skip!

On Tuesday, December 1st I skipped a blog post. 

skip!

On Thursday, October 22, I skipped a blog entry. 

Interpretation

                                                            Interpretation

            Sonny’s Blues, a short story by James Baldwin is about the struggle of a man who grew up in Harlem in the 1950’s. The story opens with Sonny’s brother, a teacher at a local school narrating his thoughts. He has just read the paper on his brother’s condition and discovered that Sonny isn’t doing well. He is in distress and explains his emotions… “I couldn’t believe it: but what I mean by that is that I couldn’t find any room for it anywhere inside me. I had kept it outside me for a ling time. I hadn’t wanted to know. I had had suspicions, but I didn’t name them, I kept putting them outside me. I kept putting them away.” He is explaining his denial of Sonny’s condition. He had disregarded Sonny’s state and now had to come to terms with it in full force. Sonny was a heroin addict. The story picks up a few months later when the narrator’s daughter dies from Polio. Finally after feeling his own pain he can imagine the pain Sonny must be feeling and decides to write him stating that until then he had not known what to say or how to say it. Sonny writes back immediately and states, “Dear brother, you do not know how much I needed to hear from you. I wanted to write you many a time but I dug how much I must have hurt you and so I didn’t write. But now I feel like a man who’s been trying to climb up out of some deep, real deep and funky hole and just saw the sun up there, outside. I got to get outside…”

            After the icebreaker of their first letters, the two brothers continued to write back and forth until they could meet when Sonny came back to New York. He writes of the fears of seeing his brother for the first time and the tension that was present as they took their first cab ride together through the streets that they had grown up on. Upon arriving at the house the brothers pick up an awkward relationship of worrying about stepping on one another’s toes and what to and what not to say. Sonny is an introvert, very kind and sincere, but very much inside himself. His brother is concerned for Sonny and just wants to protect him and be a good big brother as his mother has requested before she died. Sonny’s brother reflects on the time him and his mother had this conversation and how she shared about the two men’s father’s brother that had died at a young age. She said that she did not want that to happen to Sonny and she said, “You may not be able to stop nothing from happening. But you got to let him know you’s there.” After she dies Sonny, still a teen, has to go live at Isabel’s home with her parents. Sonny begins to practice the piano because of his passion to play jazz. He plays day in and day out as if it’s his lifeline. Eventually Isabel’s mother and him get in a fight about Sonny missing school and she supposedly told him “what a sacrifice they were making to give Sonny a decent home and how little he appreciated it.” Sonny left after this to join the navy and somewhere between the navy and the article in the newspaper explaining Sonny’s condition Sonny became an avid jazz piano musician and a druggie. The narrator then jumps back to the present day where Sonny and he are talking and Sonny says, “It’s terrible sometimes, inside. That’s what’s the trouble. You walk these streets, black and funky and cold, and there’s really not a living ass to talk to, and there’s nothing shaking, and there’s no way of getting it out- that storm inside. You can’t talk it and you can’t make love with it, and when you finally try to get with it and play it, you realize nobody’s listening. So you’ve got to listen. You got to find a way to listen.” Sonny is talking about the turmoil inside him and his desire to get away from his addictions. Sonny asks his brother to go with him to a local bar where Sonny is going to play the piano again for the first time in over a year. The brother realizes the intensity of this situation because Sonny is used to getting high when playing music. They arrive at the bar and one of Sonny’s old friends Creole greats him with a big hug. There are many people at the bar and it is obvious “his veins were royal blood.” The band got on stage to play and Sonny was timid at first. Jazz is an improvisation of music and so the band was trying to work together. Sonny’s brother views the band and takes in Creole helping Sonny. “He was waiting for Sonny to do the things on the keys which would let Creole know that Sonny was in the water.”  Sonny began to play and soon “he and his boys were up there keeping it new, at the risk of ruin, destruction, madness, and death, in order to find new ways to make us listen. For, while the tail of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph is never new, it always must be heard. There isn’t any other tale to tell, it’s the only light we’ve got in all this darkness.” Sonny has told his story.

            Sonny’s Blues is a bit difficult to interpret and understand because the wording Sonny’s brother uses when describing jazz music and the intensity of Sonny’s desire to play it seems strange. As the story is read for the first time it seems like the music is just a passion of Sonny’s, but after reading and contemplating the jazz it is obvious that it is all Sonny has to express himself.

