DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
CELEBRATING COSBY & DADS

© NBC, The Cosby Show, Carsey-Werner Productions

Is there any way to watch the opening of The Cosby Show and not feel good?

Try it!
Take 60 seconds, view the VIDEO, and see if you don’t find yourself shimmying with Bill by the end.

And if you really want a good time, watch the progression of all 7 openers from Seasons 1 – 8: Cosby Show Season Openers. They used the same song “Kiss Me”, but it evolved
from everything from big band to jazz to musical to hip hop. Fun!

Sunday is Father’s Day.

While we take time to celebrate our dads, we also take the time to celebrate America’s favorite TV dad, Cosby’s Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable. Even after more than 25 years, Huxtable still tops the polls.

When Cosby created the show, he based it on his stand-up act, which was largely about his own family life. I’ve always wondered did his daughter really try to make a shirt for his son like the episode where Denise makes a shirt for Theo with arms of different lengths. Hilarious!

The Cosby Show was a huge success. It’s reported that the show was #1 for 5 consecutive years in the Nielsen Ratings, only 1 of 3 shows to achieve that along with American Idol and All in the Family. The Cosby Show started with over 20 million viewers and averaged up to 30 million viewers per week by Season 4. For 6 seasons, it consistently posted 20+ million, and in season 7, it was still posting numbers of 15 million. It was a bonafide hit. And it continues to roll on in syndication year after year. People love The Cosby Show.

Why?

One, because it truly is a funny show.
Two, because we all can relate.

Cosby wanted to showcase the nucleus of the family, and he did so without dumbing it down. He gave moral lessons each week through laughter. He reflected what his own family looked like: husband, wife, 1 son, 4 daughters. We celebrated with them week after week.

And we mourned with them too.

Our hearts broke when Cosby’s only son, Ennis, a 27-year old graduate of Morehouse College and Masters student at Columbia University’s Teachers College, was murdered by Ukrainian immigrant Mikhail Markhasev during a mugging when his Benz got a flat tire on I-405 near Bel Air. We just could not understand how anyone could brag of “shooting a black man and it’s on the news” when he arrived for work at a nearby restaurant. According to testimony, Markhasev demanded money and then shot Ennis for moving too slow to get it. We were all devastated.

To honor Ennis’ memory, Bill & Camille Cosby founded the The Hello, Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation to help children with learning disabilities. Like his fictional counterpart Theo Huxtable, Ennis had also overcome dyslexia. He was working on his Masters degree to become a special education teacher. He often used the phrase, “Hello, Friend”, which became the saying of Little Bill in Cosby’s series on Nickelodeon.

Cosby’s public image took several hits in recent years, but everyone marveled at the grace he extended to the murderer of his son when he spoke against giving Markhasev the death penalty. So, when convicted and sentenced, Markhasev received life in prison.

Cosby had every right to demand a life for a life, an eye for an eye. But he didn’t. He demonstrated what Jesus commanded of his disciples in Matthew 5:38-48. Honestly, I don’t know how he turned the other cheek and extended love to his enemy. Parents who have lost children testify that it’s the most unnatural, painful event ever. I’m sure it took time, lots of time.

The Matthew passage says that when we love our enemies, we prove to be the children of our Father in heaven because God provides sun and rain for those who are good and evil. Somehow, we emulate Him.

I hadn’t really thought about it, but I just wondered, “What does that look like when God provides good things for people who hate Him, essentially His enemies?” He could easily choose to vindicate Himself this very day, and one day He will; but for now, He’s doesn’t. He extends grace.

So, today, we celebrate our heavenly Father, and thank Him for His patience.

We celebrate and lift up Cosby, who will always be America’s #1 Dad, as he continues to donate millions to charities and educational scholarships.

And we celebrate our own dads, whom we love and cherish.

Happy Father’s Day!
Naima

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
WHAT DAUGHTERS NEED



2 wks old. ©naimalett.com. all rights reserved.

To Dads, Dads-to-be, Dads-MIA & men trying to understand women, this one’s for you.

I woke up thinking about Father’s Day, which is this weekend.
I’ve made no secret about it: I’ve got an incredible dad. I also have a great father-in-law. My husband’s very close to his dad and is going to be an amazing father himself. My brothers are doing a slam up job with my 11 nieces and nephews. Nobody’s perfect. We’re all quite flawed, but when it comes to family, they’re doing something right.

Which got me to thinking: What is it? What makes them outstanding dads… especially in the eyes of their Girl Child? What did they figure out, whether consciously or subconsciously, about their children’s needs, and specifically a daughter’s needs?

There is one thing that they have all done extremely well that I think I can share with you. Here are my thoughts. I’d love to hear yours.

WHAT DAUGHTERS NEED

Dads,

More than anything, we need you.

