A Family That Sacrifices Together – MAP18

There’s an old adage that goes something like this, “A family that prays together stays together!” It was first coined in the early by Father Patrick Peyton, a Irish Roman Catholic priest and founder of the “Family Rosary Crusade.”

Peyton was a popular and charismatic figure in Latin America and popularized the phrase “The family that prays together stays together” in the early 1900’s.

Without damaging the integrity of what Peyton was trying to communicate, I’d like to alter this phrase just a tad.

While walking on #MAP18 to bring attention to the poor and vulnerable, my wife and I have learned that not only does “a family prays together stays together,” but also “a family that sacrifices together must also endure burdens together.”

I love my family, and I know this journey has been hard on them like it has been hard on me.

In fact, if you know me then you know that family and friendship mean a lot to me. My family is my heartbeat and I don’t call a lot of people friend. But, if I do call you friend then I do really mean it.

Over the last 23 days, my wife and children have had to endure some of the same hardships that I have experienced. Why? Because whatever I carry they carry as well.

For instance, on the last walk to Washington D.C., they were able to walk with me and experience the walk too, but on this walk we felt that it was safer for them to be present but not walk.

My wife opened up and did an interview to explain what she has felt while I’ve been on this particular walk.

You’ll be able to view that below, but I would like to first share a few things that my wife and I have learned is this journey:

Here goes…

I. We’ve learned that when one person in the family is called to a mission, everyone in the family is called to that same mission.

It must be agreed upon by everyone in the family to carry the load and sacrifice. If everyone is not on board, then it will make the mission even harder. As a family, we all feel like this is what we were assembled to do together as a unit—serve those who are forgotten.

II. We’ve learned that when one person feels pressure, everyone feels that pressure.

For instance, in the video below my wife explains what she’s been carrying although not walking with me every single day.

One of the ways we maintain strength is by reminding each other of our original commitment to finish what we’ve started no matter what the outcome is.

III. We’ve learned that if children are present, they are watching.

On day 22, my daughter wrote me a note about what she is learning from watching my wife and I.

She said, “I’m learning that when we take care of those who are poor, God takes care of us.” Each day, I’m not only driven by who I’m fighting for, but by who is watching me—my children.

Check out the full video below to hear my wife’s side of the story below:

Cecilia’s view of MAP18 from Love Beyond Walls on Vimeo.

Terence

Why I’m Marching – MAP18

It’s official. The countdown begins. Today, Terence will make 21 days walking on behalf of the poor in our country. On March 3rd, he set out on a 386 mile journey on foot to the Lorraine Motel to bring attention to poverty and honor MLK’s life.

He started from the Center for Civil & Human Rights in Atlanta, GA and has walked all the way to Mississippi. It’s his hope to arrive at the Lorraine by April 4th (MLK50th).

People have asked him what’s the one thing he wants people to hear from this sacrifice. It’s simple. We have over a 100 million people in our country living near or below the poverty line. Therefore, “Poor People Matter.”

Why I’m Marching – MAP18 from Love Beyond Walls on Vimeo.

LBW Team

Hate won’t stop me!

I’ve been up since 3AM thinking about today’s walk. Today makes 8 days since I left the Center for Civil & Human Rights and started walking to the Lorraine Motel.

Yesterday, I crossed the state line.

Although a huge accomplishment, it has come with both blessing and challenges as I walk through small towns.

For instance, yesterday I was walking with my friends and had three experiences that made my flesh crawl and eyes water.

The first experience was when a young guy threatened to hit my friend and I.

Harvey and I were walking on the side of the road with a good shoulder between us and the actual road. We thought we were safe because we were not in the road.

We were feeling good, and then I saw a car coming at us. Yes. A car intentionally coming at us.

The driver was not texting and driving, and he was not distracted. I know this because he looked me dead in my eyes as he pointed the moving vehicle towards us.

As he got closer, at the last minute he swerved the car and flipped us the finger and sped off.

What would make this guy do that? Racism? Hate? I don’t know but it made me feel unwanted as I walked through a city where people were looking at us strange and dealing with tons of poverty.

As soon as we got past that incident, we encountered another incident.

I’ll never forget 10 minutes later two guys in a red pick up truck (with a confederate flag on the bumper) pulled up beside Harvey and I and stared us down and pulled off fast and yelled out the window, “Be safe out here.”

After the second incident, I then noticed I wasn’t wanted in the city.

But, I continued to walk. Why? Because although I was being treated wrong I still saw their poverty. I saw that many of people that were being mean towards us also were in poverty.

I had a moment where I wanted to play it safe and say it isn’t worth it, but then I thought…

“I’m walking for people that may be poor but hate the color of my skin.”

It was at that moment that God gave me the courage to continue walking towards the AL state line.

Jesus’ words yet again challenged me to love in spite of the hatred.

He says,

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,”

—Matthew 5:44 NKJV

Although I wanted to get angry, love wouldn’t allow me to do it.

I thought about King’s non-violent approach to solving issues. Although King’s words were radical at moments he also expressed genuine love to all.

In fact, he understood that love is the strongest force when he said in his book Strength to Love, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

After having all those glorious thoughts I was given yet another experience to test my heart to see if I meant it.

Almost three miles from the state border, another pick up truck pulled up beside us, and rolled down the window and stared us down.

We thought they were going to ask us if we needed a ride, but they didn’t.