The story is about taking music and turning it into a symbol of each person’s individual desire to express themselves, their emotions, and to be understood. Sonny’s brother says that, “Now these are Sonnys blues… Creole wasn’t trying any longer to get Sonny in the water. He was wishing him Godspeed. Then he stepped back, very slowly, filling the air with the immense suggestion that Sonny speak for himself.” When Creole was assisting Sonny on stage he was helping him to communicate and find himself again through his music. Finally Sonny had it, he could play without the use of drugs. He could communicate his feelings while sober and that meant everything, Sonny’s life was on the line and he had found it. When Sonny finally speaks for himself through improvising on the piano, it proves that he will make it in the rough water. 

I think Sonny’s Blues is important for everyone to understand because it conveys the importance of finding oneself. For some people jazz music is not their way of expression. It may be through art, dancing, cooking, story-telling, or any other activity, but the important part is to find oneself through that activity and share it with others just like Sonny does through his jazz music. 

symbolism

In literature, there are many forms of symbolism. In our Introduction to Literature class we have covered many stories containing symbolism. The Onion, a short poem on the history of an onion we discover that the onion has come a long way and does not get the credit it deserves. The author is obviously not talking about the onion. She must be talking about something deeper and it is up to the reader to decide. As a Christian we consider that she is talking about Jesus Christ. He went through so much and often gets no credit. Many “Christ-followers” do not continually grasp what He has done for us. Another example of symbolism is Sonney’s Blues. In the story the music is so important, but is it possible that the jazz music is more than just music? Maybe the music represents each person’s individual desire to express themselves and to be understood.
            Regardless of what is interpreted through a story, the author desires for it to be deeper than merely an onion or music. The definition of symbolism is a word that stands for something else. “It is something (an object, a word, an image) that is used to suggest a range of associations or feelings.”
            Symbolism is a great way for an author to express something that they cannot really put their finger on. It is a way of telling a story inside of a story. When they want to get a point across, but it just doesn’t seem to come out right, they can use symbolism. The Bible is full of symbolism and I think it conveys much more than would be able to be told if it were done in a matter of fact way. 

Waiting for Godot

The play, Waiting for Godot, has many potential themes. Waiting for the unknown, the example of a marriage, the meaning of life, and our relationship with God, among many more. While it is a very confusing play, one thing is certain: Estragon and Vladimir are waiting for someone or something. Regardless they are waiting.

I think this is such an important idea. People are always waiting for something. There is always something in the future that people anticipate. For example people wait for an exciting trip in a few days, people wait to find that person they are supposed to spend the rest of their lives with, for a much anticipated movie, a young teen awaits the day they can get their driver’s license, Christians wait for direction from God and for the ultimate day of His return. The list goes on and on, but the point is people wait. People wait just like Estragon and Vladimir wait for Godot. It’s the anticipation of the unknown. 

So many times in my life I have waited for the unknown, but there comes a point when you cannot wait anymore and you have to move on or do something about it. An example of this happening in my life is in the early stages of my relationship with Christ. It was so easy for me to pass up on a committed relationship with Him making excuses such as, “right now isn’t good timing, but once I go on this missions trip I’ll be good.” However, I began to realize that no matter what I waited for there was never a right time.

Maybe Estrogen and Vladimir need to stop waiting and start doing something?

Dr. Horrible

            Today in Introduction to Literature we watched a movie called, “Dr. Horrible.” It is about a man named Dr. Horrible and the love he has for a girl named Penny. One day Dr. Horrible goes on a mission and things to terribly wrong. His arch nemesis Captain Hammer saves Penny. Penny and Captain Hammer go on a date and Penny falls in love with Captain Hammer. Penny works at a shelter and Captain Hammer helps Penny raise awareness for the shelter. Dr. Horrible cannot handle this so he attempts to kill Captain Hammer. Things go terribly wrong and in the end Penny dies.

            I think the film is genius because it takes the current timeframe and creates a comedic tragedy full of humor and wit. The opening scene shows irony when Dr. Horrible gets a letter from a viewer that writes, “Hello Genius.” Dr. Horrible laughs and says, sarcasm is so overdone. The film is full of other scenes such as this where there is comedy, such as when Dr. Horrible is talking and four cowboys come into the background and begin to sing.

            This whole film is very creative and in a way everything is backwards. It appears that Dr. Horrible is the good guy and Captain Hammer is the evil villain when in reality Dr. Horrible is the one trying to take over the world and Captain Hammer is the one saving it. It is backwards because Dr. Hammer is portrayed as a gentle, sad, and genuine man while Captain Hammer is conceited and selfish. 