We need your presence. You are the first man we ever know, and whether you are present or absent shapes the rest of our world.

We deeply desire to be loved, and the only way we know whether you love us or not is how present you are in our lives. We believe that you love us when you show up again and again and again. Day in, day out, you are steady. You are constant. You are real. You talk to us. You want to know what we think and why we think that way. You protect us. You get involved.

We learn from you that either men are trustworthy and dependable or flaky and unreliable. You keep your promises or… you don’t. You show up to our dance recitals and T-ball games or not. When you travel for work, you call/Skype/FaceTime us, or find other things to do.

If you’re a military dad, we need you. We understand when you have to go and protect our entire country, but when your face pops up on the video cam, we light up, ’cause you’re dad!

If you happen to lose your job in the bum economy or you’re an artist scraping rent together, we need you. When we see you sacrificing and taking odd jobs to make sure that we eat, we see how much you care. We intuitively feel that you don’t put your dreams ahead of our survival, and we get it. We learn responsibility as we see you working daily and looking for work daily. We are so grateful for your provision, a home, food to eat. We crave security and when you provide a safe place, the rest of our lives fall into place.

If you’re in vocational ministry, especially at a church, we need you. It’s difficult to follow you in serving the Lord if your time with us is non-existent. If we share you with all the other people at church, at some point, we get some time too, right? And when we see you get down on your knees and pray, then get up and live like the One you’re praying to, including loving us like He loves us, and walking in integrity, we take note. We don’t forget. We remember your God.

If for some reason, things didn’t work out with you and our mom, we still need you. Because right or wrong, we begin determining who we are and how important we are based on your involvement in our lives. We learn how other men should treat us based on how you treat us. We pick up all these cues from you.

If you’ve hurt us deeply through substance abuses and dependencies and physical abuse and other dangers, we need you to make things right. We need you to get help. Then we need you to genuinely apologize and give us time to forgive and put the pieces back together.

And if you’ve been MIA – missing in action – or not as involved as you could’ve been in years past, it’s not too late. We still need you. We might be a little angry, and rightfully so, and it could take a sincere apology and time for us to get to complete forgiveness, but don’t give up. Keep showing up. Prove yourself faithful. Because, deep down, we yearn for a relationship with you.

We want to work through our issues before you or us pass on from this place. And if we don’t work them out, we wrestle with regret. If we do work them out, we’re at peace. Things fit into place. Some of us have already lost our dads, and it’s not the easiest thing to rebound from. So, if you’re still here on this earth, you shouldn’t be lost to us. We’ve still got time.

Nothing takes the place of your presence.

Whether birthdays or everyday, graduations or our wedding day, we’re looking for you, Dad, and for the love communicated through your eyes and your actions.

And our relationship with you really does impact our other relationships, including our spiritual one. It’s easier or harder to believe that there is a God who is our heavenly Father based on our experiences with you. Our relationship to God as a heavenly Father is so crucial that Jesus tells His disciples to start with that very relationship when they pray, and He assures them that God wants to give His children good gifts in the same way that you would give us food instead of snakes and scorpions when we ask for your provision (LUKE 11).

The only way that we know you’d give us good and not bad is if that’s what actually happens when you are with us.

Girls are just different. We’re different. We just are.
We need you. We need you around, or at least connected.

We may require a little more attention, a lot more communication. We just do.
We may ask 100 questions in 10 minutes. We have a lot on our minds.
And the more creative, yet honest, your answers are, the better.

Yes, we need your love. And the best way to demonstrate your love is to show up.
That’s what daughters need.

A great big thank you to all you dads who are raising us, loving us and showing up, well after our tiny patent leather Mary Jane’s have grown into not-so-tiny patent leather Jimmy Choo’s.

Please know that you still make a huge difference in our lives.
Love you & Happy Father’s Day,
Naima

PS And thank you to my dad for being so consistent and drama-free. You worked hard, you provided for our family, and you loved our mother fiercely and faithfully, every day, especially through cancer, until she went to be with the Lord. You loved us, disciplined us and helped us avoid so many pitfalls. You showed up with integrity. You came home every day, you taught us everything from how to read to how to drive. You modeled faith in action and you still do. You support our dreams in word and deed and your 4 children and 11 grandchildren honor you. We honor the amazing father and outstanding man that you are. Thank you.

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
FILMS, PLAYS, BOTH WAYS



©Getty Images, Steve Kazee and the cast of ‘Once’ at Tony Awards, photo source

Plays that prove to be über-successful on Broadway used to get a one-way ticket to Hollywood.

Look at Rock of Ages, the rock musical starring Tom Cruise, which opens in movie theaters this weekend. I haven’t seen it, but the musical play version premiered in LaLa Land in 2005, made the bi-coastal journey to the Big Apple and opened on Broadway by 2009. Now, the film billboards seem as numerous as our palm trees.

