Listen With Your Eyes

Pay Attention!

Rev. Dr. John Morehouse began his sermon this morning by telling us a story.

Several years ago he was having breakfast with his grandson. The grandson was talking about his school, his friends, and recent events, while Rev. John was paying more attention to his phone, scrolling through email, Facebook, and Instagram. He muttered an occasional affirmation to his grandson.

Soon his grandson stopped speaking. It took Rev. John a few seconds to notice that his grandson was quiet, just staring at the phone in his granddad’s hand. “I need you to listen to me with your eyes, Grandpa,” he said.

The theme for the month of November for our Unitarian Universalist congregation is Attention! I love it.

What a marvelous lesson for us all. Listen not just with your ears, but with your whole self. Be fully with the other person in the conversation. Stay engaged, not distracted by anything on the phone in your hand. Better yet, put the phone away and look at the person or people you are with.

As Rev. John’s grandson said, “Listen with your eyes!” 

Pronouncing Onyemelukwe

At the service this morning was I.J. Okwuosa, an addictions counselor who has worked with Rev. Jim Francek, our Community Ministry for Pastoral Care. Jim had invited .I.J. to read a poem he had written called “We Love Openings.” I was behind him in the choir and I couldn’t understand him well; I don’t know if others could.

But I saw from his name that he was Igbo, so of course I had to speak to him after the service. Naturally he was surprised when I greeted him in Igbo. Then he surprised me by reading my surname from my name tag without the right tones!

So I said, “I na su Igbo? Do you speak Igbo?” He told me his parents are from the Delta region and he grew up in Enugu so his Igbo was different from my husband’s dialect. But then he said the name correctly, adding, “I had to get my Igbo-speaking hat on!”

He said he wanted to know more about Igbo theology. I encouraged him to read Breaking Kola!

When I said that I blog regularly on Afor, he didn’t know what I meant. Do you remember?

Igbo Language Prizes

I thought of that experience later today when I read about prizes to honor Igbo language students.

Igboekulie is an organization that promotes excellence in Igbo language speaking, writing, and reading. Their President, Prince Ben Onuora, says it’s the “foremost Igbo socio-cultural organisation.”

Describing the reasons for awarding students and teachers who excel at Igbo language instruction, he said, “Above all the reasons, we are motivated by a compelling determination to ensure that Igbo language does not go extinct or die as predicted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in a few years time.”

He encouraged all, not just parents, to ensure that the Igbo language survives. Igbo people seem to “be failing in this assignment as evidence show that many Igbo children do not understand or speak the Igbo language or are far less fluent in same than their parents.” You can read the article below. 

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2019/11/igboekulie-set-to-honour-best-igbo-language-student-2019/

Pulitzer Prize Winner and Historian David Blight

David Blight will talk about his new book Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, on December 5th at the Westport Library. TEAM Westport is a co-sponsor of the event. Join us if you’re nearby.

“Blight’s masterpiece is the first major biography of abolitionist and political activist Douglass in a quarter century, and offers new insight into the life and legacy of one of this country’s most towering figures,” the Library says. Blight was given access to many historic documents that other biographers have not used.

The event is free, but you do have to register. If you want a hardcover copy of the book, the price is $37. I chose not to buy the book; I’d love to read it, but I’m looking at the stack of books I already have waiting!

New York City Marathon

Our grandson Kenechi came to visit yesterday evening with his girlfriend Mary and his sister Nkiru. It’s been too long since we’d seen them all, so we had a lovely time.

They offered to bring dinner. Mumbai Times is their favorite Indian restaurant in Westport, so they stopped for the food on their way. We ate well! Kenechi and Mary loaded up on carbs for their run in the New York City Marathon today!

I wouldn’t normally pay much attention to a marathon, but I watched the news about this one, admiring the winners’ endurance, determination, and energy! There weren’t many shots of the 52,000 other non-elite runners. I didn’t expect to see Mary and Kenechi, but wondered if they completed the race.

Our daughter Beth texted soon after 4 pm to say they had finished! I’m so proud. I hope I’ll have pictures next time.

Nkiru was going to watch and have drinks for them along the way. She admitted last night that she hadn’t read either of my books, so I gave her signed copies of Nigeria Revisited: My Life and Loves Abroad and Breaking Kola: An Inside View of African Customs! I look forward to her reactions.