WomenInSpiritualExpression.com

 I’m back in the City of Champions ready to move forward with the change of the season.  I hope all you WISE women had a great summer.  I had a summer of rest and relaxation that I so badly needed.  I enjoyed traveling all summer and taking in the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes of different parts of America.  I met some wonderful people who have actually inspired me to continue on my path.  

I learned that being unexpectedly pushed off a cliff  and forced to climb a mountain, I thought I wasn’t ready to face, my faith was strong enough to survived both.  I learned there are some things that will never change and others that will change unexpectedly to force you onto another path.  I am here to tell you that I believe if this ever happens to you, it is probably God trying to get your attention and you should be prepared to listen and follow His direction.

I was talking to someone today who is new to spiritual discerning and spiritual confirmation.  He talked abut something in his personal life and how a sister in the Lord gave him a perspective.  Another sister in the Lord told him the same thing.  Unbeknownst to him, I had just talked about this same observation with a friend!  We three women have never met and do not know each other.  When I explained to him I had just spoken with someone and made the same observation, he was perplexed.

I asked him if he had made this same personal observation.  He replied, “Yeah.” 

Then, I asked him why he is so surprised that others could see the same thing, especially, Christian women who he knows don’t know each other.  This is no conspiracy, I informed him.  Perhaps God was trying to tell you something and had sent the message through others to confirm what He had already said.

This man is just finding his spiritual footing and I know he has many more questions than answers at this point.  However, I was happy that he has the courage to pursue and learn explore his spiritual life. 

The exchange with him reminded me that sometimes we ignore spiritual direction.  Sometimes, it takes tumbling down a mountain or climbing to its summit to get the message.  Other times it’s simply knowing how to listen to your spiritual instruction and act on it rather than push it onto a back burner until you get around to it.  Learn to listen and discern the events in your life for direction.  Perhaps, you will discover that the message was given to you months before and by acting now, you may avoid a major fall. 

If you are a WISE woman or want to become one, please sign up to receive updates by RSS or your Email inbox and leave your comments. Please keep your comments valid to the posts.  You can also reach me at onewizeone@yahoo.com. I will reply to you.  If you have a blog leave a linkback so others can visit your site as well. 

Tags: Changes & Growth, City of Champions, Pittsburgh

Does a public transportation honor system exist in this world?! 

I am still in Denver and enjoying the experience.   Wednesday, I ventured out by myself using Denver’s transportation system.  They have a bus pick up service in the area.   When called, the Call n Ride will pick you up at a prearranged time and for two dollars, take you to your desired destination within the covered area.  A round trip ticket is four dollars.  I wanted to go to the light rail train so I called gave the pick up time, my address and destination; the woman confirmed the trip and she was actually five minutes early.  This service does not come into the apartment complexes, so, I had to meet the bus at the complex entrance which is about a five minute walk.  However, people with disabilities get door to door service.

This was my introduction to Denver’s strange payment system.  I paid the bus driver four dollars for a round trip which included the bus to light rail; light rail to destination back.  The strange thing about this trip is that if I had gone directly to the light rail, I would have had to use their payment stations right at the stops; it is automated and you pay into a machine.  That wasn’t the strange part.  I don’t know how they keep up because nobody asked me to show my transfer ticket!  The train conductor sat in a separate area from the passengers. 

Of course, as an urban out-of-towner, I was amazed that I was never asked to prove I had paid.  Naturally, this aroused my curiosity, so, I asked my friend what was going on.  She didn’t give me a lot of explanation but simply said just don’t get caught trying to ride for free.  Now, coming from a place like Pittsburgh, I imagine that this system would go bankrupt if it didn’t have the drivers checking tickets as the passengers disembarked. 