It isn’t the first Broadway play-to-film.

The trend goes all the way back to plays like Sound of Music, Westside Story, A Raisin in the Sun, Death of a Salesman, A Chorus Line, Mamma Mia, DreamGirls, list goes on and on.

But there’s a new trend where it seems like the stories are going both ways i.e. Broadway plays are going to film, but now, films are being made into plays????

This year’s Best Musical Tony Award was given to the indie love story Once, which won 8 of its 11 Tony nominations on Sunday. Once is based on a 2006 independent film which won the 2007 Independent Spirit Award for best foreign film and the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Seems a little backwards, but Once wasn’t the only film-to-play on Tony’s stage on Sunday. The musical Newsies, based on the 1992 film starring Christian Bale, won 2 Tony Awards including best original score.

Other Broadway plays from films that are currently running are Ghost, Sister Act and Spider Man. Don’t even ask about Spider Man! Blame The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. They set the film-to-play bar way high back in the 90s. And to top it off, I hear that a Broadway version of The Bodyguard is coming by the end of the year. Get ready!

What’s the point?!
The industry is in ‘flux’. Nothing is really set any more.
There isn’t just one way. Things are going both ways.

But it’s not just Hollywood and Broadway.
Our entire economy is in flux.
Which means, I highly recommend that we all should shift to what my dad calls, “max flex mode”. Maximum flexibility.

For folks of faith, I think the only way to not get rattled by all the shifts and changes, (everything is always shifting and changing) is to really trust in God, not just in word, but to really trust Him.

We’re wrapping up our doctoral cohort this week. Last night and today we’ve been in Proverbs and the Psalms. My apologies for getting this blog off so late today. I didn’t finish writing this morning, as I usually do. I’ve literally been writing on my breaks between class. :=)

Either way, I am reminded of Psalm 25:1 which begins, “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.”
He continues, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me…”

When writing this song, the psalmist knew that trusting God required letting go of his own need to have everything figured out. Sometimes, we just have to say, we’ll trust.

Be encouraged, Fam.
Stuff will shift.
Jobs will change.
The industry will flux.
We can flex.

We can trust that God is ultimately in control.
No telling what film we’ll see on Broadway next.
Or what play we’ll see translated into a movie.
Let’s stay on top of what’s happening, for sure, but let’s also be willing to completely let go, trust God, and keep it moving!

“The sun’ll come out tomorrow,
Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow…”
Was Annie on Broadway first or on film?
Naima

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
HERE WE GO AGAIN



©ABC News, WATCH VIDEO, photo source

“Here we go again…”

Thus begins yesterday’s note from Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts about her new diagnosis.

Robin blogs, “Here we go again. As many of you know, 5 years ago I beat breast cancer. I’ve always been a fighter, and with all of your prayers and support, a winner. Sometimes the treatment for cancer can cause other serious medical problems. Today, I want to let you know that I’ve been diagnosed with MDS or myelodysplastic syndrome. It’s a disease of the blood and bone marrow and was once known as preleukemia. My doctors tell me I’m going to beat this — and I know it’s true.”

Robin made the announcement yesterday at the end of Good Morning America (GMA) that she found out the MDS diagnosis on the very day that GMA beat The Today Show in ratings for the first time in 16 years. She also mentioned landing the biggest interview of her career with President Obama on the same day that she had a bone marrow extraction test.

“Talk about highs and lows,” she said.

Here’s the thing.
Oddly enough, Kevin and I are included in the small percentage of people who can actually say we know what Robin is going through.

The first year of our marriage, Kevin was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. We went through 6 months of chemotherapy to eradicate the cancer, and it worked, praise God! But, then we had a scare, quite like Robin’s. Kevin’s final scans showed what looked like a new mass, and we begin preparing for him to undergo a complete bone marrow transplant.

When Robin talks about having a bone marrow extraction and a drill in her back, we remember that. When she talks of the highs and lows, we are right there, Sister!

And Robin’s right – going through cancer treatment can result in a lot of other ailments. Kevin got shingles, which stems from chicken pox virus, because the chemo knocked out his immune system and it could no longer keep the virus in check. The doctors give medication for nausea, but that might cause constipation. Then, you get medication for constipation, and that may cause cramping. And on and on. Medical roller coaster.

Now in our case, Kevin was spared. After months of preparation and more tests than we care to count, our surgeons ruled the new “mass” to be benign scar tissue. Crisis averted (sigh). For a little while, anyway. :=) We were relieved and are still eternally grateful that Kevin has been cancer-free for almost ten years now.

