The man in the picture is my father James D. Murray! (may he rest until resurrection) A HARD WORKING PILLAR IN MY LIFE!
I don't know how this thought came to me, but as I reflect on the biblical text and how the Holy Spirit encourages us through the word. I immediately began thinking of the current state of our world and how many people are right on the brink of giving up and dropping out. Well, sometimes we just need to sit and listen to those who serve as human pillars in life. A pillar is something stationed, i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an idol:—garrison, (standing) image, pillar. There is a passage of scripture tucked away in the book of Exodus. Now the thrust of this writing is not to be exegetical and homiletical. Rather, It is a challenge to dig in and not give up. Interestingly, the bible says in Ex. 24:4, And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
The thought of pillars in that biblical text fascinates me because when we think of how human beings; mentors, great leaders, scholars, poets, educators, and many others can say things that inspire and transform. Sometimes, listening to others can serve as a garrison or pillar in tough times. Everyone needs that image or that standing idol that points to a brighter day. Listen to:
PILLAR ONE:
WE MUST REINFORCE ARGUMENT WITH RESULTS. --BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
PILLAR TWO:
TIME IS NEUTRAL AND DOES NOT CHANGE THINGS. WITH COURAGE AND INITIATIVE, LEADERS CHANGE THINGS.--JESSE JACKSON
PILLAR THREE:
TRUTH IS PROPER AND BEAUTIFUL IN ALL TIMES AND IN ALL PLACES. ---FREDERICK DOUGLAS
PILLAR FOUR
POWER IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM IS GREATER THAN POWER IN BEHALF OF TYRANNY AMND OPPRESSION.---MALCOM X
PILLAR FIVE:
YOU MAY WRITE ME DOWN IN HISTORY WITH YOUR BITTER, TWISTED LIES, YOU MAY TROD ME IN THE VERY DIRT BUT STILL, LIKE DUST, I'LL RISE.--MAYA ANGELOU
PILLAR SIX:
THE VERY TIME I THOUGHT I WAS LOST, MY DUNGEON SHOOK AND MY CHAINS FELL OFF.--AFRICAN-AMERICAN FOLK SAYING
PILLAR SEVEN:
NOT THAT SUCCESS, FOR HIM, IS SURE, INFALLIBLE. BUT NEVER HAS HE BEEN AFRAID TO REACH. HIS LESIONS ARE LEGION. BUT REACHING IS HIS RULE. --- GWENDOLYN BROOKS
PILLAR EIGHT:
IF NOW ISN'T A GOOD TIME FOR THE TRUTH I DON'T SEE WHEN WE'LL GET TO IT. --NIKKI GIOVANNI
PILLAR NINE:
UP, UP, YOU MIGHTY RACE! YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU WILL.---MARCUS GARVEY
PILLAR TEN:
NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS. --ALEXANDER DUMAS, PERE
PILLAR ELEVEN:
IF YOU CAN'T BEAR NO CROSSES, YOU CAN'T WEAR NO CROWNS.---AFRICAN-AMERICAN SPIRITUAL
PILLAR TWELVE:
LET NEW EARTH RISE. LET ANOTHER WORLD BE BORN. LET A BLOODY PEACE BE WRITTEN IN THE SKY. LET A SECOND GENERATION FULL OF COURAGE ISSUE FORTH; LET A PEOPLE LOVING FREEDOM COME TO GROWTH.--MARGARET WALKER
I pray that the horrors of life will not tear down the reader of this blog; sometimes, it just pays to listen to the Pillars in life. However, if you are a child of God, then Paul offers a pillar when he says, "BUT IF WE HOPE FOR THAT WHICH WE SEE NOT THEN DO WE WITH PATIENCE WAIT FOR IT.
Paul offer another pillar when he said, "BEING CONFIDENT OF THIS VERY THING THAT HE WHO HAS BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL COMPLETE IT UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST---
KEEP LISTENING TO THE PILLARS IN LIFE!!!!!!!!!!
Dr. Lmurray's Mind......
