Category Archives: Sanctity of life

The Chemistry of Hope

I’ve struggled the last couple of months to write. There has been such negativity, it seems, everywhere I look that I didn’t know what I could possibly write about without anger seeping into my paragraphs!

So, the subject of hope has been waking me up at night, talking to me throughout the day and just nagging at me.

The chemistry of hope. Hope actually has an effect on the brain, and is so powerful that it can change the way a person feels and acts. Studies have shown that the emotion or feeling of hope can cause the brain to release neurochemicals called endorphins and enkephalins which actually mimic the effects of morphine. The result is that the brain can overcome hurdles and move to a place of recovery. In the study of positive psychology, “Hope helps us remain committed to our goals and motivated to take action towards achieving. Hope gives people a reason to continue fighting and believing that their current circumstances will improve, despite the unpredictable nature of human existence” (positivepsychology.com).

What is the opposite of hope? Despair. The APA defines this as “the emotion or feeling of hopelessness, that is, that things are profoundly wrong and will not change for the better. Despair is one of the most negative and destructive of human affects, and as such it is a primary area for psycho therapeutic intervention.”

Can a person be manipulated into despair? Absolutely. It can be done through constant or persistent fear, lack of control over decision making or even freedom. How? By creating conditions that directly impact people in a negative way, such as taking away their home, not allowing them to go to work or leave their home with a feeling of safety. Taking away their freedoms under the guise of protecting them, instilling fear using all methods possible. It may be using individuals or groups of people as examples of what will happen if there is no obedience. We have seen throughout history the manipulation of how humans can be thrust into despair. You can read about it in the Old Testament. Hitler and Castro were experts at this kind of manipulation, with the intent of taking people to the lowest possible place in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and then telling them: ‘I can save you’. ‘ I am the one that can give you hope’.

The manipulation happens when every time there is a glimmer of hope in a bad situation, that hope is immediately snuffed by those who wish to maintain control. When there may be some optimistic treatment for a disease that could actually save lives, and as soon as there may be some hope about it, it is squashed. Any group that wishes to maintain control over people or country, or school, will not allow hope to enter the picture because that emotion, that wonderful feeling, will cause an individual or many individuals to start questioning those in charge. The other side effect of losing hope is that in many cases, faith also is lost, or is misdirected.

Many people who are in an emotional state of despair don’t see it in themselves. If you find yourself using the word ‘but’ whenever some good or optimistic information comes out about a crisis, you may be in despair. If you focus on the number of cases vs. the number of deaths and remain paralyzed by fear, you are in despair. You may find that your view of reality is no longer what is ‘real’ but rather what is manufactured. Despair can be as damaging as hope can be uplifting and healing.

So, what is the remedy to despair? Oh I know, every psychologist or psychiatrist will say it takes Zoloft or Zanax or some other drug. Not necessarily so. I believe that true, authentic faith is what can help bring you back to possessing hope. Authentic faith is not just a belief, but an unconditional trust in someone. Put your faith in a person? No. Believe in them, yes. Have confidence in them, yes. But faith? No. That should be reserved for Jesus Christ alone. Don’t waste your faith on humans regardless of what words come out of their mouths. The only one who will not abandon you is Jesus Christ. Turn to Him. Talk to Him. Cry to Him. Start with Him to climb out of the pit of despair.

Hebrews 11:1: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen…”

Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

The Death of George Floyd and Why BlackLivesMatter is Nothing More Than a #

If nothing else, I am hoping the title of this entry can garner some attention. It will probably get some nasty comments and I’m ok with that.

I hope that you keep reading on to give me a chance to explain that hashtag thing.

I can think of few people who have not seen the murder of George Floyd on TV, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook. As I watched it on Twitter, I could not stop watching, horrifying as it was – my eyes were watching it but my mind could not comprehend why, why, why didn’t that officer ease up. How can this be happening? He knows what he is doing to this human being.

No surprise at the outrage and anger that arrived on the heels of George’s death. Considering that the residents of many cities have been locked down for months, and the stress that many have been suffering; combine that that with the viewing of the murder of a black man by a white officer – or maybe officers – and the recipe is perfect for an explosion.

George’s life mattered. It mattered to his mother, children, girlfriend. It mattered. But I ask you, do BlackLivesMatter, really? I do not think so and please, don’t stop reading now, hear me out.

If you look up BlackLivesMatter, you can find the website. The organization is not a non-profit and offers nothing that will help the black person who is seeking a way to connect with a productive community or learn new things. The organization exists for the sole purpose of anarchy, organizing marches and selling shirts to those who go to those marches to incite hate and anger. Let’s contrast that with an organization called Black Life Matters. This organization is a non profit and appears to be robust with opportunities for the young or old black person to be part of a community and learn how to be the change that is needed. Check it out. Decide for yourself which one will give the despondent black man or woman a positive lift up.

