Hope & Tools

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Hope Matters

Last week, I spent some time in Battle Creek, Michigan, which is the final resting place of Sojourner Truth and where she spent her last 25 years. On a tour, we stopped by a statue created in her honor. Behind her was her signature.

Underneath it, it reads:

Because it was illegal to teach slaves, Sojourner Truth never learned to read or write. This is the only known example of her signature, which she wrote in an autograph book owned by Hattie Johnson, a local high school student, on April 23, 1880.

All of a sudden the words smacked me upside the head, and I stood there in awe. She lacked two tools we hold most dear and believe are the foundation of every successful person. YET, she got the job done anyway. She fulfilled her purpose on this earth and never learned to read or write! We know Sojourner Truth to be an abolitionist, a civil and women’s rights advocate, a preacher, and an author. She dictated her book to Olive Gilbert and lived off the sales of the book, which brought her national recognition. As a matter of fact, we are still running around this planet quoting parts of her speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?”

When I tell you, this blows an ENTIRE hole in every excuse I could make for not doing anything I feel led to do! My M.O. (modus operandi or mode of operation), after I get the urge to do something big, semi-big, even smaller than that sometimes 🙄, is to start thinking of what I don’t have that would help me do whatever the thing is.

Mind you, this woman, this Sojourner Truth, was out in these slavery-filled streets freeing people, preaching, and authoring a book without two very important skills. Skills so important, in fact, that slaveowners made it illegal to teach enslaved people. She didn’t let what she didn’t know how to do keep her from doing what she knew to be her purpose. She believed God and kept it moving. I imagine she was a force to be reckoned with.

My question to you (and myself) is what’s holding you back from doing the thing(s) you know you’re supposed to be doing? I bet it’s not as substantial as you believe. We can hope all day long. But until we make a move, nothing will happen.

My challenge to us all is to get moving. We already have what we need to get started. And like Sojourner Truth, the people we meet along the way will add to us, and our purposes will be fulfilled.

Operate in hope. ☕️

Coffee Matters

Alright, y’all, I have new coffee coming in the mail. So, I’ll have some new insights in this section next week.

I also want to either get a French press or Chemex (for pour overs). So, avid coffee lovers, what are your thoughts or ideas? Which one should I try first?

For anyone that’s not a coffee enthusiast, what are you hoping and sipping this week?

If you like what you’ve read and would like to keep me fueled up to crank out more content, you can buy me a coffee below.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this hopeletter about my life and coffee. Please share with a friend who could use a little hope or coffee recommendation.