We will be praying for Robin, and we ask that you pray too. We have the unique experience of being able to pray specifically, having walked through some of her journey; but all of us can lift up our sister and fellow follower of Christ.

Here’s truth:

The only point that caused me pause in Robin’s note that I wanted to bring out this morning is the statement that “God only gives us what we can handle…”

This is a wonderful Americanism that has been passed off as God’s word for a long time. Many Christians quote this as a way to encourage each other through our hard times. Some even said it to Kevin and me as we journeyed through cancer.

While it may sound good, I just need to take a second today to bring truth to light, no disrespect to Ms. Robin, of course. The statement that “God only gives us what we can handle” is simply not true. It’s also stated as “God will not give us more than we can bear.”

The scripture that this statement is referring to is:
1 Corinthians 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

The truth is this passage is about God not allowing us to be tempted to sin beyond what we can handle. When we are tempted to sin, meaning do things that break our relationship with God, there is always another option where we can, in the words of Spike Lee, “Do the right thing!”

That scripture has nothing to do with enduring the sometimes crappy circumstances that are a result of living in a fallen world. It’s true that God allows hardships in our lives, but He’s not up in heaven like, “Watch! I’m going to let her have cancer. I’m going to let him lose a child. They can handle it!”

I don’t have sufficient time this morning to unpack suffering and ‘why bad things happen to good people?’ or ‘how can a good God allow bad things?’ or ‘why did Job lose everything?’. Perhaps we can do that in a future blog. My point is that God is utterly benevolent, and is not throwing stuff on us to see if we can bear them.

Our lives are full of situations that we cannot handle.
The Bible is full of people with circumstances they cannot handle.
The Psalms are full of songs about events that people cannot handle.

As a matter of fact, Psalms 55:22 says: “Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you…” God knows we can’t handle these hardships. So He says, “Throw them on me. I’ll carry you.”

Robin says all throughout her interview that her faith will sustain her. She is depending on God. She has not walked away from her faith. She’s leaning on God. What an incredible testimony!

I really am not trying to be hurtful in any way. I just want us all to frame our worldview in truth. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll think twice before we tell another brother or sister that they’re going to be fine in whatever circumstance they might be facing because God knows “they can handle it.”

Let’s all cast our burdens upon the Lord because He knows (and we know) that we can’t handle it, whatever ‘it’ is.

Our Prayer

We lift Robin up and stand with her for the Lord to heal her body. We pray that the bone marrow transplant will be successful. We pray that her body will not reject the marrow from her sister. We pray for her and her sister to recover quickly. We pray for Robin’s immune system to be strengthened, even during the chemo. We pray that she will not have adverse side effects. We pray for every doctor, surgeon, oncologist, medical professional, that God gives them wisdom, supernatural insight and truth at every turn. We pray that nothing will be hidden, but all things made plain. We pray that through the entire journey, the Lord will be so close to Robin and draw her close to Him. We pray that He will sustain and provide everything that she needs.

Lots of love to Robin.
Lots of love to you, Fam,
Naima

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
HEART OF AN ARTIST



© CBS, Tony Awards, photo source

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW the true heart of an artist…
take 90 seconds and watch the acceptance speech (video above) of now 5-Time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald from last night’s historic win for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for the revival, “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess“.

For the sake of full disclosure, I have to admit that “Porgy and Bess” is not my favorite musical. Frankly, I’m ready for stories that show people of color with hope that don’t revolve around drug addiction and sexual exploitation. But that being said, I am proud of Audra and all that she has accomplished.

This is the first win for Audra in the Leading Role category, but she joins the elite circle of 5-time winners including Angela Lansbury and Julie Harris; Audra being the first African American. Trained at The Julliard School, Audra, won 4 previous Tony Awards for Featured roles in A Raisin in the Sun, Master Class, Carousel and Ragtime, 3 of which she won before the age of 30. Add that to 2 Grammy Awards, 2 Emmy Award nominations, and a former series regular role on ABC’s Private Practice, the 41-year old mommy has been pretty busy.

With tears streaming down her flawless makeup, Audra laid bare her heart, “I was a little girl with a pot belly and afro puffs, hyperactive and over-dramatic. And I found the theatre, and I found my home. I found a place to express myself. And I was so grateful, even at the age of 9. And to think that the theatre would be so good to me. It’s mind blowing…”

AN ARTIST’S HEART

Family within our faith community ask me all the time, “What was she thinking?” or “What was he doing?” when they hear artists’ horror stories hitting the media. But if we can understand that what drives artists is what drives all of us, I think it would help us understand one another better.

Two of our most important, basic needs as human beings are:
1) To find our home (safety)
2) To express ourselves (purpose)

Audra said when she found the theatre, she both – found her home and found the place where she could freely express herself.

