OVERCOME OBSTACLES

This Christmas day I woke up and watched Timbaland True Hollywood Story. His story inspired me to write this morning, it was full of obstacles, tragedy, opportunity, perseverance, vision, determination and drive. His story allows me to look at all the people that give up and miss out on their blessings and their purpose because of their attitude and their outlook on life.

Timbaland grew up poor. His parents were together but they could barely make ends meet. He said that he wore old clothes and underwear with holes to school. He didn’t allow what he didn’t have to keep him from his dreams. Nor did lack of money stop his family from being supportive.

Early on, Timbaland’s mom noticed he was creative and had a love for music. So, his parents encouraged that side of him. His mother would sometimes miss her rent payment just to buy Timbaland the equipment he needed to make music, she had vision.

While in high school Timbaland was able to showcase his musical talent to his friends and classmates. He began DJing parties. Back then in the late 80’s the DJ was the foundation of Hip Hop music. Timbaland had one problem however, he didn’t have the right clothing to project the right image as a DJ, he needed fresh gear. He didn’t mope, he did something about it, he got a dish washer job at Red Lobster. Enter obstacle #1. His co-worker had a gun, showed it to Timbaland, Timbaland asked him to put it away, the gun went off and shot Timbaland in the neck. The bullet traveled to his under arm and the doctors said they would not be able to remove it due to its location. The doctors also told him he was lucky, I say that he was blessed. The worst part of it all the doctors said he would not be able to use his right arm nor would he have feeling in his fingers. It took him 2 years to recover, but Yahweh!

Although the doctors gave their report, Timbaland had something else in mind. He was still going to be a DJ and make music because that is what he loved and that is exactly what he did. He persisted, he persevered, he worked through it. To this day he says he feels tingling in his arm and discomfort yet he goes on.

Hard work and determination doesn’t go unrewarded, opportunity presented itself, he was introduced to Missy and by way of Missy he was introduced to super producer at the time, DeVante Swing. He learned a lot from DeVante and vice versa and was able to make a little money. He decided to buy a car, his mom didn’t want him to buy but he bought it anyway. One night he went with a female friend to the store to pick something up, hit a patch of black ice the car spent out of control and hit a tree. Timbaland walked away from the accident unharmed but his female friend didn’t make it. To this day he doesn’t know how or why he survives and even believes that he shouldn’t be alive. I say when you have a calling on your life and Yahweh has a plan for you, if you stay in faith and keep the right attitude you shall reach your destiny.

For years, he made beats/music under the tutelage of DeVante but one day he realized he was ready to go out on his own. That is exactly what he did, he moved back home, received a call from Atlantic Records and began working with Aaliyah on her second album. This is when his celebrity and stardom was finally displayed for the world to see.

His work with Aaliyah was short lived. For those who don’t know, while filming the video for Rock the Boat in the Bahamas (if I’m not mistaken), Aaliyah and everyone on the plane back home died when the plane crashed. Timbaland was suppose to be on that plane but he’d decided at the last minute that he wasn’t going to make the trip. Yahweh is awesome, favor is not fair!

What obstacles have you faced in life? Did you look at your difficulties and say Yahweh must have another plan for my life? Or did you look at your obstacles and say I must be going in the right direction and Satan and his demons must be trying to hold me back?

Unfortunately there are a lot of church folk that will tell you if your life isn’t 100% perfect and everything isn’t exactly right you are not in the will of Yahweh. Well I am here to tell you that could not be further from the truth. We can look at Jesus’ life.

He was betrayed by his good friend, he was tempted for 40 days in the desert by Satan, he was on a boat that almost sunk, his friends turned their back on him, he was wanted for dead before he was born, he was crowned with thorns, whipped, beaten, hung, humiliated, he was given a death sentence. Through it all, every step of the way, he was in the perfect will of Yahweh.

In no way am I comparing Timbaland to Jesus, well you know what I can compare him as well as us to Jesus for Jesus came to show us how to live, he was our living example of how to deal with life and all that comes with it. We are supposed to be imitators of Christ.

So in your life I am sure you have experienced tragedy, loss, hurt, pain, something. Know that it did not happen for you to mope, give up, feel bad, get down, or stop. It was to help you grow, mature, develop, and fulfill your destiny.

With the New Year approaching, if you have chosen to give up or stay down, I encourage you to get up and get moving. Timbaland is just one example of how just when things are going right, something goes wrong. There are many examples of famous and non-famous people that will tell you no matter what, keep going.

Despite what it may look like, if you are a believer, walk by faith and not by sight. The only way to overcome obstacles is to face them, smile, speak and think positively and keep going!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials