My Personal Angels

Recently I listened to a teaching on angels. I found it on the radio driving home one evening. It truly intrigued me, hearing how the angels supported Jesus. Not only did they proclaim his arrival, resurrection, and ascension, they ministered to him during his time on earth as well. They were a source of comfort and support – designed to be at his beck and call. For them however, being on eternal call held no burden, only a privilege to forever serve the holy one.

The more I listened, the more I thought of the angels in my life. Now I’ve not yet seen an angel in glorious splendor. Truly sometime I consider if my finite mind can handle such a vision. One day my heart and soul will increase. I look forward to the day. Until then, I have been greatly impacted by my earthly angels.

Forever grateful, I’d like to share a couple earthly encounters with you. I shan’t share the entire list. I promise. Yet each one is significant to me. Here’s one, the moment occurred just a few weeks after having my first child. My husband and I were young and had little; that included no vehicle. My daughter had a doctor’s appointment. We were thankful for my husband’s employment. However, that meant I had to master being new mom on public transportation without his assistance. She was born in late November. Snow and ice covered the ground. Trekking along, it was miracle I didn’t fall cradling my dear child in my arms.

I made it there and on the way back, I thought I had my change accessible for the bus. But loaded down with baby and bags, I could not get my hand into my coat pocket to retrieve it all. Somehow, I was coming up short. Panic set in, afraid the bus might pull off and I’d have to wait another 20 minutes or more in the blasted wind. I felt a tap on my shoulder and a gentleman placed bus fare in my hand. I shook my head, eyes brimming, I said, “No. I have it. Thank you.” He merely smiled, replied, “Keep it.” There was my angel.

Several years later, I remember another time. I was on the subway going to visit my mother after work. I noticed a young man staring intently at me. This was no ordinary admiration stare. Not that I get those often, but you can tell the difference just by looking at the eyes. My sixth sense kicked in. This young man was plotting a plan that didn’t involve my best interest.

Throughout the ride I thought, Lord, what will he do? Would he just snatch my bag and run? By the way, I had been robbed on the subway like this before. However, that didn’t happen. He just continued to stare throughout the ride. Finally I realized he was going to get off the train with me. I thought, Ok, when we step onto the platform, he’s going to make his move. No, that didn’t happen either.

My stop arrived. We got off. My gawker walked ahead of me, not behind, making his gawking apparent to everyone else. The crowd began looking back, too. As we approached the stairs, I thought OK, maybe he’s going to push me down the stairs and take my bag in this crowded chaos. Tears began to run down my face as I thought how I could get hurt along with the others.

I decided; I’m going to do something crazy. Next to me was a gentleman – a stranger. I didn’t know how the gentleman would respond. I stuck my arm through his, prepared for him to push me away. No such thing. He strongly pulled me closer to his side and smiled. I felt like Jesus himself was embracing me. The gentleman and I never exchanged one word. This kind brave soul escorted me downstairs and into the subway station.

As we landed on the last step, my watery eyes couldn’t believe what they beheld. I had never seen this before. Not in this station. This wasn’t one of the better neighborhoods in Brooklyn, NY. Nevertheless, I saw not one, not two, but four lined up uniformed police officers. Now that was a splendid glorious sight to me! The gentleman escorted me over to them, directed, “Please see her home. A young man is watching her.” And the young man…well he disappeared.

The officers took it from there. One walked me outside, hailed a cab, opened the door, and told the driver, “See her home.” There were my angels – five in one day. No six, I believe it’s important to include the cab driver too.

These moments in my life are priceless. I don’t know why these strangers helped me. I may never see them again. My heart is forever grateful. I can say my vow is to be ready, to be kind, and to be brave.

We all have angels. More importantly, we all can be angels. We can be a source of support and comfort for one another. That’s what an angel is to me.

If you have a There’s My Angel testimonial you would like to share on my website, please email it to brooklynndorcent@gmail.com. You never know who you will inspire, or encourage.

God Bless You.

