Veronica Hendrix Black Los Angeles

Veronica's View
by: Veronica Hendrix

The Moment that was Defining

I had a defining moment, recently.

It was a moment when the aggregate total of my life's direction was unequivocally linked to a specific epoch.

I suppose Oprah in her "of the ages wisdom" would probably call what I experienced a "light bulb moment." However, that's a bit too diminutive for me.

What I experienced was more like an ethereal synaptic connection - if there is such a thing. I'd describe it this way: it was a moment in which my unconscious mind linked up with my consciousness and formed a bridge between my past, present and future. It was amazing.

I've experienced a few defining moments in my life that either shifted my priorities, like the birth of my two sons, for example. And I've had defining moments that essentially changed the course I had plotted for my life such as my untimely marriage dissolution - which I am sure there are plenty of folks out there who could co-sign this one.

Yet this one moment literally personified my life. Now I no longer "see through a glass darkly," as quoted in the ancient scriptures. It's all crystal clear. And it all came together when I attended the 50th Anniversary of Calvary Baptist Church, officiated by Apostle William T. Broadous.

My mother has been a member of Calvary since 1958. She and my father united with the fledgling church just before they had constructed their new sanctuary among "rocks and jack rabbits" in a little developing community called Pacoima, a Native American name which means "rushing water."

Calvary not only became the cornerstone of the African American community, it became the cornerstone of our lives. It's where I attended Sunday School and church services each week. It's where I was baptized. It's where I attended vacation bible school. It's where I learned bible verses I recited during Easter and Christmas programs. And it is where my heart clamored to return to celebrate the 50th anniversary of church that has given so much to so many.

And it was a celebration indeed. Actually, it was more like a homecoming as I found myself surrounded by childhood friends I used to run around the church grounds with, and former Sunday school teachers who taught me principles that have lasted a lifetime.

I have so much history in this church. And the montage of church photographs assembled in the multi-media presentation shown that Sunday took me back to precious days of my youth when my faith in the unseen was pure and untarnished by the storms of life.

The progression of pictures demonstrated how much the church has evolved. In fact a female member of the pastoral staff whose tenure with the church was more recent asked me if the church has undergone many changes since I was a child. I told her yes it has gone though many changes, specifically in the myriad of creative ways they us to deliver the gospel. She was a part of that change in that the church had ordained many women as pastors since I was a little girl. However the fundamental message of salvation, hope and charity have remained the same, and I told her - as I told Apostle Broadous-- that gave me a great sense of comfort and continuity.

That continuity I spoke about was the catalyst for the ethereal synaptic connection I experienced during the tribute service. A collision of memories and realizations about the impact Calvary Baptist Church has had on my life jostled in my head.

You see this is a church whose legacy is steeped in social justice, civic activism, community leadership, cultural advocacy, civil rights, humanitarianism, progressive education and economic literacy, and I really could go on and on. Calvary Baptist Church was pretty cutting edge back in the day, and they haven't lost their edge since founding Pastor Hillery T. Broadous and his wife Rosa heeded the call to ministry 50 years ago.

Calvary's reputation as the preeminent African American Church in the San Fernando Valley didn't go unnoticed by the media, public officials, national and world leaders. While on an unconscious level I knew all this and witnessed most of this first hand, I didn't realize how much my affinity for social justice specifically, and civic activism, community leadership, cultural advocacy, civil rights, humanitarianism, progressive education and economic literacy -- collaterally - had been directly influenced by Calvary.

That is why my work in advocating for the rights of women and girls is no accident. That is why my career as a social essayist and journalist is not serendipitous. That is why my heart for humanity and my inordinate interest in improving the human condition remains transcendent. Because Sunday after Sunday, month after month and year after year my spirit was imbued with precepts that shaped my life and destiny. I never completely understood this journey that I am on, but now I do.

Veronica Hendrix is a journalist and columnist whose work has covered the span of the human continuum - from clinical trials of male contraceptives, to the gang violence. She is the producer of the highly acclaimed half hour talk show called "LA Woman," which airs on L.A. City View Channel 35, and is a Los Angeles Emmy nominated producer. Veronica's career as a journalist has included being a reporter for USA Today and a producer for a radio talk show in Los Angeles, which focused on issues impacting the African American Family. Veronica is a proud native of Southern California where she with her two sons.

