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  • [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

  • WOW. WOW.

  • I AM A MAN. I AM A NATION.

  • LOCK INTO MY FREQUENCY. TUNE INTO MY STATION.

  • SIT UP IN YOUR CHAIR, GRAB A DRINK FROM THE FRIDGE.

  • WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

  • COME MEET ME ON THE BRIDGE.

  • SO, HERE I AM ONSTAGE AT UCLA,

  • IN FRONT OF A ROOMFUL OF STRANGERS, SO WHAT DO I SAY?

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • GLENNON'S TALKING ABOUT HOT YOGA.

  • GARY'S TALKING ABOUT THE SEED OF THE SOUL.

  • BUT IF YOUR HEART IS BROKEN, HOW CAN YOU EVER BE MADE WHOLE?

  • AND, SO, HERE WE ARE, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT,

  • "IS THAT SUGE KNIGHT? WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?"

  • [ LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE ]

  • SO, THEY PUT ME UP BEHIND A RHODES SCHOLAR NAMED WES.

  • I GOT A DOUBLE HIGH-SCHOOL DIPLOMA,

  • BUT IT DON'T MEAN I'M NOT BLESSED.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • YOU'RE WONDERING, AM I GONNA RHYME FOR THE ENTIRE SESSION?

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • DON'T WORRY, RELAX. IT'S JUST A PART OF MY EXPRESSION.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • SO, WHAT IS THE BRIDGE?

  • A BRIDGE IS AN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

  • IT'S A PLACE OF INTERCONNECTED HUMANITY,

  • WHERE WE COME AND HAVE DIALOGUE

  • WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING JUDGED OR MALIGNED

  • FOR OUR PERSONAL IDEOLOGY.

  • A BRIDGE ITSELF IS A SPAN

  • THAT ALLOWS TWO FIXED POINTS

  • THAT WOULD NEVER CONNECT

  • TO HAVE AN ABILITY TO MEET OVER OBJECTS AND IMPEDIMENTS

  • THAT WOULD NORMALLY KEEP THESE TWO FIXED OBJECTS FROM MEETING.

  • WE ARE IN A VERY DIFFICULT TIME IN OUR NATION.

  • IT'S BAD.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • IT'S BAD, MAN!

  • THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

  • AND EVERYBODY COMES FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE.

  • EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN LENS, THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVE,

  • AND THE MOMENT YOU INVALIDATE SOMEONE ELSE'S PERSPECTIVE,

  • YOU DEHUMANIZE THEM.

  • IF WE'RE REALLY GONNA GROW, IF WE'RE REALLY GONNA CHANGE,

  • THEN WE NEED TO SET OUR MINDS TO BE REARRANGED.

  • AND, SO, ONCE AGAIN, JUST SIT UP IN THE CHAIR,

  • GRAB A DRINK FROM THE FRIDGE, AND LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION.

  • JUST MEET ME ON THE BRIDGE.

  • THIS PLACE,

  • THIS MOMENT IS HISTORIC,

  • BECAUSE YOU CAME HERE BECAUSE YOU WERE SEEKING SOMETHING.

  • YOU ARE HUNGRY FOR SOMETHING. YOU ARE HUNGRY FOR TRUTH.

  • NOT TRUTH IN ITS ETHEREAL FORM, BUT TRUTH IN A SUBSTANTIVE FORM.

  • BUT ALL OF US COME FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE.

  • YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE REAL LOCKED IN TO OUR IDEOLOGIES.

  • MAYBE YOU'RE FAR RIGHT OR MAYBE YOU'RE FAR LEFT,

  • AND IT'S HARD TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE, BECAUSE, ME,

  • I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, "WHERE DO I FIT IN?"

  • BECAUSE AT THE INTERSECTION OF FAITH, POLITICS,

  • AND SOCIAL JUSTICE,

  • I'M JUST A LITTLE PREACHER FROM A SMALL-TOWN CINCINNATI CHURCH.

