Nugget of Wisdom: Seeing Beyond Conditions

The Bible is littered with stories about people who have conditions: the adulterous woman, the leprous men, the paralytic, the beggar, and the adulterous woman. We know none of these people's names. This is often how we treat other people, based on their condition not their name (purpose or true worth/identity).

You can take assurance in this truth: Yes! God sees your condition, but God knows you by your name not your condition. While people are often quick to judge you based on what is seen, God sees but handles you based on what God knows of what you are and will be. What would happen if we thought more like God and allowed our love for the person to override our judgment of the person's plight? Live knowing that God knows your name!

Seeing beyond sight,

Byron Jamal

Are You Listening with Kirk Franklin & Friends Haiti Relief Song

This song was recording at the 2010 Stellar Awards as a reaction to the disastrous effects of the earthquake in Haiti.  Kirk Franklin stood up during the BMI Trailblazer's Award and urged all the Gospel artists to come together and support Haiti with a song that assisted Haiti's rebuilding process.  This song was recorded, produced and released in just a little over a week.  Enjoy, and continue to pray for Haiti!

You can donate at UnicefUSA.org.

NH teacher, 100, Gets Degree a Day Before Dying

The story that follows should inspire and motivate anyone who feels like it might be too late to achieve a lifelong goal.  The truth is that the main force that is holding you back is YOU!  So get out of your way!

CONCORD, N.H. – It was Harriet Richardson Ames' dream to earn her bachelor's degree in education. She finally reached that milestone, nearly three weeks after achieving another: her 100th birthday.

On Saturday, the day after receiving her diploma at her bedside, the retired schoolteacher died, pleased that she had accomplished her goal, her daughter said. Ames had been in hospice care.

"She had what I call a 'bucket list,' and that was the last thing on it," Marjorie Carpenter said Tuesday.

Ames, who turned 100 on Jan. 2, had earned a two-year teaching certificate in 1931 at Keene Normal School, now Keene State College. She taught in a one-room schoolhouse in South Newbury, and later spent 20 years as a teaching principal at Memorial School in Pittsfield, where she taught first-graders.

Through the years, she had taken classes at the University of New Hampshire, Plymouth Teachers College and Keene State to earn credits for her degree. With her eyesight failing, she stopped after retiring in 1971 and was never sure if she had enough credits.

Her wish for a degree became known when a Keene State film professor interviewed her a couple of years ago for a piece on the college's own centennial, which the school celebrated last year.

The school decided to research her coursework and see if it could award Ames her long-sought diploma. The offices of the provost, registrar and other departments worked quickly in the last month to determine, that indeed, it could.

"She wanted to be the best that she could be," said Norma Walker, coordinator of the Keene State College Golden Circle Society, an alumni group for classes that graduated 50 or more years ago.

Walker said when she mentioned to Ames during a recent visit that the college was working on the degree, Ames started to cry and said, "'If I die tomorrow, I'll know I'll die happy, because my degree's in the works.'"

College officials, including Walker, drove the document to Ames' bedside on Friday.

Walker, who first met Ames in 1997 at an alumni gathering, said she enjoyed listening to her talk about her students and how she encouraged them to read.

"She's the kind of person that every parent would want their first-graders to have as a teacher," very loving and caring, Walker said. She will read Ames' diploma at a memorial service this Saturday, "if I can do it without crying."

Paula Finnegan Dickinson of Gilford, who was Ames' student back in 1956 and became an educator herself, regarded her as a mentor and dear friend.

"Mrs. Ames, along with Dick, Jane, Sally, Spot and Puff, became our friend," Dickinson said, recalling the "Dick and Jane" series that was used in class reading groups. "With her enthusiasm, these characters came to life. ... Mrs. Ames showed us how reading opened the doors to other experiences we in Pittsfield might never have known."

Nugget of Wisdom: Taxi Before Takeoff

I remember boarding a plane one day and waiting for it to take off at its appointed time.  Time is approaching, but we still aren't leaving. Finally, the captain tells the passengers, "Sorry for the delay.  We are getting ready for takeoff."  However, we don't just takeoff then; we taxi to the runway first.