Grace and Peace,

Brook Lynn Dorcent

Author/Inspirational Speaker

Founder: JUST WRITE! Writer’s Club
Missing the Mark (Book One)
Pressing Toward the Mark (Book Two)
Forgetting Those Things (Book Three)
Reaching Forth (Coming 2014)
Spirit Over Will (Devotional)
www.brooklynndorcent.com

Resilience Whispers Love

In the month of February we celebrate and recognize the great accomplishments of African American History. It is also the month in which we celebrate our love for one another – Valentine’s Day. As I considered these days, one very impactful word came to mind – resilience.

What causes any man, woman or child, to remain hopeful in the face of adversity? The days of slavery and those following seemed to hold darkness and despair. Why would anyone continue to wake up in the morning, smile, love, or challenge the status quo?

I imagine the child that witnessed his mother being violated, had his siblings separated from him, seen his father brutally beaten, or worse, killed. Yet, something holds him on the inside. Perhaps he cannot articulate the words. Even still, his inner man knows that the order in which he lives is chaotic. He knows without a shadow of a doubt, because his inner man shouts, “We are divine!”
 

Although he has been considered less, his inner man instructs him not to be deceived. If so, how does he build the courage to challenge the order? Where does this innate power come from?

I call it the spirit of resilience. Even though the child has been born into a system of injustice; his inner man rejects it. It propels him into a state of unrest until he rises up in the face of adversity, aware of the consequences, prepared to lose his body, but not his soul.

This spirit of resilience has carried our country. But it does not act alone. In truth, its very foundation is love. The inner man, and the one who created the soul, is love. Love cannot tolerate injustice. It cannot find rest in a state of unrest.

The spirit of resilience latches onto hope, searches for the love in others. It is not bitter. It does not hate. I am so grateful for this time of reflection. I celebrate the spirit of resilience of my ancestors. It gives me hope.

And for you, whatever your challenge, I pray you find peace. Our history teaches us that the spirit of resilience whispers love. Love always finds its way to a better tomorrow.

Grace and Peace,

 

Brook Lynn Dorcent

Author/Inspirational Speaker

Founder: Just Write - A Club for Writers

Missing the Mark (Novel One)

Pressing Toward the Mark (Novel Two)

Forgetting Those Things...(Novel Three)

Reaching Forth (Novel Four - Coming 2014)

Spirit Over Will (Devotional)

www.brooklynndorcent.com

Why Not...Read for Love

 

My First Kiss

That Very First Kiss. Do you remember yours? Mine was nearly perfect. I’ll always remember it. Not because the boy was my first love. I didn’t know him well. We grew up on the same block, however. And we played the cat and mouse game. I guess you can say he caught me.

Although in truth, I was much too young to be sharing a first kiss at age 11. I know if my children read this, they’re going to shout at me, “Mom, you were only 11?” I’ll accept their disapproval later.

For now I’ll tell you how it happened. My friends and I was on this baking kick. We’d do that – become consumed by one interest after another. One week it would be bikes, the next, roller skates, the next, nail polish. We were quite a diverse group.

So on our baking kick their parents were gracious, allowing us to bake cookies at their home until our hearts were content. My mother would not have allowed us to mess her up kitchen. OH NO! And you can imagine; flour fell everywhere. We baked from scratch!

Now the kiss…

It was one Saturday late in the afternoon. The girls and I had a batch in the oven. For privacy purposes, I’ll call the boy Chaise. Chaise had stopped in. Maybe he smelled the cookies. I’m not sure. While the cookies were baking, Chaise and I talked alone in the living room. I sat in a chair, and he at my feet.

Please don’t ask what we discussed; only past days could tell. I do recall when the moment happened. My senses were on high alert. I could feel my hair grow. He rose up on his knees, our eyes locked, he leaned in slowly, and I followed suit. My brain shut down. NO thoughts, just actions. Our lips met and I felt...perfection. Then he suddenly changed gears on me, introducing me to his tongue.

My brain started working again and it flipped out, shouting, “YUCK! What the heck was that?” My perfect moment ceased. Disapprovingly confused and against my better judgment, I ordered my mouth to follow the kiss to the end.

After that distasteful experience, I didn’t want to kiss any boy for a very long time. Not to mention; I felt completely guilty when I returned home that afternoon. My mother asked, “How’d the baking go?” All I could say was; “It went.”