Lake Bonny

Today I went to Lake Bonny Park for this assignment, and I stayed there for at least 50 minutes. So the requirements said, but as time passed I found myself desiring to be there longer. Observing things was so fascinating. A gator was floating in the water across the lake, a bird was basking in the sunlight not far away, hundreds of little beetles were floating on the surface of the water below, and lizards were scurrying across the dock. The weather was perfect. It was slightly overcast and had just gotten done raining so there was a chill and breeze in the air, however the sun was peaking through some clouds as it began to set, painting the colors of orange, pink, and yellow across the cloudy sky. In the distance I could hear sports teams jeering back and forth and the ring of the bell at Southeastern University signifying the change in hour from across the lake. Even though I sat secluded in “silence” there was so much noise and activity.

While sitting I read a few poems, but my favorite was Six Recognitions of the Lord. I liked one of the lines in the third recognition when Mary Oliver writes, “I lounge on the grass, that’s all. So simple. Then I lie back until I am inside the cloud that is just above me but very high, and shaped like a fish. Or, perhaps not.” It reminded me of all the wonderful times I’ve paused in life to take the time to enjoy the beauty in the sky, to make shapes out of clouds, and appreciate the creation’s of God. Mary Oliver finds the shape of a fish in the sky, but perhaps not. We are each entitled to our own opinions of the shape of clouds and so long as we search for the shapes I think that’s one of the best things we can do. 

Then I Pray.

The poem, Six Recognitions of the Lord opens up saying one of the favorite things I have ever read in literature. I read it and was captivated by its simplicity and the reality in the words. It says, “I know a lot of fancy words. I tear them from my heart and my tongue. Then I pray.” As a Christ follower I think this is such an important aspect for us to grasp. God isn’t searching for a long drawn out speech or big eloquent words. He just wants to hear our heart and for us to be pure in Him. It is the soul that Jesus assesses and that is what we need to work on fixing, not our vocabulary. I think in a way this goes hand in hand with nature for me. It ties together because when I’m alone in the woods, or anywhere for that matter, can I be open and honest and at peace with myself and who I am in my relationship with Christ. Can I sit still and be in awe of Him or do I find myself restless searching for a way to make myself look better? A person cannot be a hypocrite to themselves; they may be able to lead everyone else on, but when alone, there is no denying the person they are.

The question is, can you be alone with yourself? This is one of my favorite things to do actually. Recently I have enjoyed being on my own and learning more about who I am in Christ. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, and the impression you give others, but it always comes back to the fact that you must be at peace with yourself and Jesus. 

State of the Planet

State of the Planet by Robert Hass was a great poem to me. I love the line, “Poetry should be able to comprehend the earth.” A poem that brought to life earths true beauty would be the ultimate poem. I think that the earth is such a beautiful place full of the ability to heal the soul and it’s a disgrace that more people don’t appreciate it. There was another line that really spoke to me, “there is no silence in the world.” I experience this sentence every time I find myself alone outdoors. This weekend I was able to go hunting with my brother. We woke up early Friday morning and were out in the woods while it was still dark. As we sat there waiting for the first light noises surrounded us. First were the noises of mosquitoes all around us, but after I began to hear over that noise the woods were full of activity. The leaves were blowing in the wind, squirrels and other critters were scurrying across the forest floor. Noise is everywhere; we just have to be still enough to hear it.  Another line that really got me was when Hass talked about reptiles that “no human eyes has ever seen.”  This got me to thinking about all the wonders of the world that we don’t even know and can’t even comprehend.

There is a line in one of my favorite movies August Rush, and the young boy says, “Music is all around us, all we have to do… is listen.” I think that in the same way beauty is all around us, and all we have to do is truly open our eyes to see it.

 

The Garden

The Garden, a poem by Ezra Pound, opens up by saying, “Like a skein of loose silk blown against a wall, she walks by the railing of a path in Kensington Gardens, she is dying piecemeal of a sort of emotional anemia.”  I think the statement emotional anemia is so intriguing. This woman is obviously suffering a great deal emotionally and it makes you want to continue reading to find out what has her so torn up on the inside.