  • AND NOW I'M SITTING AT THE CHURCH

  • WITH THE NICEST MAN IN THE WORLD.

  • JOEL OSTEEN IS LITERALLY THE NICEST DUDE IN THE WORLD.

  • HE SMILES AT EVERYTHING.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • NO, FOR REAL. IF YOU PUT HIM IN A HORROR MOVIE,

  • HE WOULD STILL SMILE.

  • YOU PUT HIM IN "FRIDAY THE 13th,"

  • YOU HEAR THE MUSIC... "CHH, CHH, CHH, CHH!

  • HA, HA, HA, HA! CHH, CHH, CHH! HA!"

  • PASTER JOEL WOULD WALK UP.

  • "WELL, JASON, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

  • YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO STAB PEOPLE.

  • YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LOVE PEOPLE.

  • OH, JASON, DON'T YOU KNOW YOU COULD LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE NOW?

  • ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS BUY MY BOOK,

  • 'YOUR BEST LIFE NOW.'"

  • [ LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE ]

  • I FEEL LIKE JOY DOES GOOD LIKE MEDICINE,

  • AND WE NEED TO LAUGH A LITTLE BIT,

  • 'CAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF TEARS SHED

  • OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF IN THIS NATION.

  • WE GOT A LOT OF HEALING TO DO.

  • PEOPLE WERE SHOCKED -- SHOCKED!

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • WHEW! "WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR NATION?"

  • HAVE YOU BEEN AROUND FOR THE LAST 200 YEARS?

  • WE'VE NEVER BEEN TOGETHER!

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • FAR LEFT -- "ALL LIVES MATTER!

  • BLACK LIVES MATTER! EVERYBODY'S LIVES MATTER!"

  • BUT IF YOU'RE FAR RIGHT,

  • "I'M GONNA TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, YOU BETTER SHUT YOUR MOUTH UP.

  • YOU BETTER MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.

  • YOU BETTER SHUT YOUR MOUTH UP.

  • YOU BETTER HUSH UP, BOY!

  • YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKIN' ABOUT!"

  • "SAY SOMETHING ELSE! SAY SOMETHING ELSE!

  • DON'T MAKE ME -- OOH, OOH! SAY SOMETHING ELSE.

  • I WILL COME ACROSS THIS BRIDGE. I WILL BUST YOU IN YOUR EYE!"

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • "I WISH YOU WOULD, 'CAUSE I'M SECOND AMENDMENT ALL DAY.

  • COME ON 'ROUND HERE. COME ON 'ROUND HERE.

  • RIGHT 'BOUT RIGHT THERE. COME ON.

  • I GOT MY CONCEAL/CARRY. COME ON, BOY.

  • COME OOOOOOOON! COME ON! COME ON!

  • COME ON!"

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • THE BRIDGE.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO MEET.

  • 'CAUSE WHEN YOU THINKIN' 'BOUT MY FAMILY

  • IT DON'T MATTER IF YOU'RE BLACK OR WHITE

  • DA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NA!

  • [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • [ CHUCKLES ]

  • WE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO INVALIDATE SOMEBODY,

  • BECAUSE WE DON'T UNDERSTAND

  • HOW THEY GOT TO A CERTAIN CONCLUSION.

  • WE'VE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO HEAL.

  • WE'VE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO DEAL.

  • AND SO I CAN'T STAY IN THESE POLARIC PLACES,

  • WHETHER I'M FAR LEFT OR FAR RIGHT.

  • SOMEHOW, I GOT TO GET US TO THE MIDDLE.

  • SOMEBODY SAY "MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE."

  • -MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE! -MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE!

  • SEE, THIS IS THE KEY.

  • WE'RE ALREADY MOVING CLOSER TO THE MIDDLE.

  • IT'S FEELING GOOD IN HERE.

  • ANYTIME I COME TO THE MIDDLE,

  • I'M GONNA PROBABLY START RHYMING,

  • SO JUST PREPARE YOURSELF.

