Clever? It was downright conniving. Because when I was hired (surprise, surprise) at WEBB
in Baltimore, I got to find out first-hand what prejudice was about and how Blacks
experienced it, even in a so-called sophisticated larger city.
I learned a lot, too, about my own self-righteousness, and how I thought that we were
somehow better in our big-city attitudes than the rural folks in the deep south. I found out that
our racial attitudes were not much better at all—but I had to be deeply embedded in the Black
Experience to be able to see that. Outside the deep south our prejudices were simply
expressed differently— mainly, with much more hypocrisy.
I let go of a lot of my false and arrogant thoughts during my tenure at what was known in
those days as a “Rhythm ‘n’ Blues” station, and I also learned a lot, first-hand, about black
culture.
Working side-by-side with a black staff and interacting daily within the black community
brought me insights I could not have gained any other way.
When I’d learned what I’d come to the situation to learn, God stepped in again, giving me yet
another incredible chance to prepare further for the work I was to eventually do in the world.
Hold it. You realize, of course, that it was you doing this, not Me? You do understand, don’t
you, that I have no agenda for you, other than the agenda you set for yourself?
Yes, I know that now. But then I was still living in a paradigm which suggested that there was
something God wanted me to do, and that suggested God controls and causes the
circumstances and events of my life.
Well, now, just for review, who does control and cause the circumstances of your life?
I do.
And how do you do that?
With everything that I think, say, and do.
Good. That needed clarifying here, otherwise someone could get the impression that I was
the cause of your experience.
Yet You did chuckle just now at how clever it was of You to place me at that all-black radio
station.
It was clever how I facilitated what you chose to call forth. This is how your friendship with
God works. First, you decide what it is you choose, then I make it possible.
I decided that I wanted to work at an all-black radio station?
No. You decided that you wanted to understand more fully what racial prejudice—and
righteousness—was all about. You decided this at a very high level. At the soul level. It was
about giving your Self lessons. It was about bringing your Self reminders. It was about
moving your Self toward awareness.