Tuesday July 8, 2008
The excitement is growing more intense by the second down here. The campaigners are out here stronger than yesterday with new dance steps, new and improved jingles and crisp T-shirts. I even got a chance to stop for praise and worship on the trail as I passed a foot-stomping, hand-clapping full gospel choir, lifting their voices to the Lord in song — and, might I add, they sounded real good too. Just like it was Sunday morning. As an aside, I must say that even though the competition down here is stiff and the mission is to get candidates appointed, the presence of God is still in this place and the focus is still on the One who makes everything possible.
I’m just really enjoying myself here in St. Louis. Watching the pride and unity within the AME is so uplifting. And the people are just as courteous and hospitable as they can be. Everything is done in “decency and in order” — a true testament that scores of Black folk can come together under one roof without a whole bunch of mess. It has been interesting to see the organization of this event, even down to the transportation crew. The AMEs of St. Louis and Illinois have a team in place to shuttle conferees to and from the site — with their own cars. Talk about service. They’ve got shifts and walkie-talkies and it appears that everyone is open and willing.
…And the networking opportunities in this place are endless. Sounds strange, but a good place for networking here is in the restrooms. With the lines so long, it doesn’t hurt to take the time to get to know the person in front of you while waiting for the next available stall. You know, fellowship. So while there, I got a chance to meet another of three women running for bishop (I met Rev. Anne Lightner-Fuller back at home). Rev. Debora F. Grant of St John AME church in Columbus, Ga., was so down to earth. The women were in line, in the stalls and at the sink washing their hands, expressing their support and sending their blessings her way. Talk about a girl talk and sisterhood. Rev. Grant left the room, paper towel in hand, calling over her shoulder, “There’s only three of them [speaking of the bishopric], they’ve got room for one more.”
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“Amens”, and “I know that’s rights” echoed off the hollow walls in the cramped space, as she disappeared into the crowd… I know she was glad to be out of that line. I still had three more people ahead of me. But it was okay, because that gave me a chance to have a chat with Councilwoman Helen Holton about why she had come down. She told me she was an Itinerant Elder in the AME church on the ministerial staff at Payne Memorial in Baltimore.
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Small world.
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Today on my to-do list was to check out the Wellness Lounge that everyone had been raving about. Ever since word got out yesterday that they were giving out free massages, nutrition consultations, and acupuncture and reflexology treatments, the small room up in one of the corners of the convention center has been full to capacity and the line strung along the halls. When I heard that AARP was sponsoring the Wellness Lounge, I made it my business to get up there for a piece of the action. Only God knew how much a reflexology treatment would do me some justice after all the walking I’d been doing since I’d gotten here. I arrived outside the door at 2:15 p.m.; the therapists and workers were just breaking for lunch and wouldn’t be back for an hour. But like they say, the early bird catches the worm, and the Lounge had been the hot topic for the past two days and slowly but surely the people started forming a line outside the door. The line got so long the workers had to call us in by groups. And this is where I witnessed the politics of the AME church in full swing. People bombarded the door as soon as it cracked. The order of the line had dissolved. All the small, reserved chit-chat among the group of mostly women grew louder as they tried to bring some order to things. Then a woman called out, “Let’s do it like this: First the bishop’s wife, then the presiding elders, delegates…” and right on down the line.
Now, I was second in line. Had been up there since 2:15. The woman attempting to call order had come about 12 people later and, now all of a sudden it turned into some ranking system? I was with the press. If the new order of things had been adopted, I would’ve been at the back of the line. And I needed that massage just as bad as anyone else…
Nevertheless, I was able to maintain my space in line and all the women were served — “in decency and in order.” Man, was that interesting to see. But it’s all good. Because my massage and reflexology treatments were well worth the wait — and the entertainment. I’m sure everyone else felt the same–excluding the entertainment part, of course.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->When it was all done I was so relaxed. To tell the truth, I didn’t want to go back to work. But if I’d followed that inclination, there’d be nothing to read or watch. Fresh out of the chair, I had to turn right back around and get ready for the camera to bring you the news on the AME church’s efforts to bring health and wellness to the African-American community. Check out the footage we got from the Wellness Lounge and the First Aid room.
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<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->...Well, it’s been a long, but relaxing day. Come visit me tomorrow for more of the happenings at the AME General Conference.
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