Sonny's Blues& Lectio Deivina

Sonny’s blues a story that I enjoyed reading for class. I did find it hard to follow at times. But it’s about two brothers that endure so much suffering. Which reveals how different they are and the reason why Sonny’s brother cannot understand him. Sonny the main character who has a heroine problem addiction, and a passion for jazz and becomes a musician. Sonny’s brother is the narrator. While sonny feels more intensely all the hard ship in his life, his brother keeps his feelings locked in and chooses to ignore his own pain. James Baldwin uses jazz music as the main metaphor. The end of the story was complicated for me to get, I didn’t understand it but once we read it aloud and over again it began to unfold. We also were introduced to Lectio divina which is sacred readings where we did three out of the 4 steps, which was listening, reflecting, respond, and resting on the text. I have heard of doing this before with scripture but not with literature I kind of enjoyed it. And we practice it on my favorite part of the story the ending. I was able to reflect and what I got from it was rebirth, re finding your place but being restored by breath of life, the rhythm.  Also reflecting life through the blues. And he was focused on the wrong.  During class it was great hearing my peer’s thoughts and the words and phrases that stood out to them.  And some of my classmates thoughts like Isaac‘s was “God wants us to jump in the deep.”  Instead of me sharing what came to me, I was just soaking in what everyone else was saying. I really enjoyed this story and the activity in class and being able to close in pray.

Interpretation

This poem “Messenger” by Mary Oliver deals with being made to love the world and to be in ah of its beauty. To take life for its beauty and to not just see what the world can do and give to you. But by showing thanksgiving in every situation you come into that involves the world, which is pretty much everyday. Also to not worry about the earthly things like materialism, or looks and the latest and greatest things that will eventually fade, but love the creation that has been bestowed upon us and to be in one with it and rejoice in the fullness of creation.

Although this read may seem simple to understand, but with giving it a second read it will begin to unfold. I want to figure out more of what is being said in this poem than just the basic clarity. I specifically want to dissect the ending of stanza 2 moving into 3. It is talking about how everything on earth is in its place its one in unity so therefore, the things on earth are unified, and all things are to be joyous. The last stanza, being astonished for loving the world shows your gratitude from your mind and your heart cause if you didn’t have your mind and your heart you couldn’t possibly love the world without them.  To go deeper in the meaning of what this poem is saying I ask myself a few questions like: Who is the messenger? Mary Oliver is the messenger because her work volunteers her to do this by sending love, attention, and gratitude and sending a message. She keeps her mind on what matters, which is her work. And her work which is loving the world. To who is the message to? I answer with to everything, creation, and everyone!  What is the message? Telling them that we will live forever in rejoicing with gratitude.  

 For love of the world. Mary Oliver may come across as seeming like loving the world is work or like a job to most that may first start off reading it, but as she goes on you see her passion and love for creation. She starts to realize the things that matter to her before, they no longer matter i.e. staying young, her clothes etc. She then becomes grateful for her “mind, heart, and body-clothes.” Because without these three things there would be no way for her to possibly love the world and all it’s beauty she wouldn’t be able to fathom all the “ingredients” that were put in to making creation, she wouldn’t realize the rejoicing in it would bring eternal life to one’s soul. Not necessarily adding years but adding youth to the soul. You go on this poetic beautiful journey with her, unveiling God’s creations and what we are supposed to do with them. Ultimately have love, respect, gratitude, and be joyous.

“My work is loving the world.” “Keep my mind on what matters, which is my work, which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.” “This is gratitude to be giving mind, heart and these body –clothes from our Lord.” These few pieces from the poem clearly show the love and astonishment she has for creation and the world. And what her work is. These sections don’t beat around the bush but clearly informs us off her love and passion she has for all creation. These were the key stanzas that really showed me what the poem was trying to tell me. At first reading it was very confusing until I read it again and again breaking it down to understand each stanza and then each sentence until I had full clarity.

