TGS: The Golden Virtue
PURSUITS ON “SUFFICIENCY”:
One of the most significantly dignified characteristics of the Maroon is that they were said to have not only been completely self-sufficient & self-determined in their objective freedom, but also that they intended to remain this way as well.
In a time & reality where captivity means being terrorized into accepting things that are not normal, it was this character of spirit that is said to have moved the Maroon to resist anything that would suggest that they were inferior, could not rule & provide for self, or that they should be working for free. All of these projected as a means that they may lose self-determination, & become dependents.
CALLED TO LEARN IN THE MANEUVER OF OUR GIFTS:
Self-sufficiency should be the pursuit of any people, & dependency is often a result of ignorance. Should that dependency become a norm of society, the potentials of the Golden Season should come as a healing to the land; & there are many with a calling on their life to be just that.
Some of the spirit have described these as “the lost boys”, but I see them more-so as “the prodigals”. Because even when or if they can’t see their own potential, the spirit recognizes them, & knows their heart, according to the seed of their possession. The challenge is helping them to recognize that seed of potential for themselves.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
The Athletics of an Interceding Spirit: It’s been said, that before gaining freedom, you must gain self-defense; & the same pertains to spirit.
The Divine knows how to establish us in our way. & Even when the foot slips, & you begin to backslide, the spirit itself will intercede for you in your faith. Sending one with who you can heal your backsliding. This is both the way of life, & the athletics of an interceding spirit, that we minister toward the wellness of others in a sincerity of spirit.
& Yet before these can even truly be established as a good thing, with simply being subjected to the gaze of children in the market, others will come & sabotage these seeds of the spirit before it can even bloom as a good thing. Such entities & agendas are a breach in spirit, & they are many. Whereas with the athletics of an interceding spirit, becoming “healers of the breach” is always the objective.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding & eternal weight of glory; - 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
Trials in Adversity: According to Hillard, there were those Maroons who escaped, & then there were those among captured Africans who sought to “escape from escape”. This is to say that they decided at some point to turn away from any “quest for self”, whether that be an excessive indulgence in entertainment, or any destructive pathways such as drugs or alcohol.
Why would this be considered essential to what becomes Maroonage? Fiery trials are to be expected as a pert of stepping into our Golden Season. It's in these trials that we find our sincerity of spirit showing up to work, but understand & know for yourself that as it pertains to spirit, trials are simply a matter of discernment, & not an occasion toward the folly of man.
It's the objective of this season that our seed of promise may endure it's trials the same as gold that is tried with fire & refined in glory. The trials are simply a development process for those gems of the mind. As healers of the breach, accept this as nothing more, & nothing less than what it’s intended to do. Learn to establish boundaries. Hilliard said it best considering mere escape vs maroonage,
“Simple escape & simple freedom were liberty without aim. Maroonage, on the other hand, was freedom for the purpose of survival & cultural continuity.”
-Hillard, 1995, pg.54
PROVISION WITH LEARNING FROM OUR PAST:
This is what it looks like to step into the Golden season. That you begin to see with-in your own character the result of your Humility process. For example, besides the result of my own retain therapy, we find another written in the New Testament of what it looks like to enter the Golden Season.
Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he hearth of me.
& lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
& he said to me, MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE: FOR MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of the LORD may rest upon me. - 2 Corinthians 12:5-9
In this, the spirit of Sha'ul, we find the Golden Season as a season of tried faith. But even more than that, the overcoming of our afflictions, whether it be internal or external. We’re reminded that grace is sufficient for the season with stepping out on substantial faith.
Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? We speak before God in the Lord, but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. -2 Corinthians 12:19
But he said unto them, all men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. -Matthew 19:11
The Golden Season itself is like a calling in ones journey. & the reality is that there are many who won’t answer for this reason or that.
The irony are those who remain undecided. They give “playing for both sides” new meaning, willing to confuse their lifestyle for my circumstance. But don’t be mistaken, I’m only caught in the middle, there’s a difference.
This is the third time I am coming to you. IN THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSESS SHALL EVERY WORD BE ESTABLISHED.
I told you before, & foretell you, as if I were present, the second time, & being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, & to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare.
Since you seek proof of the Lord speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. -2 Corinthians 13:1-3
But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. -Revelations 2:24-25