LIFE IN BLOOM

Learning How to Flourish in God's Grace

Author Archives: erin.almond


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Justin Combs + UCLA: What’s the Big Deal?

This blog also appeared at Up4Discussion, an excellent site that strives to promote positivity, peace, laughter and love.  Make sure you check it out!

 

It’s no secret that I love education and that it is one of my passions.  I believe that unequal access to public education is a huge civil rights issue.  I have studied education, I have spent my professional career working in education, and many hours volunteering to promote education.  I’m most likely to peruse the education section of a major newspaper first…every day.  I just wanted to put that out there.

I heard this news about Justin Combs, son of entertainment mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, being accepted to UCLA and awarded a full football scholarship.  And people were mad about it.  And I couldn’t understand why.

This kid worked really hard at one of the top prep schools in the country, earning a 3.7 grade point average; and excelling as an athlete- earning scholarship offers to places like The University of Virginia and The University of Illinois.  And we’re mad about this?  Hmmmm…

There are a few things that I find disturbing about this.  I feel that the underlying implication of all of this conversation is that he didn’t EARN this scholarship.  That he got it for who he is, or because of who he is related to.  Interesting.  The other thing that I find to be disturbing about this is these conversations that are saying that his father should donate the money back to the school, because he can so clearly afford to do so.  While that may be the case, you can’t go around here telling people what to do with their money.  It just doesn’t work that way.

And besides- we weren’t upset when Eli Manning was awarded a scholarship to Ole Miss, while both his father Archie Manning and his brother Peyton Manning were earning NFL money.  I’m just saying.

If there’s anything we should be upset about, it’s the system of education in our country that makes it difficult for those who are not wealthy to achieve a decent education that places them anywhere close to the same education that Justin Combs was able to receive at his prep school.  The truth of the matter is that people who are wealthy are able to afford resources that help their kids be in a better position to earn merit scholarships such as the one earned by Justin Combs.

I refuse to be upset at Diddy because he can afford to send his kids to the best schools, and he can provide them with resources and experiences that set them apart from other students.  When I’m in the position to do the same for my kids, you better believe that I’m going to do my best to provide them with every opportunity necessary to help them be successful and to afford them as many opportunities possible.

Do I think that Diddy should donate money to UCLA? I think it would be a nice gesture, but he doesn’t have to do it.  Besides, what would it prove; other than something that we already know, which is that he can afford to donate a large sum of money to UCLA.

Bottom line- I fail to understand the big deal in this kid earning a scholarship.  Let’s focus our energy on education reform.  When we can prove that UCLA or any other school is awarding merit scholarships to students who don’t meet the appropriate criteria, then we can be upset.

Just my thoughts.


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Leaving Something You Love.

It will happen to you.

It may not have happened yet, but trust me; it WILL happen.

“It” is the day that you have to leave something you love.  That something may be a person, a place, or a thing that you’ll have to leave.  For me, it was a job.

I knew that it was coming.  It was inevitable.  What initially was a dream opportunity, had become a  heavy weight.  But, I LOVED it.  And I carried the weight proudly.  I did what was required and then some.  And while I knew that at some point the time would have to end, I didn’t know that it would be that way.

The thing about leaving something you love is that you have to be committed to that decision.  You have to know that you know that you know that you KNOW that it’s your time to leave.  And with things like that, it’s difficult to share with others.  Why?  Because if they really know you, they know how much you love that thing.  They know how much of your time, energy, and resources you’ve invested.  And they probably feel that you don’t need to quit- you just need a break.

But my situation was different.  This thing, this job, was my Isaac; my sacrifice to the Lord.  In the same way that Abraham prayed for his son Isaac, I had prayed for this job.  Specifically, THIS job with THIS organization.  For years.  And when I was granted the opportunity, I was overjoyed; confident that it was a blessing from the Lord.  But after having this blessing for a while, the Lord asked for it back.  Would I be able to sacrifice this gift to honor and reverence the giver, trusting that the giver would provide an appropriate sacrifice and replacement?

It was a struggle.

Not because I didn’t know what to do, but because it was something that I loved. And then the question became one of whether I loved and trusted the giver more than I loved the gift.  The answer was yes.  An eager, yet hesitant yes.

And so it began.  I put God to the test, believing the word that I heard at a Women’s Fellowship event in January would come to pass.  God passes all of His tests.  Not barely, but by a large margin.  God not only kept His promise (as He always does), but provided a ram in the bush.  When doors seemed to be far from open, God provided- even down to the details.

And once it all came to pass, just as He promised, I was then left with the choice to leave something I love.

I really like how God does that.  Makes us a promise, fulfills his end of the agreement, and still leaves us with a choice.  But the way I really see it,is that I had an obligation to meet; even if it involved some temporary discomfort and changes in my circumstances.

I’m so glad I did.  Even though it was difficult.

But, what’s easy for us isn’t always what’s best for us.  And in this journey, we’re often faced with situations and circumstances that are the answers to prayers; yet we choose to pass on them because it would involve us enduring some discomfort or change.  I would challenge you to dig deeper, and trust that what lies on the other side is not only greater than your temporary discomfort but is also WORTH enduring some temporary discomfort.

I left something I love, and I’m better for it.  Amen.

 

“There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” -Romans 5:3-5 (The Message)