Good morning…
On Tuesday morning, a friend sent me this quote from Elizabeth Alexander. This Elizabeth Alexander is a poet and essayist, a teacher and playwright who was born in Harlem, New York. Wikipedia explains, “Previously, Alexander was a professor for 15 years at Yale University, where she taught poetry and chaired the African American studies department. In 2015, she was appointed director of creativity and free expression at the Ford Foundation. She then joined the faculty of Columbia University in 2016. In 2022, Time named Alexander one of 100 Most Influential People in World, and she is currently the president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.”
Around the exact same time on Tuesday morning, we got word from another Elizabeth Alexander. This Elizabeth Alexander is the 38-year-old wife and mom of three, who we, as a written word community, have been praying for wholeheartedly throughout her journey with colon cancer. Her PostHope message was entitled “Home and Prayers for Strength.” Returning home from the hospital after her most recent surgery, she wrote, “I’m not going to sugarcoat it. I’m really struggling. I lost a lot more weight during my hospital stay. I’m weak, fatigued, and discouraged. Thanks to all who have reached out. I read every message I just can’t respond to them all. Feel free to funnel any questions through the care team. (Erinmbruns@gmail.com) Your prayers and encouragement mean a lot.”
These two Elizabeth Alexanders, who have likely never met, boldly live the quote I received on Tuesday morning.
“They share an unshakeable belief
in beauty,
in overflow,
in everythingness,
the bursting, indelible beauty
in a world where there is
so much suffering
and wounding
and pain.”
In this painful world, will we also choose to share unshakeable belief? Bursting beauty makes marks that cannot be erased, removed, or washed out. Indelible beauty is impossible to eliminate, forget, or change. In the face of so much suffering, might we also trust in God’s overflow of everythingness?
How grateful I am for the powerful presence of God pouring through these two most influential Elizabeths.
Make yourselves beautiful on the inside, in your hearts, with the enduring quality of a gentle, peaceful spirit. This type of beauty is very precious in God’s eyes (1 Peter 3:4, CEB).
…Sue…