As Pound continues he writes, “And round about there is a rabble, of the filthy, sturdy, unkillable infants of the very poor. They shall inherit the earth” I do not understand this sentence whatsoever and it is just over my head. I think that goes along with what we said about poetry a couple of days ago, just because you do not understand something does not mean you cannot appreciate it.

The last stanza says, “In her is the end of breeding. Her boredom is exquisite and excessive. She would like some one to speak to her, and is almost afraid that I will commit that indiscretion.” I think this is such good wording, almost afraid that I will commit that indiscretion. This woman is obviously deeply tormented and she is lonely but afraid to reach out and talk or be talked to.

This poem makes me pray that I will never be too timid to approach someone that looks like they are lonely or desiring someone to talk to or listen to them. I think it is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the day that we brush aside the emotions of people around us, but God has called us to help those in need and that should be our number one concern.

"Enemy of the People"

While watching, “Enemy of the People” one main idea that stuck out to me was something I learned in my Ethics class with Dr. Joe Davis. It is the statement that truth is not afraid of questions. Through out the play the mayor, Peter Stockmann, continually denies his brother of asking any questions or even speaking his own opinions to the town people. If the mayor truly had nothing to hide, he should not be afraid of his brother, Dr. Stockmann, asking questions about the cities spring. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” This being the case, Jesus was never afraid of having people question Him because he always had an answer. Pharisees tried to trick Him with their twisted questions, but He never backed down because He knew He held the truth. In this same way the Mayor of the town should have no problem answering some questions and letting the water get tested if he held the truth in his own actions. The townspeople should have realized something was wrong as soon as the Dr’s freedom of speech was taken away. I attempted to paint Act 2, Scene 2 in the Captain Horster’s house where the townspeople and mayor deny Dr. Stockmann of telling his discoveries of the towns spring. 

Character Analysis

He walked up, dressed professionally in a black suit, shiny polished dress shoes and red tie, unaware that anyone was paying him any attention.  He reached for the phone and flipped it open to silence the ring, “Yeah, yes. She’s with me now… just got off work a bit early.” He snapped the phone shut and clung to a little girl’s hand whisking her into his arms. It was as if it was just the two of them at the crowded park on this day. The girl giggled in delight as her pink ribbon flittered in the wind while she was spun. Her polka dot dress twirled in circles as he twisted this way and that way and then threw her into the air. The little girl was squealing in delight as she looked down at this man who locked eyes with her in fatherly adoration. He gently set her on the ground and strode slowly into the wind as the girl pushed her legs as fast as they would go toward the slide hand in hand. Sunshine beaming down on the fresh cut green grass and large oak trees surrounding the park made for a picture perfect scene. As they reached the slide he grabbed her by the waste and gently set her on the top. “Now wait here Lyla, I’m going to the bottom of the slide to catch you!” He dashed around and was just in time to see the adorable blonde with bright green eyes and a huge smile coming speeding down towards him. He spread his arms wide and scooped her into his arms squeezing her before he set her back onto the soft grass. “Lyla, mama is ready for dinner now.” The Father grabbed the delightful girl’s delicate finger and smiled down at her in love and they headed towards the parking lot. It was obvious that this little girl had her Daddy exactly where he should be, wrapped around her little finger. 

The two headed toward the parking lot. He was walking slowly as if each step forward were dreaded. He picked Lyla up and placed her on his hip, ignoring the dirt that was transferred from her polka dot dress to his black suit, he squeezed her as he continued forward. Instead of heading towards the direction they arrived in he headed to a Cadillac Escalade that had just pulled up. The blonde girl hugged his neck and he whispered something to her. Next he let her down and she got into the Escalade and greeted her mother. The man and woman’s eyes connected but no words were exchanged. He shut the door and the SUV drove off. The man turned and sauntered over to a bench and placed his head in his hands. Defeat was written all over his body language. At a first glance he appeared to be a successful man and while it was obvious that he indeed was, his demeanor was struggling. The blissful man that was just running in the grass had vanished and was replaced by a miserable and unsatisfied human being. With slouched shoulders and sad eyes he reached into his pocket.

