More of ‘Them’ Than ‘Us’

Thoughts, Prayers and Poems...

An Op-Ed by Chrystal Charles

Hi, my name is Chrystal Charles, and I am A Voice of Turks and Caicos.

This, being the first of multiple series, is a body of expression that has been accumulated over many years that I’ve decided to share.

Chrystal Charles

This series will be called “Thoughts, Prayers and Poems.”

Here’s a thought for you:

“An artist’s duty is to reflect the times”: Nina Simone.

I took a stance recently to be quiet, because in the world as it is, there seems more of ‘them’ than ‘us’, shouting into the sea of the mindless.

When I say ‘us’, I refer to those who seek to be, but particularly those who just ARE genuine, divine and connected. Their bones, their hearts, their minds and their actions align with those of goodness and depth and integrity.

Those who have convictions, who sacrifice and lead because their soul and spirit allow them no other way of being, even in protest.

Those who are convicted, inspired, empowered and tormented by their connection, their calling, the essence of themselves.

And ‘them?’ We know who they are. They are our neighbours, our players, our movers and shakers, those we laud and follow and look up to as they lead us down the path of unrighteousness, through performative actions and self esteem issues disguised as confidence.

Those who have the unfortunate fortune of swallowing their sense of self and attaching to the failing Euro ideals of greed, of gain, of deception or lust, of business, and burying oneself so deep in a grave their predecessors dug that they have not realised the bones of corpses passed along the way.

The way, they will find, only leads to torment and dissatisfaction.

I wonder if to rest, collect my strength, centre myself; instead of taking blow after blow being railed against by the failing world. Preservation during the shift, right? Because as the land sinks, the seas shall rise, and so? Should I just, “Let people have things”?

The problem with letting them have things is that these things embody spirits and energies that stir the world with power and evil, and they affect US all. Leaving those of US who know not who we are yet; the confused, the impressionable, the future and the pure - lost and without guidance.

The loudness of THEM one day will quiet; however, if not even a whisper from US during the time of impression, how will any of US be inspired?

How will any of US survive the next harsh tide or sweeping change of the world? Who will the rest of US draw strength from and have knowledge to do what is necessary when the time for US comes to be loud? Who will be the good against the evil?

Funny. I’ve often wondered how the imagination of the artist and storyteller, while wildly differing, always touches the same topics.

Good vs. Evil.

Love vs. Hate.

Sacrifice, pain and preservation.

Clarity comes along with that morning joy.

The year passed has taught me much about evil and the perception of it, also how close we can teeter to and be complicit in it.

With heads in sand, along with purpose and awareness pending, there is much to fear for some. Goodness is everywhere at all times, but the awareness… the level of awareness of self, and faith and God that we need to access, enjoy and spread—it is one that is easy to elude us.

Today, quickness and noise, debauchery and newness, greed and power, acceptance and sameness to the masses - the tangible - these are the processes we are all taught to seek our desires through.

We shed our power and our joy, seeking through flesh and fakeness. Our eyes become clouded, our hearts hardened and minds darkened by the things we ingest and the way we train our consciousness.

We dismiss energetic cues and changes, actively destroy history, ancestral selves and worthwhile education. We are walking our consciousness through hell, and if we continue, it will eventually burn.

Our ancestors waded through waters to cleanse themselves and then, when times changed, they used it to free themselves; but unlike them, we neither escape foolishness nor treachery, but are so lost in hell that when we find the water, we drown in sorrow, emptiness, hatred and discontent.

So, I choose not to be quiet, and I sing:

“Wade in the water, wade in the water, children, wade in the water. God’s going to trouble the water.”

My name is Chrystal Charles, and I am a voice of Turks and Caicos.

Go to tesspresents.com to hear the narration.

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