  • WHEN I COME TO THIS PLACE, I'M GONNA START RHYMING.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • I'M FEELING KIND OF GOOD, MAN. WHAT DO I SAY?

  • YOU GOT WHITE WOMEN PLAYING AFRICAN DRUMS.

  • WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • [ BEATBOXING ]

  • [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

  • Y'ALL BETTER GO AHEAD. Y'ALL ARE LIKE,

  • "THIS IS WONDERFUL. I'VE NEVER DONE THIS.

  • THIS IS AMAZING.

  • IS THIS WHAT THEY DO, AND THEY BACK IT UP?

  • I WANT TO BACK IT UP! I WANT TO BACK IT UP."

  • [ LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE ]

  • I BELIEVE IN THE IDEA OF AMERICA.

  • I BELIEVE IN THE IDEAL OF AMERICA.

  • COME ON, AMERICA. I KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER.

  • I KNOW THAT YOU'RE ABLE.

  • I'M NOT SOLANGE OR BEYONC�,

  • BUT I DESERVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • THIS IS A MOMENT THAT WE CAN CHANGE THINGS.

  • BUT WE GOT TO COME DOWN FROM OUR HIGH PLACE.

  • WE GOT TO COME DOWN FROM THAT PLACE THAT MAKES US THINK

  • THAT WE'RE RIGHT AND THE OTHER PERSON IS WRONG,

  • AS OPPOSED TO SAYING,

  • "THEY GOT TO THAT PLACE BECAUSE OF THE LIFE

  • THAT THEY'VE LIVED AND THE PEOPLE THAT RAISED THEM

  • AND THE SITUATIONS THAT FRAMED THEM."

  • IT'S REAL QUIET, AND I KNOW THIS IS MORE LIKE A LECTURE SERIES,

  • BUT I'M A BLACK PREACHER, SO PLEASE ALLOW YOUR INNER NEGRO

  • TO COME OUT FOR THE NEXT 10 TO 12 MINUTES.

  • AND YOU CAN SHOUT ME DOWN LIKE, "I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT.

  • YOU BETTER SAY THAT. HE TALKIN' GOOD, GIRL.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • THAT'S GOOD!"

  • SO, WHAT DOES AMERICA LOOK LIKE? HOW DO WE HEAL?

  • WE'VE GOT A LOT OF HEALING.

  • I KNOW THAT WE'RE BROKEN.

  • AND HOW CAN YOU NOT BE HURT

  • WHEN YOU'RE IN THE AGE OF ALTERNATIVE FACTS?

  • THAT'S LIKE SAYING, "I GOT FAT BY EATING ALTERNATIVE SNACKS."

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE LAUGHING.

  • YOU KNOW THAT IT'S TRUE.

  • AND DON'T JUDGE ME, 'CAUSE YOU GOT STUFF, TOO.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • BUT I THINK ABOUT THE FAR RIGHT AND THE FAR LEFT,

  • AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, "HOW DO WE MEET IN THE MIDDLE?

  • HOW DO WE BUILD BRIDGES OF UNDERSTANDING AND CONNECTIVITY

  • BEYOND RACE, BEYOND GENDER,

  • BEYOND SEXUAL ORIENTATION,

  • BEYOND RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE AND IDEOLOGY?

  • HOW DO WE GET TO THIS PLACE?

  • ALL OF US CAME FROM SOMEWHERE.

  • AND SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, "WHAT IS MY ROLE TO PLAY?"

  • 'CAUSE I GREW UP IN A LITTLE CHURCH, AND AT 7 YEARS OLD,

  • I CONNECTED TO THE DIVINE PRESENCE OF THE MOST HIGH GOD

  • THROUGH THIS MAN NAMED JESUS. THAT'S HOW I CONNECTED.

  • AND MY MOTHER -- SHE DIDN'T JUST PREACH IT, SHE LIVED IT.

  • AND I WAS LIKE, "THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CONNECTS TO ME,"

  • BECAUSE SHE ACTUALLY LIVED IT OUT.

