Educator and poet, Armando Troche sets the stage with an original spoken word performance aptly entitled “Beyond Materialism.”<\/p>\n
What really separates us from an animal?<\/em> So with our physical side<\/em> When my time is up<\/em> There separating heaven and earth<\/em> To my great-aunt<\/em> To my Uncle Roger<\/em> My body may be buried<\/em> I enjoy my now<\/em> Beneath materialism<\/em> “O SON OF MAN!<\/em> The words of God feed and fuel the spirit<\/em> Because materialism has claimed too many lives<\/em> Beyond the walls of materialism there is a kingdom<\/em> This system being erected as we speak<\/em> Beyond materialism<\/em> Beyond materialism<\/em> I searched for knowledge<\/em> In 2003 I became much more driven<\/em> Beyond materialism I found something praise be to God<\/em> “Say: God sufficeth all things above all things,<\/em>
\n What I\u2019ve gleaned is that we are one part physical<\/em>
\n One part spiritual<\/em>
\n One part is temporary<\/em>
\n One part is eternity<\/em><\/p>\n
\n It needs material<\/em>
\n It needs supplies<\/em>
\n It needs resources<\/em>
\n But it\u2019s not everything<\/em>
\n We are much more<\/em>
\n Life goes beyond<\/em>
\n Materialism<\/em><\/p>\n
\n And this chapter closed<\/em>
\n I will approach a shoreline<\/em><\/p>\n
\n I will be held in a balance<\/em>
\n My worth weight<\/em>
\n And the only thing that I could take<\/em>
\n Are the deeds I\u2019ve done<\/em>
\n The lives I\u2019ve touched<\/em>
\n The love I\u2019ve shown<\/em>
\n And how much I\u2019ve grown<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Mrs. Nancy Rhodes<\/em>
\n God bless<\/em>
\n She was the first in this bloodline to open the door<\/em>
\n Before it closed I just happened to slide in<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Thank you for all the surprise visits<\/em>
\n You continue to make me smile<\/em><\/p>\n
\n But beyond materialism my spirit lives<\/em>
\n It sees<\/em>
\n It speaks<\/em>
\n It breathes<\/em><\/p>\n
\n But happier, still will I be.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Beneath the clothes<\/em>
\n The flesh and bones<\/em>
\n Is a spirit<\/em>
\n A trust gifted to us by the great being<\/em>
\n A seed planted by the creator of all things<\/em>
\n It lies within us dormant<\/em>
\n Patiently waiting to be watered with the words of God<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Veiled in My immemorial being<\/em>
\n And in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee;<\/em>
\n Therefore I created thee,<\/em>
\n Have engraved on thee Mine image<\/em>
\n And revealed to thee My beauty.”<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Allowing it to germinate<\/em>
\n Allowing it to pollinate the world<\/em>
\n Filling it with virtue<\/em>
\n It\u2019s roots will establish<\/em>
\n And what is to come next but a mighty stronghold<\/em>
\n A sanctuary for all that is good<\/em><\/p>\n
\n It takes too much of our attention<\/em>
\n There is an army on the rise<\/em>
\n Some of you are already enlisted<\/em>
\n Its ranks continue to swell<\/em>
\n So too does its capacity<\/em>
\n To win<\/em>
\n They\u2019ve learned to not divide and conquer<\/em>
\n But unite and conquer<\/em>
\n They march<\/em>
\n Cycle after cycle<\/em>
\n They march<\/em>
\n Sharpening their methods as they go<\/em>
\n If they approach don\u2019t fret<\/em>
\n They speak of peace<\/em>
\n They come guided<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Steadily extending its borders<\/em>
\n Walls aren\u2019t going up<\/em>
\n Walls are coming down<\/em>
\n To encompass all<\/em>
\n This vision<\/em>
\n Requires a pure mind<\/em>
\n A discerning eye<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Is fit for all<\/em>
\n It will benefit all<\/em>
\n It\u2019s the responsibility of all<\/em>
\n But it\u2019s not built on wishes<\/em>
\n Effort is needed<\/em>
\n Work needs to be done<\/em>
\n Sacrifice is made<\/em>
\n Joy is felt<\/em>
\n The choices we make will determine our destiny<\/em>
\n Mitakuye Oyasin<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Our leaders of men<\/em>
\n They\u2019ve been sent at different times<\/em>
\n We\u2019ve called them by different names<\/em>
\n But they\u2019re all guided by His Holiness<\/em>
\n They all stand together serving the same cause<\/em>
\n Emitting the same light<\/em>
\n They hold and deserve<\/em>
\n The highest stations no man can touch<\/em>
\n Their names are revered<\/em>
\n Their names are revered and rightfully so<\/em>
\n Their sacrificial lives have inspired generations<\/em>
\n Their holy books have gathered a faithful mass<\/em>
\n Congregations of countries have pledged their allegiance<\/em>
\n This is not man-made<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Beyond the flash and fads<\/em>
\n The hustle for money<\/em>
\n The push for product<\/em>
\n The drive of consumption<\/em>
\n The technology, toys<\/em>
\n The news and noise<\/em>
\n The oppression, the racism<\/em>
\n The gossip, the backbiting<\/em>
\n The estrangement and apathy<\/em>
\n The bills, the chores<\/em>
\n The constant maintenance of day-to-day<\/em>
\n Life takes on a very different meaning<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Because a friend of mine<\/em>
\n Stirred me awake<\/em>
\n Octavio Gonzalez<\/em>
\n Wherever you are<\/em>
\n May God protect you<\/em>
\n Your words served me well<\/em><\/p>\n
\n Much more observant<\/em>
\n Much more reflective<\/em>
\n Much more astute<\/em>
\n And I started to look within books<\/em>
\n Within movies<\/em>
\n Within friends<\/em>
\n Within nature<\/em>
\n Within churches<\/em>
\n Most importantly I searched within myself<\/em><\/p>\n
\n It was a response to my efforts<\/em>
\n The solutions that I received<\/em>
\n Completely satisfied my soul<\/em><\/p>\n
\n And nothing in the heavens or in the earth but God sufficeth.<\/em>
\n Verily, He is in Himself the Knower, the Sustainer, the Omnipotent.”<\/em><\/p>\n