The only hint of security I saw as a little man in his uniform standing on one side of a station looking around.  I also noticed a few people dutifully working the machine and getting on the train.  One woman approached with three kids in tow and I just knew that she was there to beat the system and buy maybe only one ticket for herself; but no, she showed one of the older children how to work the machine.  I looked around wondering to myself, “Where am I?! As we rode to our next destination, I felt a growing respect for Coloradoans.  I know there are those who will cheat the system but just knowing that I was trusted to pay my fare made me feel good.  

The Comedian as Line Dance Instructor?

That’s right!  My friend had promised me a Line Dancing session and this is where we were headed on my first honor system train ride.  We headed to downtown Denver to Jazz at Jack’s,  a jazz club located in a downtown mini mall.  The club was modern with stage lights, a large glass window beside a small band stage and small round tables for clients.   A food menu was offered but it was not as extensive as the drink list; we weren’t there to eat and drink but to Line Dance. 

I noticed the dance instructor for two reasons; he was tall and cute (count those as one) the other is that he was the only man in the room.  My friend announced his name is Shed.  She greeted him and introduced me as a visitor.  Shed was warm and humorous in his greeting and went around greeting the others as they entered. 

Sheddrick Garnett, known as ‘Shed G’, is an up and coming comedian who performes, a show called “Can I Vent.”  He has opened for the Temptations, Brian McKnight and Kem.  He is most notable as Madea in Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion.  I can honestly say that he has a natural humor that comes from every day experience.  He is humble and quick to talk about those who follow his career.  I look forward to when he will be in Pittsburgh, because from what I’ve seen in his dance sessions, he is a funny man.  Another thing about Shed, he has no reservations about saying you can bring your entire family to his shows because his comedy is clean.  Not many comics can boast that.  To learn more about Shed ‘Can I Vent’ G go to: http://www.canivent.com/

The two hour Line Dancing session costs five dollars.  I was mildly surprised as I saw a blend of cultures enter the room eagerly greeting Shed G as he touched on tidbits of info that let me know they were regulars.  I could tell he was very well respected.  My observation is that you can get two hours of physical activity for five dollars here; there’s not a Bally’s around that could match that.

Shortly, he called the class to action and started them out slowly learning the steps.  I sat back because I wasn’t about to embarrass myself.  I haven’t danced in a long time.  After about a half hour, the class took a break and my friend asked if I wanted to join.  “What the heck!  I’m in.” 

I learned the steps and was going through the motions when Shed decided we knew the steps well enough to dance to a faster paced song.  I fought my way through the steps and sways and my right hip began to remind me of my level of physical activity during the past year.  Another ten minutes and I left the floor with as much dignity and arrogance as I could muster without screaming and sat my hips down.

It was an enjoyable two hours though and yes I did get back up and dance some more.  This is a good, lightly disciplined workout activity and I will look for a class when I get back home. 

Another highlight of this evening’s session was along with Caucasian and Hispanic women there was a white man I had met last week on an outing; his name is Mike.  Mike apparently does not miss a class.  He looks to be in his sixties but he could be younger or older, I can never tell.  One thing I did notice is that Mike is a stepper.  He showed some gliding cha-cha moves and his rhythmic turns were smooth.  I am told other men come to the session but Mike was the only one representin’ at this session.

Shed announced that this class of about twenty five women and one man would be struttin’ their stuff in October in a YouTube video.  The class was excited and I assume his other classes, (he teaches several of them in different locations) will be included.  I told my friend to let me know when the video is finished.  I enjoyed the Line Dancing session and will locate one in my area.  I suggest that if you are too self conscious to go to a gym and work out, try line dancing.  It is loosely structured and a fun way to exercise a few times a week.

If you are a WISE woman or want to become one, please sign up to receive updates by RSS or your Email inbox and leave your comments. Please keep your comments valid to the posts.  You can also reach me at onewizeone@yahoo.com. I will reply to you.  If you have a blog leave a linkback so others can visit your site as well. 

Tags: Can I Vent, Denver Line Dancing, Public Transportation Honor System, Shed G, Shed the Comedian, Shed's Line Dancers