Know thyself. That’s my motto. Angela is a workaholic, and I am a lady of leisure. Angela is an inter-disciplinarian—she’s involved in academic, artistic, and religious disciplines. I try to stay active with long walks, time on the yoga mat and pilates, and a tad bit of weight lifting. I know of Angela from classroom lectures, blog bylines for Off the Hooks where she writes about sharpening your saw for balance and strength—body, mind, soul, spirit, and heart. The metaphorical self that’s on a spiritual journey.
I like to scribble in my diary, journal, or notebook; she shares this habit on Instagram but wants to rewrite some of her entries for public reading yet frets and labors over revisions. Angela teaches diary writing, how to keep one, and how to read one as literature, as a scholar she searches for unpublished diaries making parallels between private writing and public discourse.
Before COVID-19, I took pleasure in traveling, visiting museums, and traipsing through art galleries and TJ Maxx, along with taking in a Broadway or off-Broadway show. Angela and I have a good relationship. I have learned to say “no,” while taking in the wisdom of Solomon I am thankful for my lot in life, whatever God has planned, therefore I enjoy a good meal, a tasty libation and choose joy; Angela analyzes, thinks, and attempts to learn how to laugh at herself. She seeks wisdom and understanding in varied forms of literature. I have stacks of books, read and unread, lingering on bookshelves, on tables, and in storage. If a book has post-its, underlined passages, and questions in the margins, Angela has read or is reading those books. I used to read one book at a time, but Angela showed me I could begin another before finishing the first. Angela has learned to sharpened her saw.
Solomon was the wisest man. The Bible claims he was the richest, with the most wives and no disharmony. Solomon does not ask God for riches or fame, he asks for wisdom: how to be the best he could be for his family, friends, community, and nation. He seeks wisdom in all things. Like King Solomon, Socrates was a lover of wisdom. A philosopher. The wise ancient Greek philosopher did not have riches or harmony in his family, but he asked questions in search of answers, knowing he was not wise.
Angela asked God for wisdom in all things, and I know that I am not wise, but have earned a doctor of philosophy degree in English Literature. I am in my second year at Princeton Theological Seminary earning a Master of Divinity and at Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development completing the Spiritual Director certification program. As a writer, teacher, preacher, and speaker, I use an interdisciplinary approach that blends writing, literature, religion, faith, and the arts together appealing to head and heart. My focus is the diary and the Bible as literature, life-writing studies, and creative nonfiction writing. Angela has an MFA in Creative Writing, which is why she knows she is more creative than theoretical, and I am reminded to flip the theory on its head. Angela has now added to her research interest as a theologian interested in the Holy Spirit and the Black Church.