“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

Kimberley Guillemet
Sep 3

― Frederick Douglass

While meditating on my morning devotional, I gazed outside my window and saw a bird perch itself on a rather flimsy branch of the great tree in our backyard. It was a bit breezy outside, but soon what had initially been a slight gust that caused the branch to sway gently back and forth quickly became a strong wind, causing the branch to move violently up and down and side to side. I kept waiting, expecting the bird to fly away, but it never did. It continued to hold on. Finally, after what seemed like ages, the wind died down and the branch's movement stabilized. It was only then, when the proverbial storm was over, that the bird flew away.

That micro storm reminded me of recent experiences in my life– times when my environment seemed unstable and the ground seemed a bit shaky with no stability in sight. I had to ask myself: was I going to fly away in an effort to escape or was I going to hold on and wait it out? The bird’s choice to remain on the branch while it was being tossed about by the wind and wait to leave only once the branch's movement stabilized is not the choice we see people opt for in today’s social climate. Patience, longsuffering, and unwavering commitment are not virtues that are regularly celebrated in current American culture. We live in a moment where instant gratification and quick fixes are deified, and there is little to no tolerance for discomfort.

When we face adversity and challenges, let’s refrain from running the moment things become uncomfortable. We can be assured that there is a valuable lesson in pushing through the discomfort. We become stronger and more resilient. And the reality is that often when we feel unsafe, pressured, or stressed, our decision-making abilities are not at their peak. It’s only when the wind stops howling and our foundation stabilizes that we are able to clearly see the choices and paths ahead of us such that we can make the wisest choice.

Hard is not synonymous with bad. Nothing in our lives that we will truly value or appreciate will come to us very easily.

Embrace the storm.

“Don’t become what you hate.”

Kimberley Guillemet
Jan 1

― Adapted from quote by Rev. Phil Ware

We must stop viewing our fellow humans as enemies.

Much has transpired in the world since I last posted, including a national election. Understandably, people have strong feelings about the election and other issues at the center of American and international politics. However, those feelings should not cause us to assume that people who live and/or think differently than we do are our enemies. We are all brothers and sisters in humanity. That a person is registered with a different political party, lives in a different part of the country or is from a different ethnic group than ours, does not make them our enemy.

It may feel easier or safer to mentally place entire groups of people into generalized categories rather than to take the time to reach across the aisle and foster authentic relationships on an individualized basis, but it does not make it right.

You may feel as if animus toward a specific group is justified because a member of that group mistreated you, or someone you love, in the past. I disagree. We will never overcome evil by responding in kind. As the scriptures and countless wise men and women have said in various ways over the course of human history, “you cannot overcome evil with evil; you must overcome evil with good.”

I am myself no stranger to injustice and the impact of generational disenfranchisement and oppression. Difficult and hurtful events that transpire in our world at the hands of other humans can break our hearts and threaten to break our spirits. However, when we fight evil and unkindness with more evil and unkindness, no one wins. And don't be deceived, for even if it seems as though evil is prevailing for a season, know this: love always wins.

As we prepare our hearts and minds to turn the page to another year, let's resolve to be intentional about making our world better by using our talents, abilities and resources to lead with love.

Fall 2024 World Changer: Pretty Yende

Kimberley Guillemet
Jan 1

“A voice that can reach the stars.” -The Washington Post

Born in Piet Retief, Mpumalanga, South Africa, Pretty Yende, grew up in a close-knit family where singing was interwoven into the fabric of the familial culture. A timid child, Yende would reluctantly sing in church at the insistence of her grandmother.

One day at age 16, after seeing a British Airways television advertisement that featured the Flower Duet from Lakmé, Yende became intrigued by the sound of the singers’ voices. She went to her high school teacher the next day to ask what the sound could have been. “Opera,” he responded. Yende’s next question was, “‘Can human beings do it?’ because it didn’t sound like anything I’d known.” Her teacher answered by telling her she’d never sing like that. Yende insisted on being taught. At that moment, she knew what she would do with her life.

We are so glad that she did.

Today her career as an operatic coloratura soprano has taken her around the globe many times over and has earned her too many accolades and awards to name. Some of the most notable include the Mbokodo Award in the category of opera, the Best Recording Solo Recital Award in the International Opera Awards, the International Achiever Award in the 23rd South African Music Awards, the Readers' Award in the International Opera Awards, and the Cologne Opera Award. In 2023, she sang at King Charles III’s coronation in Westminster Abbey, further solidifying her elite standing in the opera world and making her the first black woman and first African citizen to sing at a British monarch’s coronation. An avid human rights activist, Yende has a passion for serving youth from the marginalized sections of society and to that end, has founded a youth foundation in South Africa.

This text is excerpted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Yende, https://prettyyende.com/biography/ and https://www.dorchestercollection.com/the-edit/pretty-yende-trailblazing-soprano.