not hear from her. In six seconds, 200,000 people dead.” 

On my way out of Boston, I met the second Haitian taxi driver. He kept saying: “Yes, I lost family. Some live, some die. We all have to die sometime.” 

I am still thinking about both men. Different responses, however, same love for Haiti.
Special shout out to all the artists, storytellers, teachers, poets, songbirds, rappers… all the creative folks. 

 
Peace.