Notes from My Journey

Copyright © 2010 by Michael A. Curtis.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2010916088

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4568-0434-3

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4568-0433-6

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4568-0435-0

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Contents

Introduction

Acknowledgements

Heavenly father

For my Son

Dear Momma

My Nephew

My Daughter

I forgive you

Good times

The Optimist

Rastafarian

Remember when

First born

Hurry up this way again

Essential

My Love

Forward

Not for me

Why

Discreet

What do you want?

All is well

Hif (if)

All I have

Expectations

Depression

Yes, it is

Pity Party

Go there with me

What’s so funny?

Ha Ha

360

Joy

Personal pain, trial, test

Where is the love

Looking back

Love

Imagine

Save your breath

Half-smart

Options

If I could I would

Consider

Why so lonely

Do not forget to whom you are speaking

The road less traveled

Heavy

Cool

You still do not know me

Wings

Truth

Independent

Time is short

Hush

Find your purpose

Focused

Holies of Holies

The dream that is

Experience it

Greetings

Suicide

Pretty/handsome/ugly/unattractive

Even though

What is my crime?

I believe

Daddy-Father-Pa Pa-Pa-Pa pi-Padre

Mommy-Ma-Mama-Mother-Madre

You feel me

Verbal Anesthesia

It still exists

What’s not to like

Flowers/Roses

Closure

Man in the yard

Slow-jams

Absolutely kaleidoscope no/not

Danger

Blessed love

Dead end street

Like I used to be

Highlighter

Why are you surprised?

My Son

I told you

My daughter

I told you

Betty

Robbed

Dad you would be proud

I can only imagine

Uncle

The exchange/swap

Peace

Make the children happy

Too separate lives

What about you

Is he/she the answer to your prayer?

Individuality

Mountain top

Obedience

Vibes

Long life

Hot food

Cry if you must

Do not lie to yourself

Tell the truth

I forgive you

Are you Jonah?

Who

I am here for you

To Jamaica with love

Sweet nothings

What is in your heart?

Tell it like it is

Over rated

Reconcile

Exceptional

Unforgettable

Every time

Time out

Circle

Think it not strange

Bright horizons

Between you and I

It’s been a long time

Great anticipations

This word is for you

A heart of gold

When the smoke clears

Follow your dreams

Shall we dance?

Dedication

To my daughter and son

Kimberly and Brandon Curtis

Introduction

This book covers a wide variety of subject matters and there is something in these pages for practically everyone. Each page examines a new topic and I suggest you read slowly and meditate or consider what I am trying to relate to you. Pray before you read and read with an open mind. You will be challenged spiritually and even physically to make some adjustments to your life if adjustments are necessary. I am inspired by everyday living and this is what these writing reflect. If you do not like a topic simply skip that page and go on to the next. It is like going to church and hearing the preacher teaching. Most of the time a lot of the information is set forward but you are not comfortable with some of it. The solution is very simple just take what is yours and leave the rest for someone else. Overall I am sure you will be blessed by this purchase and I thank you for your patronage. Please feel free to email me for further elaboration on any topic presented here or any other topic you choose within reason. Look forward for my book of poetry which will be available in the near future. I hope the information presented here will benefit you or someone you love. God bless you.

For more details, please contact [email protected].

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank God for the insight and perceptions and ideas for this book.

I would like to thank my sister Donna Curtis Reid for her encouragement and props.

I would like to thank my Mother Shirley Moore Barnett for her love and support.

I would like to give special thanks to Claire Wood (Esq.) for her support.

I would like to thank Joan Hamilton for our endless discussion pertaining to God and the scriptures.

Finally I would like to thank all the preachers and teachers that helped to shape my life, such as: Bishop Joyce Hutchinson, Bishop Lynford A. Brown, Dr. Johonny Ray Youngblood, Reverend David Brawley, Reverend Tate and Pastor Keith Waller.