If you have comments about Veronica's View, email them to: vsview@yahoo.com




			Veronica's View by: Veronica Hendrix The Moment that was Defining I had a defining moment, recently. It was a moment when the aggregate total of my life's direction was unequivocally linked to a specific epoch. I suppose Oprah in her "of the ages wisdom" would probably call what I experienced a "light bulb moment." However, that's a bit too diminutive for me. What I experienced was more like an ethereal synaptic connection - if there is such a thing. I'd describe it this way: it was a moment in which my unconscious mind linked up with my consciousness and formed a bridge between my past, present and future. It was amazing. I've experienced a few defining moments in my life that either shifted my priorities, like the birth of my two sons, for example. And I've had defining moments that essentially changed the course I had plotted for my life such as my untimely marriage dissolution - which I am sure there are plenty of folks out there who could co-sign this one. Yet this one moment literally personified my life. Now I no longer "see through a glass darkly," as quoted in the ancient scriptures. It's all crystal clear. And it all came together when I attended the 50th Anniversary of Calvary Baptist Church, officiated by Apostle William T. Broadous. My mother has been a member of Calvary since 1958. She and my father united with the fledgling church just before they had constructed their new sanctuary among "rocks and jack rabbits" in a little developing community called Pacoima, a Native American name which means "rushing water." Calvary not only became the cornerstone of the African American community, it became the cornerstone of our lives. It's where I attended Sunday School and church services each week. It's where I was baptized. It's where I attended vacation bible school. It's where I learned bible verses I recited during Easter and Christmas programs. And it is where my heart clamored to return to celebrate the 50th anniversary of church that has given so much to so many. And it was a celebration indeed. Actually, it was more like a homecoming as I found myself surrounded by childhood friends I used to run around the church grounds with, and former Sunday school teachers who taught me principles that have lasted a lifetime. I have so much history in this church. And the montage of church photographs assembled in the multi-media presentation shown that Sunday took me back to precious days of my youth when my faith in the unseen was pure and untarnished by the storms of life. The progression of pictures demonstrated how much the church has evolved. In fact a female member of the pastoral staff whose tenure with the church was more recent asked me if the church has undergone many changes since I was a child. I told her yes it has gone though many changes, specifically in the myriad of creative ways they us to deliver the gospel. She was a part of that change in that the church had ordained many women as pastors since I was a little girl. However the fundamental message of salvation, hope and charity have remained the same, and I told her - as I told Apostle Broadous-- that gave me a great sense of comfort and continuity. That continuity I spoke about was the catalyst for the ethereal synaptic connection I experienced during the tribute service. A collision of memories and realizations about the impact Calvary Baptist Church has had on my life jostled in my head. You see this is a church whose legacy is steeped in social justice, civic activism, community leadership, cultural advocacy, civil rights, humanitarianism, progressive education and economic literacy, and I really could go on and on. Calvary Baptist Church was pretty cutting edge back in the day, and they haven't lost their edge since founding Pastor Hillery T. Broadous and his wife Rosa heeded the call to ministry 50 years ago. Calvary's reputation as the preeminent African American Church in the San Fernando Valley didn't go unnoticed by the media, public officials, national and world leaders. While on an unconscious level I knew all this and witnessed most of this first hand, I didn't realize how much my affinity for social justice specifically, and civic activism, community leadership, cultural advocacy, civil rights, humanitarianism, progressive education and economic literacy -- collaterally - had been directly influenced by Calvary. That is why my work in advocating for the rights of women and girls is no accident. That is why my career as a social essayist and journalist is not serendipitous. That is why my heart for humanity and my inordinate interest in improving the human condition remains transcendent. Because Sunday after Sunday, month after month and year after year my spirit was imbued with precepts that shaped my life and destiny. I never completely understood this journey that I am on, but now I do. Veronica Hendrix is a journalist and columnist whose work has covered the span of the human continuum - from clinical trials of male contraceptives, to the gang violence. She is the producer of the highly acclaimed half hour talk show called "LA Woman," which airs on L.A. City View Channel 35, and is a Los Angeles Emmy nominated producer. Veronica's career as a journalist has included being a reporter for USA Today and a producer for a radio talk show in Los Angeles, which focused on issues impacting the African American Family. Veronica is a proud native of Southern California where she with her two sons. If you have comments about Veronica's View, email them to: vsview@yahoo.com