  • AND IT WAS A WEIRD THING, BECAUSE MY MOTHER WAS ALWAYS

  • THE ONE CHOCOLATE SPOT IN A SEA OF VANILLA.

  • SHE FOUGHT TO BUILD BRIDGES AND SHE ALWAYS FOUGHT

  • TO GIVE EVERY HUMAN BEING EQUAL VALUE.

  • AND IN CINCINNATI IN THE '70s AND '80s,

  • IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE AND NON-POST-RACIAL SOCIETY,

  • SHE STOOD OUT LIKE A BEAUTIFUL SORE THUMB, SAYING THAT,

  • "I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST

  • TO DICTATE MY FUTURE." AND SHE CREATED, IN ME,

  • A HUNGER TO BUILD BRIDGES WITH PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE ME,

  • DIDN'T COME FROM WHERE I CAME FROM,

  • AND DIDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I BELIEVE.

  • AND EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL

  • THAT YOU WILL EVER SEE HAS THE SAME EQUAL VALUE.

  • DOESN'T MEAN WE AGREE, BUT WE'RE ALL FAMILY.

  • [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

  • SOMEBODY MAKE SOME NOISE.

  • [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE INTENSIFIES ]

  • GREAT. I'M IN HERE SWEATING.

  • I DONE LOST 6 POUNDS UNDER THESE HOT PRISON LIGHTS.

  • -TAKE IT OFF! -TAKE IT OFF?

  • DON'T DO IT, 'CAUSE I...

  • [ BEATBOXING ]

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • I THINK ABOUT MY UPBRINGING AND I THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS

  • TO BE WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW, STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU.

  • AND I'M REALLY KIND OF BLOWN AWAY,

  • BECAUSE I SHOULDN'T BE HERE.

  • MY MOM AND DAD DIVORCED WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG.

  • HE WALKED OUT THE DOOR FOR THE LAST TIME WHEN I WAS 4 1/2.

  • I SAW HIM FOUR TIMES IN MY LIFE.

  • BUT IT DIDN'T STOP MY MOTHER

  • FROM DOING WHAT SHE NEEDED TO DO,

  • WORKING FULL TIME DURING THE DAY AND GOING TO COLLEGE AT NIGHT,

  • ENDING UP GRADUATING WITH HONORS WITH HER DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK,

  • AND BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED

  • AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN IN THE HISTORY

  • OF THE STATE OF OHIO SOCIAL-WORK SYSTEM.

  • [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

  • I CAME FROM A WOMAN THAT WOULD NOT GIVE UP.

  • I'M SURE THERE WERE TIMES WHEN SHE WANTED TO,

  • BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE.

  • AND EVERY MORNING AND EVERY NIGHT,

  • I WOULD SEE HER PRAYING AND READING IN THIS WORD.

  • AND THEN, OF COURSE, I HAD TO DO THAT, TOO.

  • THERE WAS NO OPTION FOR ME.

  • MY MOTHER MADE SURE THAT I WAS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT

  • FROM THE LEGACY THAT I CAME FROM,

  • BECAUSE, GROWING UP, PEOPLE WERE SAYING,

  • "BE A MAN OF GOD. BE A MAN OF GOD."

  • BUT HOW CAN YOU BE WHAT YOU'VE NEVER SEEN?

  • Woman: PRAISE HIM!

  • SHE GOES TO A BLACK CHURCH. I'M JUST TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW.

  • [ LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE ]

  • BUT I FOUND MYSELF ENTHRALLED BY THIS LIFE

  • THAT MY MOTHER CHOSE TO LIVE.

  • AND WHEN I WAS GROWING UP,

  • THE IDEA OF MORALITY AND RELATIONSHIP

  • AND SPIRITUALITY WERE ALL INTERWOVEN.

  • WHEN I WAS 13, MY MOTHER WAS LIKE,

  • "YOU'RE GONNA BE A VIRGIN WHEN YOU GET MARRIED."