They backed their truck up (screeching the tires) and sat there looking at us roaring their engine. Ali (a spot car driver) was close and we hopped into the car until they left.

Afterwards, we got out and continued to walk.

Each encounter felt like hate, racism, and anger.

Thinking about the depths of what I felt made me refrain from sharing on social media until I gathered my thoughts.

This morning, as I write this some people will not like it but others will understand what experiences like those do to an African American in this country.

I don’t like racism. It’s sin and shouldn’t exist. But, it does exist and we have to work to eradicate it altogether. We must do it together and not blame each other!

Although I’d love to get angry and stop the march because of those experiences my passion won’t allow me to do that.

Not only am I marching for the poor, I’m also marching for the poverty stricken that may not like the color of my skin.

Why? Because that’s what God has called me to do—love regardless.

Terence

Moving Past The Fear

Today is DAY 4 of #MAP18 and my body is feeling the wear and tear already. Not to mention, I just looked outside and it’s raining. I remember these types of days during the last walk, and they are draining.

If I’m honest, I’d like to pack up my bags and go home where it’s comfortable and safe.

Why? Because the roads ahead of me are long, and filled with the unknown. But, I’m the type of person that never commits to anything that I’m not willing to complete and finish.

Sometimes people think because I do these type of campaigns that fear isn’t present, but that’s actually not true. Fear is always there, but my faith is greater!

I believe a little bit of fear is always present with all of us, and that same fear paralyzes some people from moving forward. It’s only four days into this journey and the fear  is telling me to stop and go back home! 

But, each time I see a different face of someone who is poor, voiceless, or vulnerable God’s courage tells me to continue.

We must press and move past the fear in order to fulfill our purpose(s). How fear is holding you back and telling you to go home?

Maybe to overcome it, you may have to do what I’m doing and listen to courage and faith more.

Last night, I was reminded that I’m not only walking for people who are poor, but also for those who may need to have their perspectives changed.

I was inboxed over Facebook by a man that I never met, but he said my posts changed his perspective.

He writes,

“Hey Terence. First of thank you for caring for the people of the world unconditionally. Second thank you for moving me. I seen a post of yours about 30 minutes ago and have been scroll threw your page. I’m young and have a young family and you have inspired me, and reminded me that I have so much to be thankful for. I have been feeling a little lost and it realized threw your videos and post and movement that it’s because I have been focused on myself and my family. When someone out there would love to just have a warm meal or even a kind word. Again thank you. I will share your story in hopes that your movement may change the world or at the very least someone else’s moment.”

His posts echos two messages that will push me today.

Firstly, it echos that no matter where we are in life, we should remain grateful. Gratitude is the fuel that keeps us focused on what matters most and centers us inwardly. This same gratitude pushes us to stand in awe of God.

Second and last, it echos that life is too short to only be focused on yourself and play it safe. We are are given opportunities to serve those around us and we must be bold in serving others.

As I close this blog, I’m thinking about Jesus’ words found in Luke 4,

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

Luke 4:18-19, NKJV

Terence

We Can’t Continue To Pass By

There’s a famous parable told by Jesus in scripture about the “Good Samaritan.”

If you are unfamiliar, it’s a parable where Jesus is trying to teach people with status, religiosity, and power how to love those that are down and out.

If you have read this before check it out in 10:25–37.

Jesus tells this story of a man that lost every single thing and was left on the side of the road to die because he was beaten and robbed.

There were two opportunities for him to receive help, but the two persons that could have helped passed right by and did nothing.

However, the story takes an interesting twist.

There is this least likely person that appears on the scene and sees the man battling for his life! This Samaritan  makes his way over to the man and chooses to close the social and geographical distance between himself and the man’s poverty.

He doesn’t stop there! He cares for the man until he is restored back to full health.

The man that should have died life changes because a person refused to pass by and do nothing.

The message is clear in this story–we should stop walking by problems when we have the power to do something about the problems right before us.

We’ve got to deal with both the climate that produced the conditions that had the man on the side of the road, and we ourselves must also take time to lift up the people that life has broken down (by choosing to get closer to the issues).

Yesterday, I met a man sleeping on a bus stop bench. Tears fell down my face because as I gazed behind the man, there was an abandoned building right behind him.

Literally, the answer to his poverty and homelessness was gated and boarded up.

Although I am well aware of how some Real Estate properties have private owners, I still dream of conscious courageous capitalist(s) placing people on their agenda and even considering how they can invest in people and communities rather than waiting until communities are gentrified to make a profit.

As I walk to Memphis, TN to commemorate MLK’s last stance for MAP18, I’m reminded that we must stop walking by!

We must not be like the religious leaders in the parable I mentioned above that walks by without stopping to address the issues that plague us all.

This morning before I start DAY 3, I’m thinking about the words found in one of my favorite songs by Kindred The Family Soul. The song is called, “ALL MY PEOPLE.”

The hook says,

“I want all my people around me
Everybody living good
Everybody eatin good
Everybody chillin
I want all my people around me
Everybody eatin good
Everybody living good
I want for my brother what I want for myself.”

I believe what they are communicating in this song is what I feel in my heart at this very moment.

I want to see every single human have access to the resources that will make life a little more peaceful and stable for them.

I would like to see people who don’t have anything have the same quality of life that I have, and many others have.

But, in order for this to happen we must stop walking by!

Terence