From out of his suit pocket he pulled a leather wallet. Opening the wallet he withdrew what appeared to be a discolored and tattered note. Unfolding the paper, it was obvious he had studied whatever it was frequently. He began to repeat aloud, “Proverbs 15:17, Greed for money can lead to family problems. Proverbs 15:17, Greed for money can lead to family problems.” A single tear slid down the grown man’s cheek. This person that once seemed so simple, a stereotypical businessman father spending time with a daughter he adored on a beautiful day at the park, suddenly became very complex. He had suffered a great deal. This man had a past with inner demons that were tearing at his soul. Lifting his head he glanced around the park at the commotion around him as if finally realizing other people were in his presence. A child was laughing and reaching for a teen girl at the other end of the playground and the girl grabbed him in her arms. The word “Mama” came out of the boy’s mouth. The businessman straightened up and headed toward the sandbox where the two were sitting. He reached them and began a conversation, “What’s his name?” Hesitantly she replied, “Well I named him Steven after my grandfather.” Somehow the well-to-do businessman got this young girl to open up about her past and the things that led up to her pregnancy. She confessed that she was only sixteen when she gave birth to the little boy and that the Father was not present in her life or the life of her son. How it happened, it is not clear, but the man opened his wallet and instead of reaching for his piece of paper like last time, he confidently grabbed a handful of bills and stretched his hand out to the teen girl. A look of shock came upon her face and it was replaced by gratitude but rejection. “I cannot take that.” After a struggle and victory for the businessman he grabbed a business card out of his pocket and insisted she give her email address to him in return, requesting that she would please allow him to bless her with the opportunity to help her and her son whenever possible. The girl had tears streaming down her face as she whispered that he was an answer to her prayers and it was too much. He reached down to Steven and grabbed the toddler in his arms, gave him a tight hug and set him back down. He said, “You may not understand, but you are a blessing to me. You have given me a bigger gift than I can explain and while I may not have done things right in the past, you are giving me the opportunity to redeem myself. I will be in touch.”

The man turned then and headed for the parking lot. Dusk was arriving, the sky transforming from a vibrant blue to shades of orange and red, and the park was becoming less crowded. As the man in a black suit, with shiny, polished dress shoes, and a red tie headed towards the parking lot his shoulders were just a bit straighter, his head just a bit higher. The door squeaked as he opened and sat in the vehicle. The rusted grey car managed to crank to life and sputtered and struggled as the businessman drove away with a smile on his face as the words, “greed for money can lead to family problems” repeated on his lips.  

Reading

Reading has so many positive impacts on my life. Reading can and has often been an escape from a bad day. Reading has improved my vocabulary, grammar, and spelling abilities. Imaginations can expand and grow as I pour myself into the book you read. Reading and studying books helps me to gain knowledge. There are so many benefits brought to life through reading.

So often people can get stressed on situations in life and a much-needed break is brought through losing myself in someone else’s life. As the stories unfold suddenly my problem disappears and I can give myself a time out.

Reading is proven to improve vocabulary, grammar, and spelling. According to ImprovingVocabulary.org, “reading is one of the most effective ways of improving vocabulary.” To improve your grammar there are many exercises you can do while reading any book. Spelling correctly is so obviously boosted when people read. The visual of seeing the way a word is spelled is so important. Reading has such a positive impact on vocabulary, grammar, and spelling.

A fictional book can expand your imagination to places you never could have thought of on your own and a non-fictional book can teach you things that you didn’t even plan to learn. Right now I am reading, At the Back of the North Wind and it is about a young boy who is taken in by the North Wind. She takes him on trips across London and shows him how she helps other people. This book has expanded my imagination because I would never have thought of this sort of personification on my own. There are also many non-fiction books that teach you very much. Autobiographies and journals, "How to's," and more fill your mind with knowledge on different subjects the author desires to educate you upon.

All of this being said I am very grateful to have the opportunity to read a classical book in class. It gives me time to unwind and relax under the comfort of sunshine and a big oak tree. It gives me the opportunity to improve my speech, and it gives me the opportunity to let my imagination go. I am so thankful to have the freedom to read a book.

Trip to the Museum

The trip to the museum was very beneficial for me. I think it was really neat to see all the paintings and different artwork. Reading the poems and walking through the museum was a really great experience. My favorite part of the museum was upstairs where there were over 20 different pictures from around the world. The picture showed a family with all their possessions outside the house and then on the side it showed statistics of the families income, dreams, hours per week, number of family members, favorite item in the house, and more. Each picture varied from three family members to twelve. Some people’s most valued possessions were Bibles, the children in the house, ancient paintings, among other things. Income was anywhere from 200 dollars a year to 50,000 dollars and more a year. Some head of the families worked 20 hours a week and some worked 140 hours a week. To me this is so hard to imagine. I think of my father who works over 40 hours a week and it seems as if he is never home. A person that works 140 hours a week and only makes on average 2,000 dollars a year is a hard-working individual and I just can’t imagine or know how someone is capable of doing so. There were pictures from France, America, India, Haiti, Germany, Russia, and many more. It was so eye opening to see all the different countries and to see all the valued possessions from these countries. The landscaping was so different and some of the countries I had never even heard of before. Going to the museum was very exciting for me and my favorite thing was definitely seeing all the pictures from the different countries. 