Notice, the theatre was a safe place, a haven where she could be herself, where she could be who God created her to be: a 9-year old with a pot belly, afro puffs, hyperactive and over-dramatic.

Can I ask a challenging question?

Can artists say this about our faith communities and churches today? Can we find our home, a safe place to express themselves, in the family of God? Many that I meet, on a weekly basis here in the LaLa, recount stories of rejection, abuse and harm from Christians. I’m constantly apologizing for fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, things that we’ve said and done out of sheer ignorance or disdain.

The truth is that I’ve also been on the receiving end of some of the attacks. The difference is that I know we’re family, so I have a strong motivation to work things out. I’m not going to leave my faith in God because somebody in His family acts out, so I learn to forgive and how to pray for people.

OFFENSES

Offenses go both ways.

The artistic community could also be more sensitive to the family of faith. We could try to understand that the first 5 minutes of the Tony Awards could be utterly offensive to many Christians. Opening the awards show with last year’s Best Musical winner, The Book of Mormon is not the way to endear ourselves to people of faith, though I’m pretty sure that offense is the point of the entire musical from the writers who created the controversial cartoon, South Park.

Most Christians would say that they do not believe what Mormons believe; so when they see the Tonys open with such a flippant use of the name of their Lord, it’s a turn off. Many Christians don’t know what to do with Judas as a rock star making accusations against Christ in the production of Jesus Christ Superstar or the teeny-bopping portrayal in Godspell.

People of faith are thinking, “What in the world are you doing with our faith?” Don’t portray us like that.

UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER

Kevin and I work relentlessly to build a bridge between our two seemingly different worlds of “ministry” and “industry”. But they’re really not all that different. Why? Because 1) we consider all of life as ministry, which means service, and 2) whether serving as full-time vocational ministers or Hollywood producers, we’re essentially called to care for people.

We’re all PEOPLE. That’s the common ground.

What brings all of us together is that we are all people. We all need a safe place. We all need a home. We all need a place to express ourselves.

In dealing with relationships and how His followers are to treat people, Jesus says we are to love people, including those we consider to be our enemies.

MATTHEW 5:43-48
The Message
43-47″You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. 48″In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

Jesus says God provides sun and rain for everyone. He extends His grace to those who trust Him as well as those who don’t. Are we not to follow His lead? Do we only embrace those who agree with us? Or do we love people as God loves them?

Be clear: God is not overlooking the fact that some people reject Him. When it’s all said and done, we will all be held accountable for what we’ve decided about God and His Son. But in the meantime, Jesus seems to be saying, “Love people.”

HEART EACH OTHER

In other words, let’s heart each other.
Love is paramount.

Audra ended her speech with a declaration of love to her family and then to her daughter. She said, “This is an amazing night for Mommy, but February 14, 2001, the day you were born, is the best night ever! Never forget that. I love you.”

You just know that Audra’s daughter will also have a safe place that’s home, that Audra will provide a place for her to freely express herself.

We should do the same for one another.
Let’s help each other find home, the safe place where we can freely express ourselves.
Let’s care for each other’s hearts, not try to break them. :=)

Heart-mending,
Naima

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
THEATRE, TONY AWARDS & ENGAGING CULTURE

©Tony Awards, CBS Sun June 10th, 8 pm

Tony, Tony, Tony!
Awards, that is!
(Not the music group, Tony! Toni! Toné!)

They’re back. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre aka The Tony Awards will air LIVE this Sunday at 8 PM ET. The award garners its name from the co-founder of the American Theatre Wing, the organization that created and sponsors the awards.

For those of us who are theatre babies, it’s the coronation ball.
For the rest of world, probably not so much.
And for the faith-filled world, it’s Tony what?! :=)

Now, before my faith fam clicks away, journey with me for a minute.

A couple of things you may find interesting:

First, Condola Rashād, 25, daughter of Phylicia Rashād, has been nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for Stick Fly, which was co-produced by Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys. Phylicia, fellow Howard University Alum best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show, became the first African-American actress to win the Tony Award in 2004 for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for A Raisin in the Sun. Like mother like daughter. Not bad for Condola’s first time on Broadway.

Secondly, I wouldn’t want to be competing in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play category. Whew! Heavy hitters. Philip Seymour Hoffman, James Earl Jones, Frank Langella, John Lithgow! Geez! It’s like a Who’s Who of not just theatre, but TV & Film.

Which brings me to the crossover effect! Did anybody watch NBC’s breakout hit Smash, co-produced by Steven Spielberg? Broadway staples like Megan Hilty and Bernadette Peters (whom I had to privilege to work with on Lifetime’s Living Proof) finally received a vehicle into prime time. I’ve never really been a fan of lead Katharine McPhee (American Idol runner up, Season 5), but if you ever want to get a snapshot of the behind-the-scenes scandal of our theatrical world, Smash nails it.