I believe that we too are messengers. And everything in life has and plays a roll just like in this poem. It makes you view the world in an illuminating way and to not only live in the world, but to be set apart while living in the world. We have to care about what matters and to work,  but not forgetting the still quietness of it all to be able to rest, enjoy, and find wonder in it all as well, and giving shouts of joy, for even the plants and animals rejoice unto the Lord!

Philippians

This is one of my favorite books of the bible. From the Apostle Paul who writes this letter from prison. I loved how we read the New American Standard with no numbers. It flowed so nicely like a real letter the way it was written. Instead of me naturally breaking it into parts. One of my favorite verses comes from the book of Philippians. My mom always says it and it one of them many verses she had me memories growing up and it’s:  Phil 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication

With thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all Understanding,

Will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I enjoy this book because it has some great themes like: a quitter never wins… a winner never quits, what goes into our minds, comes out in our actions, God NEVER fails, Lasting joy only comes through a relationship with Jesus, Christians have problems but Christ is the power to overcome them, and we have no basis for pride except in our perfect example, Jesus Christ.

Where is saw figurative language is when it said, “To live is Christ and to die is gain,” “ Be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death,” also “ I have you in my heart, “ and “ in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as light in the world.”

A Very Old Man

This was another interesting and weird story and the first thing I was confused about was why  the story’s subtitle is “ A Tale for Children,” this story by no means is a simple story. One thing that just stands out at you is the description; the very first paragraph is full of description. I would quote it but its just so long. It almost makes you feel like your there or can at least see it.

This style had a way of I guess u could say blurring the style for the read from reality and fantasy. And I find imagery and symbolism through out the story and especially with the angle. This story creates a lot of uncertainty. And as a reader you don’t doubt that he has wings but you are not sure what he is… a heavenly angel? A human with wings, or some other unexplained thing?

“He“ the angel contradicts their expectations of and angle but what stood out to me was “His only supernatural virtue seemed to be patience”

They treat him in a manner that seems ignorant, cruel, unjust way. It has relations to the child in the other story.  They both were locked up. One in a chicken coop the other a closet of some sort. The old man had extraordinary patience and acceptance of suffering.  When he was around good things happened. The rain stops, the child’s health improved, Pelayo and his wife prosper. And when the child is around that utopian city also prospered and gained happiness. And is there a significance that the boy got better once the angel came to their house? And that the angel and the boy when he gets older  both at the same time got chicken pox?

What is the moral?  There could be several:  Maybe people wouldn’t recognize a miracle even if they saw one. Appearances are deceiving. Or even patience pays off.

The Ones Who Walked Away From Omelas

I’m not really sure how I feel about this story.  I was a little confused so I read it again. It is a story of a Utopian Society that’s almost fairy tale of just happiness and beauty but it’s flawed. This society whose survival depends on the existence of a child who is locked away mistreated and in misery. Even though all the citizens of Omelas are aware of the child’s situation, most of them accept that their happiness is depended upon the child. However, for some of the people after seeing the child and the conditions under which he or she lives, they leave Omeals. I noticed symbolism and Figurative description. The narrative also stops using past tense and switches conditional: “I think that there would be no cars or helicopters in and above the streets.” I find that moral plays a big part in this story.

Is there a symbolism of Christ in this story? I know that one man, Jesus suffered so that we might have life, live a prosperous life. If the child had a choice to free its self, what would he or she decide you think? 

I thought I would focus a little on the actual title “ the ones who walked away”. The narrator tells us that “the terrible justice of reality” is that this child has been so damaged by it environment that freedom would be probably be meaningless. But there are some who cannot accept the rationalization and the treatment of the child. These are the ones who walk away. So what do we think of those that walk away? Do we admire or take pity? Do they have enough morals to separate themselves from the inhumane treatment, but not enough courage to resist?  

