Dear Young World:
Some have estimated that there are probably a half million cemeteries in the United States. Each of them are filled with people who once breathed the same air you are breathing right now and sought shade from the same Sun that you do. When I drive pass cemeteries, I wonder how many died never pursuing their dreams and doing what they loved.
There are many things that I would like to say to you as a young person today. However, at this moment I will narrow it down to this one piece of advice, “Find out what you love to do, and DO IT!” Doing what you love to do will give meaning to your life and even help you achieve the financial success that you will be content with. Do not die like the many others, who have done so without pursuing their dreams and doing what they really loved doing.
To further emphasize this point, I would like to close with this short story:
“A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said “I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.” “Is the man of the house home?”, they asked. “No”, she replied. “He’s out.” “Then we cannot come in”, they replied. In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. “Go tell them I am home and invite them in!” The woman went out and invited the men in. “We do not go into a House together,” they replied. “Why is that?” she asked. One of the old men explained: “His name is Wealth,” he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, “He is Success, and I am Love.” Then he added, “Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home?” The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. “How nice!” he said. “Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!” His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite Success?” Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: “Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!” “Let us heed our daughter-in-law’s advice,” said the husband to his wife. “Go out and invite Love to be our guest.” The woman went out and asked the three old men, “Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest.” Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other two old men also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: “I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?” The old men replied together: “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would’ve stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!!!”
Do what you love!
Sincerely,
Brother Willie Muhammad
EDITOR’S NOTE: Brother Willie Muhammad is a New Orleans native. He is a graduate of Walter L. Cohen High School and Xavier University. He has taught in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge public schools systems. In 2003, he was approved by the Honorable Louis Farrakhan to serve as the Student Minister of Muhammad Mosque #46 and his New Orleans Representative. Brother Muhammad has also worked as a mentor and an instructor for two groups of young Black males, who worked to acquire their GED. Many of the young men were able to obtain their GED and move on to better their lives. Brother Muhammad now works as a middle school history teacher in the Orleans Parish School Board. Brother Muhammad’s has a history that shows his level of commitment to his community. In 2014 Brother Muhammad was one of the organizers for the New Orleans Man Up March, where 800 plus Black men showed up to commemorate the Historic Million Man March and to get involved in efforts to improve their community. In 2009, he helped to establish the New Orleans chapter of the Peace Keepers, which is a diverse group of men who spend one hour every Saturday canvassing the violent neighborhoods in the city and squashing “street beefs”. This conflict resolution initiative has helped to literally save several lives and prevent many other senseless physical altercations from occurring. Several years ago the group’s effort were honored by the New Orleans City Council. Brother Willie was recently selected by Data News Weekly, a Black owned news publication in New Orleans, as one of its 2015 Trailblazers. He was selected for his work in the city of New Orleans as the Student Minister of Muhammad Mosque No. 46 As a result of his commitment and steadfastness, Brother Muhammad is often called upon to address various audiences at high schools, college campuses, churches, mosques, correctional facilities and other numerous community events. Brother Muhammad said that out of all of his accomplishments, his greatest are making the decision to better his life by way of the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and being a committed husband and father to his family.
