This partial text has been taken from the upcoming Saint Gabrielle Street & Company "Everyday Angel" performance:
In the midst of trial and tribulations, decisions and advancement, most people seem to only make the necessary changes in their life for one of two reasons…either through inspiration or desperation…and standing here before you today I can honestly say that for me it has taken a great deal of both to make my own changes.
Could there be a connection then between you and I?
Have you ever been so inspired to leap that it feels like somewhere between space and time you already have? Or perhaps your inspiration draws from that certain song that when you hear it…it actually feels like it was written just for you. Or even perhaps felt a warriors courage mount inside of you, while hearing stories of amazing feats of strength and commitment in the face of extreme uncertainty, even death. For me, these moments of inspiration continue to remind me that life is indeed a most beautiful adventure and even in the midst of tragedy there is a power accessible to us all…greater than we know.
But, there are also those moments when I’ve found myself trapped in a corner, completely overwhelmed, gasping for air behind the bars of a situation I probably caused myself…and it is in these moments of desperation my mind usually goes into overdrive eventually coming up with seven ways to solve seven problems.
With this it seems to me that by any means necessary, life has equipped mankind with the mechanisms possible to keep us moving forward…almost as if we have an unseen engagement or opportunity ahead we cannot miss.
You know I heard Cornell West mentioned once…and excuse me if I paraphrase ever so slightly…”we as a people must begin to identity what significance do our individual stories have in relationship to the larger narrative of life.” “We must to turn a critical eye to what our existence means to those within our families, are communities, and our world. What impact does what we do, and who we are have on those around us?”
For me, this level of self-reflection began about seven to eight years ago when a void began developing deep inside at my center. Sometimes the void appeared as small moments of depression in the morning, followed by periods of boredom throughout the day. Behind the moments of laughter I shared publicly, there began to build a sense of quiet hopelessness right below the surface. The flashing lights were dimming, and harems were losing their appeal. Was this all that life had to offer, because I truly felt I had so much more to give! I refused to believe that God would create something so strong and unique, then place it in a cage with no key.
Now, being the educator I was trained to be, and the at times passionate and obsessive as some people knew me, I feverishly began reading hundreds of personal development books that ranged from Eastern Metaphysics to the more Westernized practices of designing and accomplishing ones goals….but two reoccurring ideas seemed to permeate every line I read…almost as if they were following me! Almost as if I was supposed to find them.
The first was Purpose and Gifts, simply meaning that every man, woman and child was created with a clear concise reason for his/her existence, and connected to that reason was a unique gift he/she possessed inside.
The second concept that continued to intrigue me was Synchronicity which by definition means the coming together of inner and outer events in a way that cannot be exlplained by cause and effect and that is meaningful to the observer. From past friends that surfaced after years of disconnect, to the series of events that led to meeting that special person that first touched your heart and showed you how to love…these occurrences were not by accident.
Now having the power of Synchronicity and Purpose in the palm of my hand, I began to see that there may be a connection between the two. It was becoming very evident that the role we all play in the lives of others could have a greater impact than what was being openly acknowledged.
Could there be a connection then between you and I?
Have you ever been so inspired to leap that it feels like somewhere between space and time you already have? Or perhaps your inspiration draws from that certain song that when you hear it…it actually feels like it was written just for you. Or even perhaps felt a warriors courage mount inside of you, while hearing stories of amazing feats of strength and commitment in the face of extreme uncertainty, even death. For me, these moments of inspiration continue to remind me that life is indeed a most beautiful adventure and even in the midst of tragedy there is a power accessible to us all…greater than we know.
But, there are also those moments when I’ve found myself trapped in a corner, completely overwhelmed, gasping for air behind the bars of a situation I probably caused myself…and it is in these moments of desperation my mind usually goes into overdrive eventually coming up with seven ways to solve seven problems.
With this it seems to me that by any means necessary, life has equipped mankind with the mechanisms possible to keep us moving forward…almost as if we have an unseen engagement or opportunity ahead we cannot miss.
You know I heard Cornell West mentioned once…and excuse me if I paraphrase ever so slightly…”we as a people must begin to identity what significance do our individual stories have in relationship to the larger narrative of life.” “We must to turn a critical eye to what our existence means to those within our families, are communities, and our world. What impact does what we do, and who we are have on those around us?”
