Lillian Lincoln Lambert

Will we ever get beyond the race issue in this country? I had hoped so and was quite optimistic that we would, but recently I’ve become more doubtful.

Having grown up in the segregated south, attended segregated schools and witnessed the results of the civil rights movements and those laws implemented to assure more equal treatment, I was hopeful that the country was on the right track. The election of president Obama was certainly a positive step in that direction. But since his nomination and election, the divide seems to be widening instead of closing. The incidents of Rev. Wright, Skip Gates, The Black Panthers, The Tea Party movement and now Shirley Sherrod all bring out the worse in too many people.

Unless we begin to talk about race and the prejudices that exist on all sides and look for ways that we are more alike than different, I see little hope. In my opinion, it is more an issue of culture than race. It just happens to separate along racial lines. We have come too far to turn around.

I am sure to get some kickback about this blog! 

Over the last few weeks and months, so much attention has been given to things that have little significance to us as a country, families or even individuals. This came to a head for me as I was sitting in the Atlanta airport waiting for my flight to Richmond, VA. The television was on CNN and all attention was on “Where will Lebron James play next year?”  I too was caught up in it as I waited as long as possible to board my flight, waiting for the decision.  Standing watching the TV, a young man whom I did not know, approached me and asked “Where is he going”.

After I boarded my flight, I thought, “With all the things going on in the world why is everyone so caught up about where Lebron James plays basketball”. But as I reminisce, it became obvious that we are a country (world) caught up in unimportant things.  Witness the months of the Tiger Woods saga, Jesse James & Sandra Bullock breakup, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan; the list goes on. While I love golf and am a great Tiger Woods fan, I felt in overload on information. Each of these people made personal choices and should all suffer the consequences of their decision without the world having to weigh in on it.

Could it be that it is easier to deal with insignificant things than bite the bullet on those things that can impact our lives and the country?

As the temperature soared to 104 degrees in Richmond, VA today, I headed south hoping for cooler weather. My destination: Ft Walton Beach, FL. As I checked the weather before leaving it was a bit shocking to discover that FL is cooler than VA! A friend from Sarasota sent me an email saying “it is WAY hotter up there than down here”. I head to Sarasota next week.

I am now sitting in the airport in Charlotte, NC awaiting my 5:50PM flight to Ft. Walton Beach, which is near Pensacola. My travels have no taken me to that part of FL so I look forward to the trip with great anticipation even though my stay will be short. . I will be in the company of lawyers and judges tomorrow as I give the keynote address at the Women’s Luncheon for the Mississippi Bar Association. I am excited about this opportunity. 

It is nice and cool in this quiet airport, unlike many where I wait between flights. My computer and the passing travelers make the time pass quickly. The sights are interesting, a real fashion show. Will report back on my visit.

With dreams of conquering the world, I left Ballsville, VA in Powhatan County more than fifty years ago and never thought I would return on such a positive note as I did last weekend.

Some friends hosted a lovely, well attended book event in the home of one of the couples. The host and hostesses had lived up North for a number of years but had returned home to to live in this quiet community. Their house was overflowing with about 80 people occupying the family room, music room and dining room.  It was diverse group – old, young, black, white, retirees, employees, etc. The array of tasty food and drink added to everyone’s enjoyment.  I was surprised to see some of those in attendance such as the current pastor from the church I attended as a child, TV newscasters and a newspaper columnist from the city where I now live, and the daughter of the man who was postmaster at my childhood post office. The latter is a white lady, someone I would not have been allowed to socialize with as a child because of the segregation laws.   She was so excited to know what had happened to me over the years.  I saw people whom I had not seen in years and met many new people most of who had moved to the area subsequent to my leaving.

The event was planned for three hours but a small group of us lingered around for another couple hours reminiscing about our younger days in this little town. I was exhausted when I arrived home but the pleasantries of the day overshadowed my tiredness. The day was a blessing.

A special thanks to my friends for such a memorable day!

I have always known that it is the small things in life that really matter. That fact was made more obvious to me over this Father’s Day weekend.

It began on Saturday when I arrived home from running errands.  My husband had received some father’s day cards in the mail and he had them lined up on the dining room table like toy soldiers in a row. With a big smile on his face he asked if I read the card from our youngest daughter. We are a blended family, each of us with adult children when we married.  I have two daughters and my husband has two daughters and one son. This card was from my youngest daughter. In essence it said though they did not share the same genes and were not related by blood, they were related by love. She added her personal note which said “To an awesome father!”  My husband said the card brought tears to his eyes.

Sunday added to his joy. We attended church service together. I was in the choir and he was in the congregation. Shortly after service started, in walked my husband’s son, his daughter, granddaughter and grandson. The look on his face as they approached him at the pew where he was sitting was the look of a kid who just saw his favorite toy under the Christmas tree. He was not expecting any of them. His face glowed throughout the service.  On the way home, he commented that this was one of the best father’s days he can remember. Except for weddings or funerals, he and his son had not worshiped together for years.

How often do we miss opportunities to bring joy to someone by a very simple deed?