I learned a lesson because of that kiss, however, not until years later. My children tell me that I’m always looking for the lesson in things. My reply, if you seek, you’ll find. That’s what the Bible says anyway.

As an adult and having shared many great kisses with my husband, I know all kissing ain’t bad. So why did I freak out when I was 11? That’s simple, I wasn’t ready.

Here’s the lesson. Do you have set goals, a business, or a project you’re working on? You know…you get this spark of an idea. Then we put it into motion and it is working! All seems perfect. It’s a euphoric moment. Then something slippery comes into the mix. And we’re like…YUCK! What the heck was that? It may impact us to put progress on hold, or walk away all together. I hope we don’t do that.

Analyze the situation, instead. Pray, ask for guidance and look for the lesson to be learned. Maybe we simply weren’t ready for that next step. We might have more growing to do, need additional life experiences or knowledge. Perhaps we have the wrong partners.

Doing things at the appropriate time with the appropriate partners removes regrets, guilt and confusion and leaves us with perfect peace.

Happy Smooches!
xxxx

 

Brook Lynn Dorcent

Author/Inspirational Speaker

Missing the Mark (Romance/Suspense Series – Novel One)

Pressing Toward the Mark (Romance/Suspense Series – Novel Two)

Forgetting Those Things…(Romance/Suspense Series – Novel Three)

Reaching Forth (Coming 2014 Romance/Suspense Series – Novel Four)

Spirit Over Will (Devotional)

Founder – Just Write Writer’s Club

www.brooklynndorcent.com

Why not…Read for Love

Loving the Way We Change

I love the fall season. It reminds me of growing up in Brooklyn. Our summers were busy. No, we didn’t have planned activities. The daily plan…when the Sun rose, we got up, had breakfast and hit the sidewalks. We rode our bikes, roller-skated, jumped rope. By the way, my best friend and I were the best double-dutchers on the block. We played from sun up until sun down. Or well… until you heard your mama’s call all the way down the block. There were no cell phones back them. Consequently, we all knew the voice of our mother. We ran home in a hurry when she called.

Then fall came, school started again, and so did the order of things at home. Mom didn’t work. Yes, we grew up on welfare until our teen years. It wasn’t that mom wasn’t smart, or unable to work. Quite the opposite, she was brilliant. I’m not sure if she knew how smart and strong she was.

When we arrived home from school, the house was clean and dinner was prepared. The routine consisted of dinner, homework, and a few chores. After chores, it was bath and then we could watch whatever our parents were watching. We didn’t have Cable, Netflix, a VCR or a DVD player. We didn’t have a color TV until we were teens.

Even though I grew up in an abusive home, and my mother later became an alcoholic, I remember the fall season of my youth. I remember there were moments of peace, order, structure. I remember then and now I remember the order, structure and goals I set for myself last year.

No, I haven’t reached all my goals. Like the days of my youth, I don’t have all I want. I do have all that I need. I have enough to accomplish my goals for my future and to enjoy the present moments.

I rejoice because I have completed some things, such as my third book, started a fourth, and I occasionally get to write a column for the local newspaper. So I won’t beat myself up over the other goals I have not completed yet. I know I haven’t entered that season yet, but it will come.

In the meantime, as I reflect on my youth and my today, I’ll work in this fall season on family and business matters. For me, it’s a time to settle down, find restructure and the order of life. This is a time when I draw my family closer to me; listen closely to their dreams, preparing comforting meals and anticipating the holidays to come. I remember that is what my mother taught me.  Mother has passed on and I do miss her. However, her brilliance stays with me always. I remember every lesson she taught me. So now looking outside my window, I marvel at the leaves changing. I know I change as they do. And oh, how beautiful we are.  

Brook Lynn Dorcent
Author/Inspirational Speaker
Missing the Mark (Novel One)
Pressing Toward the Mark (Novel Two)
Forgetting Those Things...(Novel Three)
Reaching Forth (Novel Four - Coming 2014)
Spirit Over Will - Devotional  
www.brooklynndorcent.com
Why Not...Read For Love

Privileged!!!

Privileged!!!  

That is the word that came to me as I sat in the presence of God under the soul stirring voice of Tamela Mann last night.

I was blessed to receive a ticket to this concert. And wow! I was encouraged. That is what Mrs. Mann did for me.