Heavenly father

Thank you for your son Jesus Christ. Thank you that Christ was obedient and willingly gave his life for the cross for the sins of the world. Father we ask you to take a special look at your world and bring all evil to justice. Oh Lord we are in pain when we see the poor, the father less and hungry souls all over the world. We have shed many tears for our suffering brothers and sisters, but all our weeping do not change situation. We need help blessed Holy Lamb of Calvary, to attend to all the ills of this society. Man has become oblivious, arrogant and non-responsive to your word. We have lost our way and the only possibility to see any light in this world of darkness is to beckon your help oh Lord. I know if we seek you sincerely in spirit and in truth, you will answer our call according to your Holy word. We are desperate because living conditions are getting worse day by day. The jail cells are full with all type of felons. The economy gets worse as the dollar is worth less and less. Unemployment is on the rise and people are loosing their jobs on a rapid scale. Diseases are rampant throughout our lands. Homelessness and starvation is on a rapid increase. The rich or well to do seek to get richer and extend no alms to the poor. I am forced to ask how long oh Lord will thou endure the atrocities of humans whom you love? There are many preachers and teachers that do care and are trying to do their very best to right some of the wrongs in this society. Father this is not a gripe session, but only a reminder to you that we are suffering and we need your help. The world needs a permanent healing and not a band-aid fix. We have come to our wits end and contrary to what some may believe, I know only you can save us from self destruction. We have dug us a deep hole and there is no ladder tall enough to get us out. Because you are merciful and forgiving we beseech you to hear us and come to our defense speedily. As Salomon said unto you oh Lord, if the Jews are scattered over this land and they call upon you, hear them and deliver them out of their calamity. Therefore, here we are merciful father, wipe our tears away, feed the orphans and homeless, heal the sick and above all, comfort us with your Holy Spirit. Oh Lord we remain humble because we know you do not see like man see in respect to the condition and direction of your earth. You do not act like how man act, therefore we wait patiently upon thee oh righteous God. In the meantime we will continue to rejoice because we know a change is on its way according to Gods promise. We pray for faith like Job’s faith, we pray for a poetic tongue like David’s to express our gratitude to God as He prove himself to us over and over again and we pray for an intriguing mind like Paul’s to write a new chapter in Christianity as the Holy Spirit give utterance. Above all, oh almighty God, we pray to love you and our fellow man with the same zeal and intensity as Jesus loved us. I will end my prayer here because there is no end to my communication with Christ, therefore, I will say thanks in the name of Jesus Christ.

For my Son

Thank god for you. I love you my son and I want the best for you. First I must say you must learn how to pray at an early age and know that God is your friend and is there for you all the time. At anytime you may call upon God and God will hear and comfort you. I can only tell you what worked for me and hopefully if you follow my footsteps it will work for you too. I want you to pay special attention to the teachers in school. The objective is to learn and not be the class clown. When all is said and done the class clown will not be able to get a good paying job or advance his education because he missed a lot of important information. Choose your friends wisely because by your company you keep, people can judge or tell who you are. Be obedient to your parents because this is commanded by God and it is the right thing to do. It is my desire for you to achieve and be the best at whatever you set your mind to do. I will be here as long as God permit to assist you in any and every positive aspirations you might have. You must develop the strong will to be the best you can be and not let yourself or me down. I expect you to be strong because you have all the support systems around to stand. If you fall, get up and dust yourself off and try again. Never feel that you have to face challenges alone. I might not have all the answers, but we can brain storm together and I am sure we will be able to come up with a workable solution. You never have to hold any heavy weight inside. First, you have the Lord to talk to, second, you have both your parents and third there are many support groups that you may confide in. Develop a proper balance or prioritize the different variables in your life. For example, read, do math, science, social studies, sports and games at different intervals throughout the day. Spend quality time doing your homework and try to read the chapter and do not be afraid to ask the teacher for clarification on matters that are not clear to you. Entertain good thoughts in your mind at all times. Choose a career early in life that way by the time you get to college you know exactly what curriculum you want to pursue. Do not enter college and major in liberal arts. Remember my son it is good when a man can think for himself. Martin Luther said If you straighten up nobody can ride your back. I am telling you all this so that you know the only limit to your success or failure in life is you and the way think. If you think success you will succeed. If you think you will fail then chances are you will fail. Do not rely on the advises of your peers but seek the advise of learned, older and wiser men. Even when you receive advise, it is your responsibility to scrutinize the information. Remember you cannot be gullible. An old Nigerian proverb says Test the water with one foot. My son, do not be jealous or envious of anything (nothing, nada) anyone has in this life. It is all materialism and if you work hard and make all the right decisions there is nothing God will withhold from you if God deems you need it. Learn to satisfy, learn to be original, do not be greedy, be kind (especially to those less fortunate than yourself). Aim to be a leader and not a follower. I must warn you though, not many people might like you because you have your own way of doing things that might not jive with theirs. Irrespective my son do things your way especially if you feel one hundred percent confident. Finally my Son seek God and in all your undertakings He will direct your footsteps. Also, so long I am alive you never have to feel blue alone, carry heavy weight alone or cry alone.

Dear Momma

How can I talk about a mom like you without feeling honored. You are the rock of this family. You remain focused and held onto your faith even in times of extreme difficulties. I remember your optimism most of all. You deserve all the love and gratitude we can give. I feel great and confident because I can always depend upon you to go that extra mile to help in any given situation. Even though my father died at age eleven, you picked up the role of both mother and father. Just in case I never mentioned it before you did a splendid job. I am proud of how your children turned out, including me. We are God fearing like you taught us to be. We respect our elders and everyone for that matter. We help those less fortunate than ourselves. The foundation and principles that you taught us can be applied to the broken world today. Thank you for taking time to constantly remind us of issues that is important to live a decent life. Many wait until their loved ones are in the grave before they acknowledge them for their contributions in life. I will not wait to showoff what a good mother you