Strangers Watching

If we weren’t human And we were sitting outside of ourselves staring, Invisible through the windows of a cafe, We, humans--we would appear exquisite to the non-sapiens we were. We’d seem captivating with our long hair of a bright coral color, Or our fluffy and tight curls of brown. We’d seem vibrant, so creative, so…

Pursue My Dreams

This week has been up and down, in my opinion. The bad things are that my personal routine and spiritual discipline goals are still not quite where I would like to see them. But when I thought about it, I realized that my standards for myself are pretty high. It’s all about perspective… I have…

Born with Sickle Cell Disease

Last September, my brother underwent a trial treatment at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago to expel his Sickle Cell Disease blood from his body. How do they do that? you ask. Well, they find a match and exchange that person's blood cells for his own. Pretty simple. They flush his body with the new blood, and…

I’m Not A Foodie?

A lot of my friends are foodies. A lot of people are foodies, but I mostly eat to survive. There are things I particularly like to eat but I’m not a very picky eater and I don’t frequently have cravings. After I got home from Japan, I was probably most excited to eat quesadillas or…

Pebbles

To Dream I often like to learn in the background, observe, not engage. I like to see the big scene, notice and absorb things. Then I like to ask questions—Why? Who? What did he do that for? Then sometimes I like to think, but mostly, I like to dream. How to Move A Mountain It…

Sirens

I had never imagined sirens to be a male creatures until I overheard a song playing one day at work. The mythical creatures were always depicted as female beings that would lure sailors to sail into rocky waters with the distraction of their beautiful song. But the male singer’s voice had the same captivating grasp…

Lessons from A Picture Book

I used to work part-time at my university library, and now that my mom has a school, I’ve decided to start cataloging and organizing the children’s books. I’ve come across some really good literature in the process. I’ve found a graphic novel based on the story of the “Korean Robin Hood,” Hong Kil Dong. The…

Fast-Forward Dynasties

Do you remember when Lucy had returned to her brothers and sister from Narnia, but no time had passed at all? Time passed so slowly in Narnia in comparison, or barely at all. In a way, I felt like that as I was reading through the Old Testament a second time. I have read most of the…

Love in the Wind

A love as fleeting as the wind. You can have it, But never hold it. We’ll all try to, But never control it. We will all want it, But it’s futile. We will never own it. We will give everything we have to give—our time, our love, for some family and blood, But it will…

Love Oneself

To love oneself Is to be humble, And to be wise. To be understanding And a blessing to other lives. It doesn't need to compare. Because it knows you are greatly valued, Understands you are treasured, And sees that you matter— Not just to someone, but for so many. To love oneself is to know simply Why…