Diamond Soldiers

...Too many times I was denied this part in the play or that role in the production. I couldn't be a part of this clique or that group. I spent many lonely hours in the midst of a crowd of people, in school, at business gatherings, at church functions. I never could just blend or fit in. Either I was the headliner, or I was forced to take a seat off to the side. I wasn't criticized as much as I was excluded, so I decided to make a few adjustments. I decided to function as support personnel, much like I opted to do in Calvin's businesses. I had no problem with helping in the background; even in that, I seemed to always get noticed or recognized. Sometimes that recognition caused others to perceive me as a threat or pull away from me. Some even found fault and criticized me for nothing. It couldn't just be for nothing; I understood that maybe I gave off some vibe or projected some unacceptable disposition, unconsciously. I always prayed that my heart was pure before God. I figured if my heart gave off a sweet aroma to Him, maybe other people would learn to like me more. I didn't understand it, and I gave up trying. It no longer hurt me as much though; I kind of prepared myself for it, just in case...

Young, gifted, talented...and with a slight chip on her shoulder, Janeah Moore feels like a fugitive in her own little world of mediocrity and monotony. In light of the complacency of those around her, she fights tooth and nail to settle for what is before her, imagines an invisible anchor that stabilizers her, makes her look like the others...think like the others...be like the others...a product of 'the assembly line'...in school, in church...in life. To her surprise, Janeah's life comes full circle after a series of hard knocks, mishaps, and unavoidable life lessons that catapult her 'out of the box' into a world wind of fulfillment and obvious destiny. Maneuvered by unseen hands, Janeah learns the importance of embracing her individuality, maximizing her potential, despite opposition, and the essence of what it means to be 'a diamond in the rough' that is fitly groomed and equipped for a purpose beyond anything that she could have ever imagined.