Wrapped Around Her Finger

He walked up, dressed professionally in a black suit, shiny polished dress shoes and red tie, unaware that anyone was paying him any attention.  He reached for the phone and flipped it open to silence the ring, “Yeah babe, yes. I will be home for dinner. She’s with me now… Yup, just got off work a bit early.” He snapped the phone shut and clung to a little girl’s hand whisking her into his arms. It was as if it was just the two of them at the crowded park on this day. The girl giggled in delight as her pink ribbon flittered in the wind while she was spun. Her polka dot dress twirled in circles as he twisted this way and that way and then threw her into the air. The little girl was squealing in delight as she looked down at this man who locked eyes with her in Fatherly adoration. He gently set her on the ground and strode slowly into the wind as the girl pushed her legs as fast as they would go toward the slide hand in hand. Sunshine beaming down on the fresh cut green grass and large oak trees surrounding the park made for a picture perfect scene. As they reached the slide he grabbed her by the waste and gently set her on the top of the slide. “Now wait here Lyla, I’m going to the bottom of the slide to catch you!” He dashed around and was just in time to see the adorable blonde with bright green eyes and a huge smile coming speeding down towards him. He spread his arms wide and scooped her into his arms squeezing her before he set her back onto the soft grass. “Lyla mama is waiting for us to go to dinner now.” The Father grabbed the delightful girl’s delicate finger and smiled down at her in love and they headed towards the parking lot. It was obvious that this little girl had her Daddy exactly where he should be, wrapped around her little finger. 

The Traveling Onion

The first time reading through, The Traveling Onion, I was not very impressed. Why would someone take the time to write a poem about an onion? It just did not make any sense to me. But after reading it a second time I began to realize that there was a much deeper meaning behind the poem. The onion has been through so much, traveling from Egypt to Greece, on to Italy, all of Europe, and to my cutting board. Upon reaching the cutting board it will simply be cut up as an after thought and thrown into the pot. This tiny onion carries so many flavors and yet no one thinks of it. The author Naomi Shihab Nye says, “… for the sake of others, disappear.” She is talking about how the onion just disappears into the pot and no one comments on the “translucence of onion.” It is forgotten.

How easy is it to overlook the small things that people do? So often in life people go behind the scenes and work so hard for the sake of others without ever being complimented or appreciated.

There were a few lines in the poem that I really liked. The author writes, “and I would never scold the onion for causing tears. It is right that tears fall for something small and forgotten.” I think that is just such a beautiful line and it really moved me. There is so much forgotten beauty in the small things of life and if we take the time to appreciate those things we will have a more fulfilling existence. 

Lectio Divina

I looked up Lectio Divina and the definition of it is Latin for divine reading, spiritual reading, or "holy reading," and represents a traditional Christian practice of prayer and scriptural reading intended to produce communion with God and to increase in the knowledge of God's Word. It is a way of praying with scripture that calls one to study, ponder, listen and pray or even sing and rejoice from God's Word, within the soul.

            The process is to begin by Lectio, simply listening to and “be aware” of the reading, to write down the words or phrase that stands out to you, followed by a moment of silence. Secondly is, Meditatio, where the reader reflects on the word by being “aware of a thought or reflection that stands out to you.” Third is Oratio, responding to the word. This is where the reader “is aware of any prayer that rises up in your heart.” And finally is Contemplatio, where the reader “rests in the word” or in the Spirit.

            As the class did this exercise in class for, Sonney’s Blues, I found myself looking at the text in a new way. Different things stood out more and I was able to reflect deeper upon the story. I am excited to try reading the Word of God in this way because I believe that I will meditate on it more so. I looked up some pictures for Lectio Divina and thought the image portrayed this method of reading well. It is a scene of meditation and relaxation. 