Your destiny can be much like a plane ride, taxi before takeoff.  We feel like once all of the obstacles and hindrances are moved out of the way, we should be able to just take off into the heights of our purpose.  However, life is rarely like that.  For most of us, we still require transition time from where we boarded or gained understanding of our purpose and actually takeoff into it.  Don’t be so impatient to get off the ground that you takeoff before you taxi.  You could end up doing more damage to your destiny than just being delayed.

Preparing for Takeoff,

Byron Jamal

Live On Purpose, With Purpose

A glass of water is sitting on a counter. You see it. It's just there minding its own business. You slide your hand across the top of the surface and knock the glass on to the floor, shattering it into sharp shiny pieces, spilling its contents. Someone standing across the room observes the whole thing. You look up at this person who is staring at you like you have lost your mind. They ask you, "why did you do that?" Your reply, "It was an accident."
Sounds kind of silly, right? How do you accidentally take aim on an object and using force, knock it over and then say it was an accident? It's safe to assume that to most rational thinking people, this would not be considered an accident, but intentionally done...on purpose.

What can be deemed as most valuable and precious in this life, does not happen nor is it sustained by accident or wishful thinking. If you have a good relationship, a prosperous business, or good grades in school, it's not simply due to a string of good luck. It's because you made a decision to be successful in that particular area of life. In a recent discussion I had with a friend about where he was in life, he talked about how his whole existence has been filled with obstacles, disappointments, and heart ache, and he felt a sense of despair, not really knowing what to do. My response to him was that if he was beat down by the cares of life, he needed to make a decision if he was going to stay down because of it, or if he was going to get up in spite of it. 

Have you ever seen someone trip and stand? The truth is, anyone can fall, but NO ONE accidently gets up. What things do you say and do, on purpose? Perhaps, the better question is , what things do you say and do with purpose? There are things we all do that are planned and calculated, but too often the words we've spoken, or the actions we've taken have been on purpose, but not with purpose.

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Let 2010 be the year you are productive (yielding fruit), not just busy.

What company exists with a mission to just be busy... to have alot of traffic in their store, alot of shoppers on their aisles, and no one buying anything? How long can they stay in business? If you are going to go through the trouble of making an effort, AIM at something that matters! We can all be ensared with the trap of busy work, but this isn't the year to carelessly exert time and energy, or invest in things that will not produce anything. One element of life that is faithful if nothing else is, is TIME. It doesn't matter what happens to you today, however tragic or wonderful, the saying is so true, "Time Waits For No Man." Time will keep trucking even when your will or desire breaks down.  
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This year, The Call Path makes a promise to you to be instrumental in inspiring you, not only by  showcasing individuals who are living in their purpose, but also having important discussions with you about yours. 


Anthony Edward

Nugget of Wisdom: What is True Love

In order for newborn baby birds to eat, their mother will eat some food and regurgitate it into their mouth.  When they get a little older, she will bring them whole food.  She takes out of her own mouth something that she could use for her own sustenance and gives it to the ones she loves. 

Many of us look for love in what is given, but true love is in what is given up.  It's not in the gift; it's in the sacrifice.  Love is shown when we can take from our own mouths and feed others so they can grow and develop, remembering that someone once had to feed us too.  Anyone can give a gift, but love is validated by a gift that has greater worth than the price tag.

Sacrificing Love,

Byron Jamal

STANDOUT Style for the New Year

So it’s a happy new year and hopefully a happy new YOU! We’re stepping into a new year and a new decade – exciting!  I personally don’t make New Year’s resolutions because I forget what they are by Feb 1st. Instead I continue to focus on enhancing myself in every way, mainly internal attributes, but also my goals and of COURSE finding new ways to consistently revamp my style.

I’m going to share with you some not-so-secret tips to help develop the ‘standout’ style and image you’ve always desired or maybe have but want to continue improving: Get rid of every ill-fitting article of clothing you have in your closet! Be it your favorite vintage tee, too short, suffocating nightlife dress (ladies), spandex shirts (men), old, unstructured shoes, tattered belts, oversized jackets and coats etc.  Nothing is less flattering than being garbed in what appears VERY uncomfortable, no matter how “cute” you think you look.  