The Temple of the Holy Ghost

A Temple of the Holy Ghost was a great read, but I found myself having trouble to even get myself to start it but once I did it had my attention.  This story had a lot of symbolism, but I found myself trying to solve what all the symbols meant and was losing the flow of the story trying to comprehend it.  I thought it was interesting that the child was the narrator and was called the child throughout the story. With this story I didn’t the process of interpretation reading, interpreting, and criticizing to help me better understand the story. The story had such a transformation on how the child now viewed life. And had a better outlook. Instead of disliking her cousin she accepts them and other for who they are and in the process she a change in herself wanting to get rid of anger.  Just in the way God see us by our heats. He made each and every one of us unique. And we need to remember to love the person and not the things they do. And we are not to have anger in our hearts. God is amazing how he can turn us around and show us the things that we need to work on to better his Kingdom. This was definitely a unique story.

The Man Who Came To Dinner

Hmmm let’s see where do I even start! Well I will start on a positive note since what is to come is going to be a little bit on the critical side. I went to see the pay with Vicky and that was fun getting to spend the day with her :) So to start things off I went to the 2:30 showing on Saturday and this play was absolutely boring. To be honest I left out of there like what did I just watch?! It was such a long play and I felt that my day was wasted and that was not worth my 10 dollars! However, I did find the theater itself to be pretty and the costumes and stage step up was great! The whole time I was just waiting fro the play to end. I couldn’t understand what was going on. And I was waiting on the man to come to dinner! Lol… not once did I see anyone come to dinner lol… I wasn’t sure if Vicky was feeling the same way? If she was enjoying it? but once we left and talked about it we were definitely in agreement that we didn’t enjoy it. She hides her emotions pretty well.

I was disappointed because I was actually really excited to see a play. I love seeing plays I don’t get the opportunity to see them often but when I do, I love them. Not so much with this one. For me was the acting I couldn’t believe the actors they didn’t come to life for me. There was one actress who kept messing up with her lines and instead of trying to let it flow you could tell she was already thing of her next line making her choppy. And after that I kept finding my self critiquing it and not being able to enjoy it.  Not once did I laugh while others around me did. There was many of times during the play were I wasn’t paying attention and I wanted to close my eyes but I knew that would be rode, So I didn’t.  The ending wasn’t even good. I was really annoyed with the whole thing. So I’m going to end this blog now because it is nothing but negative all through out it. But I will say the best part was going with Vicky! For all that went to the play I hope you had a better experience than I did. And I really want my money back.

Poem In The Park

I went to Lake Bonny Park for this assigned trip, and I stayed for at least 45 minutes for a nature and poem experience.  This activity is kinda what I already love to do. Sit quietly engaging in God’s presence with nature.  In class I check off 10 activities in ways to engage with nature in daily life. So I definitely enjoyed this, the “spiritual practices” however, the step taken were a little different then what I normally do.  And reading poetry I was a new twist. I normally don’t read anything when I’m with nature unless I’m reading my bible. This was a very calming a great reflecting and encounter activity. It did get a little distracting with all the other people around but over all it was great!  Sitting in the grass by a tree and experienced God through one of His many beautiful creations, giving me the ability to create a poem.

Intimate meeting of minds

These definitely bind

Dark rich soil consume my feet and starts to wrap

The grass grows deep with in this tender trap

The seed which now resides is the heart of this flower

Blossom and bloom and don’t lack power

Let the wind take over like a Holy Ghost shower

Be like Christ the lamb and the Lion

Full of life like the dandelion

Oh creation radiates like a symphony

But the “one” whispers remember me! Creator of all things

Not responsible for the worldly blings!

But the unfailing morning sting of the birds never ending praise sing

So stoic and poised

The tree stands

But underneath it is the roots that go down deep and brand

Going with life so simple with peace like the birds and the bee’s

All creation waits for Thee

Intimate meeting of minds

These definitely bind

That God has made nature one of a kind.

