Sometimes Words Fail

Ironic title, right? Be honest, though-there is a lot of truth to it. Sometimes words do fail us.  There are moods, moments, and feelings that cannot in any way, shape or form, be communicated in a coherent manner through spoken or written word. The prime example is during moments of loss. In such times, nothing can fully convey the myriad of thoughts, emotions, and feelings that the person experiencing the loss is going through. Everyone's been there-that instance where nothing but a good scream session or crying spell to a favorite emotional song will do. Contemporary society seems to privilege "talking it out" or journaling. They do have their place. However, sometimes it's ok to express emotion not through writing or speaking, but just being. Wether releasing through that "good cry", dance, song or scream (preferably not AT someone), allow yourself-and others the space to express themselves if such methods are the best suited for the occaision.

"...Sudanese and Congolese who put the roll in the rock..."

(Photo from AmericanCatholic.org)

Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita. Enslaved as a young girl in late 1800's Sudan, she went on to gain her freedom in Italy and become a nun devoted to faith and service. That faith and service lead to Pope John Paul II cannonizing her in 2000.

The best article about her life can be found  at the link below:



http://wau.org/resources/article/re_from_slave_to_saint1/

There is a line in a song that goes as follows:

    

"...frozen, they were stolen,all the kings and the queens- Sudanese and Congolese who put the roll in the rock...".

 Such words couldn't ring truer in Bakhita's life. The "rock" was her faith and her Maker. The "roll" was her steadfastness. Hers is a true freedom fighting story.

Trailblaizer: Mother Mary Lange

Photo: Courtesy of the Mother Lange Guild Website

To celebrate Black History Month, your humble blogger would like to introduce to you Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, foundress of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first religious congregation of women of color in the Universal Church. Why Mother Lange, you ask? Hers is a little known story within Black, Catholic, and American history as a whole. Here is her story:

/biography.html

For more information on the Oblate Sisters of Providence, go to http://www.oblatesisters.com

Investigation into cause for Mother Lange's beatification and cannonization has been opened. Information is available at http://motherlangeguild.homestead.com

To Michigan on it's 175th Birthday

Dear Michigan,

Given your name comes from a Native American word meaning "turtle", it's probably no coincidence my first pet was a turtle. Maybe it was your way of instilling a sense of place within me during my formative years. You raised me and the majority of my family. You welcomed my father and grandparents, who came from the South. I was blessed to walk through the hallowed halls of your University in Ann Arbor for four years. You put the world on wheels. You have birthed a plethora of figures who have impacted the country and the world. Recent years have been rough for you, however. Many have left you and others negatively comment about you. Despite this, you are always home to those who have resided within your borders. From Ann Arbor to Zeeland, there is no other place quite like you. May you be blessed this and many years to come

With love,
Rana Dianne Irby
A Michigander born and raised.

On Traveling

So it looks like your humble blogger has been initiated into the world of the traveler. It began this past September with my first stay at a B&B. Today's adventure includes a stay at the Chicago Parthenon Hostel (310 S. Halsted) in the Windy City. So far, so good. Clean, fancy, no frills-good bang for the buck at $40 a night for a private room. There are some common-sense rules that have to be abided by here, but it goes to show the extent to which the hostel goes to keep the place nice, spiffy, and safe. On a related note: the staff-quite friendly and down-to-earth! It seems like one can truly call themselves a traveler until they've experienced stays at hostels and B&Bs. Until next time!

"...and we PAINT!" cont'd

It wasn't my intention for this to be my first blog post of the year, but the paintings said it was time. Ladies and gentlemen, presenting "The Metropolis Series"


The Metropolitan



and

Lead Us All Back to One

Each of these have very layered meanings. Hope they bless you, everyone!

Happy New Year & What to Look Out For

The time has come to close the book on 2011 and say hello to 2012. Before giving you my New Year's wishes, a couple things:

Highlights
It's been an interesting year for yours truly. Some personal matters aside, some great memories came about in 2011:

Hooligans in Wondaland-5/11/11, 5/27/11

The picture above? 'Nuff said.
Oh, and yeah-SHE RETWEETED AND DIRECTLY TWEETED ME!!!

Thrivals 4.0-Louisville ROCKS!!! By the way, if you aren't familiar with Thrivals, check out ideafestival.com and RUN, not walk, to Louisville September 2012 for Thrivals 5.0. Also, read the post on Martin Luther King's dream and thrivals.  Links to Dr. Nathaniel Irvin's definition are there. For information about places to stay in Louisville, check out the September about Central Park B&B about the experience there.

9/29/11-My third decade commences

10/20/11-Campus Consciousness Tour!!! F.A.N.D.R.O.I.D.S. know the deal.

It has been the year of Monae: performances at the Grammys and Nobel Peace Prize concert, multiple magazine cameos, Tightrope appearances in HP and KMart commercials AND Happy Feet 2, AND she announced she'll be releasing not 1 but 2 albums in 2012.

As for life lessons this year: many events occur in life for a reason. That reason may not reveal itself at all or after some time passes. The key is to take it one day at a time, which will not be easy. At all.

What's Happening in 2012
Expect some more words from the mad mind that is moi, including the return of Rita Barbour in the continuation of her adventures. (She's been nagging me for months about it)

My sincere hope and prayer is that the year to come is a most blessed, prosperous, and joyous one for you and yours.

Ms. Rana Dee