In Class Painting and Response to the Book of Joel

After doing my own drawing in response to the book of Joel, we were given the same opportunity to paint in class. I tried to find a different approach. I painted four different colors: blue, green, yellow, and black. The blue and green represent the landscape of Israel. The yellow is representative of God’s judgment. In the bottom right corner I painted black and that is meant to be a depiction of the locusts the prophet Joel warned of. I splatter painted with black paint and that is symbolizing the land being destroyed by the locusts.

I really enjoyed painting in response to the book of Joel. I think that it is important to find different ways to demonstrate what you have gotten out of reading. To only talk or write about what you feel gets old. Not only was it beneficial to paint yourself, but also it was beneficial to see what others paint. Getting into my small group and seeing the things they painted was really intriguing and it helped me to see the book in a different aspect. 

Reading aloud, looking at it as literature, most important line?

The book of Joel is a very interesting book of the Bible. Reading it just left me lost and confused. Reading it twice helped me to grasp it a little further, but the most beneficial way of reading it was for me to read it aloud. Reading to an object, like the lake or a tree, helped me to actually understand the intensity of the book. The prophet Joel is trying to direct the reader and warn them. Reading it like he would speak helps me to understand the purpose behind the book. 

The Bible is the word of God and to read it is very intense and should be kept in mind, but to look at the Bible as literature gives it a whole knew meaning. It is so easy to focus in on a certain scripture and lose the point of the whole book, as one classmate pointed out. The scripture contains metaphors, poems, and much more. The true intellect and knowledge of the writers is very evident when I look at the Bible as a piece of literature.

Throughout the book of Joel are a lot of warnings and prophetic words from Joel but my favorite part is found in chapter 2 verses 12-13. It says, “That is why the Lord says, ‘Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.’ Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.” I love these two verses because they show God’s mercy. No matter what we have done he desires for us to return to Him and it is never too late. 

The book of Joel

I drew this picture in response to reading the book of Joel. In the book of Joel Judah is devastated by a locust plague. The Bible actually says the locusts invade like an army destroying everything- the fields of grain, the vineyards, and the trees. Joel symbolically describes the locusts as a human army marching and this is to be viewed as divine judgement against the nation for their sins. If the people repent of their sins they will be saved and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit will be upon them. 

The picture is a description of the book in my view. The left side is the trees, vineyards, and fields of grain that are being destroyed and the black represents the locusts and judgement. Then on the right is the promise of God represented by the cross and rainbow. 

"When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd"

The poem, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” by Walt Whitman was a very difficult poem for me to follow. He writes this eulogy upon hearing that Abraham Lincoln died. You have to really study the things he writes and focus in on the meaning behind the words of every line or else you will lose the purpose of the words. My favorite line was, “But I saw they were not as was thought” in line 180 because it reminds the reader that death is not the end and there is more on the other side. One of many very challenging lines in this poem is, “Falling upon them all and among them all, enveloping me with the rest, appear’d the cloud, appear’d the long black trail, and I knew death, its thought, and the sacred knowledge of death.” Prior to this line he describes the ocean and the harbor, the houses and streets. I believe that Whitman is saying that he was either sensing death or someone was coming to tell him of the death and he could sense what it was.

Personally this poem affected me because recently I lost my grandfather so I was able to put myself in the pain of loss and reflect on death in general. I think a trip to the cemetery is going to deepen the experience of reading this poem because we will see death first hand. So long as everyone approaches the cemetery correctly and with respect I believe that it will be a very moving experience that everyone can learn very much from. I look forward to it. 

I measure every Grief I meet

I measure every Grief I meet   

by Emily Dickinson

I measure every Grief I meet

With narrow, probing, Eyes – 

I wonder if It weighs like Mine – 

Or has an Easier size.

