T'was
the night before News Years (Roman Calendar December 31st, 2008) and we
just picked up Pops to take him to go to the Watch Night Service. Mums
didn't feel good and refused to go with us stating "I'll be fine right
here." as she
gently patted the bed she
laid in. When Pops (Rev. Dr. Samuel Varner) opened the door his pupils were
dilated and he stood rocking back-and-forth trying to get his balance. His
Glaucoma
is kicking his tail, the surgery he recently had for his eyes seems to
be in vain. The eye that didn't receive the surgery is now his "good"
eye.
We walked out of the house, off the porch, and then made
a wide circle towards the vehicle instead of walking directly to the
truck. Instead of guiding him I let him find his way. It has to be
depressing to loose your vision. He's facing the same thing his father
faced.......Blindness. He shared with me a few days prior to Christmas
how I'm fulfilling the same role he fulfilled for his father..... He
became his father's eyes, I'm doing the same.....Reluctantly. I try as
much as possible to allow Pops to accomplish anything he can with out
treating him as a crippled man. As I fully want to guide him to the car
as a
normal
person would move, he needs to be capable. He wants to be capable. He
can get so cranky when he's helped to do things he can do for himself.
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'Sunday Schooled' is a collection of blog posts from Seko Varner's
former blogs. This post was dated 01/01/2009 while Seko's father, Rev. Dr. Samuel Varner was alive.
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En route to the church Pops mentioned a friend of the family, Sarah
Kinard, who is writing her thesis about her father and my Pops'
Omega Psi Phi chapter brother
John Kinard. John helped Pops cross into our Omega fold in 1958. Influenced by a man in his
neighborhood Pops was originally
interested
in the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity but as one of the Alphas on campus showed an
interest in Pops in a different way (he attempted to force a sexual advance upon my father. My father beat that Alpha up) Pops decided against Alpha Phi
Alpha. Dad said "I was black-balled. Other Alphas told me I would never survive the process and would never become an Alpha. The Omegas knew that Pops was destined to walk in Purple and Gold
and
John Kinard opened the doorway. Dad said "I didn't have any clothes except for the clothes on my back. John fed me, gave me clothes, and helped me raise the money I needed to pledge into Omega Psi Phi." Years later they remained friends as John became the first curator of the
Anacostia Museum in
Washington D.C. John and his family were frequent hosts to my family
when I was young and I fondly remember eating Monkey Meat, Shark Meat,
Octopus, and other exotic
delicacies.
John's daughter Sara interviewed my Pops and reminded him that John and Pops help start
a student riot on Livingston College's campus. According to Pops, who
then shared the story: An another future man of Omega Psi Phi -
Jesse Jackson Sr. (of
I am somebody fame)
and some other students held some sit-in demonstrations in North
Carolina and the "white" citizens of Livingston North Carolina wanted to
avoid having a similar situation. These citizens had been donating
great sums of money to the historically Black College Livingston, and
also the
beginnings of the Food Lion Corporation had been supporting the College. A delegate from the citizens contacted the school and sharing
their concerns about a possible sit-in stating that if such a sit-in occurred in Livingston the citizens would remove their support and also could impact the funding received from Food Lion. The school's
Chaplin contacted Pops and Mr.
Kinard and encouraged them to act in the best interest of the school's funding. This
Chaplin then drafted a letter written from the perspective of the students
stating that they had no interest in holding a demonstration. Pops and John
Kinard
signed the letter with the implication that they authored the letter
and the correspondence was published in the local newspaper
calming the concerns of the "citizens". Pops then shared how the students gave he and John hell for their act of
betrayal and then held a riot to "demonstrate" their anger on campus. (Photo of John Kinard)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_KinardAs
Pop's story ended we drove up into the parking lot of
New Life - Providence,
the church that my wife and Kids having been visiting for over two
years now. Their New Years Eve service had been heavily promoted in the
church and included food and drinks prior to the service, a service, and
food and drinks following the service. New Life is a mixed congregation
and prides itself in being "Trans-ethnic" as it boasts membership
consisting of people of many
ethnicity's
promoting that the body of Christ, and the Church accepts all people
ethnically. This position of Trans-Ethnic initially turned me off, and
now I could take it or leave it.