For me, this level of self-reflection began about seven to eight years ago when a void began developing deep inside at my center. Sometimes the void appeared as small moments of depression in the morning, followed by periods of boredom throughout the day. Behind the moments of laughter I shared publicly, there began to build a sense of quiet hopelessness right below the surface. The flashing lights were dimming, and harems were losing their appeal. Was this all that life had to offer, because I truly felt I had so much more to give! I refused to believe that God would create something so strong and unique, then place it in a cage with no key.
Now, being the educator I was trained to be, and the at times passionate and obsessive as some people knew me, I feverishly began reading hundreds of personal development books that ranged from Eastern Metaphysics to the more Westernized practices of designing and accomplishing ones goals….but two reoccurring ideas seemed to permeate every line I read…almost as if they were following me! Almost as if I was supposed to find them.
The first was Purpose and Gifts, simply meaning that every man, woman and child was created with a clear concise reason for his/her existence, and connected to that reason was a unique gift he/she possessed inside.
The second concept that continued to intrigue me was Synchronicity which by definition means the coming together of inner and outer events in a way that cannot be exlplained by cause and effect and that is meaningful to the observer. From past friends that surfaced after years of disconnect, to the series of events that led to meeting that special person that first touched your heart and showed you how to love…these occurrences were not by accident.
Now having the power of Synchronicity and Purpose in the palm of my hand, I began to see that there may be a connection between the two. It was becoming very evident that the role we all play in the lives of others could have a greater impact than what was being openly acknowledged.
So let’s break the lock on this one and take a closer look. As I stated, Purpose and Gifts, are the existence of meaning and represent the unique capabilities inside every person. Sometimes these gifts show themselves in a person as the ability to be an intent listener, venturing out possibly into the fields of international diplomacy and mediation; the ability to make others laugh, creating innovative ways to bring humor and satire to delicate topics often viewed as taboo, or even the ability to inspire, igniting thousands to realize their true potential.
Some of you have been blessed with the gift of teaching, exposing the next generation of young people to possibilities they never knew existed, and some of you possess the gift of performance…captivating audiences through dance, song and verse.
The divine connection then becomes this…over time the effort and lessons learned you apply to the pursuit of your purpose, gives you the power to help others with theirs…
By example, if you have conquered insurmountable odds while chasing your dreams….you then possess the power to help others move their own mountains. If you have transformed yourself from a state of depression and anxiety into a state of joy and anticipation, you then possess the power to aid in the transformation of another. The exciting part is that this magical exchange is completely unique to your individual giftings and journey.
As you pursue your purpose further, intensifying your efforts to develop your gifts, you will begin to quietly affect those closest to you. Not only by preaching empty words, but also with action and excitement. Seeing you strive will ignite the sleeping giants others possess. By default, their personal improvement will begin to influence their own circles…circles perhaps well beyond your direct influence.
Imagine, this level of viral self-improvement projected within your church, your constituents, your employees, or even your students. As you become better at who you are…and what you were designed to do…you will begin to sense a feeling of purpose developing all around you.
Every great leader whose personal vision and calling overwhelmed him/her, ignited this sense of contagious inspiration in his/her followers from Gandhi to Mandela, from Jesus to Muhammad, and from JFK to Obama, the calling on each of their lives pushed them to test themselves in ways that motivated the masses to follow suit, forever changing the fabric of history for generations to come. You are capable of nothing less.
Now herein lies a bit of magic…at this point allow me to show you how Synchronicity plays its part.
I once was apart of a mentoring group which operated at one of the schools in which I was teaching. It was the job of every mentor to host a monthly meeting, select a topic, and create the agenda.
When my month came around it just so happened it was the session we planned for a visiting group of students to join in. Rather recently, I had just completed a professional development workshop for the staff on purpose & teaching, so I decided to use pieces of the seminar for my mentoring presentation. Fifteen minutes into my session…I passionately began to go around the room asking fellow mentors and students what they believed was their purpose….when I got to a young man named David.
Now to give you a little background on David, I was told he was labeled as having a slight learning disability, had been known to make frequent stops to the Dean’s office for behavioral infractions, and had been held back enough times to be a teacher himself. But like most of us, he had a talent that often went overlooked…he was a beautiful artist.
When I finally got to David I was fired up…I said young sir…what do you believe is your purpose? David looked around the circle, as if he was looking to see if it was safe to speak from his heart, he then said quietly…I would like to become an architect…so I can design bomb shelters if this country ever found itself in a nuclear war. I would design enormous underground homes where people could live their lives in safety.