In The Waiting Room

What does it mean to be a woman? How does one detangle their self from that definition? In class before taking out mid term we read a poem by Elizabeth Bishop, “In The Waiting Room” I was rather intrigued by it and wanted to go deep but do to the fact that we had our test i looked it over on my own time and read on Elizabeth’s background. Bishop writes this poem in a child narrative. “Her” child narrative. For example in line 6 “it was winter. It got dark”. This shows her age at the time but through the lens of a adult poet. Bishop poem is examining her own life, capturing themes such as the realization about gender identity, the women’s rights movement and WWI. She is explaining it thought the wandering mind of a child in a dentist waiting room with grown-up people, overcoats and magazines. (lines7-10)The last two stanzas describes her going back a forth from her memory and the present. Example she writes “Then I was back in it. The war was on. Outside...” While she examines the unanswerable question of what being a woman means, Bishop also struggles to find how her identity is defined within the context of this large, gendered identity. She collapses herself with her Aunt Consuelo's voice...(her Aunt’s identity).  She even talks about women, that their outward physical looks “trousers and skirts and boots” and questions is that what it means to be a woman? She sees the stagnant and society’s criteria on womanhood based on that time. And when she reads The National Geographic of tribal woman and children she realizes that being a girl is different from being a woman in so many ways.

I really enjoyed this poem looking up information during the time period of Elizabeth and thinking about what it means to be a woman. The realization of becoming a woman, be labeled as one...and knowing that all the struggles women faced and still face has helped shaped us but not define us.

Reflect

On Tuesday our Mid Semester portfolio was do and I wasn’t too happy that I was going to be evaluate my own blogs. I picked my top five blogs that I felt best represented my work. It was hard because I couldn’t pick between two.  I then answered a series of questions and wrote a reflection on blogging, how I felt about blogging and what I had learned from blogging. It helped me to see for the most part I like blogging. Furthermore, it became a great way for me to reflect on what I have done thus far in the semester. Reflecting is so important in just about every area of our lives. And many times we forget to reflect. Reflecting was a key point in doing our portfolios it better helped me to evaluate my work I have done this far in the semester it showed me my strengths and weak spots in my writing. I really enjoyed re reading my blogs, I had forgot what I had written on some of my older blogs and I definitely see my growth within my writing from my older to the more resent blogs. I also liked that I got to look back on my thought pattern on how a felt about a topic or activity I wrote on.

 Doing this profile helped me to recognize my writing abilities and definitely what I need to work on because I think that my writing abilities are not as strong as I would like them to be and I like every chance I get to improve them. I feel have learned through blogging on how to better develop my skills in critical thing, analyzing, and creativity.

Once in class we got to sit with our small groups and discuss our portfolios, based off of the few questions that Professor Corrigan placed on the board along with my peers own personal thoughts and feelings toward their blogs and portfolios . The evaluation was a great way to better help me improve and learn more about myself in the way I write and think on the material I’m learning not only in Literature class but in my other courses.

The Sound of Joel

I am really not a big fan of studying literature. But again that week in Sept where we focused and read the book of Joel was GREAT! First off I feel so blessed to get to even look at scripture in a literature class or a class at all. This class day was so spiritual to me which I would have never of thought to have a spiritual lit class. We discussed in class two major focal points that we dealt with while reading Joel and they were Sound and Visual. We read the book of Joel more than once and discussed on topics likes: what can one gain by looking at scripture as literature. What was most important or central lines to the meaning of Joel and does speaking aloud or proclaiming passages give you more that just reading them.  For me, I know I forget at times that the bible is literature and I loved that Corrigan let us read a version without the number so that we could see it more for what it is, a poem. I know I’m the type that does not like to read aloud. So when the exercise to go outside for 20 minutes and read the passage of Joel was presented and Professor called on me in class if this seemed to me to be a good activity. I smiled and said mmhmm. But really thought it was a dumb idea. However, it actually became one of my favorite activities we have done in class. At first I felt stupid outside reading aloud a passage from Joel. But then I realized that in a way there is so much power when you speak out loud. I had an encounter with God as I was reading his word aloud and not just in my head to where they could get altered from my own thoughts. Because truly in that exercise I learned that you don’t always comprehend what you are really reading because our minds wonder and your not focus to what’s on the page. But when you read it aloud your focus and I know and can understand what I am are reading.  During my read, I began to feel the presence of God and by reading outside I was also in his creation with nature it was such a great experience. God at times my use nature, sorrow, or other common occurrences to draw us closer to Him. I even got to sit with Shantel and discuss some of the things from the passage and how we encounter God, along with other spiritual topics and what we believe. This activity that we did was defiantly focused on sound. Hearing the passage, aloud, proclaiming it, along with hearing Shantal’s thoughts and even hearing it from my heart.  God covenant with His people will endoure forever!