I’m not saying you have to watch the Awards on Sunday, especially if you’re not familiar with the shows on Broadway; but I do think it would be incredible if you took a second and looked at the Tony website, to figure out what’s actually nominated and ask the question, “Why?”

THEATRE

The arts, in general, and theatre, in particular, have consistently been the great barometer of our society. If you want to know where a nation is headed in a couple of decades, look at what’s playing on its stages now 8 shows a week, Tuesday through Sunday. That’s where the intellects, who make the decisions that affect the whole country, gather to engage, feel, think, and experience.

The very issues that are playing out politically today played first on our stages in the early 1990s and 2000s. Our faith fam are alarmed and trying to
figure out what in the world happened, and my usual answer is, “We left.”

What do I mean?

Instead of engaging culture and staying in the arenas that really matter to hold the dialogues, bring the truth perspective that we are privileged to have, and shine brightly as light as we’ve been commissioned to do, we opted to take our ball from the game, go home, and start our own game in our own backyard with just us and a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the fence.

ENGAGING CULTURE

Emmy Award-winning producer, the late Bob Briner, wrote an entire book about this phenom in 1993 called Roaring Lambs: A Gentle Plan to Radically Change Your World. Briner said that he wrote “with the hope that Christian young people will choose careers and professions that will place them in the ‘culture shaping’ venues of our world” i.e. film, television, theatre, literature, visual arts, and the academies. He dared ask the question, “Where are all the Christians?”

Well, today, I’d like to piggy back on Briner’s charge and invite followers of Christ back into the cultural dialogue, and not necessarily with a boycott sign. While that may soothe the inner voice that says, “I did something!”, boycotting doesn’t involve relationships – you know, rolling up our sleeves and doing life with folks – talking, arguing, loving, respecting.

Why are we so afraid to get in public, and love and respect people enough to intelligently disagree? Notice, I didn’t say, ‘burn books’. I’m advocating to pick up the books, read them, and intelligently and articulately disagree where truth is concealed. Jesus did it all the time. But He actually disagreed more with the religious leaders. Go figure! Might’ve had something to do with being called to the nation of Israel first.

Paul, on the other hand, called to Gentiles, lit it up. Have you read the Book of Acts? What about Acts 17? Paul’s discourse in Athens on Mars Hill placed him right smack dead in the middle of the market place with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, Jews, God-fearing Gentiles, and everything in between. Paul didn’t get upset when people disagreed or sneered at him. He didn’t swoon and say, “Woe is me! Secular men don’t agree with me!” He spoke truth. Some believed. Some didn’t. Who believes is not up to Paul anyway. He does his part, which is to engage in the dialogue.

Let’s do that!
Engage in culture.
Engage in the dialogue.

Briner reminds us repeatedly in his book of Jesus’ call in the Book:

MATTHEW 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

WHO’S THE LIGHT?

We’re the light of the world, Fam.
The world is not the light of the world.
Blind can’t lead the blind.

We’re the light and we’re not supposed to hide off in our own little corner with our own little agenda for only us to enjoy. We’re called to let our light shine so that others will see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.

Go represent, Fam!
Go be the light wherever you are.
Shine!

PRAY FOR US

And do me a favor: Instead of the default set on ‘bash’, please pray for our fellow fam that are called to be light in the theatre world and on Broadway and on TV and in films. Pray, pray, pray! We need your prayers and support and love. We’re doing our best to be light. And we’ve got opposition coming from all sides, especially from our family of faith.

So, please, intercede for us. Stand in the gap.
Pray for us like we’re your children & if we are your children, even more so.
Pray for the Lord to infuse us with His Spirit and add oil to our fire.
Pray for Him to give us wisdom, discernment and courage not to compromise.
Pray for us to love people like God loves people, and stand fearless as witnesses for truth.

We’ve been given a beautiful gift of expression that is able to transform hearts and minds. Pray for purity of our gifts in place of perversions. And especially pray for our motives – that we would remain humble and close to the Lord. His Spirit is able to convict us. Trust God. He will lead and guide us. We ask for your prayers.

And I don’t do this a lot, but I specifically ask for your prayers for me and Kevin as we share God’s word and love with the dream makers and dream chasers here in Beverly Hills and Hollywood. This is our family, just like our faith family, and we are doing our best to translate languages on both sides so that there is more understanding… kind of like a bridge of sorts.

Why? Because we want to be a part of the conversation and the arts platform today that shapes the culture that affects our children 20 years from now. Don’t you?!

Shine, Light. Shine!
Naima

P.S. We’re preaching for our doctoral residency on Friday, so no new blog tomorrow. :=(
This blog will post today and tomorrow. Have a great weekend!

