Somebody Paid
By Maceo Keeling –
As adults many of us know there is no Santa Claus, nor an Easter Bunny that lays colored eggs.
As I child I figured out quickly the jolly old guy wouldn’t dare park his sleigh in my neighborhood, and I knew bunnies didn’t lay eggs; so intuitively I knew … Somebody paid!
We also know the notion of a “free lunch” is as unrealistic as equality in America for African Americans. Somebody paid for me to have certain things in this life: toys, clothes, housing, and food. Somebody even paid for me to go to school.
Many African Americans died for the right to vote. That was the price they paid for our right to vote. And while voting may seem like a waste of time for some, we have a responsibility to show up and vote. This election year make sure to show up and take a friend to the voting sites before early voting ends at 1 p.m. March 12.
Do you know the candidates and their platform(s)? Do you know where early voting sites are? If you don’t early vote but cast your vote on March 15, do you know where your polling place is? Do you have the required “voter ID”? All this information is available to you at no cost because… somebody paid!
I was inspired to write this article by Dr. John Grant, pastor of Mt. Zion Church, a guest on a program I heard on WRES-100.7 FM. There is an economic conference being held on the block starting at the YMI Cultural Center on March 15, 2016 at 8:30a.m. Breakfast and lunch is being served all at no cost to you. You have to stop and ask: How is that possible? Breakfast costs something, lunch costs something, the room rental costs something … and yet your attendance is free!
There is a catch: you have to let them know you are coming so they can prepare to receive you. That means you have to register in advance (at www.bringingithomewnc.org).
The cost of the conference was about $35 per person to deliver, and the value could range from $175 to $300 per person if you had to pay for your attendance. There may be those who will criticize the meals and sleep through the seminars because, you know… it’s free. There may be those who will toss their time and a meal into the trash in the same way they may toss their vote.
I will be in attendance, and paying attention, because the information I might gain could help me save thousands of dollars. Fortunately for those who attend, like me … Somebody Paid!
As a businessman myself, I recognize and honor gifts to our community because we are able to benefit from the labor, sacrifice, blessings, and lessons of others. Grassroots organizations, political action committees, homeless shelters, soul food dinners after church all have a cost to deliver to the community at large. We sometimes take them for granted or even criticize the limited supply. The simple fact is we don’t have an unlimited supply of time, money, people, or energy to make these thing happen so we must be judicious in our giving because while you may get it for free … Somebody Paid!
As Dr. Grant recently stated, “Yes! Salvation is free to you, but thank God somebody paid!”
Be encouraged. On Tuesday, March 15, 2016, get out to vote if you haven’t early voted; and join the Bringing It Home conference at the YMI. Because remember: you don’t have to be great to get something started but you do have to get started to become Great! Answer the Call!
The Conscious Call radio program airs every Monday at 11:30 a.m. on WRES-FM 100.7. In a collaboration with the radio program, the Urban News will help keep readers informed about events, programs, news, and the progress of The Conscious Call. The opinions and statements made in this column are solely the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of the Urban News.
