Make Space: Day 6

If I don't post about it, is it still real? If I don't speak on it, do I still feel. The book Veneer has really challenged me to think about why am I doing what I'm doing. Today's not an IG post day and that's okay. It's much more about the reality of my experiences and their reflection being housed in a safe space such as this.

We are not responsible for success, but we remain responsible for obedience"- Klaus Bockmuehl

I remember launching the website on my birthday in 2021. I had no super clear vision for it, but I had some vision. I didn't know what all it would/could be used for, but I did it. I felt God saying "make space". With my word for the year being "build", I can proudly do so knowing that I have a solid foundation. My website now highlights spoken word pieces and allows me to showcase myself in a self-curated way where I control the narrative. I'm learning to value what's mine and what I've built.

Consider the pain, the loss, the gain, the new, all means through which God makes space in our lives to do wondrous things. Not only did I make this space but I invite God here. My door remains open to possibility. I'm thankful for where I've been able to take it so far and excited to see where it'll go next.

Art Saves Lives: Day 5

I finally finished work at about 10pm after a long day of helping students find summer programs. One conversation in particular sunk a little deeper than usual. It all started with a book I gave the student, all about love by bell hooks. I simply asked how it's been going and the they began to illuminate how jarring and resonant it had been from the first flip of the page. Further they went on to quote the preface and in the reflection that followed, a door began to open. I listened and watched as they began to unearth years of buried emotion. Neglect, invisibility, and silence cries all crowded in the room. They had finally arrived. Confession is a destination all rage hopes to reach.

From the start of the call the student shared sketches of figures in different poses, some self-portraits, and other articulations of their imagination. In this exhibit I saw an artist who had conquered their world with a pen and paper, a warrior who fought not in wake of wounds but worship.

When I finally spoke in response, I let love lead me, knowing that I had nothing to offer but a mirror,

a frame for them to see themselves

as enough,

worthy,

loved,

a light that was sent to shine.

Art saves lives and today I see why

Sabbath: Arrival

Today is the Sabbath day, meaning a day of rest. I honestly have been pretty in my head about how to occupy my time today and what I should be doing to properly decompress from the week. After a pretty eventful day, I looked over at my DVD set and saw Arrival, one of my top 5 favorite movies and was like bet. Side-note, ownership is important. Yes I still have DVD's because I refuse to allow my indulgence to be dependent upon a streaming service that will not have the movies I love after a month lol.

Anyways, Arrival is so powerful because it magnifies the importance of love, language, and collaboration. Arrival is one of those films that you just want to experience for the first time again.

There's this amazing breakdown I found on YouTube which outlines some key cinematic elements that inform how the story is told in conversation with broader linguistic concepts. To uplift a quote referenced in the video:

“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” – Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Good film and good art in general help expand our language, and therefore our worlds. After watching today I'm left wondering about fate and love. The two main characters undergo a journey of discovering each other. Both are in pursuit of knowledge and a mission, find something much greater between each other.

I'm also fascinated by how our decision making process in political contexts are often driven by fear, which is illustrated on multiple occasions throughout the film. But it is Louise's faith to follow her visions which helped save the world.

As I prepare for the week and the night,

for I know not how much time I have,

I am grateful to have arrived

here

this momentous occasion

not quite a destination

but a place worth pausing.