Does this challenge you? Let us know what you think:

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
WHEN LIFE’S A CIRCUS



©Cirque du Soleil, photo source

Ever feel like life resembles the Cirque du Soleil rehearsal pictured above?

You’re balancing, one leg up, while hopping from back to back of colleagues who are trying to jump rope, half-bent, simultaneously?

Yes. That just about sums it up.

Welcome to the great balancing act: family, faith, career, bills, health, school, friends, perform, jump, jump, jump!

Yet, we pay lots of money to go to the circus. Why?

Because the artists have spent thousands of hours mastering their balancing acts, and we gain inspiration from watching them defy all odds to make it to the end of line and somersault off into a Perfect 10 landing. Maybe we can do the same? Figuratively, of course!

What may be even more amazing than admiring the performers’ ability to balance is understanding that many of them consider the circus to be one of the most stable, balanced lives ever. Really?!

I recently met a talented former circus performer who now lives in our City of Angels. She described her time in the circus as the most stable, consistent time in her life. She received a steady paycheck (of which most went directly to savings), lodging and living provisions, and a built-in family on the road.

“We had it so good,” she reminisced.

Fascinating! I had erroneously assumed that life in the circus was indeed… a circus. Not so!

Could it be the same with our own lives?

Could things sometimes look like a circus, but are actually more stable and balanced? Or maybe things are really imbalanced and crazy, but because of our faith, we don’t have to get all out of sorts with the circumstances? Is it possible to live between the tension of daily balance and imbalance without completely becoming undone?

I’m reminded of Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians in which he encourages his readers repeatedly to rejoice in the midst of their circumstances. Towards the end of the letter, as Paul thanks them for sending aid for his ministry, he also explains that he has learned to live in contentment, no matter what’s going on in life. In other words, he’s learned to balance the circus. (My interpretation :=)

Philippians 4:11-13
…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

Paul says the secret to being content in any and every situation is recognizing his dependency on Christ. Pretty cool.

So whether life feels like a circus (jump, jump, jump!) or it’s a time when “We have it so good!”, we can remain steady as we find contentment through our dependency on our Lord.

That gives me so much hope!
What about you?!

Your fellow high flying trapeze artist in my dreams,
Naima

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
NEVER TOO LATE TO FOLLOW OUR DREAMS



photo source ©Getty Images

Two-time Emmy Award-winning actress Kathryn Joosten (best known as nosy neighbor Karen McKluskey on Desperate Housewives) passed last Friday after a long battle with lung cancer. She was 72. What most people don’t know is that Kathryn decided to become an actress at the age of 42. That’s right!

It’s reported that Ms. Kathryn made a career change from a psychiatric nurse to a community theater actress at the age of 42! Then, she moved to Hollywood to pursue television and film at the age of 56. Within 3-4 years, she landed the notable recurring role of the President’s secretary on West Wing when she was just shy of 60. At 66, she won her first Emmy Award for Desperate Housewives and she won her second in 2008, so she would’ve been what- 69?!

It’s never too late, Fam!
What is for you is for you.

Kathryn is not alone. Morgan Freeman, 75, became “Morgan Freeman” at the age of 50 when he gained notoriety in Driving Miss Daisy. Betty White, 90, is working more now than ever before – two television shows, films, Super Bowl commercials! I met her agent recently and he’s having a ball trying to keep up with her.

Fam, if you feel like time is not on your side, I challenge you today to think again.
It’s never too late!

Look at Moses.

The first 40 years of his life was in Pharaoh’s palace in Egypt. Then, he killed an Egyptian guard and became a fugitive on the backside of a desert for the next 40 years. At the age of 80, yes 8-0, Moses was called by God to deliver God’s people from Egypt and then lead them around the desert for another 40 years.

EXODUS 3 is fascinating.
If you have time to read it, please do.

Moses responds to God’s calling, at age 80, as many of us do at 20, 30, 40, 50. He asks God:
“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

God didn’t ask Moses, “Who are you?”
God said, “I’ve heard the cry of my people. Go tell Pharaoh to let them go.”
In other words, “Go meet the need.”

I don’t know what you’ve got going on today and what God has called you to do and what you dream of doing, but it’s probably best to start with eyes on God, not on ourselves.

This passage is so rich, and I don’t have all the time to unpack it. But I hope that you’re encouraged today, especially by Kathryn’s life.

Kathryn launched out at 42 and moved to Hollywood at 56. She quit smoking when she was diagnosed with cancer the first time back in 2001, and kept on working. She conquered the first go round, and she became a spokesperson and fought til the end. She even was so courageous as to die of cancer on the finale of Desperate Housewives just weeks before her real life departure. Thank you Kathryn for sharing your journey with the world. Our prayers are with your loved ones.

