Judge not. Trade it in for Love and Compassion!

I am reading JayZ's booked
Decoded by Jay-Z





What does the title of this blog and the book have in common. Keep reading!

I LOVE MUSIC and I listen to various genres of music from Indie to Classical. However, I used to have ill feelings about rap music. I agreed with the people who said it was not an art and rap and hip hop would never last. Slowly but surely I saw how wrong I was but other than the catchy beats I still ignored it hating the cuss words and the degradation of women. In my late 40's I began to see a lot of things in a different manner. I remember riding in the car and the thought came to my head "they talk about what they experienced". I was like hmmmm. I also began to see that it was a gift to put those words to different beats and the rhyming OMG! Now in my late 40's the beat of the music took over and I began to listen to "clean" versions of rap/hip hop. I still did not want to hear "their experiences" nor did I want my youngest hear it. But after a period of time I was "hooked" I like Ludacris, TI, Snoop Dog,Jay Z and some Eminem. (usually the commercial versions) Now I did not always have a clue about what they were saying at times especially JayZ but I bopped to the beat.

**This is not a book review just some things I gleaned so far from the book**

When the book Decoded came out I was like hmmmm I might just read that. Then it became the book for our bookclub. I managed to get the book on my Nook E reader from the library(I have been on the waiting list since Jan) As I started reading the book I was like OHHHHHH thats what he really meant!!!! I realized that I was soooooo surface in my interpretations of his music. Why was that? Because I did not come from where he came from. I did not experience his experiences.

Are we better than anyone else based on our culture, race, social or political status........HELL NO! Yet we will judge someone when they don't think or behave like we would.
I believe Bishop Jakes called it situational ethics. HMMMMMM.

To my sprititual friends don't take offense. But as I read the lyrics and then his interpretations I likened it to reading the Bible(which I have read a lot) As you learn what the original intent of the word used vs what your interpretation of what the word means(even what the word historically meant) you have a different view.

I have not finished the book yet but I have really come away feeling more informed. As I have entered this second half of life I am more in tuned with who I am. I have judged others (friends, parents, people I don't even know and even myself) What I failed to realize is that in most cases people are doing the best they can do deal with their current situation based on the current knowledge or skill base that they have. And regardless to the way others see it WE AINT LIVING THEIR SITUATION!

Service Announcement:I still have my issues... but if what I hear does not work for me I don't listen to it. That's simple LOL!

So I say in my Bernie Mac voice: AMERICA live your life and quit spending time judging others. Evaluate your own life and make improvements where you need to. Pray that we all achieve our personal best. Agree to disagree. Try to see the other's point of view. If you can't do this on your own seek power from ABOVE! Look for the power of Love. Walk in that love and look for opportunities to demonstrate that love. One thing about Jesus; He did not spend a lot of time judging and tearing down others HE worked on elevating those that he came in contact with. Because he LOVED and he had COMPASSION!

I did not write this for the popular vote. Not sure if anyone will even read this! Does not matter....this is my expression of my truth at this time period of my life.

AMERICA:SPREAD LOVE