HOW RIDICULOUS ARE YOUR ASKS? #ABCsOfAudacity - A - Ask Big!

"Lord, I want to travel the world, hug a bunch of people and surprise them."

That was my audacious prayer about 15 years ago. I felt so silly and kind of stupid, praying a prayer with a “???????????????????????? ??????????” of 10 (yeah, I made that up). And to be honest, I really had no clue what it meant. I mean, was I supposed to find a university to earn my Ph.D. in Strategic Surprise Management with a minor in Hugonomics?

And yet…

That was MY Big Ask!

Now get this...

Although it took several years that's EXACTLY what I do these days through my nonprofit, Move-In Day Mafia. I TRAVEL to HBCUs, HUG freshmen who have aged out of foster care, and SURPRISE them with dorm room makeovers (and provide monthly care packages).

So yuuuuuuup God answered my prayer.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Let's rewind to 2020. I had just traded the City of Angels for the Peach State, motivated by what I can only describe as a divine nudge. I arrived in Atlanta with big dreams packed among my belongings, only to be greeted by a world forced into a nap. The pandemic hit, and like everyone else, I found myself at a standstill - or so I thought.

But here's the thing about standing still: it gives you a moment to listen. And in that silence, an idea sparked to life - a virtual Bingo game. Not your run-of-the-mill community center bingo, but a Bingo that prompted the tagline, “This Ain’t Your Grandmam’s Bingo!” It was a global phenomenon that connected people from all corners of the earth.

We laughed, we played, and most importantly, we gave away over $10,000 in cash and prizes. But I had no idea, this was just the beginning.

A BIGGER CALL

As the pandemic continued to unravel the fabric of our daily lives, I watched with a heavy heart as graduations were canceled. Remembering my own walk across the stage at Howard University, my heart ached for the students missing out on their moment. It was then, knees planted firmly on the ground in prayer, that I asked for guidance on how to bring some joy back into their lives.

The answer came as a whisper: #TeeJHBCUBingo.

Wait, what?

How was Bingo going to solve THIS problem? But if I've learned anything, it's that sometimes the most extraordinary solutions come from the most unexpected places. So, with a laugh at the sheer audacity of it all, I set to work.

"Ok God, if this is really You, show me how to raise $100,000 for these kids."

THE POWER OF AUDACIOUS ASKS

What happened next still leaves me in awe. In less than four weeks, we raised OVER $1 MILLION IN CASH AND PRIZES. That "Level 10 Ridiculocity" ASK wasn't just answered; it was amplified beyond my wildest dreams.

And it taught me a crucial lesson: when it comes to dreaming big, we're often our own biggest limiters. #TeeJHBCUBingo was full of surprises, a DJ, celebrity pop-ins, and a whole lot more. Plus, it led me to the graduate that inspired Move-In Day Mafia. Check out the story that CBS Evening News With Norah O’Donnell did on us.

INSPIRED BY THE GREATS

We can't talk about ASK BIG without mentioning Joshua from the bible. Dude literally appealed to God to make the sun stand still.

And guess what?

It did! The sun punched the pause button because Joshua needed a bit more daylight to get the job done. If that’s not Level 10 Ridiculocity, I don’t know what is.

And then there's Peter. Oh, Peter! Amidst a storm, he sees Jesus casually taking a stroll on the water. Does Peter wait for Jesus to come to him? Nope. He asks if he can be a copycat and walk on water too. Classic Peter move.

But here's the kicker – Jesus says, "Come," and just like that, PETER’S WALKING ON WATER!

So, here's the million-dollar question: If Joshua can ask for extended daylight, and Peter can request to moonwalk across a thunderous sea, what's stopping us from our own “Ask Big - Level 10 Ridiculocity?”

Fear? Doubt? The worry that our ask might be too big, or too out there? Whew. At the foot of the Almighty, no ask is too outrageous, no request too ludicrous.

WHAT'S YOUR LEVEL 10 RIDICULOCITY?

So now, I turn to you. What's your sun-standing-still, water-walking wish?

That wish so big it scares you to even whisper it? Remember, no ask is too big or too ludicrous at the feet of the Almighty. It's time to embrace your own AUDACITY TO ASK BIG.

Next week, we dive into the 'B' of the ABCs of Audacity – Believe Long.

Sometimes, our asks require not just audacity but patience and unwavering faith. Laaaaaaaawd, ask me how I know!

Until then, dream big and have the audacity to ASK BIG! And remember…

Hug yourself for me!

Don't forget you can download my recent book Waiting For Suddenly for FREE and be inspired to walk in miracles.