Warren Christopher
Part Four
"Reflections and Faith"
By Darise S. Deal
Warren Christopher
Copa: What were the life-changing experiences that put you on the path that led you to what you’re doing today?
Warren: The life-changing experiences were being a single dad and gaining a better understanding of the struggles of black women in America and even the world. When I became a single dad, I quickly began to appreciate my daughters’ mom and other women. Black men receive lots of pats on the back for being single dads because it’s not the norm. Black women, who have been single parents for over 100 years, never receive pats on the back. They never get appreciated or told thank you because it’s expected. Even today, Lisa and I are friends. I told Lisa that I would use every resource that I had to make sure my daughters were with me. I felt like I couldn’t breathe without my daughters. That was a life-changing experience that caused me to have a rounded respect for women at large, but particularly black women. My grandmother, the rearing that she gave me and work ethic that she instilled in me, was another person who impacted what I would do. However, the greatest life-changing experience that I had that drives my passion to this day was serving our country, whether it was as an Army officer, as the Chief of Staff at the Department of Interior making every effort to be a good steward of Federal tax payer dollars, whether it was working in the United States Senate for a number of very prominent Senators such as Senators Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Bill Nelson and Jack Reeds. Those experiences reinforced and validated to me that it doesn’t matter where I come from. It’s about the work. It’s about having been able to serve my country in the garments of American warriors, and being proud to serve my country. It was those things that said you can do whatever you choose to do because you’ve done it and here’s some solid examples of you doing it. Right now, I am seeking to be a representative in Congress, the servant leader, for a constituency that has been historically disenfranchised and has not had a seat at the table. They have not had open and fair access to opportunity. It is because of those past experiences as a single dad raising two black daughters, being proud to serve my country in uniform, as an executive in the Executive Branch, also as a congressional staffer in the Legislative Branch. Most importantly, outside of being a dad, being a mentor and a coach to young black boys and boys of color who are hurting. I’m not sure if we are prepared for the consequences of not meeting their needs. We’ve seen some snippets of what that looks like. We’ve seen it in St. Louis. We’ve seen it in Chicago, New York and Baltimore. What I’m doing today is because of what I’ve been exposed to and having such a strong desire to stand in the gap and be strong for those people who are not strong enough to speak up for themselves.
Warren: The life-changing experiences were being a single dad and gaining a better understanding of the struggles of black women in America and even the world. When I became a single dad, I quickly began to appreciate my daughters’ mom and other women. Black men receive lots of pats on the back for being single dads because it’s not the norm. Black women, who have been single parents for over 100 years, never receive pats on the back. They never get appreciated or told thank you because it’s expected. Even today, Lisa and I are friends. I told Lisa that I would use every resource that I had to make sure my daughters were with me. I felt like I couldn’t breathe without my daughters. That was a life-changing experience that caused me to have a rounded respect for women at large, but particularly black women. My grandmother, the rearing that she gave me and work ethic that she instilled in me, was another person who impacted what I would do. However, the greatest life-changing experience that I had that drives my passion to this day was serving our country, whether it was as an Army officer, as the Chief of Staff at the Department of Interior making every effort to be a good steward of Federal tax payer dollars, whether it was working in the United States Senate for a number of very prominent Senators such as Senators Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Bill Nelson and Jack Reeds. Those experiences reinforced and validated to me that it doesn’t matter where I come from. It’s about the work. It’s about having been able to serve my country in the garments of American warriors, and being proud to serve my country. It was those things that said you can do whatever you choose to do because you’ve done it and here’s some solid examples of you doing it. Right now, I am seeking to be a representative in Congress, the servant leader, for a constituency that has been historically disenfranchised and has not had a seat at the table. They have not had open and fair access to opportunity. It is because of those past experiences as a single dad raising two black daughters, being proud to serve my country in uniform, as an executive in the Executive Branch, also as a congressional staffer in the Legislative Branch. Most importantly, outside of being a dad, being a mentor and a coach to young black boys and boys of color who are hurting. I’m not sure if we are prepared for the consequences of not meeting their needs. We’ve seen some snippets of what that looks like. We’ve seen it in St. Louis. We’ve seen it in Chicago, New York and Baltimore. What I’m doing today is because of what I’ve been exposed to and having such a strong desire to stand in the gap and be strong for those people who are not strong enough to speak up for themselves.
Copa: What would you say most motivates you to do what you do? What are you most excited or passionate about?
Warren: I am most passionate about serving people and leadership. I am most passionate about being a dad and shaping the minds of two very talented and beautiful daughters. I’m very passionate about pouring into the lives of young black males that are struggling to survive. I’m very passionate about service and servant leadership. When I recognize the fact that someone did it for me, I’m inspired to keep going. I’m standing on the shoulders of ancestors that paid with their lives for me to do what I do. People died painful deaths so I could serve and wear a uniform. People died painful deaths so I could get an education and gain knowledge in American schools. People died painful deaths so I could work as an Executive in the Executive Branch and as a staffer in the Legislative Branch. People even died so I could be a dad. I’m talking about my forefathers…my ancestors. Black men and women who endured tragedy and a Holocaust equal or greater to what the Jewish and European people endured. That’s what motivates me. I can’t get tired because had our ancestors gotten tired, buses may have still have been segregated today. We still may not have been able to drink out of the same water fountains as Caucasians. We still may not have been able to live in the communities that we choose in America. If my ancestors had gotten tired, I would have never been able to serve in the military. What motivates me is my ancestors. I can’t get tired because they didn’t get tired and they are depending on me to help carry their legacy. I can’t let their works be in vein.
