Tag: Rev. Victoria L. Burson

Depression– melancholy, despair, and unhappiness – is one of the greatest misfortunes and it has crept into the crevices and corridors of our faith communities. Anyone so suffering should seek pastoral and/or professional counseling and stay completely committed to their healing and recovery.

One of the greatest calamities to hit our communities throughout Baltimore and the surrounding communities is this whole since of hopelessness steeped in depression. Depression appears to have no particular address nor is it a respecter of persons. Moreover, hopelessness has crept into the crevices and corridors of our faith communities. Yes, feelings of hopelessness are real and for those with true diagnoses of any form of depression, one should stay on their meds, seek pastoral and/or professional counseling – staying completely committed to healing and recovery.

I am reading a book for the Lenten season Giving Up Something Bad for Lent, by James Moore. It basically talks about giving up those things that we desire not to return to, even after Lent. I am reading a chapter entitled ”Give up running away.” I really enjoyed this chapter as it spoke volumes to my inner-being, causing me to do some self-actualizing. It reminds me of the narrative found in the Gospel according to Luke 9:10-17 (read it), where we embark on the story of a younger son entreating his father for his inheritance early, leaving home only […]

Some time ago, I wrote an article, “Building a Community for Radical Inclusion.” This issue comes down to what it means to gain access to society, public or private. I often consider my unique individuality – the nature of my being. For myself, there are disparities between who I believe I am and who God says I am. I believe God as it relates to my inner-being, moral fiber, and sense of agency that “I am the head and not the tail, above and not beneath” (Deuteronomy 28:13) and that I am “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), and that […]

OMG, it’s 2016! What are you doing with your life? How are you fulfilling your destiny? Are you living or simply existing? Are you living life on purpose? Some time ago, I made a promise to myself that I would not make any more New Year’s resolutions. Reason being, I don’t keep them and I realize all I was doing was setting myself up for perpetual failure. For me, it was better for my inner self to actualize my current situation and began to benchmark my steps towards living my best life with my best self. Too often we focus […]

As we approach yet another week of our Lenten season I became curious as to what Lent meant to various believers. As you may have guessed, I got an array of answers. For some, Lent was a time of giving up, sacrificing, or time spent alone. Some new converts or believers didn’t know much about this sacred time; they believed that only Catholics celebrated Lent. And yet others did not believe in it at all.

In the issue before last, we took a strong look into understanding the Power of Purpose. As followers of Christ, our moral obligation is to become the salt and light of the earth, for we are the hands and feet of God and God’s creation. In fact, all humanity has a moral obligation under God to one another regardless of one’s status or title; we have an awesome responsibility to live out our God-given purpose in life.

Ever wonder why you were born? Or better yet, what is your purpose in life? Guess what – you are not the only one to ponder these questions. Life has a way of causing us to inquire periodically the notion of why we are here. The Bible reminds us in Matthew 5:13-16, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot […]