A Review of Iyanla Vanzant’s ``TRUST,’’ from Tracy Gibson.
One thing I have done is work very hard to NOT confuse people about me, what I believe, and who I am. One of my ole friends – Bruce Harvey - always calls me ``Traceology.’’ I think He was coining a phrase to note that I have a whole school of thought that is part of what I do, say and write. ( I have to mention that some of these things that make up ``Traceology’’ are NOT original, but made up of the ideas I have honed from hundreds of books and thousands of interactions I have had – both negative and positive - with intelligent and not- so intelligent people. Ordinary people and extraordinary people who have helped me heal, grow and be the best person I can be right now, today.).
While I say I am GOD, what you might not know is that I also say, usually at the same time, but not always, I also say that I am no more GOD than you or anyone else. The end of the Malcolm X film starring Denzel Washington comes to mind. There, all who spoke at the end of the film, said ``I am Malcolm X,’’ ``I Am Malcolm X,’’ `` I Am Malcolm X,’’ but they were regular people, or Black celebrities, or people like Nelson Mandela – THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA….. I think what the filmmaker, Brother Spike Lee, was getting at is that Malcolm X is in all of us who care about BLACK humanity as He did and who want to see a positive impact of improving the human condition, as He did.
Some people say Martin Luther King, Junior was GOD and some people think GOD was back on earth as Malcolm X. I agree and I extend this to include all people who ever helped anyone else, LOVed anyone else, or wanted our world to be better, or wanted to or did work towards a better world. At the time you were doing those Blessed things, you also were GOD! GOD is in us and we are a part of GOD. So, when I say I am GOD I am in the company of you, who are also GOD.
There are some other people I have to mention who have been GODs to me. One is my Aunt Helen, who was a living saint. Another was Maya Angelou, who was a BLACK director, Black actress, and a BLACK poet. If you look up Her work on Amazon you can buy one of Her great books. There are women like some of my friends who are GODs as well, they are too many to name. My Mother was definitely a GOD as was Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, Winnie Madikizela Mandela, and Angela Davis. Jesus is not the only GOD!
Another thing I noticed is people like Iyanla Vanzant are for sure GOD. I was watching Her program on You Tube a few months ago and I saw Her exiting a car to go and help some people. I thought for a few moments, that She – a television host, a self-help personality, a lawyers, a highly qualified self-improvement coach - I felt that She was exiting the Presidential helicopter like President Obama used to do.
I don’t think we give Iyanla the credit She is due. We must! Many people have read several of Her books, including myself. One of the best books She ever wrote is the book ``TRUST,’’ ( Copyright 2015; SmileyBooks; Distributed by Hay House, Incorporated. ) which is on-topic for improving Spiritual growth, clarifying how we might feel about GOD and for discovering how, perhaps, the way we were treated as children or young adults helps mold and shape our beliefs about GOD. How, when and where we begin to ``TRUST’’ ourselves, trust GOD, trust Life, and trust others is at the crux of this book. I found this book to be the most important book She ever wrote. ( I have to admit that I have NOT read Her newer book entitled ``Get Over It,’’ but I plan to. ( I have read about ten of Her books, maybe less.).
From ``Trust,’’ page 83, Second or Third paragraph down from the top of the page,:
``It is hard to describe what happens when you feel the presence of God take hold of you. It is both peaceful and jarring. It is both a relief and a shock. It makes you cold and warm. One thing is for sure, when you feel it, whether you can describe it or not, you know exactly what it is, and you are grateful. I thought I was whispering, but I must have been yelling. Or maybe I was whispering, because I heard Almasi say, ``Are you okay? Where are you?’’
``I was trying desperately to tell her the story about the new house. I was trying to express the depth of my gratitude.’’
``I thought I was saying, ``Thank you, God!’’ I have no clue what was actually coming out of my mouth, nor did I care. A few days later I paid three months’ rent and a month’s security deposit. When I picked up the keys and saw the house for the first time, all I could say was, ``Oh my God! What the *** was I thinking?’’ It was clear that the wisdom and presence of God had blinded me to the realities of my new home just to get me in it. What a blessing!’’
``With the aid of a very lovely ``cottage,’’ the home that would be my safe haven for the next eight and a half years. I knew enough to recognize that when you are growing, healing, and learning to trust God at a deeper level, there are situations and circumstances that you must encounter and grow through.’’ END OF QUOTE.
(Dear young BLACK people, please remember that if you are quoting from a book, it is OK to take a quote of a few paragraphs and present it to the public, but always mention where you got the quote from. Please don’t claim the works of others as yours.).
I want you to read this whole book ``TRUST’’ and tell me what you think. I can be reached at – 1 – 215 – 823 – 9985….. Please leave a message for me. I am putting this review on my reviews BLOG, for the public to read. I highly recommend this book and hope you will actually buy a copy as I did, not just get it from the Free Library. Thank you, and GOD Bless YOU!
Tracy Gibson,
GOD Almighty!
