The Unfinished Journey

Without clear direction, without understanding of one's past, without heroes (including women) and positive role models, without family, without connections to neighbors and a viable community, without social tranquility or firm rootedness, without at least one parent who can be at home to parent, without community control, power, and influence, without a reference group with whom to identify, without stability of one's personal world, without clearly designated leaders, without hope and a clear vision of life's expectancies and survival prospects, without a spiritual and moral centeredness, there is chaos. Where there is chaos and lack of vision, the people perish.Without economic opportunity and outlets to release despair and anger, without a feeling of safety and security, without an unlimited future, without controls on the use of drugs, violence (including gun violence), and sexual promiscuity, without responsibility and consequences for inappropriate behavior, without responsibility as well as rights, without commonly agreed upon expectations for structure and discipline, without religious, family, and personal values to help connect people, without concern for the collective as well as the individual, without nurture, without a circle of support from a responsible, caring parent, coach, teacher, grandparent, minister, neighbor, or community member, without someone who will take the time to reach out to make one feel special and valued, the children suffer and the people are dysfunctional. Where there is dysfunction, the people are a threat to themselves and the institution of family and society.How do you promote ways to shape success out of circumstances, so as, to empower future generations to come? The expression of music, especially in African American spiritual and gospel tradition provides insight into how trials, threats, and traditions have sustained us over the generations. Whether we are talking about our personal storms, or our family, societal, or global threats, the first stanza of an old gospel hymn, written fifty years ago by Ruth Caye Jones, entitled, "In Times Like These" rings true, inspires, and calls out to each generation still today:"In times like these, we need a Savior,We need an anchor;In times like theseWe need a friend;Be very sure, be very sure,Your anchor holds and grips a Solid Rock."