Dear Henry and Hannah,
It’s 1:47 a.m., and for the last few minutes, I’ve been hoping that I could coax my brain into settling down and sleeping.
However, apparently, the Holy Spirit wants me to write about a topic that I have little interest in. Let’s see what He has to say in this letter.
It’s Wednesday morning, a few days after the annual carnival in Jamaica. Don’t ask me about that, except that I was writing a piece about how people dare to call themselves Christians and then gyrating almost nude to lewd music.
Anyway, I didn’t finish that letter, and I guess this is more pressing, so let’s get right into it.
As I said, except for a time when I lived in New Kingston and could see people marching in the streets from my apartment, I know nothing about carnival and have no interest in it.
Notwithstanding, I always breathe a word of prayer for the revelers, that even in the midst of the raving, they will recognize that there is an earth to shun and a heaven to gain.
No carnival can compare to what God has in store for us.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9
Big Wall (quite an odd name), which is news to me; I’ve never heard about this before, is said to be an after-party event that occurs on the heels of the annual carnival. It’s the event’s climax. It was reported in the media that there was an altercation, guns were used, and a few people were injured.
Part of the reason I am reluctant to write about this is that, if it hadn’t been for this incident, I wouldn’t have a clue about who these people are. Except for the podcaster, I have never heard of the artists, their manager, or their entourage.
But here’s what is interesting: I don’t have to know any of these people; God knows them. Here is the best part: He loves them, so if He says I should write, here I am, Lord, I am the ready writer.
Because God loves these men, He wants me to remind them that He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:32
Even as I write, the enemy is whispering, “Why waste your time writing when you and these people are worlds apart? They will never hear what God has to say through you?”
Henry and Hannah, at this point, some people would have agreed and stopped writing. Here’s where I differ from them. The enemy can’t fool me; these people and I aren’t worlds apart; all of us are in this sin-cursed earth, sinners in need of grace. When Christ died, He died for all. Furthermore, I am too familiar with the Bible not to recall the stories recorded in Luke 18:9-14 and Matthew 20:1-16.
God asked me to write; getting the message to His sons is His prerogative, not mine.
I’m doing what God asks me to do, and if one young man hears my letter to you and changes, that’s one win by the Holy Spirit for the Kingdom of heaven.
A few hours ago, I was talking to God, and I mentioned that Jesus could have fed 5000 people with bread and fish without the boy. Yet, He chose to partner with the lad and fed the people. I asked God to use my gifts to bless others as He used that boy’s lunch, and I guess my prayers were answered quicker than I thought.
So, back to the event.
The carnival after-party, which was supposed to be a sort of celebration, left people injured- one critically- and others facing possible criminal charges in the aftermath of the altercation.
Not to mention the possible lawsuits, the trauma on the patrons, and the unnecessary use of resources by law enforcement and the subsequent courts.
Was it worth it?
The money spent on medical bills and on retaining lawyers to defend these men could have been put to better use. The time spent in prison could be redirected to furthering their education, supporting their families, or developing their craft.
Allow me to speak to these men directly.
Young men, you have to realize that the onus is on you to change your generation’s trajectory. Not only financially, but also spiritually, academically, and ethically, all of which help secure a well-rounded family unit.
The people whom you admire in church may not have been there if they or a member of their family in previous generations did not choose to live a life that pleased God.
You can choose to please God, too.
In case you have not recognized, it’s the enemy that is behind this that is hoping to off you (whoever you are), and allow the perpetrator to rot in prison.
It’s a lose-lose situation.
People love to say badness doesn’t pay. Of course it does. Badness is one of the most lucrative interest-yielding investments one can ever make.
Badness exacts a price from the victim: lifetime injuries or death. The perpetrator receives many years, up to a lifetime, in prison. Patrons are traumatized. Promoters lose funds and face potential penalties. Also, the cuffers of lawyers, funeral homes are fattened, and even caterers, supermarkets, and vendors benefit from the nine-night.
Badness pays.
It just depends on which side of the contract you are on.
The state has to dispense its meager resources on investigating you when those resources could have been allocated to help put pedophiles behind bars, and fix bad roads to reduce accidents.
As a mother, all I can see on the faces of these young men are babies. Remove the hype, ego, and anger, and you will see that losing any of them would destroy their family members, especially their mothers.