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • SOMEBODY'S LAUGHING. I'M LIKE,

  • "LISTEN, FIRST OF ALL, MOM,

  • I'VE GOT BUCKTEETH FROM SUCKING MY THUMB ALL OF MY CHILDHOOD,

  • AND I'VE GOT BALD SPOTS FROM ALOPECIA.

  • I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO WORRY."

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • IT'S ONE THING TO LIVE HOLY.

  • IT'S ANOTHER WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE OPTIONS.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • SEE SOMEBODY TALKING ABOUT, "I'M WAITING ON THE LORD."

  • I BET YOU ARE.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • MM-HMM!

  • [ LAUGHS ]

  • WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE BRIDGE,

  • I THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS I MUST DO TO CONNECT

  • AND ENGAGE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T COME FROM WHERE I COME FROM

  • SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A PLACE OF COMMONALITY AND UNDERSTANDING.

  • I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT CONVERSION,

  • BECAUSE FOR TOO LONG,

  • IN CERTAIN AREAS OF CHRISTIAN THOUGHT,

  • WE HAVE TRIED TO SHAME PEOPLE INTO CHANGING.

  • [ SCATTERED CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

  • WHAT'S FUNNY IS IT'S NOT JUST RELIGIOUS THOUGHT,

  • BECAUSE EVEN IN POLITICAL IDEOLOGY,

  • THIS IS THE FIRST POLITICAL CYCLE

  • WHERE OUR ELECTION WAS A RESULT OF SHAME,

  • WHERE PEOPLE WHO WERE SHAMED FOR HAVING A PARTICULAR IDEA

  • ABOUT WHAT MATTERED TO THEM,

  • AND THE ONLY RECOURSE THEY HAD WAS TO GO INTO

  • AN ANONYMOUS BOOTH AND PICK SOMETHING

  • THAT WAS MOST NOT LIKE WHAT MOST OF US THOUGHT WOULD COME OUT.

  • AND HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

  • BECAUSE SHAME HAS PERMEATED THE CULTURE,

  • AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE WHAT I BELIEVE, THEN SHAME ON YOU.

  • AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT I LIKE, THEN SHAME ON YOU.

  • AND SHAME HAS PERMEATED THE CULTURE, AND THE BRIDGE SAYS,

  • "I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU, I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU,

  • AND WE MAY NEVER SEE EYE-TO-EYE,

  • BUT IF WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME SPACE,

  • AT LEAST WE CAN BEGIN THE DIALOGUE AND CONVERSATION

  • THAT MAY LEAD TO HEALING."

  • [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

  • FOR ME, THERE'S THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE THAT I LOVE,

  • BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE --

  • WHEN I TELL THEM I'M A PREACHER, THEY'RE LIKE,

  • "OH, HERE HE GOES. HE'S ABOUT TO JUDGE ME."

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • I'M LIKE, "NO. I'M NOT THAT KIND OF GUY. JUST LET ME TALK!"

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • BUT I KNOW, BECAUSE SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN BAD TV, BAD CHURCH TV

  • LATE AT NIGHT, AND YOU SEE THE GUY ON THERE TALKING ABOUT,

  • "I'M GONNA TELL YOU RIGHT NOW YOU BETTER CALL THAT NUMBER

  • ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW, 'CAUSE IF YOU DON'T,

  • YOU'RE GONNA BURN IN A HOT LAKE OF FIRE!

  • I'M GONNA TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW!"

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • SIR, YOU'RE FRIGHTENING THE CHILDREN.

  • BUT EVERY TIME I SEE JESUS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT,

  • I SEE HIM ENCOUNTERING THE MOST BROKEN OF SOCIETY,

  • AND THEY WERE ATTRACTED TO HIM.

  • HOW IS THAT THE LEPERS AND THE LAME

  • AND THE BROKEN AND THE DRUNKS

  • AND THE PROSTITUTES THOUGHT HE WAS AMAZING?