Fam, it doesn’t matter how old we are.
It’s never too late to follow our dreams.
It’s never too late to fulfill God’s calling.

Go forth!
Naima

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
BEGINNING OF AN END



photo source

Today marks the beginning of an end.
Today, I start my 3rd and final Doctorate in Ministry residency.
Praise. The. Lord.

Talbot School of Theology at BIOLA has a great preaching D.MIN program. I am privileged to be the first female in our cohort. That being said, it’s been a long road, and I am chasing down the light at the end of the tunnel! Once I complete this term, it’s on to writing my dissertation. Putting on my Nikes, Fam! Run, Forrest, Run!

So, for the next 2 weeks, I apologize in advance for not urgently answering each call, email, text, Facebook and Twitter post. I will be buried, only coming up for air to take a shower, kiss my husband good night and preach on Sunday.

If you pass me on the I-5 and it looks like I’m talking to myself about the 4 horsemen in Revelation or the 4 creatures covered with eyes or the 24 elders that can’t seem to help themselves, but instead keep falling down to worship at God’s throne, just smile and wave. It’ll be over soon.

I’m reminded of a short verse in Ecclesiastes. Remember this?

ECCLESIASTES 7:8
8 Endings are better than beginnings.
Patience is better than pride.

Isn’t that the truth?

Most endings, especially in film, are better than their beginnings. Simba has to become the new Lion King, Luke Skywalker has to destroy the Death Star, and E.T. has got to go home. Wonderful endings!

Such it is with life.
The last day of school is definitely better than the first. The satisfaction of finishing a project is better than starting it. Celebrations are for the accomplished, not beginners.

So, what ending are you writing right now?
What are you finishing up?
It’s looking better and better, right?

Kudos to Bryanna and Alaina and all the graduates who are walking across stages this week. You thought it would never end, didn’t you? Look at you now!

Best to all those who are receiving promotions and advancements. You’ve been praying for a long time. You’ve been patient and steady and humble. So happy for you.

Congrats to the artists who just landed new roles, gigs and/or representation in the game.
Go forth, Fam!

Ain’t the end better than the beginning?

Be encouraged, Fam.
Your end doesn’t have to look like the beginning. You’ve still got time to switch things up, if need be. And if you can’t decide which ending you like best, just write three i.e. Lord of the Rings, anyone?

Whether you’re at the beginning, in the middle, or you can finally see the light at the end, hang in there. What an end it shall be!

Happy Monday!
So glad I don’t have a date with those 4 horsemen!
They’ve got a lot going on,
Naima

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
BRAND NEW DAY!

©Universal Studios

Can’t you feel a brand new day!
Can’t you feel a brand new day!

Anybody remember this break out song produced by Quincy Jones and written by Luther Vandross for The Wiz, the 1978 Motown-produced, Universal-distributed urbanized version of The Wizard of Oz starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor?

It’s the most triumphant scene of the movie. Evillene has been destroyed. Her captives are set free. Michael Jackson boogies. Diana twirls on a table. The liberated peel off the creature outfits they’ve been subjected to for so long and then celebrate in their underwear. Oh, freedom! LOL!

I make light of it, but seriously, I woke up this morning kind of heavy – got so much on the plate. I journaled about it, got in the Word, and somewhere between I Kings and 2 Kings, Elijah and Elisha, faith kicked in, and I felt like joining Diana on top of the table.

Have you looked at God’s exploits through these 2 prophets?

Fire from heaven
Massive rain to end droughts
Earthquakes
Liberating folks from debt
Raising children from the dead
Miracles, Fam!

When Elijah is about to be taken up to heaven, Elisha witnesses more miracles.

2 KINGS 2
Excerpt: 8-14

8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. 10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” 11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. 13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

Chariots of Fire! Horses of fire. Whirlwinds to heaven! Seas parting.
It does not get much better than this.
Where are Steven Spielberg, George Lucas or Peter Jackson when you need them?

Is anybody else encouraged?

I read this and I realize how out of this world our God is!
His power defies the limitations of this earth. And He empowers His servants to do the straight miraculous. Elijah parted a sea, went out blazing, left his cloak, which Elisha inherited and turned around and did the same thing, started parting seas! Elisha then followed in Elijah’s footsteps and started meeting the needs of the people.

Brand new day, Fam!
Brand new day!

We don’t serve a wimpy dead god. We serve the Creator of the ends of the earth – the great Resurrector of the dead. And He empowers his servants to accomplish all that He’s given us to accomplish.

It’s the 1st day of the month!
Summer is just a couple of weeks away!
We’re almost 1/2 way through the year!
What has God empowered us to do?

I’m moving forward.
How ’bout you?

Can’t you feel a brand new day!
Can’t you feel a brand new day!
Naima

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