Brush Strokes of knowledge

The week where we looked at Joel and painted has by far been my favorite week thus far. Getting to look at the Word and paint! AMAZING! I believe painting is another way of learning. Professor Corrigan really helps to bring this class alive to me.  I clearly remember this week, like it was just last class meeting. Our task was to bring in supplies to paint. Paint what exactly? I didn’t know but I was excited. Even though I can’t really paint, I find it so calming.  To be honest I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I didn’t know what we would be painting but I knew that it wasn’t going to be just your typical painting, just based on what we read in Corrigan’s class. However, it was to paint visually.  He pushes us to go deeper, think deeper, see things, feel things differently and deeper instead of just the bare minimum of the surface of Literature. Like in class discussing the 2 focal points on reading Joel and this was the visual aspect of it. To me not only was I painting visual but I heard and felt what I was painting from the soft stimulating music played and along with what I was reading from the passage I picked which was Joel 2:30-31 “The Day of the Lord “. As I kept reading and seeing the words on the page from this verse, reflection, relaxation and creativity arose as I was painting what I felt. I didn’t paint literally but more abstract you could say. By letting my colors and the strokes speak my feeling, and representing the words and phrases of Joel.

I chose this verse because something about it came alive to me that day we read it aloud.  And I wanted to paint on the wonders that God displayed. I wanted to keep layering what I was grasping from it and continue what I was learning from it, spiritually, poetically, even as a stress reliever all the different types of ways  instead of starting on a new passage to paint. I love the fact that we got to paint to Joel and not to another poem because it was definitely a great way to reflect on God’s word and the paint unto Him to Glorify God through brush strokes.

Visual of Joel

My Painting on Joel done Sept 23. Joel 2:30-31 "The Day of the Lord"

Love's Minimum Wage

         Sitting back feeling anxious yet at peace he sits back in his seat, not in first class but in coach for the very first time in his life. He finds it very displeasing, the cramped seats, the lack of food, and the congestion. Second guessing himself and mentally preparing for take off he sits and ponders on this life changing challenge he has volunteered to do. Watching the stewardess slowing walking down the aisle taking orders from each person he notices the smile upon the stewardess face. He asks himself, “does minimum wage equal happiness? Normalcy? Is this what I want in life”? As he continues to ask himself questions about the so called “normal life” he slowly closes his eyes and retraces back to the decision he made 1 month ago. He was at a coffee shop with his best friend Aaron. He said, “Aaron do you ever feel like this life, that we are living is pointless? I mean do you feel complete? Because I sure don’t”. He remembered the look on Aaron’s face. It was a puzzling look. Aaron replied, “Man we are living the good life, we’re rich, handsome I mean what more do you want? It’s all about…” but before Aaron could finish he cuts him off “see right there, that’s what I’m talking about, I don’t want that. I want to find out who I truly can be and find someone for me instead of what I got. So I’m going to go, I’m going to live a minimum life, work a minimum wage job for a year.”! Aaron mouth dropped to the floor he couldn’t understand but he supported him and from that point he knew that there was more to life than just money.

       “Ding” the sound from over head and fasten your seat belt light interrupted his thought. Before he knew it the plane began to descend and he found himself passing through the international gate, baggage clam, and continuing out the airport. Sticking out like a sore thumb among the Dubai people. He was a tall 30 year old bachelor, your traditional all American man. He was rugged. His eyes showed curiosity and he had hair that you wanted to run your fingers through. He looked and soaked in all that laid before his eyes the city was breath taking. There were sky scrapers and the women wearing dresses in bright radiant colors. As he began to observe his surrounds more he realized he had went to one of the riches countries in the world. He had known before hand but he didn’t truly imagine Dubai to quit like this. He thought “what am I doing here? This is truly going to be a challenge, I have placed myself right back in my old ways”. He quickly realized that this was exactly what he needed to truly push himself into growing. As he hales for a cab, he takes a deep breath and under his breath whispers “welcome to your new home for the next year”.