  • HOW IS IT THAT HE CONNECTED TO BROKEN PEOPLE,

  • BUT THE PRIDEFUL, THE SPIRITUAL,

  • THE RELIGIOUS ELITE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM?

  • I SAID, "THAT'S THE KIND OF PERSON I'D WANT TO BE,

  • THAT I CONNECT TO PEOPLE NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE,

  • NO MATTER WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH,

  • NO MATTER WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE." AND THAT'S NOT RELIGIOUS.

  • THAT'S SEEING THE BEAUTY AND THE DIVINE NATURE

  • OF EVERY HUMAN BEING THAT YOU ENCOUNTER.

  • [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

  • THERE'S NOTHING MORE AMAZING TO ME THAN THIS STORY IN JOHN 4.

  • JESUS IS TALKING TO THIS SAMARITAN WOMAN,

  • AND JEWS AND SAMARITANS DID NOT HANG OUT.

  • THEY WERE NOT BEDFELLOWS.

  • JEWS KIND OF THOUGHT THEY WERE BETTER THAN THE SAMARITANS.

  • SAMARITANS WAS KIND OF SLIGHTLY HOOD.

  • THEY WAS LIKE, "WHATEVER, WHATEVER. WOOPTY-WOO."

  • AND THE JEWS WERE LIKE, "UGH, UGH! EH!"

  • THAT WAS KIND OF THE VIBE.

  • AND JEWS AND SAMARITANS DIDN'T REALLY TALK,

  • YOU KNOW, TO ONE ANOTHER.

  • AND, SO, THIS SAMARITAN WOMAN IS WALKING UP,

  • AND JESUS IS AT THE WELL.

  • AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING CONVERSATION.

  • AND JESUS IS JUST CHILLIN' BY THE WELL.

  • AND, YOU KNOW, IN ALL OF THE MOVIES,

  • JESUS HAS A BRITISH ACCENT, EVEN THOUGH HE LIVED,

  • YOU KNOW, IN ISRAEL 2,000 YEARS AGO, BUT WHATEVER.

  • AND, SO, HE'S ALWAYS LIKE --

  • HE ALWAYS HAS HIS JESUS BEARD WITH HIS PREMIUM BROWN SANDALS.

  • AND HE'S SITTING BY THE WELL AND HE'S LIKE,

  • "GIVE ME A DRRRINK OF WATER."

  • AND, SO, I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND

  • THE CULTURAL CONTEXT OF BUILDING BRIDGES,

  • BECAUSE JESUS BUILT A BRIDGE WITH THIS LADY

  • THAT DIDN'T COME FROM WHERE HE COME FROM

  • AND DIDN'T BELIEVE WHAT HE BELIEVED.

  • AND HE SAID, "HEY, CAN YOU GIVE ME A DRINK OF WATER?"

  • AND SHE WAS FROM SAMARIA, SO SHE WAS A LITTLE BIT HOOD.

  • SHE WAS LIKE, "FIRST OF ALL, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME,

  • SO WHY ARE YOU EVEN TALKING TO ME, OKAY?

  • BECAUSE I'M A SAMARITAN.

  • SAMARITANS, REPRESENT.

  • ENH, ENH, ENH, ENH, ENH, ENH

  • YOU NEED TO BACK UP, OKAY?

  • 'CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW -- YOU DON'T KNOW ME!"

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • JESUS WAS LIKE, "IF YOU KNEW THE GIFT OF GOD

  • AND WHO IT WAS THAT WAS STANDING HERE,

  • YOU WOULD GIVE HIM A DRINK OF WATER

  • AND YOU'D NEVER THIRST AGAIN!"

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • SHE WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOODNESS.

  • TELL ME ABOUT THIS WATER. WHERE IS THIS WATER?

  • I'VE BEEN THIRSTY FOR A LONG TIME, OKAY?

  • FOR REAL, FOR REAL."