Surprisingly this pastor,
Pastor Dan Backens
(photo to left) has often shared information I learned in my times
frequenting Black studies groups such as the incorrect presentation of 3
Kings on the standard Christian Nativity scenes. Today as we walked in
the sanctuary Pastor Dan surprised me and Pops by giving the Black
History of the New Year's Eve (Watch Night) Service. I normally post to
the e-group of the
Imani Foundation each year a
special historical note regarding going to church on New Years Eve.
"The
Watch Night Services in Black communities that we celebrate today can
be traced back to gatherings on December31, 1862, also known as
"Freedom's Eve." On that night, Blacks came together in churches and
private homes all across the nation, anxiously awaiting news that the
Emancipation Proclamation actually had become law.Then, at the stroke of
midnight, it was January 1, 1863, and all slaves in the Confederate
States were declared legally free. When the news was received, there
were prayers, shouts and songs of joy as people fell to their knees and
thanked God. Black folks have gathered in churches annually on New Year's Eve ever since, praising God for bringing us safely through another year. It's been nearly 140 years since that first Freedom's Eve
and many of us were never taught the African-American history of Watch
Night, but, tradition still brings us together at this time every year
to celebrate "how we got over." Pastor Dan, an older white guy,
almost read the above information word for word with a few changes in
the presentation to make it appropriate and relevant. Pops and I looked
at each other slightly amazed. (Photo of Paster Dan Backens)
Pops, who has been a minister
for over 60 years left the service feeling refreshed and stated that he
approved of Pastor Dan's approach to ministry and the service. He had
visited the church once before this year when his eyesight was with him.
What a difference a few days make. Three months ago he drove himself to
this church, now we have to lead him from the truck. I give thanks to
the Almighty for 2008. I've had a chance to spend a great deal of time
with Pops and my life has been affected, my fatherhood has been
affected, and my faith has deepened.
Be Improved...... Love, Seko
If you know anyone who is drowing in debt, or needs to invest in their future... I'm never too busy for your referrals. 757-404-3743.
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Seko Varner is from Positive Vibes Financial, a World Financial Group team of financial services agents. They specialize in debt reduction, investments, and insurances. Seko is in high demand as a special events DJ and owns an event marketing service. Seko has diverse background in business, counseling and education. He has been real estate agent, a school counselor, a teacher, and an Intensive In-Home Counselor. Seko is active with numerous Youth Mentorship programs and has a background in radio and television. Visit www.HappilyEverAfter.Be or call 757-248-3820 for more details.
Drew Morris, a (White, and I say that to provide a
visual) minister who is around 65 (Pops is 70) shared with me in a meeting
information about my Dad that I didn't know. He stated "Your Dad is a phenomenal man, he has
done things that others are still scared to do. He deserves a lot of
recognition. He then says "We were in a meeting and he shared with us that Dr.
King (The Honorable Dr. Martin Luther King) told my father in a meeting "You'll
have to get rid of your hate for White people to do your job." Dad then
reportedly shared in this meeting with Drew other things he did during the Civil
Rights era involving racial reconciliation. Drew shared how he admired
how my Dad, and other Blacks, rose above the problems of that time to act in a
manner exemplified by Yeshua (Jesus). As a child I used to wonder how
my parent's and ancestors lived under the suffocating veil of evil White
supremacy without wanting to kill every White person in sight. As mad as I would
become after hearing their stories I still couldn't hate Whites
because my parents wouldn't allow that. They taught me to love Black and love
White and everything in between. A lady once set Pops' hair on fire when he
rooted for the other team at a football game. The Blancos around him wouldn't let him put out the
fire nor retaliate against the witch. How could he be so loving after facing so
much hate... He attributed it to "a relationship with Christ"... I thought that
he and Christ were both crazy.
Dad is pictured above with his
friend..........Baseball legend Jackie Robinson (the second photo displays Dad with my brother and I). I remember coming home from
school after learning about Jackie Robinson in school and telling Dad and Mom I
want to play Baseball like Jackie Robinson. Dad said something to the effect of
"Jackie used to throw balls at you when you were a baby." Dad then pulled Jackie
Robinson's book off of his bookshelf and showed me a signature from Jackie with
comments that could only be made from people who are close. Dad used to minister
to Jackie Robinson's family and was even referenced in the book's "Thank You's". This picture still
makes me shiver. Two men who both shaped and changed the world I live in. Two
men who faced the cruelty of Amerika squarely in the face and
'showed love' in response to hate.