          He finally reaches his new fully furnished apartment that he had pre rented before leaving home. He then begins to settle in. Later on that day he attends his job ordination, where he receives a uniform ,along with instructions and fills out paper work, life as he knew it was about to change.  It is now his first day of work as a concierge at a very high ends Hotel in Dubai called Deira Hotel. Before stepping behind the counter he pins the name Josh, a bright shinny gold name tag on his upper left side of his chest. Josh’s boss stands along side of him and utters some encouraging words. “Don’t worry! If you don’t get everything right, if there is anything you don’t understand or have questions about just come and ask. I’ll be more than welcome to assist you”. Josh took a deep sigh of relief to let out the nerves he was feeling.” Thank you sir”. Josh was acting like he had never worked a day in his life. Well, in a way he pretty much hadn’t. He came from old money. The only thing that Josh could ever remember that came close to him actually working was when he had helped his father with some office work but that only lasted for about a month. Josh’s first day of work was going rather well. He seemed though to be struggling with the task of being at the front desk and some encounters with rude customers. He couldn’t understand why he was being treated as such. Quickly, being reminded that he was no longer going to be respected by others based of his wealth, his pervious status. Also he is quickly reminded the he is in a new country with new ways of doing things. Just by observing the people in the lobby and the few customers he has already encountered. Josh got through the major challenges that he was mostly going to face through out the day. Josh knew it wasn’t going to be a day like any other. There was just something about it. “was it the new life style, the people, what was it”? In three hour from him clocking in, he notices this gorgeous woman as she sparked walking into the wide open, marble floor lobby, struggling to carry with her 5 pieces of luggage. She looked about in her late 20. She was clothed in bright colors and sequences and covered in jewelry: chandler earrings, rainbow colored bracelets on both wrists, along with a nose piercing.  She had long silky black hair and tan smooth skin that looked perfectly kissed by the sun. As Josh ran from behind the counter to assist the breath taking woman with her bags, all Josh could do is stare into her perfectly almond shaped eyes and her full lips. “Let me get that for you”! Says Josh. The woman places one of her bags she is holding on the floor and extends out her right hand. “Oh thank you so much! I’m Karishma by the way”. Just gazing at her beauty he almost forgets to say his name. “I’m Josh” he replied. Karishma was from India and came from wealth herself that was very clear to see through her appearance and tons of luggages she carried. She inherited her father’s millions when he had died. He died when she was 12 from a sickness that wasn’t looked after properly.  Despite her wealth she is very sweet and loving. Yet she is hard to read at times. Karishma keeps up this wall against many people and doesn’t let too many people into her world. Karishma fears that men will only purse her because of her riches. She wishes her father was still alive to continue to teach her what to look for when it comes to finding a soul mate. However, there was something about Josh… thoughts began to race her mind. “ what was it? Was it he’s foreign good looks? Or the curiosity that filled his eyes”? She wasn’t sure but something about him struck her interest. Karishma was visiting Dubai for quite some time. she was excited to spend her time in Dubai.

       Time was passing but for them it was standing still. They began to show interest in one another and began to date. But as time moved on Josh feared to tell her, the most important thing that once shaped him. He was afraid to reveal this to her, because over the time they spent together he had learned about her feeling toward men that had money or men that only wanted money. And the stresses of life were starting to hit him hard. Keeping a secret from Karishma and the struggles of living minimum wage eat at him every day. So many times he just wants to revert back to his old way of living not having to worry about the struggles he faces. He finds it such a challenge trying to juggle both worlds stretching his pay checks and keeping Karishma happy knowing that he just your average joe.

          As the secret is eating at him he decides to take Karishma out on a date to reveal to her his secret. The waiter sits them down at the table. As josh is unable to even enjoy a night out he tell her, “I need to inform you about information of myself I have been holding from you.” She says, “Let’s wait till after we eat”. But he can’t finish this night. As he tells her this long awaited confession he see the pain fill up in her eyes her smile turn into hurt she doesn’t say anything she just slowly gets up form the table walks away a crack fill his heart to realize he has lost her. In the distance he sees her stop in mid tracks she turns around and smiles. And lips “I already knew” and continues walking.