If any of them are blessed enough to have children, that’s a whole other story. I cannot imagine what pain, hurt, and despair a moment of egotistical arrogance would have cost their children.
As I said, I don’t know them, so I don’t know what beef people are saying has brewed this bitterness between them. But here’s what’s familiar: bitterness brews like this.
I think of especially black men, who were more likely products of poverty and are holding a few shillings now. Call them what you will, artists, podcasters, producers, or managers- at the end of the day, bullets do not respect titles.
If they had, Tupac, Biggie, and countless other young men would be here making music and money and helping take care of their families. Instead, most of them who had similar rivalries have been sentenced to Christless graves. They continuously fade from the memories of those who could have benefited from their presence and gifts.
While their hard-earned royalties, if not stewarded well, are feeding the already haves, their families begin another cycle of birthing more have-nots.
I say all this to say it’s not worth it.
After the temper comes the temperature; unfortunately, by then you won’t be able to feel the cold of the mortuary refrigerator you’re in.
Young men, it’s okay to be that. Nothing more, nothing less.
Despite what the culture says, you can choose not to be a ‘dawg’, a ‘badman’, or whatever the crowd is hailing you as. You can choose to walk away. You can choose not to say things about others, and you can choose not to respond if someone says something about you.
It’s crazy how many, especially black mothers, have to weep, mourn, and become mentally affected because of the loss of their children to violence.
Some of you love to say you love your mothers, and I believe you do. But the best way to show it is to walk away from trouble when you can.
The people who are cheering, boosting you up, or ridiculing you are usually doing so from the comforts of their home. Behind their four walls, they direct you with their comments like a puppet on a string.
The worst part is that you believe they are rooting for you and with you. Even if they want to, they can’t. They have bills to pay, illnesses to attend to, bosses they can’t stand, and relationship problems.
Two minutes to scroll through social media and leave a comment is what they do when they put the fish in the oil. Two minutes later, they will have to turn the fish to keep it from burning and wash the rice before putting it in the water.
They are not selfish; some of them are simply trying to survive the realities of their situations. They have no time to support you beyond that. Life is ‘lifing’ for everybody.
Some of those who put out videos on one side or the other are looking for ‘a food’ as we say in Jamaica. Others are just excited for the free entertainment. They didn’t pay to go anywhere; you brought the entertainment to them so they could share with their friends.
Here’s the sad part of it: if you die, all these people will say is the famous ‘RIP’ and then move on to the next post in their feed. Within a week, they move on completely.
They are not bad people; that’s called life, and people are living theirs.
A word to the wise is sufficient, so here are a few words for you:
- Put God first. Everything will pass away. Music, money, vehicles, guns, hype, egos, and even the girls some of you are trying to impress are temporary. Only a life surrendered to Jesus is eternal.
- You have one life to live. Realizing that you can lose it or your freedom in a moment should be enough for you to live it well. Think about it: you went to a carnival after-party to ‘enjoy’ yourself, and you end up leaving there critically injured, as a criminal, or even traumatized.
- Take sleep and mark death. Those who have gone before you didn’t know they would be gone. Death loves the element of surprise. It gives no warning, and before you know it, you may be gone.
- You have nothing to prove to anyone. Stay humble, study your Bible, spend quality time with your family, and work silently towards your goals.
Since I don’t know any of you, I am not on either side. Through Jesus, I am on the Lord’s side, and since there is room, I hope all young men listening to this letter will heed the Holy Spirit’s calling on your life.
On another note, while I may not know what is going on, the world is watching Jamaica. Your contribution to the world, good or bad, will determine the opportunities Jamaica and Jamaicans are afforded.
I was in a group with some people from other Caribbean countries, and we were supposed to go to another country for an occasion. I was surprised to learn that only the Jamaicans in that group needed visas to travel to that country.
I wonder why? We can explore that in another letter.
Now, having said all of this, I wish all of you all the very best. I mean, like a loving aunt would. But it’s up to you to live well because I will not be following up on your progress. As I said earlier, people have their lives to live.
I lovingly leave you with this scripture.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8
Until I write again, I wish all people love, light, and everlasting life.
Your great aunt,
Patrene Dawkins
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