151 Band

Friday, April 23, 2010

Revisited: Stop Talking

I still get stopped at the grocery store, the mall or even the video store by people who ask, "Hey, you're the Gorilla, aren't you?" I don't mind it too much because it is always entertaining to reconnect with people who either saw me on WILD Oklahoma TV or on Fox News as a political analyst or who have been fans of my former radio show. Inevitably, we end up talking about politics, the current state of the media and the conversation typically ends with, "Damn, I wish you were back doing the afternoon drive slot somewhere...we need some intelligence instead of talking points."

Typically, I take it as a compliment, but more often that not I remind people that there is this massive expanse of dialog called the "Internet" where ideas are exchanged and discussed and are often quite intelligent. Of course, sometimes not so much.

There is a lot of chatter, a lot of talk that really amounts to just jibber-jabber. One personality was justifying threats of physical violence to members of Congress, another was talking about how important it was that we consider storming Washington because of the health care bill. It got so overwhelming at one point, I finally wrote a column on my blog and basically demanded that people "put up or shut up." In my advancing age, my tolerance for intellectual bovine fecal matter has become increasingly short.

Quit talking. Do something. I end the conversation by encouraging people to "get involved." I don't care if we agree or disagree politically, just get active. Do not lack the courage of your convictions.

This week has been a very trying but very blessed one for the Black household. Just yesterday, we were granted temporary guardianship of two very special, very sad little girls whose mother passed away on Tuesday under less than favorable conditions. A 13 year-old and a 7 year-old found themselves without a Mom, without any familial leadership or "covering" as the Scripture discusses and my wife and I became pretty much the only resource these two amazing girls had at their disposal.

Mind you, we have only been married since March 17th. We are still adjusting our family, going through the phase where the blended family becomes a reality and we work together to smooth over the rough spots.

Fundamentally, Shawnnessy and I were not really prepared whatsoever for law enforcement and government agencies to tell us that we were very much the last stop on the road to state custody of these two girls.

We prayed together, talked with my pastor and we realized that we were compelled by God himself to act. Financially, it's tough. Hell, it's tough already in this economy and the "flesh" would seem to dictate that having two more children in our lives was an insane idea, something that is absolutely ludicrous. But spritually speaking, it was the only choice. The only thing that mattered - and matters now - was to provide these girls with an environment where they know without hesitation they are loved and cared for.

We filed yesterday, and received, temporary guardianship of the girls.

I say this not to boast of some hyper-spirituality on my part because if you truly know me, you know that I believe that when Paul called himself the "chief of all sinners," he simply left out the comments about Ron Black being first runner-up. I share this with you to perhaps encourage you to act when you have the chance. Don't sit back and talk about it.

Forgive my rambling...it's been a long week and sleep has been rather elusive.

You can make a difference - just don't talk about it. DO something. I am convinced that when people empty themselves and meet need, the mystery of the Cross is revealed.

Ron