Cemetery Field Trip

I went to the Tiger Flower Cemetery Complex for this Field trip; Intro to Lit. and i stayed for at least 30 min to be honest i had a really had time with this trip, i felt really uncomfortable and a little creeped out. i have only been to a cemetery once before this time to visit my Uncle. i though i would be fine on this trip but it was not as easy as i thought. I do get what we where doing and where it was heading because of the book but i still not to satisfied with this trip.

A Grief Observed

It seems as a society we as people need to go through tragic trials in our lives to be shaken or moved out of our current states. And death is definitely one to either make or break a person. I personally have not experienced a close family member to pass away, well I mean I have but I was so young and it didn’t affect me the way I though death should affect someone..  well now after writing this statement, how should one take death? Yet why is there a common emotion to have but at the same time we all have very different emotions and experience death  all in our own way. Despite that fact that its the same situation; we lose a love one. Its not that I was too young and didn’t remember my Uncle because I remember him in my life very well. but when my mom’s brother passed away suddenly at a very early age. I can even remember the pain my mother went through, it seemed like a year she grieved . To experience a pain like that, you can’t help but go with the flow of your life being rearranged in a way that can bloom open new seasons for you or keep you in the dark. For class we read the book A Grief Observed by C.S.Lewis; His journal, reflection, his grievances and feeling toward God about his wife’s death. Its easy to put the hurt that we are feeling on someone and most of the time its God, but I believe everything happens for a reason and God maps out our lives and things that we don’t understand or cant see why they are happening God knows. God used my Uncle’s death to bring people to him when he took his last breath. I would go into detail about what happened but even though I was young and then it didn’t affect me but now it still does. But I know through anything God can make it good.

Going into Deeper Thought

I really enjoyed class on Tuesday! I mean not only were we not in a class setting but we got to EAT a whole meal during class. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G :) Ever since I been in this class I’m really starting to like and slowly understanding Literature. I been able to observe and unwrap all the different areas of what literature really is and how it’s around us daily and its only been a few weeks of school. Last class meaning was great not only did I learn a little more about the different types of literature that my peers shared but I also got to meet new people and learn about them through literature… by the way they think or even feelings toward literature. I defiantly shared common feelings with them. Also I was able to gain new knowledge or look at sustain pieces of literature differently then I had seen it before. They brought new insight and perspective.


The literature that I brought to class was lyrics titled Lighthouse by Hope and my group came to soo many conclusions on what we think the song means. Was sure if she was talking about God or her inner self. But in the end one of my peers made a great statement reminding us that not all literature was meant to have a direct meaning. So we came to the conclusion that the song would fit with that person the way they needed it to fit to their lives.. I mean we bring everything back to us to compare with because we use what we experience to help direct our answer or not even answers but.. ummm yeah..you know.. I hope just cant quite find the words for that.. but it was kind of left general so that who ever read it would read it differently and so if they were having a rough time with their boyfriend they might see it as more of a love song but if they are struggling with their walk with God they might see the song differently than the lovers. So its left open for you to make the choice of what literature means to you.
  sorry if this blog didn't really flow.

Don't Let The Beat Fool You!

In class we heard this folk song about a week or so ago. I thought it was a joke and defiantly not a style that I like listening to but once we got the lyrics and begain to sing along, ( thanks boys for entertaning me with the echo of the end of just about every line) :) dissect, an analyze, the song I begain to get the deeper meaning of what we are singing. Like I notice she blow his head off and goes to the funeral but yet no where does it talk about her going to jail or getting in trouble, and it says there is no moral so….. its like its saying there is no good in men and its like every one expects it.. he had it coming.


