Charleston's Emanuel AME Church

This 4th of July Holiday I decided to go the Charleston SC. 

Since the shooting I have been meditating on those who were killed, the killing itself, the church bells ringing, the unity, the funerals, President Obama singing and the lives that were lost.  

I worked on a prayer rock over the past two weeks, and kept it on my kitchen table and just stared at it as I lit a candle and had my daily meals.  On the back of the rock I put all the names of those killed.  They each had fascinating stories and lives and who would EVER imagine you could go to Wednesday night bible study and die there. 

Driving into Charleston was not a long ride but seemed to take forever.  I was getting caught up in my head and wondering exactly what I was doing THEN I saw a billboard with Cynthia Hurd's name and nine candles then knew exactly why I was driving to Charleston.  I remembered their stories, my meditation and I started to cry because reality was settling in.  This happened.  This was real.  These were real people.  I didn't have to meet them to know them.  My meditation on their lives told me that I knew them.  They were me and I was them. 

At the Church 

After I found the church and parked I walked ceremoniously down the streets of Charleston with the rock in my hand.  I got to the church and held the rock while I prayed and waited for the when and where I was suppose to place it. 

A lady came up to me and asked if she could take a picture of the rock.  She was nice.   She became emotional and I understood.  It was hard to be in a space like that and not feel something.   It was if all humanity was right there at the foot of that church. 

I stood there about 30 minutes waiting for a sign for placing the rock and then it came.  Two men came up and each gently placed one single flower on the memorial. That was the place, with their flowers.  It felt right.  

It was Rock Bottom but Love was there. 

All I kept thinking was this happened in 2015.  This actually happened.  Below are some pictures to help remind me that this actually happened.

Back of the Rock

Loved This Poster!

Rock Bottom - At the bottom of the stairs

The Rock in front of the flower and Jesus Candle

The Memorial and Folks Paying Respect

Amazing Story of the Church

Rev. Pinckney's name is still on the kiosk

The Time Has Come

I initially hate it when this happens to me.  

Having to do things I don't want to do.  

Go places I don't want to go.  

Stay places that I don't want to stay.  

Knowing that my life is guided. 

Knowing that I have to follow whether I want to or not. Whether I'm ready or not.  

The time is here.  

I have to do this.  

I don't have a choice. 

I have to be bold and just do it. I have to care not what others think.  

I have to be okay with rejection.  I have to believe that the Spirit will do It's work and use me to carry it out.  

I sit here with a box of black folders, other materials, a workshop design. All weekend trying to decide when to go to Charleston SC and the Spirit said I need to you do your part right now and that is not driving to Charleston that is putting together black folders for all of your family and friends.  

That is stepping out on faith and calling some places of worship and offering the workshop.  That is helping people not be afraid of death or life. 

That is helping people to live out their lives doing the will of God as they understand God to be.

So, now, The Black Folder Project's time has come.   

Be Kind Today

Time and Timing is Everything

Everything Happens In It's Own Time

You Can't Rush Progress and You Can't Stop Momentum

Everything is Unfolding As It Should, Weather You Agree Or Not

Living. Alive. Today. Tomorrow. New Day. Dawn.

Death. Gone. Remembered. Loved. Still. 

Another Day. Another Year. Another Mother's Day.

Today:  Be Kind. Be Kind To Yourself First.  
Be Kind to Everyone and Everything Today.

Say:  "If I were going to be Kind what would I think?  
What would I do?"  

Then...think it and do it.

Living is a challenge for EVERYONE, so

Just Be Kind
~Ridea Richardson

Living & Dying at the Same Time

We are all living and dying at the same time.

Even newborn children are being born, yet will die.

The aged are keenly aware of death, yet they are alive, hanging on to life.

Just to be alive is a special gift.

Everyday we are all looking for the same things...to feel alive...to figure it all out...to not feel so alone. During those moments when you feel like nobody understands you, or no one cares your fall back needs to be that EVERYBODY is living and dying at the same time. Have compassion on yourself and everyone and everything that comes across your path today.

We're all on the same journey.

So how will you live today knowing that you will die?

You Can't Bottle Grief...or Your Creativity & What You Are Meant To Bring Into The World

After people die those left behind keep finding "pockets of grief".  It's been almost a year since my mother died.  Her funeral was the day of my first The Black Folder Workshop which was cancelled. Well, I haven't really put dedicated action and effort towards The Black Folder Project since her death...then...two things happened over the past two weeks:

1. I got an email from someone asking me what the "Process" was about.  That was over two weeks ago.  I kept thinking about the email and what my response was going to be.  "It's another one of my hair brain ideas that the world isn't ready for".  That's what I wanted to respond, because that's how I was feeling, but that wouldn't be professional. As I type this I still haven't penned the email to the gentleman, but I will. 
2. My sister and cousin came to visit on their way to the sun and beach.  I looked at them sitting at the kitchen table as they were talking about getting older, feeling old and being old. I thought how much of a disservice it would be NOT to give them a black folder.  I briefly explained the whole thing by showing them my own black folder to my now grown son, David. As I was showing it to them I noticed that the last letter to my son was dated April 1st, 2012 - a year ago. 

My cousin asked something interesting. She asked when was I going to get back on this project and schedule another workshop. I told her soon since it was almost a year since my mother and her aunt had died.

Face-to-Face Workshops - Maybe Not...

It's become clear to me that face-to-face workshops may not be the way to start.

It's been six months since I've had to reschedule the July workshop.

Looking at my life for the last six months, it has been difficult to find the time to be coordinating a workshop.

It's occurred to me that maybe this tool needs to be a product (something a person can purchase and do at home in their private time).

I would be happy to consult one-on-one or over the phone to help with the process.

Basically I'm retooling THE BLACK FOLDER PROJECT--- working on making a product/package for folks instead of a workshop to experience.

Confronting Your Own Death

“The great secret of death, and perhaps its deeper connection with us, is this: that, in taking from us a being we have loved and venerated, death does not wound us without, at the same time, lifting us toward a more perfect understanding of this being and of ourselves.” 

– Rilke

You can not escape death.

You can not escape the fact that those you love will die.

You can not escape that you too will die.

Death belongs to life.

Facing death makes us more alive.

Right now, if you are reading this, then you are alive.

SO LIVE.

  

Live the life that you are destined to live.  Live the life you are meant to live.

  

Live Your Life Like It Were A Song