I sat in the Convention Center and was reminded that there is no sweeter divine atmosphere than one in God’s presence. I think I sometimes take His presence for granted during church services. No more.

To sit in His presence is not a right. It is a privilege. God is merciful and has taken a little girl from Brooklyn.

I am one that has come from a line of alcoholics, one whose Grandfather did not attend school, let alone learn how to read, and one whose Mother did not graduate from high school.

God has allowed me to attain a college education. He has designed me and fashioned me after His own heart. Like my heavenly Father, I am an author/writer/novelist. Privileged.

This is not my right. He has assigned me the task, given me the gifts, however. It is now my obligation to do so. To do what I must do.

Remember, you are privileged. Remember your journey. Remember your obligation.

You owe it to yourself and those surrounding you.

Remember.

Love, Grace and Peace,

Brook Lynn

Nothing is Simply Just

I’ve wanted to write this piece for some time now. It’s been chomping at my fingertips. So…here it is.

As a mom, I very often hear from my children…mom, it’s just music, it’s just food, it’s just…

After I explain it’s more than they think, my children follow-up with, it is not that serious.

Hum, I’ve been thinking about that just word. Is it justification? To me anything we must justify or defend must be significant.

Spouses, ever had to justify to your other half, someone is just my friend? Really? Just a friend? Not saying that you shouldn’t have the friend. I’m not getting into that today. But what is just a friend?

A friend is significant. At least mine are! I love my friends. They are important to me. We share and exchange our thoughts and feelings, likes and dislikes, common goals, dreams… You name it! We can find a way to talk about it. Would you not say that’s significant? I would.

Nothing is simply just. After parenting, I’ve learned anything that we actively do or think about is in some way significant to us. If not, then why listen to that music, eat that food, have that friend? Those just things have purpose in our life.

From now on, I think of the word just in a new light. Anytime I say, it’s just…I know it is justified and significant to me. Thus the name of my blog: JUST THINGS AND WHATNOTS! 

Brook Lynn Dorcent

Author/Inspirational Speaker

Missing the Mark (Romance/Suspense Novel One)

Pressing Toward the Mark (Romance/Suspense Novel Two)

Forgetting Those Things… (Romance/ Suspense Novel Three – coming 2013)

Spirit Over Will (Devotional)

Why not…read for love

www.brooklynndorcent.com

The Key is In Your Hand

There’s a story in the Bible about Moses. It’s in the Old Testament. God tells Moses that he is the deliverer. He tells Moses to go to Pharaoh and tell him that God said to let my people go. And God was like, I ain’t playin’ wit cha Pharaoh, let them go or else, there are going to be some plagues thrust upon you and your people!

Well like most of us, Moses felt very inadequate. He was like, look Lord, I got a speech impediment. I ain’t got no weapons…what am I supposed to use? The Lord asked Moses what was in his hands. Moses held out this staff and was like…it’s just a stick. God said, no, it’s more and told Moses to lay it on the ground before him. The staff turned into a snake. Yikes!

Why am I telling you all of this? Well…God has created you with purpose and passion. You have a task before you my friend. You may be like Moses, feeling inadequate, like you don’t have the eloquence of speech, or, you do not have anything in your hands.

I beg to differ.

I am not ashamed to admit I’m a vivid dreamer and dream walker/talker. Years ago while asleep, I got up and out of bed, walked into the living room and talked to my sister. I told her, if you want to open the door, you have the key. She was watching TV and said what? Go back to bed. I repeated; if you want to open the door, you have the key.

Folks, I don’t know what doors you have before you. I don’t know what tasks God has assigned to you. I do know that like Moses, he put the key in your hand.

And like Moses, I suggest you use it. God kept his word and Moses did in fact deliver the people. You can trust God and feel adequate in Him. Let’s see you open some doors!

Love, Grace and Peace

Brook Lynn Dorcent

Inspirational Author/ Speaker
Missing the Mark - (Romance/Suspense Novel I - Mark Series)
Pressing Toward the Mark (Romance/Suspense Novel II - Mark Series)
Forgetting Those Things...(Romance/Suspense Novel III- Coming Soon)
Spirit Over Will - Devotional
Why Not...Read For Love