Sankofa - Go Back and Get It

Sankofa

There is something sacred waiting for you—not out in the distance, not in some imagined future—but behind you. It lives in your lived experience. It breathes in the moments you thought would break you… but didn’t.

The Akan principle of Sankofa calls us home to ourselves: go back and get it.

But what are we really retrieving?

We are reclaiming the wisdom we’ve already earned. The resilience we’ve already embodied.The healing that has already taken root within us.The truth that has already been revealed through our lives.

When a new challenge rises, it can feel overwhelming—as if we’ve never stood here before. But life has a rhythm, a cycle. The forms may change, but the essence often repeats. The same invitation to grow, to trust, to rise—just wearing different clothes.

This is not your first rodeo.

And there is power in remembering that.

Because remembrance shifts something deep within us. It steadies the heart. It quiets the noise of doubt. It reminds us that we are not starting from zero—we are starting from experience.

I think back to when we first purchased our current building. It had been empty for seven years. What stood before us wasn’t a simple upgrade—it was a full-scale resurrection. Electrical systems had to be rebuilt. Carpeting installed. Fireproof drapes hung. Lighting and sound designed from the ground up. Roofing, HVAC, flooring—every system demanded attention. Restrooms had to be reimagined and rebuilt to meet ADA standards.

It was more than a project. It was a calling.

Even the unseen layers required care. I remember giving my time to rebuild the network infrastructure—installing a new switch, running cabling, setting up internet through EarthLink (yes, that EarthLink!). It was detailed, technical work—but it mattered, because every piece mattered.

There were moments when the scope felt overwhelming. Moments when it would have been easy to question whether we could really do it.

But we did.

And when I go back and get that, I remember something essential:We didn’t do it all at once.We did it one step at a time.

We stayed with the vision. We practiced patience. And most importantly, we listened—deeply—to the intuitive guidance of Spirit.

That memory is not just a reflection—it is a resource.

Because when I face something today that feels big, complex, or uncertain, I can reach back and remember:I know how to do this.I know how to stay present.I know how to move forward, even when I can’t see the whole path.

And so do you.

There is a moment in your life—maybe many—where you rose, where you stretched, where you became more than you thought you could be. That moment still lives within you.

Sankofa - Go back and get it.

Not to dwell in the past—but to reclaim its power. To bring its wisdom forward into this present moment where it can serve you again.

You are not empty-handed. You are carrying strength. You are carrying insight. You are carrying the quiet, steady presence of Spirit that has always guided you—and always will.

Remember who you have already been. Remember what you have already overcome. Remember what has already been revealed to you.

And then take the next step—anchored in that knowing.

And as we continue to remember, reconnect, and renew together as a community, I invite you to join us this weekend in our Ahiah Theatre for a joyful and heartfelt experience. The Jewish Federation Players will be presenting “Southern Fried Funeral” on Saturday and Sunday, May 2nd and 3rd. It’s a beautiful opportunity to gather, to laugh, to feel, and to celebrate the richness of storytelling and shared humanity.

Come be with us. Come be lifted. Come remember—together.

Your Affirmations for the week:

• I draw upon the wisdom of my past to guide my present moment.

• Every challenge I face is supported by the strength I have already developed.

• I trust the Spirit within me to lead me, step by step, into greater expression and fulfillment.

This week when you are facing the appearance of any challenge, stop and turn within. Go back and get the deep wisdom that Spirit has planted within you. Remember that Spirit always says, “Yes”.

You’ll be glad you did, and maybe a bit sorry if you don’t. Remember what happened the last time you failed to surrender to Spirit? You don’t have to repeat that lesson, instead you can remember that we are surrounded by Blessings and Light, and the knowledge that Spirit always wins on our behalf!

In Gratitude and the Spirit of Sankofa

RevMichael (Kisumma)