Follow This Leader

Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.

Mother Teresa

I knew when I first started thinking about COLLECTIVELY ME, and even now following the implementation, that I really had nor have a clue. This cluelessness included not knowing what I was going to do in any situation or how to respond when “woulda, coulda, and/or shoulda” turned out to be. The only real thing I was sure of is that it would always come from my heart. I have always had many topics on my heart that I wanted to put pen to paper. I have committed to myself that, along my journey, if something hits me, I would just start writing.

Today is one of those days. It is one of those days that I read an article and it just hit me. This article gave me goose bumps and nearly brought me to tears. This was a feeling unlike most of the other events that transpired in 2020 where I was just pissed. This time, it was all about pure excitement!

If you do not know the name MacKenzie Scott, I believe you need to look her up. She became a name familiar to me around 2018. Beginning in late 2020 and continuing in 2021, Ms. Scott has continued to surface on just about everything that I read. She has catapulted herself to becoming one of the top finishers on my list of inspiring people.

One of the drivers for me to decide to come out of the closet and start COLLECTIVELY ME was due to my acknowledgement of the economic and racial inequalities that exist. I need to pause and strongly say this… I refuse to debate this! They exist! Period! End of the story! I do not say that to blame anyone. In fact, I blame myself, thus the reason I am on a mission to help find solutions.

I would prefer to give Ms. Scott her full recognition and ask that you research her rather than risk me dumbing her story down in my attempt to introduce her to you. So, to take it back to street language: She is freaking rich. She is loaded. The Sista’s got bank. That is not why she has risen to the top of my list of inspiring people, however. She has perched herself at or near the top of my list not because of what she has, but because of what she has shared with others.

I would kindly ask that you google her name and read about the BILLIONS of dollars she has given away and the BILLIONS of dollars she has committed to give away in the future. Please pay particular attention to where and to whom she has chosen to share her wealth.

What MacKenzie Scott is doing epitomizes selflessness. Her actions acknowledge that there are too many things in this world that are not fair; just not right. And we can only make change when we are willing to accept that inequities exist. There is so much to discuss and unpack on this topic but let us save that for another day!

Now, let us come down from the observation tower and talk about you and me. I do not have billions, or millions, or even thousands of dollars to give away. That just is not what I have to offer. I know that I fall in with the majority in that respect. However, that does not mean that I do not have something substantial to give. We all have something to offer to those who are less fortunate. One powerful gift many can all offer is the gift of their time. Now, I am not saying we are not busy with work, with family, and with trying to find some recreation or rest. But I am saying that when properly motivated, we can identify a portion of our time to invest in others and to lend a hand from time to time.

Quite often, the investment of time is more important and can have a more meaningful effect on others than simply donating our money. Do not get me wrong. I understand that money can help solve many concerns. But time given and time received has the ability to heal. We all have the opportunity to serve and help someone less fortunate. And remember the adage, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." Mathew 4:19

We can provide more tangible, life-changing resources when we share our time, our experience, and our perspective. We have an opportunity to stand up and to be a voice when others need our support. We should do this because it is the right thing to do! Not the easiest thing to do, but the right thing to do.

My very first post on COLLECTIVELY ME talked about my Why! When I was in college, I worked three jobs, one at a convenience store. One day I will write more about that experience. That was probably the most enjoyable job I ever had. One day, a gentleman came into the store. During normal greetings and casual conversation, he asked me, “are you THE Chris Cole?” I cannot tell you how much my heart began to race because I was not always a saint! So, I cautiously said, “yes sir.” He proceeded to tell me about his son and how much he appreciated my friendship. Now that my heart had started to relax and there was no risk of it beating out of my chest, I asked him how his son was doing? He responded by saying he had passed away.

His son and I had a friendship from grade school through high school. He was my dog! My dude! My home boy and my buddy! In fact, I was close to his entire class. He and his classmates were mentally “gifted”. By the way, that is not how we in society have historically referred to individuals like my friend. I prefer to call them “gifted” rather than some of the other demeaning terms often used, sometimes without ill intent. I look back with reverence on the time I spent with them!

Ms. MacKenzie Scott is doing what she is doing because it is the right thing to do. I befriended my classmates because it was the right thing to do! We all have time to give, and we should commit to taking advantage of these opportunities to share our time because, it is the right thing to do!

My challenge to everyone is to recognize that what we do for others is what really matters. There is always someone out there who has needs greater than our own. Today, as I type this message, our country is in somewhat of a crisis mode. Our identity has been shaken. Fingers are being pointed in every direction, often with no solutions considered. What can you do? How can you work to effect change? How can you change lives? I do not know the answer for you, but I know we can make a positive difference and our platform does not have to be like MacKenzie Scotts to truly make a difference to our communities and to the world we share.

Onward!