A Change Is Gonna Come by Dr. Deborah L.Tillman

This popular song released in 1964 by Sam Cooke spoke the words
that many are feeling today.


I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long time, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's up there, beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will


We are halfway through the year and many claimed it would be the year of the double portion.  However, thus far, we have been met with over one hundred thousand deaths in America due to Covid-19, an increase in divorce, domestic violence, suicide, and child abuse.  In the midst of a medical, social, and spiritual crisis, we have had to witness a declining economy and white privilege rearing its’ ugly head, with the racist actions of  BBQ Becky and the antics of Amy Cooper in Central Park.  In addition, we experienced the unnecessary killing of the jogger, Ahmaud Arbery, and the murder of “I can’t breathe” George Floyd.  Frankly, I like Fannie Lou Hamer am “sick and tired of being sick and tired.”  


As I am writing this, I am looking at protesters all over the globe who are joining together to say in essence we will bend but we won’t breakMartin Luther King Jr. said over forty years ago… “Our lives begin to end when we become SILENT about things that MATTER”  It matters that we live in a nation where over 14 million children live in poverty, it matters that people are still judging others by the color of their skin, it matters that the leader of the free world spends much of his time “tweeting” rather than “praying”.  
Psalm 92:12  says, "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.


Palm trees bend under pressure (in storms, hurricanes, etc.) but they bounce back. They are resilient. They can take the best punches mother nature can throw at them and they remain standing. In life, it is inevitable that we are going to have hard times. However, in those times, be the palm tree. No matter how hard the winds are blowing in the storm once it passes the palm tree returns to its original position. Standing tall basically telling mother nature “Is that all you got? You cannot break me!” 


Life throws heartbreaking challenges at us like the ones we are facing in the current climate today but do not let them break you. You may have to bend but your goal should be to stand back up.  That is how we made it through four hundred years of oppression.  It is also how we make it through now.  Be strong and know that A CHANGE IS GONNA COME! Oh Yes, it Will.

Learn more about Dr. Tillman at www.deborahltillman.com Twitter: @DeborahLTillman


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