I wonder if They bore it long – 

Or did it just begin – 

I could not tell the Date of Mine – 

It feels so old a pain – 

I wonder if it hurts to live – 

And if They have to try – 

And whether – could They choose between – 

It would not be – to die – 

I note that Some – gone patient long – 

At length, renew their smile –  

An imitation of a Light

That has so little Oil – 

I wonder if when Years have piled –  

Some Thousands – on the Harm –  

That hurt them early – such a lapse

Could give them any Balm –  

Or would they go on aching still

Through Centuries of Nerve – 

Enlightened to a larger Pain –  

In Contrast with the Love –  

The Grieved – are many – I am told –  

There is the various Cause –  

Death – is but one – and comes but once –  

And only nails the eyes –  

There's Grief of Want – and grief of Cold –  

A sort they call "Despair" –  

There's Banishment from native Eyes – 

In Sight of Native Air –  

And though I may not guess the kind –  

Correctly – yet to me

A piercing Comfort it affords

In passing Calvary –  

To note the fashions – of the Cross –  

And how they're mostly worn –  

Still fascinated to presume

That Some – are like My Own – 

I think this is a beautiful poem by Emily Dickenson. She begins by writing of the grief she sees in other people’s eyes. “I measure every Grief I meet with narrow, probing, eyes – I wonder if it weighs like mine – Or has an easier size.” She begins to question the depth of their grief, how long it has lasted, or if they would chose to die. Dickenson notes that some attempt to “renew their smile” but it only looks like “an imitation of a light that has so little oil.” In other words, they are struggling to be happy but they only have so much in them left to give. Next she questions the cause of their grief. Are they grieving death, want, cold? Emily Dickenson ends by saying that though she may not guess the kind of grief, there is a comfort in the “passing Calvary” and “of the cross.”

         In class we talked about five other poems that in my opinion, correlate with the poem “I measure every Grief I meet.” Each writer is talking about emptiness, sorrow, or sadness.

 

 

Love

This drawing is a little different, but in my mind it portrays Christ's love for us. The corner of the drawing where the red is coming from is the love of Christ and the middle is black and green and blue and that represents the worldly things that we would think could separate us from Christ. The bottom is yellow and the little drawing red drawing is supposed to be Christ holding our heart. The red from the top left corner spreads through the entire picture because it displays that Christ's love has no barriers. Romans 8:39 inspired this drawing for me because as it says, "...Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God..." I think this goes along with what we have been learning in class because we have been learning a lot about love and the struggles humans have with it. The only perfect love is the Love of God and without God true love is impossible. 

The Things They Carry

The struggles of an American soldier in the Vietnam War become real through the story, “The Things They Carry.” Lieutenant Jimmy Cross is in command of some men in the war. Each of the men carries different possessions. Some things were for protection, others for comfort. Regardless of the difference in duties, they all carried personal baggage. Lieutenant Cross carries the memories of a woman, Martha. He is in love with her- often considering whether or not she was a virgin, reading and re-reading the letters she would send, day dreaming of spending time with her, and mouthing a pebble she sent him as a good-luck charm.

Eventually Lieutenant Cross becomes overwhelmed with the love he has for Martha and feels at fault for the death of one of his men. He vows to forget her in order to give his men and the war his all.

Overall this story was interesting. It gives the reader the insight of a soldier in the Vietnam War. Struggles and hardship are close at hand. The idea that soldiers often act brave because they are embarrassed to think that the other men will look down upon them is heartbreaking. The Vietnam War was a gruesome struggle and “The Things They Carry” gives good insight on this fact. 

What We Talk about When We Talk about Love

Love has been debated for years. What is love? Four companions debate love in the story, “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love.”  As I read through the passage I began asking myself the same question, what is love and what does it mean to me? Love is defined as a very strong affection, but that does not even begin to define the true meaning of the word. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Paul does a fantastic job of defining love. He writes, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” And although most Christians have heard this many times, it is the most powerful description of love that I have ever heard.  In” What We Talk about When We Talk about Love” one character believes that her ex-husband truly loved her even though he abused her and ultimately kills himself trying to get her back. Each person voices their own opinions of love and Mel says he once loved his ex-wife but now wishes her dead. Was it ever true love?

I believe that love is a choice. When speaking to my grandparents, whom have been married over fifty years, they agree that it is a choice. They tell me that they have to work hard at their relationship and it is possible to fall in and out of love but when you are committed to someone you stick out the hard times.

Love is putting yourself last. Love is devotion and a decision. There is no fear in perfect love. Love is indefinable and indescribable. 

Literary Profile of Self

Literature has a strong impact on a person's life and begins at an early age. Growing up as a child I can recall my mother putting me to bed with stories made real through her soothing voice. Pictures lit up the page as I focused on the images that brought words to life. As I grew up the joy of reading continued from picture books to novels and more. Most recently I have followed the trend of girls engrossed in the Twilight Saga. A fairy tale of sorts Twilight captures the heart of readers through its adventure and romance. While this is a fascinating read, it is not the most significant literature in my life. What is the most significant is the Bible and in detail a specific passage from Proverbs verse 4:23, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." To me, literature is very important. It is a way of expressing emotions, it has the ability to save memories, explain an event or person, and tell a story. Literature is a very powerful aspect of life.