"Sinking To Rise No More"

"...Winter storms have come
And darkened my sun
After all that I've been through
Who on earth can I turn to 

After all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong
And when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song, I look to you

About to lose my breath
There's no more fighting left
Sinking to rise no more
Searching for that open door..."

Whitney Houston - THE VOICE - 1963 - 2012

"With tears streaming down my eyes," and suffering through a body racked with pain, I am determined to publish this post.  It has been weeks since I felt so moved and inspired to write another post.  But God always has a way of kicking our butts into doing what it is we are called into purpose to do and to be.  And so, with an extremely heavy heart, and even more painful joints, I come now to pen this, my final tribute to Whitney Houston, the VOICE of our generation - the VOICE touched by God and sprinkled with some sassy salt, the bitterness of vinegar, a lot of sugar's sweetness and a hint of fiery cayenne pepper.

Her VOICE spoke directly to me and for me.  It seemed as if she and I were the best buddies in the whole wide world.  Every song, every album was about me.  When the reality of my particular particularity came crashing down around me, and I felt like I couldn't face another day, she sang to me to remind me that loving myself was The Greatest Love of All.  When I felt like dancing like David - until my clothes came off - she would join me in the mirror and sing, I Wanna Dance With Somebody.  I cannot tell you how many relationships she has sang me into because I truly felt at that One Moment In Time, that I Have Nothing, if I didn't have whoever it was at that time.  Of course there were those relationships she also had to sing me out of by comforting me with the promise of; Where Do Broken Hearts Go?  It was Whitney Houston's rendition of our National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, that challenged me to set aside my contempt and frustrations with this country's history of slavery, Jim Crow Laws and systematic racism and made me proud to be an American again.  As we both grew older, as it was in my younger years, so too was the case when I began to struggle with my call into the ministry, that she was there, singing I Love The Lord to me, giving me the strength and the courage to "run on" in spite of naysayers and cries of foul from family, friend and foe. 

I have loved Whitney Houston "in a space where there is no space or time," through both of our life's triumphs and disappointments.  We are broken vessels put on this earth to shine the light of God's blessings and purpose for our life in a cruel, dark and unforgiving world.  God blew into the depths of Whitney's soul and what came out will never be met or beaten in our lifetime.  Maybe one day, God will see fit to allow us another opportunity to hear from heaven again.  But, until that time comes, for me and for us all, I long for the day to hear the Divine's melody coming forth and through my bestest buddy in the whole wide world - Ms. Whitney Houston.  Dearheart, God has heard your cry.  S/HE has shined the light on you and called you back home.  Rest now, for the "melodies are gone," and you have left us with many a song.  For that, I say THANK YOU!  I will miss you and shed tears every time I hear that melodious VOICE.  Goodnight love.  I'll listen for you on the other side of midnight.  Peace.

"...And every road that I've taken
Led to my regret
And I don't know if I'm gonna make it
Nothing to do but lift my head

And when all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong

...My levee's have broken, 
my walls have come
Crumbling down on me
The rain is falling, defeat is calling
I need you to set me free

Take me far away from the battle
I need you, shine on me"

                            (Robert "R" Kelly)
©Dorinda G. Henry, 2012

THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST!