Tag: poetry

On August 24, 2015 I walked into a room of teaching artists. I was attending a poetry workshop taught by Glenis Redmond. I wish all Mondays started like this! She had sprayed the room with rose water. Artists are eccentric so I noticed colors, jewelry,  clothing, voice tones, presence. You name it I noticed it. I was on sensory overload and it was heaven!

I have been trying to live with great effort, but felt very dead in my job. I am a creative and most definitely in the minority. I’m most often misunderstood and perceived as too emotional.  I would describe the work environment as rigid and toxic. It is very hard to function in these working conditions as a creative. Sometimes I literally can’t think.

So I prayed. Dear God please rescue me from this horrible place. Am I finished laying the foundation?  Why do I have to be on lock down if I feel like I’m spiritually dying?! Let me out of here before I lose it. Reorganization has people tripping. Do you see this mess?! So on and so forth. It is ok if you do not pray what are considered to be normal prayers. It’s like there is a heavenly translator if you’re like me. Perhaps they even bleep out cuss words lol.

Several months ago God had told me to strengthen the foundation. It’s very hard when your job is literally a spiritual assignment and you’re working for people that don’t know the purpose of you being there. Many may not even care. I walk public housing communities five days a week. That’s a heavy weight. Despair, poverty, lack of education,  bad parenting,  addiction among so many other negative things invade my world five days a week. Sometimes more if we have events. Sometimes I don’t know which problem to work on and I just sit at my desk looking out the window at people I want to scream at. What the hell is your problem? Where the hell is Iyanla? Jesus help me it’s too much? I feel overwhelmed.  I feel dead. It’s hard to breathe.

I watched a NPR video with my boss that showed an English teacher using rap to teach his class. That was like someone giving me CPR. I said self you can do that with poetry. My speech is to proper for rap lol. My team is designing an after school program that will focus on math and literature. It occurred to me that creativity had to be the main component in designing the program.

And then there was the best two days of my year with some amazing people! Day one began with being introduced to praise poetry. Glenis said Nigerians were the chief scribes of this west African poetry. I sat up straight in my chair and perked up like my puppy does when he’s listening closely for something.  “Lord did you hear her say Nigerian? What is about to happen?” She then explained she had traced herself back to Nigeria and Cameroon. I raised my hand and explained I had gone to Nigeria and gotten married and found it interesting that I was now about to learn their poetry. She said, “you are here for spiritual reasons also.” I knew she was right.

I soaked in every moment like a sponge. My breaths expanding. Becoming aware of my heart beating.  Being allowed to feel anything I wished and share that with others. It was so great not to have an unfair expectation of being a robot as a burden! We read, wrote, shared and cried over and over. It was liberating! I was allowed to create with no boundaries.

I woke up the next day praying. God why did you allow this awesome woman to invade my space?

Kathryn you needed confirmation and I sent her to confirm your identity. There is nothing wrong with you. Not even your marriage choice. You are ok.

At the end of day two several of us thanked Glenis for bringing us back to life. We were literally the walking dead. Even now tears spill from my eyes as gratitude for this experience fills my heart. I now have an artist statement,  praise poem and a literacy activity schedule. I am ready to help kids on our properties!

Yesterday I found a scripture about comfort. I told Glenis I would blog my experience as soon as I found the scripture to complete it. This blog is my open book to those in the universe that would care to read it. I can’t put into words how awesome my father is. He is more than God to me he is Abba. He ambushed me with the most wonderful two days that erased weeks of twilight zone funk.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – All praise to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

May my words bring you comfort and peace. Creativity is the way out of captivity.  Use your right brain and visualize a better outcome. Perhaps you too will be ambushed.