About Me: God, Faith and 40 Projects

First, as this site concerns itself with God, creation, existence and universal law, there will undoubtedly be some who will wonder about my religion or faith. To them I say universal law applies in your life regardless of me or what I believe. We don’t need to have the same faith for you to find benefit in the ideas I present. We may not see eye to eye on religion, but this will not end the laws of gravity or magnetism, will it?

However, for the record, I do not align myself with any established religion that I know of. That doesn’t mean that I never will, but at this moment I do not. I do attend a Christian church, as I find benefit in doing so, for myself and my family. I do believe in God (as I define “God”) and I place my faith in God, the source of universal law. But, lest I be misleading, I do not view God, or define faith, the same way as most people do. For more information, see the articles titled “ ON GOD, FAITH AND LIFE AFTER 40 PROJECTS ” and “ FULFILLMENT OF EXISTENCE ”.

Having said that . . .

Of my nearly fifty years of life, I have been married to the same beautiful and inspirational woman for more than twenty years. My wife, an educator, administrator and activist in the local school district, and I, met in college. She majored in philosophy and minored in visual arts. I majored in sociology and minored in philosophy. Together we live in south Florida with our two teenage children. Our daughter (the oldest child) is “A gift from God” (the meaning of her name in Ibo). Our son (the youngest) is “One who brings peace” (the meaning of his name in Yoruba).

Way back, before selling insurance, before the sentencing advocacy practice, before the big house, the cars and vacations, before the Juris Doctor degree in law, before the various businesses and ventures I’ve owned or participated in, before the years of service in criminal court and the years of serving the mentally challenged and their families, before fathering the beautiful and gifted children, before becoming an educator and counselor, I was raised in New York City.

I was the first in a large extended family to graduate college (my mother’s dream). It had been questionable whether I would make it out of the projects, as my early ambitions had me thieving and aspiring to be a wide-brimmed hat, tailored suit and diamond studded gold pinky-ring wearing bona fide pimp.

Despite the intelligence, good grades, book stealing and late-night reading, were it not for a befriended housing police officer in the projects, that turned me around, teaching me weight training; nutrition; meditation; spirituality; and chess; in the process, my gang affiliation, no-good intentions, self-hate and anger would have surely led to my destruction.

Thank you Walter Riddick, you saved my life. Following his intervention, and with the guidance of a very present, loving and active mother, I went on to letter in varsity gymnastics; take college courses in High School; candidate for a National Merit Scholarship; appear in Who’s Who Among American High School Students, 1977; and, be offered a full four-year ride in college. Walter’s outreach to me inspired me to get out of the projects, go to college, see the world and help others.

I have been around the block a time or two. I have seen the jail from the inside and out. I have attended the school of hard knocks and taken my share of lumps. I have fought and fell, and gotten up bloodied and bruised. I have cried and screamed, cursed God and acted a fool. I have considered suicide, homicide and genocide. My blood has boiled. And, both anger and fear have overwhelmed me.

I have many proud accomplishments and yet have done many things, about which I am not proud at all. I have sought revenge and taken what was not mine to have. I have hurt others and caused despair. I have lied, apologized and lied again. I have not been a saint, nor have I been a good role model. I was lost, but now I’m found.

Now I know that I live in an abundant universe that wants me to be happy, healthy and wealthy! Just as I know my own history, I know that there are consistent and undeniable laws at work in the universe that one can use to one’s advantage. I also know that these same laws can work to one’s disadvantage when they are denied or ignored.

I live in an abundant universe that wants me to be happy, healthy and wealthy! I know that by studying these laws and applying these laws appropriately, and surrounding myself with like-minded people, I can manifest into my physical life that which I desire and design in my imagination.

You too live in an abundant universe that wants you to be happy, healthy and wealthy! Subscribe to my blog. Let my thoughts be springboards for your own. Comment on my views and those of others. Ask questions and participate in my process and those of other readers, and we will participate in yours.

We live in an abundant universe that wants us to be happy, healthy and wealthy! We have much to accomplish. And now, we have begun . . .

Lindsey Pope