Gentlemen, have your clothes tailored for your size and build, especially suits and high quality dress shirts. Nothing is more flattering when YOU wear the suit, not the other way around. This can be used for office environments and for casual, dressed down suits. Try wearing your new well- fitting suit and tie with a tee or nice sweater and maybe some stylish sneakers. 

Ladies, on the same note you want to adorn yourself in garments that flatter and enhance your physique, not expose it. You should also invest in tailored suits – every woman is not built the same so it’s important to accentuate your form properly. You want to appear confident in your being and appearance, not as if your appearance is blatantly begging “PLEASE STARE AT ME!” Stay away from trends!  Ok well maybe not all of them but don’t try all of them! Everything you see on television and in magazines isn’t made for you simply because it’s the hottest new look. Know your body and frame and what highlights them.  Tip: Transform a trend to work for you! For example skinny jeans on men. If you aren’t skinny or don’t have the build for skinny leg jeans, try straight leg jeans cuffed or un-cuffed. Paired with a well fit top you’ll achieve the slim and fresh-fashion look. For ladies, if you’re into the tights and cigarette pant look, the same look can be achieved with various new washes of denim and heavier materials instead of Lycra and spandex. Or compliment them with chic sweater, jacket or dress.

 Finally, an almost fail proof way to give you that “brand new” appeal is to infuse new styles and looks into your wardrobe. As we age, many of us get set into a certain look that becomes expected of us and is frankly a bit bland. Tip: SHAKE THINGS UP! Try new colors, new suit/dress styles, infuse hats and accessories, different styles of shoes, and even new layering techniques. And invest in quality statement pieces, such as an exquisitely crafted timepiece, luxuriously made shoes (that DO last longer), or even a fine overcoat that fits you quite nicely. Remember, you usually get what you pay for!

The most important thing is to be honest with yourself and be sure that you shine within because that’s where  true happiness emanates from. Wear what truly enhances your appearance and personality and makes you feel like a million bucks and more importantly, what makes you smile.

Kenny Hibbler, Contributing Writer

Rebrand Yourself

Did you know that YOU are a BRAND? Yes, you are a brand. Your ideas, your beliefs, your morals, your behaviors, and even your appearance make up your own "Personal Brand". Given that, what type of brand would you consider yourself? Would you be considered Old Spice, or some expensive sounding Eau de Toilette? Would you measure up to be a Five-Star or a Less-Than-a-Star brand?

ON CALL: Our Path Has Crossed Again, Could It Be Fate?

I ran into someone who I shared very intense and romantic feelings with a number of years back. After a little catching up, it was clear that both of us still seemed to have some type of chemistry for the other. Since then, we've spoken and seen each other from time to time, but had agreed to take things slow and see where they went. Well recently, for no apparent reason, this person just drops off the face of the Earth and will not respond to my texts, return my calls, deleted me from their Facebook... I was left trying to figure out what happened, what did I do wrong. About a week later, this person calls and says they are sorry and needed some time to clear their minds but they are cool now. No explanation was given, but they seemed ready to proceed like business as usual. I will admit that I was relieved to hear from this individual because I honestly felt like perhaps it was meant for us to reconnect at this particular space in time. Yet even in my excitement, there is this nagging feeling about the way they just kind of flaked out like that. Is it something I bring up, ignore? Do I proceed, leave them alone???? Please help!

-  Is This Meant to Be?     
 Chicago, IL 

New Year, New You

“Don’t worry about anything: instead, pray about everything. Tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 TLB).

I heard a story about Thomas A. Edison. On a cold winter night, his factory, which housed all of his dreams and practical realities, burned. Everything was destroyed. His records, blueprints, formulas and notes lay in ashes.The 67-year-old inventor stood and watched everything he had ever worked for go up in flames. The next morning he looked at the ruins and said there was value in disaster because all the mistakes were burned up. Then he thanked God he could begin anew.