Photograph by Zach Reiner via Unsplash
What day is it?
January 7, 2025
“Oh magnify the Lord, He is worthy to be praised …” is a hymn I have heard in many Black congregations. Whenever I hear these lyrics outside of church settings, they quickly touch my soul, like riding a European fast train. I find myself pausing whatever I may be doing, and I raise my hands to the sky for a special Alleluia moment. At times, my feet may also join this Alleluia moment. Do you have a song that makes you pause and touches your soul?
A dear friend of mine, Rev. Nancy Willbanks, introduced me to a song entitled “Good News” by an artist named Shaboozey. I listen to many genres of music and this young Black man’s voice, and the lyrics of “Good News” had me pause in a new way. In his song he acknowledges the hard year that 2024 has been. He talks about various ways people may choose to ignore their feelings or drown their sorrows and lifts up the need for some good news. Do we need good news? Absolutely.
As we continue to search for more good news, I invite you to listen and view the music videos for “Imago Dei” and “Promised Land” created by the Emmanuel Gospel Center in Dorchester, Massachusetts. God’s full image is represented in the videos. For those who hear God speak to them through music, video, and creative arts, I trust it will feel like wearing familiar shoes. May you walk comfortably!
As we start 2025, I invite all of us to go back in history, to go to our roots, go to what anchors us, go and rediscover what our hearts hold, so that we can grasp it again and let it inform our future steps.
In this search of good news, I need to do a Sankofa moment in this first month of 2025, to dig back to roots that anchor me, and remind me how best to move forward when it feels like I am negotiating quicksand. The term Sankofa comes from the Twi language of the Akan people in Ghana. It translates as “go back and get it.” As we start 2025, I invite all of us to go back in history, to go to our roots, go to what anchors us, go and rediscover what our hearts hold, so that we can grasp it again and let it inform our future steps. For many of us, whose elders are born from indigenous people in the Americas or Africa, such as the Tiano, Yoruba, Fon, Kalinago, or Sioux, I encourage us to delve into the long roads where tears were shed along many paths, yet perseverance and strength prevailed. Many of us stand today because of our elders who dared to march, sing, chant, and traverse muddy and dangerous waters. I hold on to God’s unchanging and steady hand, and repeat the verse found in the gospel of John 15:5 in the First Nations Version: “I am the vine and you are the branches. The ones who stay joined to me will grow much fruit, for without me nothing grows.” My roots are with Jesus.
The melodies that are part of my Sankofa are diverse and they help me remember that today is a day to stand on what is true, God’s Word, to claim what is wise, God’s Word, to believe in who wakes me up in the morning and puts me to sleep at night, God.
I dare ask again; What day is it? It is a day to for us to remember that we are made in God’s image, that our commitment is for peace, and for nonviolent acts that stand against injustices and inform our being as the prophet Micah stated: “Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously – take God seriously” (Micah 6:8 The Message). This is our individual and communal call. Our elders, prophets, healers, courageous freedom seekers taught us the way. May we keep holding on to the freedom songs that nourish our souls. May we uphold what is true, Emmanuel, with love.
An ordained minister with ABC-USA, Rev. Sandra Dorsainvil serves as a Ministry Coach and Women’s Group Retreat Facilitator with the Center for Career Development & Ministry. Fluent in English and French, she has had cross-cultural lived experiences in several countries in Africa, Europe and North America. Rev. Sandra is a published author of three devotionals, “Walk with Generosity,” “Beacons of Hope” and “Luces de Esperanza,” as well as co-author of a leader’s guide for leaders of short-term mission teams of volunteers, “Short-Term Mission Team Essentials – Together on The Journey.”
The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of American Baptist Home Mission Societies.
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