The Better Plan

Some say the key to success is telling the universe what you want and it will bring it to you.

I do believe in that.

But lately, I’ve been curious about the request itself.

Things do actually come to me. They unfold. They align. But sometimes the unfolding feels a little too precise to be random. It almost feels like the idea of what to request came from the same Source that fulfilled it.

Like I was only ever asking for what was already written as possible.

What I just experienced was just that. 

The Declaration

When I was turning 39, I had every intention of taking a trip to Africa.

It felt right. Symbolic. Necessary.

But something changed in my business, and I had to cancel those plans.

My natural response when plans shift is surrender.

“God has something better.”

Alhamdulillah — all praise is due to God.

(Hallelujah for my Christian family.)

So I made a declaration instead.

If not 39, then 40.

I would be in Africa at 40.

Africa felt like maturation for me. In some cultures, manhood begins at 40. Returning to the continent at 40 felt aligned. It felt like destiny.

The Tension

But here was the tension:

40 is a major milestone. I imagined celebrating with family and friends. I imagined hosting space. Being surrounded by my folks.

So how was I going to do both?

Be in Africa… and be with my people?

One thing for certain, two things for sure — if you wake up every day and put one foot in front of the other with faith, patience, and constancy, you will find yourself in places beyond your imagination.

Letting It Go

As my birthday approached, I let the Africa idea go.

I focused on what I could manage. My capacity was stretching. I had projects everywhere — the biggest being Revival DC New Year’s in partnership with the masjid.

Since my birthday is December 30th and Revival was New Year’s, my birthday had become a second thought. Of course we talked about integrating it into Revival, but we weren’t planning anything different than usual.

And it wasn’t looking likely that I would:

• Be in Africa

• Or create intentional space with family and friends

But God…

Alhamdulillah.

The Email

My immediate Islamic community is through Masjid Muhammad – The Nation’s Mosque, under the leadership of Imam Talib Shareef.

(For clarity, “The Nation’s Mosque” refers to us being an African-American established mosque in the nation’s capital. We practice Sunni Islam.)

After one Jumu’ah, Imam Talib approached me and asked if I had received an email from him.

I hadn’t.

He sent it again.

And when I opened it… I almost cried.

The Invitation

Over the past several years, the African Conference for Peace — held in Nouakchott, Mauritania — has become an annual forum bringing together African leaders, scholars, policymakers, and peacebuilders to discuss reconciliation, conflict resolution, and social development. Cheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah, who heads the Abu Dhabi-based Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, has played a prominent role in these gatherings alongside government officials, religious scholars, and civil society representatives. 

And I had been officially invited.

An invitation from Cheikh Al-Mahfoudh and Cheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah to join them on the continent for the African Conference for Peace.

The Alignment

For the last couple of years, I’ve increased my footprint at the masjid.

Most people know me because I perform at events.

But serving? Leading? Building?

That’s grown.

From developing Muslim-based music projects…To alternative culture events…To contributing to renovations at our main site…To simply being present.

Imam saw that.

And according to the vision he carries for our community, he has been intentionally inviting me into leadership spaces.

So about a week before my 40th birthday…

He sent me an email that is an official invitation from Cheikh Al-Mahfoudh and Cheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah to join them on the continent, in the country of Mauritania, for the African Conference for Peace.

The thing I had declared.

The thing I had surrendered.

The thing I had “let go.”

It came — not through my planning.

But through service.

Through community.

Through alignment.

And somehow… I made it to Africa at 40.

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