Let’s look at The Innocence Project, an organization that has worked tirelessly to exonerate innocent people – mostly black men who have been incarcerated without justice – and bring equity to the justice system for all. Decide which ones you think will drive change for this country. If neither of those float your boat, there are a lot of other authentic organizations in the US that are supporting our black brothers and sisters and committed to being part of the change. But BlackLivesMatter/BLM is not one of them. And any ‘philanthropic’ foundation that supports Planned Parenthood does not think black lives matter.

Here are some statistics that support my belief that black lives don’t really matter to many who profess that they do – even if you use the hashtag or make your profile picture a black box or circle or do blackout Tuesday or any other day of the week.

In the state of Georgia, blacks constitute approximately 32.2% of the population. Yet, 62.4% of the abortions in Georgia are committed on black babies. No protests. No marches. Crickets.

The Guttmacher institute – bed buddy to Planned Parenthood – admits that black women are 5 times more likely to abort their baby than a white or Hispanic woman.

The state of Michigan reports that in 2018, 12,815 of the 25,554 abortions were committed on black babies. That is greater than 50%. No protests. No marches. Crickets.

Blackgenocide.org reports that since 1973, over 15.5 million black babies have been killed by abortion. In addition:

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Let that sink in.

There is no outrage from the liberal media, from the progressives, or even from BlackLivesMatter. Sadly, many of our black politicians have radical view on abortions – perfectly fine killing off their own future generations. Generations of black families have been decimated through abortion. And yet, no outrage. No marches. Crickets. Nothing. Turn heads the other way. Not even our clergy will talk about this. It is shameful.

How is it that we will watch, over and over, the murder of George Floyd and let our anger burn brighter, and at the same time justify killing innocent babies with ‘my body my choice’ mantra, never willing to acknowledge the truth about how these babies are murdered?

So for those you who say that black lives matter, and concurrently will post something about ‘I support Planned Parenthood’, or ‘my body my choice’, or you shame and mock anyone who prays peacefully outside one of these places, I ask:

Why won’t you watch what happens in an abortion procedure? Something that you support? That choice to kill a baby?

Why won’t you watch the movie, Unplanned or Gosnell?

Why won’t you look at the facts on how these living, moving, heart-beating black babies, completely vulnerable and innocent, are ripped apart limb by limb?

Why won’t you protest about the fact that 15 million black babies have been tortured and murdered – premeditated murder – since 1973? Why aren’t you marching on Planned Parenthood, the biggest and wealthiest abortion business in existence? Have you seen a BLM protest march in front of a Planned Parenthood lately?

Why aren’t you asking why black women are 5 times more likely to have an abortion than a white or Hispanic woman?

Why are you outraged by George Floyd’s murder if you are not outraged by the fact that an average of 1300 black babies are killed every day in the US? Why? George might have had a fighting chance – those babies did not. Why are you not angry about that?

Those of you who preach about privilege- why are you not angry that those 15 million black babies never got a chance at any opportunity or even a privilege? Why are you silent?

I am blessed to be part of a pregnancy center that helps care for those who have been discarded by the radicalized progressive, liberal culture in this country. It is amazing what can happen when a despondent, desperate black woman decides to visit a pregnancy center to find out if she is pregnant – and if she is, will tell you up front she will abort that child. When she learns there is help. When she learns there is love. That there is support. That she is strong and beautiful. That no matter what, she is a child of God. That there are resources she will never hear about from Planned Parenthood. And it will not cost her a penny. When she learns that she will be supported through her pregnancy and until her child is a year old, if she needs it. Do you know what happens? She starts to hold her head a little bit higher. She smiles. She gains confidence. She starts to have hope for the future. I have seen it.

Please stop the lip service. Start supporting organizations that walk the talk by providing a chance for our black brothers and sisters and those yet to be born. Volunteer at a pregnancy center – help others achieve their dreams and walk with them on the journey.

How about you stand outside a Planned Parenthood or abortion center in your city with your BlackLivesMatter signs. Or you might want to carry a BlackBabiesMatter sign. If you are black and you do this, the change you can make will be astounding. Participate in a peaceful 40 Days for Life vigil.

Consider teaching adults to read. Mentor a young person who is without a supportive family unit. Be present for them. Let them know their value as a human being.

Want to open up the door for opportunity? Help someone get the their GED. Teach them computer skills that are marketable. Help them get aid for education or trade school. Expose them to the beauty of music and art – things that have been ignored as essential for too long now.

Do something that makes you move out of your chair, get out of your house and help people. Be authentic in what you say and do. Do something that puts you out of your comfort zone and places you where the other person is coming from. Learn to serve your brothers and sisters. Don’t expect that it is someone else’s job. And don’t expect to be paid money for it. Do it because you know it is right and true.