So may times we listen to music dancing in our seats, nodding our heads and loving the sick beat. and AMAZINGLY… JUST after listing to it once or twice we already know the words and singing along with it. But not really knowing what we are self consciously sing. WHY? Is it so easy for us to memorize the thing that are not so good for us but we can't memorize our school work with such ease. But going back to the actual text it was about a couple and Johnny cheated and Frankie killed him. Just like the music today it talks about all the negative things that happens in the world but we really can’t hear it cause we are deaf to the rhythm and beats of the songs we listen to.

We also went over a skit "Sure Thing" and this skit I enjoyed at first I was not to sure and though it was a little interesting just like the song haha but as we kept reading I be gain to understand that the seen was changing and showing you new ways on which it could be acted out ,every time the bell rang. Don’t you wish you had a bell in life you could ring, every time you wanted to change your seen.. redo that moment or saying. If Life could be that simple… maybe there would be less drama in the world. I’m sure that Johnny if he could, would wish to ring his bell and had never cheated on Frankie.. but clearly he had no bell to ring because Frankie pulled out her old forty four.

Marital Bliss

LOVE … What is it? It’s a word that is thrown around carelessly, we have soo many ways and people telling us what love is. We get it from poems, movies, songs, romantic novels, I mean the list goes on. But really what is love? Think about what does it mean to you? To me love is strong , unconditional, sacrificial, selfless, and in my world everlasting. But true love is patience, it is kind, it never falis,  it is true, its the one thing that will always change you.


I read a narrative story, “What We talk about When We talk about love” it’s a story about 4 characters who have there own thoughts, views, and experiences on what love is. From physical abuse being love, to Marital Bliss..” still in the Honeymoon stage” all over a bottle of gin.

So when the honey moon is over – these test comes and u have no choice but to get real. The tests come in all forms. Getting real requires self searching and opening up like u never have before- but un like the characters they drink and put on a front about their year and half marriage.

We spend alot of time in fairyland and it starts at an early age- and even in adult hood we play out our ideas of what the fairy tale should be and we are disappointed when things go off script! The transition from La La Land to reality challenges you to really love your mate and to really give to your relationship. I believe that God created love and marriage to teach us hard lessons and also to give  us a joy like nothing else. Love is great and marriage is beautiful but why don't the fairy tales talk about the trying times that will inevitably come? why dont they teach us how to listen well? forgive completely? and sacrifice endlessly?

My Ageless World Of Literature

Bath "check", PJ's "Check", Getting a glass of water "check", Bedtime "check". At a very young age most of us would dread having to take a bath and of course going to bed. But there was one thing I looked forward to was the extra quality time I got to spend with my mom. Little did I know bedtime stories were exposing me to Literature at such a young age. Bedtimes stories form the ones my mom would make up from the top of her head, bathtime, getting to sing "Wheels on the bus" to the classic stoy books like "Peter Rabbit" or even Bible stories. Even though I begain to get to big for bedtime stories form mom, I found myself reading stories on my own. Stories such as " Amellia Badillia", or Books assigned in school like " Mr. Popper's Penguine".
   Having recently read "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers was truly an amazing novel. Not only entertaning but was biblically based from the book Hosea. As I read it I understood the kind of Love that God has for me. When God's will and promises for my life are in act . Nothing will hinder His plans for my life. He shows His true grace for us when we come to Him in obedience. In my life the Bible is the most significant Literature in my hands down. Its what I start and end my days reading. It brings me peace and clarity about daily issues. I know the days I don't read it, my days don't run as smooth. The Bible is my sword and gets me through my days and I gain more knowledge from it about my life and the God I serve.
     Literature is about experiance, reflextion, creativness, interprets, and it comes in all forms. Litature is so important to have apart of our lives, it shapes us, helps us to trace cultures, history, and traditions. I even love poetic litature, like Maya Angelou's quote stating " Diversity makes for a rich tapestry. we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value, no matter their color; equal in importance no matter their texture".
    Literature, like all things has deep meaning and shallow meaning, so I wouldn't say that literature never matters but I would say that it does matter when you are trying to find a deeper meaning unless you are reading for pleasure, enjoyment or even as a time filler. However, most of the time even for those same reasons, no matter what you read or write you are and will always get something out of Literature.