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • YOU GOT TO READ IT. SOME OF YOU ARE LIKE,

  • "I DIDN'T READ THAT IN..." IT'S IN THE N.I.V.,

  • THE NEGRO INTERNATIONAL VERSION.

  • YOU CAN PURCHASE IT IN THE LOBBY AFTER THE SESSION IS OVER.

  • [ LAUGHTER, CHEERS, AND APPLAUSE ]

  • JESUS SAID, "I'LL CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOU,

  • BUT WHY DON'T YOU GO GET YOUR HUSBAND FIRST."

  • SHE WAS LIKE, "MNH, WELL, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I'M SINGLE, OKAY?

  • AND READY TO MINGLE!"

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • HE WAS LIKE, "SLOW DOWN, BOO. I'M GONNA SAVE Y'ALL.

  • I DON'T EVEN GET DOWN LIKE THAT, ALL RIGHT? JUST RELAX."

  • SO, THEN JESUS TAKES THIS REAL REGULAR CONVERSATION

  • AND THEN PUTS SUPER ON THE NATURAL.

  • HE SAYS, "YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE RIGHT.

  • YOU'RE NOT MARRIED. YOU'VE BEEN MARRIED FIVE TIMES,

  • AND THE GUY YOU'RE WITH NOW

  • YOU'RE JUST KIND OF LIVING WITH."

  • SHE WAS LIKE, "FIRST OF ALL, HOLD ON.

  • WHO TOLD YOU MY BUSINESS?

  • SHANIQUA! SHANIQUA, DID YOU TELL THIS MAN MY BUSINESS?

  • I TOLD YOU TO BE QUIET!"

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • Y'ALL DIDN'T KNOW SHANIQUA WAS IN THE BIBLE TILL YOU MET ME.

  • SEE?

  • SuperSoul SESSIONS.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • IT'S IN THE SESSION.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • WHAT JESUS DID IS HE VALIDATED HER HUMANITY

  • WITHOUT HIGHLIGHTING HER BROKENNESS.

  • NO MATTER YOUR POLITICAL,

  • SPIRITUAL, OR RELATIONAL IDEOLOGY,

  • WE MUST VALIDATE THE HUMANITY

  • WITHOUT HIGHLIGHTING BROKENNESS.

  • HE TREATED HER AS A VALUABLE INDIVIDUAL

  • AND HE TREATED HER WITH LOVE.

  • HE DIDN'T JUDGE HER.

  • AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT REGULAR LOVE.

  • I'M TALKING ABOUT REAL LOVE.

  • I'M TALKING ABOUT AN UNENDING LOVE.

  • I'M TALKING ABOUT, "I JUST MET YOU,

  • BUT I LOVE YOU AND I WOULD FIGHT FOR YOU,

  • EVEN THOUGH I DON'T KNOW YOU,

  • BECAUSE YOUR HUMANITY IS AS VALUABLE AS MY OWN."

  • I'M TALKING ABOUT A LOVE THAT WILL MAKE YOU SING TO STRANGERS.

  • I'M TALKING ABOUT A WHITNEY HOUSTON KIND OF LOVE.

  • AND IIIIIIIIIII-I-IIIIIIIII

  • WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, OOH, OOH

  • I WILL ALWA-A-AYS

  • LOVE YO-O-O-O-OOOOOOOOOOOOOU

  • [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

  • [ SMOOCHES ]

  • I'M TALKING ABOUT A LOVE THAT DOESN'T GO AWAY

  • BECAUSE WE DON'T AGREE.

  • I'M TALKING ABOUT A LOVE THAT MAKES ME FIGHT FOR YOU,

  • EVEN THOUGH I DON'T SEE WHAT YOU SEE.

  • I'M TALKING ABOUT A LOVE THAT MAKES ME CROSS THE BRIDGE

  • OF UNDERSTANDING, AWAY FROM MY FEARFUL PLACE.

  • I'M TALKING ABOUT A BRIDGE THAT MAKES ME SEE YOU FACE-TO-FACE.

  • -YEAH! -MM-HMM!