In that moment, beyond all the negative exchanges and arguments to which I had been told David had become so accustomed, in an instant I saw him for who he truly was. I looked him right in his eye and said David that is tremendous, that is quite a purpose…and know that from my mouth to your ears those shelters may never get built if you don’t chase that dream to its completion. Millions of people may be relying on your future designs and insight for their survival…beyond anything anyone has ever told you, I believe in you.
With that, the circle began to clap…and David looked like he had been reborn. Soon, after the meeting he pulled me to the side…and expressed to me that he had never before let anyone know what he had revealed to the group, because he was too afraid he would be laughed at because of his reputation…but that he really enjoyed the session, and now felt more comfortable with where he wanted to take his gifts.
From that point forward, I continued to keep tabs on him, and to this day I hear that he is doing quite well and still desires to become an architect. Only the future knows if any of us will benefit from his work.
That very day…although David was not an immediate member of my circle of influence or family…my own ability to inspire that was forged by a lifetime of experiences, and his desire to save lives with his art drove us to meet. I did not judge him for his past actions or mock his lofty ambitions. It was obvious to me that life had decided that we needed to have that exchange for the betterment of both.
I walked away reaffirming the belief that purpose existed at the heart of all things despite how they are perceived, and David walked away feeling reassured in his dream.
See . . . not only will fighting for the right to call your dreams realities impacts those people with whom you spend the most time…but also, as I stated earlier Synchronicity connects…and as you walk your journey, it will place you in situations where you will be able to impact the lives of people, organizations and groups that you may have never met before.
Furthermore, as you stay the course and intensify your pursuits, you will begin to witness larger numbers of unforeseen opportunities and unexpected encounters where you will be able to give more, impact greater, and create change on a larger scale.
There are people right now chasing their dreams and living their lives that need your specific support, that need to your specific insight, your empathy and love. They wait for you at the crossroads…the question is, who will they meet when you arrive?
The beauty of this theory is that all this is possible by just being who are…not conforming to the boxes others look to place you in, or the rulers others look to measure you by…but by just being you…just becoming better at it.
This has to be the sexiest thing I have ever seen…living life on your terms, utilizing the creative gifts you were designed with, while positively impacting the lives of others. I know this to be true because it’s the life I’m fighting to create.
The life I have just described is that of the Everyday Angel: The common man or woman’s journey to define his/her existence using innate talents and giftings to light the way. As they travel obstacles, challenges will create the perfect training regiment to hone their skills further. When an Everyday Angel encounters others along the way, they look to aide them in any way possible from motivation to guidance, inherently knowing deep inside it is for this reason we were not placed here alone.
So the next time someone crosses your path, know now that it is not by chance, but by providence that they have arrived, and that the personal growth you have placed into the acquisition of your own dreams could perhaps be the lessons they need to sustain their own quests. Be their bridge builder, be their champion, be their hope, be their leader, be their follower, be that gentle nudge that pushes them towards the things they dream about. Be their Everyday Angel.
Some of you have been blessed with the gift of teaching, exposing the next generation of young people to possibilities they never knew existed, and some of you possess the gift of performance…captivating audiences through dance, song and verse.
The divine connection then becomes this…over time the effort and lessons learned you apply to the pursuit of your purpose, gives you the power to help others with theirs…
By example, if you have conquered insurmountable odds while chasing your dreams….you then possess the power to help others move their own mountains. If you have transformed yourself from a state of depression and anxiety into a state of joy and anticipation, you then possess the power to aid in the transformation of another. The exciting part is that this magical exchange is completely unique to your individual giftings and journey.
As you pursue your purpose further, intensifying your efforts to develop your gifts, you will begin to quietly affect those closest to you. Not only by preaching empty words, but also with action and excitement. Seeing you strive will ignite the sleeping giants others possess. By default, their personal improvement will begin to influence their own circles…circles perhaps well beyond your direct influence.
Imagine, this level of viral self-improvement projected within your church, your constituents, your employees, or even your students. As you become better at who you are…and what you were designed to do…you will begin to sense a feeling of purpose developing all around you.
