Seizing the Opportunity
Harriet Tubman declared, “I could have freed more people if only they knew they were enslaved.” Let’s examine what this statement means and how we can apply it to our lives today. First, one must be a realist and assess one’s current situation and second, when opportunity avails itself, seize it. Living in a state of denial is not good, nor is recognizing what is happening. Being in a state of denial may be a coping mechanism but it robs people of acting in their best interest when opportunity arrives. I can imagine slaves not wanting to risk their lives to escape because freedom was not guaranteed. But when the opportunity arrives, it takes a step of faith to act and seize the moment.
Let’s look at an example. When Jesus died on the cross between two criminals, one hurled insults at him while the other asked Jesus to forgive his sins and for Jesus to remember him when He entered into His kingdom. This criminal recognized that he was a sinner and that even in his last hour, he seized the opportunity to have his sins forgiven and to have everlasting life. He recognized his reality and he seized the opportunity.
Fellow club members in our lives, we must recognize our current situation, believe, and seize the opportunity to act. We should have faith in God and believe that the opportunity we seek will materialize and when it does, seize it.
Bison Prayer
God please give us the strength to seize every opportunity that is good for us. Help us to first recognize our reality and then increase our faith to believe beyond our reality that the impossible can be possible. You helped our ancestors, you helped Howard University and now we are asking you to help us in our unbelief. We believe in the impossible as long as you are there to make it possible. God we are smiling big, our hearts are full of joy and faith, and we look forward to seizing the opportunities that are presented to us. In your holy and righteous name. Amen.
Hazel R. Robinson, Chaplain