oh windy figs

anabelle zee

[anabellezee]

My Voice

It has been far too long that I have kept mum about the political developments in our country. As a friend once reminded me, choosing to remain silent is choosing a side. And so here are my words.

We have entered unprecedented territories with this presidential debate. It is unprecedented for a woman to stand behind a podium as a presidential candidate. It is also unprecedented that the other candidate is a bigoted ignoramus with the temperament of a child, despite how he wishes to characterize himself.

This debate was a spectacle, largely due to the fact that one of the participants could barely string together a cohesive argument. Instead he took to interspersing his rhetoric with buzzwords that only sought to incense his supporters. He made this debate largely about himself - even shamelessly plugging the new Trump Hotel in DC. Juxtaposed was a steady and ready politician, who with the grace and poise of one who is seasoned, listened and responded to the questions and allegations directed at her thoughtfully.

Mr Trump solidifies his candidacy by lambasting the mistakes of those who have gone before him. However, he himself has no plans for the future of our country except his empty words: "make America great again". What plans he does have are steeped in fear – fear of those different from himself in race, religion, class and gender. However looking at history, fear has never been an impetus for long-lasting national greatness.

This November, we the people have a choice to make. This November, America will be represented by one of these two candidates. Thus arguably making our decision a binary choice. We have a voice, and we must use it. Our voices in our government have been silent for far too long leaving us this election as our current reality.

This is our time. We have a responsibility of leaving a legacy not of fear but of one that seeks to "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity."

And I hope this election cycle is a resounding gong in our ears to recover the voice our founding fathers sought to protect. I hope it is a reminder that this is our world, our stage upon which we must all play a part.

[anabellezee]

On the eve of UNGA’s 70th session, some of the world’s most visible leaders convene in New York to discuss global development and climate change goals, following on the heels of a brief but much heralded Papal visit. The sheer diplomatic power wielded by these individuals across the globe is astounding. These men and women represent their respective countries and have been given the power to speak and to decide on objectives involving the global community. The breadth and the depth of the goals that will be (and have been) extensively deliberated and examined throughout the upcoming session exceeds my limited knowledge.

This short commentary is not in any way an analysis of the discourse that will take place both publicly and privately throughout the next few days, but it is rather a reminder to myself of who I am.

Diplomats and ambassadors are special envoys deployed by their states, and occasionally their heads of state. They are appointed with certain authorities to represent their countries in the international community. In turn the international community recognizes ambassadors by their state. This appointment of authorities and representation of flag and state forge the power one carries as an ambassador. This is the position I have as Christ’s ambassador. His banner now flies over me (Song of Solomon 2:4), and I have been “naturalized” into His body of citizens (Ephesians 2:19).

However, not only have I become a citizen, Christ has given all his citizens the authority and the power to become ambassadors. He sent people out to bring healing, restoration and peace to cities (Luke 10). His great commission to his people was, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:18-19). The word ‘therefore’ leads us to assume that the authority that had been given Christ now also belongs to his citizens. It is this power that solidifies our position as ambassadors of Christ. It extinguishes any wisp of fear that may present itself as we boldly walk as naturalized citizens of Christ’s kingdom - one of perfect love, unending grace and redeeming joy.

[anabellezee]

Let Hope arise. I am unsure of what the future holds. And in these uncertain times, fear creeps in and lodges itself somewhere between my stomach and my heart. Do I walk the road less traveled? Had you asked me in middle school, without hesitation, I would have said yes. But as the years pass and as expectations accumulate upon my shoulders, the pause before answering grows longer. Can I walk the road well? What exactly is needed to walk this road? Are there any special degrees or qualifications to walk down this path? Years ago, when I was more ambitious in my workout regiment, I planned to run at least 5 miles every day. I bought special sneaks to complement the overpronation in my feet, an armband to hold my iPod, earbuds that wouldn't fall out midrun. I made a bomb playlist with upbeat songs to hype me up throughout the run. But then the day came to actually running. I had forgotten - I don't actually like running. I spent more time preparing for the run than actually running. There are no special qualifications needed to walk the path less traveled. The only requirement is to step one foot in front of the other. If needed, fashion a walking stick from a fallen branch around you. Engrave it with encouragements and reminders of why you chose to take the path less traveled. It will prove a great companion while scaling the mountains before you.

And endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:4-5

[anabellezee]

I had been meaning to trek up to Dia:Beacon for a while now and finally made the trip on Monday. It was wonderfully serene and a welcome respite from the bustle of the city. I walked through the gallery, lost in my thoughts and in the beauty of the works in front of me. My footsteps fell into a padded rhythm, accented intermittently by the creaks of the floorboards beneath my feet. I stopped in front of an Agnes Martin painting. Martin once said:

"When I think of art, I think of beauty. Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye, it is in the mind. In our minds there is awareness of perfection."

Perfection. What is perfection? Is perfection subjective? Are we, humans, perfect? Can we create perfect works? Do we have an intrinsic desire for perfection in the things that we do and/or make?