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • -PREACH! -I'M TRYING, GIRL.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • SEE, 'CAUSE IT IS THE Super Soul SESSION,

  • AND SO WHEN SOMETHING TOUCHES YOUR SOUL,

  • YOU CAN'T HELP BUT GET EXCITED ABOUT IT.

  • THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN BE CEREBRAL ABOUT

  • AND PONDER AND PROCESS.

  • THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL IN YOUR SOUL,

  • AND YOUR TOES START MOVING,

  • LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW THIS DUDE,

  • AND HE IS A LITTLE BIG.

  • HE COULD WORK OUT A LITTLE BIT.

  • BUT I LIKE WHAT HE IS SAYING,

  • AND IT'S AGREEING AND CONNECTING

  • WITH THE INNER PART AND CORE OF MY BEING."

  • THAT'S WHAT WE NEED --

  • SOMETHING THAT MAKES US COME FROM THE FAR RIGHT

  • AND THE FAR LEFT AND WE MEET IN THE MIDDLE!

  • WE COME TO PLACES LIKE SuperSoul SESSION

  • AND WE ARE NOT INTIMIDATED BY PEOPLE

  • THAT HAVE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS THAN US.

  • IN FACT, WE DON'T JUDGE THEM. WE EMBRACE THEM.

  • AND WHAT WE CAN DO, WE DO PROCESS, WE CHEW THE MEAT,

  • AND SPIT OUT THE BONES.

  • [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

  • AND WE DON'T BEAT PEOPLE UP.

  • WHAT JESUS SHOWED ME IS THE WAY I NEED TO LIVE MY LIFE,

  • AS HE WAS RELATIONAL, RELATABLE, AND RELEVANT.

  • -YES! -THAT'S GOOD!

  • AND IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO SEE LIFE FROM YOUR LENS,

  • THEN YOU NEED TO MAYBE BECOME RELATIONAL,

  • RELATABLE, AND RELEVANT.

  • AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO TWO OTHER THINGS

  • AND BECOME INTENTIONAL AND UNCOMFORTABLE.

  • [ CROWD MURMURS ]

  • BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GONNA BUILD BRIDGES,

  • YOU'RE GONNA CONNECT WITH PEOPLE

  • AND HAVE TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE YOU,

  • DON'T LIVE WHERE YOU LIVE.

  • NOW, I'M NOT TELLING Y'ALL RIGHT NOW TO LEAVE HERE LIKE,

  • "COME ON, SARAH. WE'RE GOING DOWN TO CRENSHAW.

  • WE'RE GONNA JUST SHAKE HANDS."

  • DON'T DO THAT. THEY GONNA ROB YOU.

  • DON'T BE -- STAY HERE.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • STAY HERE.

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • BUT WHAT I REALIZE IS -- WITH THE LIFE WE'VE BEEN GIVEN,

  • THE CHOICES WE HAVE, WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH IT.

  • SO, DO ME A FAVOR. SIT UP IN YOUR SEAT.

  • GRAB A DRINK FROM THE FRIDGE, AND...

  • [ LAUGHTER ]

  • WHETHER IT'S COMMUNION OR A BEER,

  • COME MEET ME ON THE BRIDGE.

  • 'CAUSE I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU'RE FROM. WE ALL GOT A STORY.

  • BUT IF WE ALL STICK TOGETHER, IT'S GOING TO PRODUCE

  • GLORY

  • [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

  • HEY, HEY, ONE DAY

  • WHEN THE GLORY COMES

  • IT'LL BE OURS

  • HEY, HEY, ONE DAY

  • WHEN THE WAR IS WON

  • WE WILL BE SURE

  • WE WILL BE SURE

  • HEY, HEY, HEY

  • GLORY

  • I LOVE Y'ALL.

  • GLORY

  • AVENTER, I LOVE YOU.

  • GLORY

  • HEY, HEY, GLOOOOOOORY

  • ONE DAAAAAAAY

  • [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

Subtitles and vocabulary

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