Every great leader whose personal vision and calling overwhelmed him/her, ignited this sense of contagious inspiration in his/her followers from Gandhi to Mandela, from Jesus to Muhammad, and from JFK to Obama, the calling on each of their lives pushed them to test themselves in ways that motivated the masses to follow suit, forever changing the fabric of history for generations to come. You are capable of nothing less.
Now herein lies a bit of magic…at this point allow me to show you how Synchronicity plays its part.
I once was apart of a mentoring group which operated at one of the schools in which I was teaching. It was the job of every mentor to host a monthly meeting, select a topic, and create the agenda.
When my month came around it just so happened it was the session we planned for a visiting group of students to join in. Rather recently, I had just completed a professional development workshop for the staff on purpose & teaching, so I decided to use pieces of the seminar for my mentoring presentation. Fifteen minutes into my session…I passionately began to go around the room asking fellow mentors and students what they believed was their purpose….when I got to a young man named David.
Now to give you a little background on David, I was told he was labeled as having a slight learning disability, had been known to make frequent stops to the Dean’s office for behavioral infractions, and had been held back enough times to be a teacher himself. But like most of us, he had a talent that often went overlooked…he was a beautiful artist.
When I finally got to David I was fired up…I said young sir…what do you believe is your purpose? David looked around the circle, as if he was looking to see if it was safe to speak from his heart, he then said quietly…I would like to become an architect…so I can design bomb shelters if this country ever found itself in a nuclear war. I would design enormous underground homes where people could live their lives in safety.
In that moment, beyond all the negative exchanges and arguments to which I had been told David had become so accustomed, in an instant I saw him for who he truly was. I looked him right in his eye and said David that is tremendous, that is quite a purpose…and know that from my mouth to your ears those shelters may never get built if you don’t chase that dream to its completion. Millions of people may be relying on your future designs and insight for their survival…beyond anything anyone has ever told you, I believe in you.
With that, the circle began to clap…and David looked like he had been reborn. Soon, after the meeting he pulled me to the side…and expressed to me that he had never before let anyone know what he had revealed to the group, because he was too afraid he would be laughed at because of his reputation…but that he really enjoyed the session, and now felt more comfortable with where he wanted to take his gifts.
From that point forward, I continued to keep tabs on him, and to this day I hear that he is doing quite well and still desires to become an architect. Only the future knows if any of us will benefit from his work.
That very day…although David was not an immediate member of my circle of influence or family…my own ability to inspire that was forged by a lifetime of experiences, and his desire to save lives with his art drove us to meet. I did not judge him for his past actions or mock his lofty ambitions. It was obvious to me that life had decided that we needed to have that exchange for the betterment of both.
I walked away reaffirming the belief that purpose existed at the heart of all things despite how they are perceived, and David walked away feeling reassured in his dream.
See . . . not only will fighting for the right to call your dreams realities impacts those people with whom you spend the most time…but also, as I stated earlier Synchronicity connects…and as you walk your journey, it will place you in situations where you will be able to impact the lives of people, organizations and groups that you may have never met before.
Furthermore, as you stay the course and intensify your pursuits, you will begin to witness larger numbers of unforeseen opportunities and unexpected encounters where you will be able to give more, impact greater, and create change on a larger scale.
There are people right now chasing their dreams and living their lives that need your specific support, that need to your specific insight, your empathy and love. They wait for you at the crossroads…the question is, who will they meet when you arrive?
The beauty of this theory is that all this is possible by just being who are…not conforming to the boxes others look to place you in, or the rulers others look to measure you by…but by just being you…just becoming better at it.
This has to be the sexiest thing I have ever seen…living life on your terms, utilizing the creative gifts you were designed with, while positively impacting the lives of others. I know this to be true because it’s the life I’m fighting to create.
The life I have just described is that of the Everyday Angel: The common man or woman’s journey to define his/her existence using innate talents and giftings to light the way. As they travel obstacles, challenges will create the perfect training regiment to hone their skills further. When an Everyday Angel encounters others along the way, they look to aide them in any way possible from motivation to guidance, inherently knowing deep inside it is for this reason we were not placed here alone.
So the next time someone crosses your path, know now that it is not by chance, but by providence that they have arrived, and that the personal growth you have placed into the acquisition of your own dreams could perhaps be the lessons they need to sustain their own quests. Be their bridge builder, be their champion, be their hope, be their leader, be their follower, be that gentle nudge that pushes them towards the things they dream about. Be their Everyday Angel.
