I spoke in Florence, South Carolina at a Women’s Conference at Central Missionary Baptist Church. The theme was Essence of Love. Initially,  I had trouble deciding what I was going to speak about when it came to that particular topic. I sat and thought about the word Essence. I said the word over and over again in my mind and out loud. In due time…

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‘Essence’ became a sense as in common sense.

Then sense  became cents… as in dollars & cents.

Then cent became scent as in a distinctive smell.

I began to wonder what common sense would God speak to us when it came to our idea of the price or cost of love?

What scent are we giving off?

What love aroma is lingering behind us when we walk?

Ephesians 5:2 says walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

After reading this verse I imagined God saying,

“Y’all out here becoming successful entrepreneurs in the selfish love business.

Selling and marketing love genuinely but reaping the benefits and profiting from it selfishly.

Selling and marketing love genuinely but reaping the benefits and profiting from it selfishly.

Y’all out here taking selfies with each other, calling her your sister, hashtagging I love her then turn around and subliminally dissing her mother.”

I imagined God saying,

“What about beautifully coming together in unity? Real love is about the response when your personal limelight is being threatened.”

I imagined God saying,

“Some of y’all may be uncomfortable with the Soul Survivor Writer’s message today but her life’s purpose consists of delivering to congregations in the realest of the real way for the sake of re-writing and re-righting LOVE history and claiming victory over the true essence of love through unity.”

So after all this came to me I knew I needed to deliver a poem I had written, One Vision. Not only speak it but teach it. I needed to make sure each line was beyond just heard. 

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One Vision

The world. Full of US but can we share one vision?

Can we keep faith at the center, communicate better, and stop ego trippin’?

Diverse eyes watching diverse lives pass away because we’re afraid to come together on one mission.

We’d rather hold a grudge, be jealous, gossip and judge.

Meanwhile Friends, strangers, and loved ones hungry for an ear to take heed and listen.

God confirmed my intuition through a young boy on YouTube, pleading to his mother, “Listen, Linda, Listen!”

We out here trying to put pieces together in search of the main ones missing.

Walking by beggars with no eye contact, hatin’ and dissin’.

It’s not rocket science, or some complicated arithmetic.

First ask oneself the reason for the trials and tribulations.

Next hold close to the details of all conversations;

Then study the moves of the “holy” and “sanctified” population.

Do their moves consists of participation and dedication to those coping with personal starvation hateration, low self-esteem frustration – or like me, child molestation?

We must pay attention to details. Body language, messages, and voice tones whether it be over the phone or sitting in front of someone at home.

We must learn to be observant and ten steps ahead conversant.

Our people are hurting. They are scared. The pressure is heavy!

This life ain’t easy!

So with no hesitation we must choose to make a reservation, and encourage each other to discover that self-innovation.

For we never know the condition of one’s link to self-ammunition;

For we never know the condition of one’s link to self-ammunition;

Or over-stand the intrusion of the delusions that lead to so much confusion.

People are hurting. They are scared. The pressure is heavy! This life ain’t easy!

We are ALL searching for perfection through constant correction, in hopes we’re headed in the right direction.

The world. Full of US but can we share one vision?

Can we keep faith at the center, communicate better, and stop ego trippin’?

I imagine God saying, “The TRUE aroma of a scent of love is knowing the sense in my agape love.”