Friends, Watermelons, and Faith

Proverbs 22

Rachid became a friend, when I served a local church in Harlem, New York. I was introduced to him by his employer, who was presented to me as a friend of the people by a church member, who died after our meeting in 2004. This word is not directly about the friends, who introduced me to Rachid, they have their place of remembrance and validity in life. This word is about Rachid.
Rachid Niang is the owner of a SoulFood buffet style restaurant at two locations in Harlem. A business he learned from his former employer, who has at least eight locations of buffet style businesses. You may learn of the business, which supports his family (wife - Kim and baby - Soda) and his generosity by going to http://www.jacobrestaurant.com/. This is not about his business. However, I have chosen to speak of Rachid, because of his heart and commitment to transformation and well being of the heart, soul, and mind.
I followed him through the years of his development in business with great interest and prayer. After all, a friend introduced me to the warm greeting and genuine smile of this young progressive businessman. I have seen him dive into the water of business ownership against the odds. What I have come to appreciate is beyond his business artistry. I give thanks for his gift of "friends, watermelon, and faith."
He introduced us to Shabani Mseba and Ali Guma, who are two of the friends giving meaning to a wisdom Rachid lives by: "You must surround yourself with good people. Don't give your friendship to people living in anger and associated with hotheadedness or you may find yourself living in anger. No, you must be with friends, who are of good nature." Shabani and Ali are the in the instant type of persons you can believe to be of landmark heritage. I thank God and Rachid for the bond of friendship. Their presence in my life is a gift that I treasure and my heart needs.
Daily I am aging. In recent years my aging has been met with health issues. Rachid knew me to be aging quicker than I desired not in days, but in mind and spirit. Through all of the issues of my health, my friend would notice my actions and decisions to reconcile with God to live and not die a death of ignorance. He witnessed my adjustments to life. Being a friend, he watched closely the things I would eat. Among my favorite food items is watermelon. Watermelon became important to my diet, when my daughter Ciona asked me to do all I can to live. Therefore, I researched for myself as I would do for clients coming for "experiential therapy." Yes, I talked myself into eating right, because my daughter said: "Drink plenty of water". I discovered that watermelon is a great source in prevention of cancer, fighting heart disease, and macular degeneration (including vision loss) in addition to other issues that have no effect on me. Add the benefits of antioxidants as well as high vitamin value, then you cannot ignore the great value of watermelons. Interestingly, once choosing (like Ciona from the time she was in 2nd grade) kiwi as my fruit of choice, I now love watermelon. A southern man by birth, I am in the north loving watermelon over kiwi. Funny! Rachid provides me with gifts of watermelon, because he, too, desires me to live. Really!
Friends and watermelons are great gifts that Rachid shares. It is such a blessing to have the generosity of a transformative young leader, who is developing day by day with wings of an eagle. On the wings of an eagle your faith may increase in your ability to soar. Daily I pray. When I pray there are words desiring blessings for my relatives, friends, associates, neighbors, even my enemies. It is my most sincere desire for people to live together as one people in the one world with one love given by the only "wise" God. It is this faith that I offer Rachid as encouragement through all of life. Once swimming in financial means of comfort, I gave it up as a means of faithfulness to my vision of call. At the moment, I cannot give Rachid or our friends what I have given so many before. I cannot give away $285k or more yearly as I did in the 80s. I cannot bring friends such as Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Clyde Anderson, Hugh Wyatt, etc as I once did in any given day. I am away from such wealth of resources. However, there is one resource I have never loss - FAITH, because Existence has never let go of me. As sure as I exist in Existence and Existence forever has me, I will give Rachid and all open to receive FAITH. By faith, I am happy and love has me "aging younger" by the second. By faith, I have the energy of a liberated sailor, who may sail and mature on the sea of love. Ali Guma voiced it correctly: "peace is priceless." May we live in peace with friends, watermelons, and faith.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us, and grant us slices of watermelons among friends of faith. Amen