Warren: I am most passionate about serving people and leadership. I am most passionate about being a dad and shaping the minds of two very talented and beautiful daughters. I’m very passionate about pouring into the lives of young black males that are struggling to survive. I’m very passionate about service and servant leadership. When I recognize the fact that someone did it for me, I’m inspired to keep going. I’m standing on the shoulders of ancestors that paid with their lives for me to do what I do. People died painful deaths so I could serve and wear a uniform. People died painful deaths so I could get an education and gain knowledge in American schools. People died painful deaths so I could work as an Executive in the Executive Branch and as a staffer in the Legislative Branch. People even died so I could be a dad. I’m talking about my forefathers…my ancestors. Black men and women who endured tragedy and a Holocaust equal or greater to what the Jewish and European people endured. That’s what motivates me. I can’t get tired because had our ancestors gotten tired, buses may have still have been segregated today. We still may not have been able to drink out of the same water fountains as Caucasians. We still may not have been able to live in the communities that we choose in America. If my ancestors had gotten tired, I would have never been able to serve in the military. What motivates me is my ancestors. I can’t get tired because they didn’t get tired and they are depending on me to help carry their legacy. I can’t let their works be in vein.
Copa: If you could do anything over again in your first 40 years of your life, would you do anything differently? Why, and what would you do?
Warren: I would do things differently in my marriage. I would work to be more vulnerable and a stronger communicator and confront my issues and challenges head on. I would fight harder to maintain my family unit.
Warren: I would do things differently in my marriage. I would work to be more vulnerable and a stronger communicator and confront my issues and challenges head on. I would fight harder to maintain my family unit.
Copa: Do any metaphors come to mind to describe your life?
Warren: Each one, reach one, teach one. My life is not my own. God has ordained my life for a purpose. I need to walk in my God-given purpose and make sure that I share what God has blessed me with. God didn’t bless me to hoard the blessing, He blessed me to share.
Warren: Each one, reach one, teach one. My life is not my own. God has ordained my life for a purpose. I need to walk in my God-given purpose and make sure that I share what God has blessed me with. God didn’t bless me to hoard the blessing, He blessed me to share.
Copa: Are your religious or spiritual?Briefly describe your faith? How often do you attend service?
Warren: I grew up as a southern Baptist in Alabama. Through my exposure in the world, on my own I adopted a general Protestant perspective. Currently, I am non-denominational. In my humble opinion, I believe that religion is divisive; it divides us in many ways. When I reflect on Sunday mornings, I think it’s the most segregated time in the world in our country. I’m not suggesting that it’s wrong, but for me, I have begun to focus more on spirituality than religion. I attend temple, Baptist or African Methodist Episcopal churches because my spirituality most closely aligns with those services. I grew up in a Catholic school. I am very familiar with the Catholic religion. I go to church every Sunday or I leverage technology and watch services via online streaming. My church is in my heart and I carry it with me every single day. I pray daily and often during the day. I pray not for myself but for groups of people. People who may be in court, struggling moms and dads and our leaders. These are not selfish prayers; I don’t pray for myself. For me, it’s about spirituality and not so much religion. I attend church often – whether it’s within the four walls of a church, whether I’m leveraging technology or whether it’s in my heart – and I really enjoy it.
Warren: I grew up as a southern Baptist in Alabama. Through my exposure in the world, on my own I adopted a general Protestant perspective. Currently, I am non-denominational. In my humble opinion, I believe that religion is divisive; it divides us in many ways. When I reflect on Sunday mornings, I think it’s the most segregated time in the world in our country. I’m not suggesting that it’s wrong, but for me, I have begun to focus more on spirituality than religion. I attend temple, Baptist or African Methodist Episcopal churches because my spirituality most closely aligns with those services. I grew up in a Catholic school. I am very familiar with the Catholic religion. I go to church every Sunday or I leverage technology and watch services via online streaming. My church is in my heart and I carry it with me every single day. I pray daily and often during the day. I pray not for myself but for groups of people. People who may be in court, struggling moms and dads and our leaders. These are not selfish prayers; I don’t pray for myself. For me, it’s about spirituality and not so much religion. I attend church often – whether it’s within the four walls of a church, whether I’m leveraging technology or whether it’s in my heart – and I really enjoy it.
Copa: What are your go to scriptures from the Bible that you lean on when you are having a tough time?
Warren: Romans 8:28 - “All things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” When I’m going through things, I reflect on that scripture.
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” I have a tattoo with this scripture. I like to model my life by giving. I find it so amazing that God gave his only begotten son for us.
Warren: Romans 8:28 - “All things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” When I’m going through things, I reflect on that scripture.
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” I have a tattoo with this scripture. I like to model my life by giving. I find it so amazing that God gave his only begotten son for us.
Part 1: http://www.copastyle.com/warren-christopher-pt-1.html
Part 2: http://www.copastyle.com/warren-christopher-pt2.html
Part 3: http://www.copastyle.com/warren-christopher-pt3.html
Part 2: http://www.copastyle.com/warren-christopher-pt2.html
Part 3: http://www.copastyle.com/warren-christopher-pt3.html
For more information about Warren Christopher: http://www.warrenchristopherforcongress.com
~Copa