Introspection - Finding Clarity

J Edward — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:21:54 -0400

Have you ever listened to a song and your present environment or action just aligns so perfectly with the melodies and lyrics? As though, for a brief moment, someone from another world could have been watching you?

Traveling between Manhattan and Brooklyn on the 'N' train is a highlight of my commute experience. It's a beautiful moment when the train trudges up the incline into the outside world on its route over the Manhattan Bridge and, for just a few moments, you have the most spectacular view of the Manhattan and Brooklyn skyline with the Brooklyn Bridge stretching across the river. There is a certain magic about it when you see it at night, like looking at a living picture of a galaxy.

On my way home today, Beyoncé Knowles filled my eardrums as electronic pulses streamed from my Zune to my tiny black earbuds. That's Why You're Beautiful was the song that shuffle mode rendered next in my playlist as the train pulled itself over the bridge. The first two lines of lyrics took on a new life and brought so much more out of the entire song for me.

Diamonds used to be coal,
Look young, 'cause they got soul.
That's why they're beautiful.

Today was a peculiar day, but a beautiful one nonetheless. After a meeting, I finally got the chance to spend much needed time with someone whose friendship I've come to value beyond words(The Manager). It's been a while since I last got to see him, but just speaking to him helps me to put things in perspective and challenges me to take steps forward. We got to talking about my previous post, as it's an experience that we both are sharing.

We took time to analyze the things that we need to accomplish and the things we would like to have and wrote them out. We are aware that there is so much that God has in store for us, but it's up to us to reach out and take hold of it. The challenge of course is having the courage to step out and reach for it.

On the train ride home, I saw the position I am in at the present, and things look meager and are getting increasingly difficult. Then the rich bass chords reverberated in my skull followed by Beyoncé's voice and I have remembered to appreciate the times like this that help to define who we are and shall become.

Diamonds are an incredible natural phenomenon. Formed under unimaginable pressure from coal, a softer substance, they are the hardest substance known to mankind and yet beautiful. At this point in my life, the pressure is building continuously, solidifying the deepest and brightest parts of my character. I am approaching the time to be harvested and then new work begins.

If you've ever seen a diamond before it is cut, you'd know it's not much to behold. It's only after it has been cleaved and cut that you can see the result on the second floor at Tiffany & Co. on Fifth Avenue. In the sense of the Proverb "iron sharpens iron", it is only possible for a diamond to be cut by another diamond. It is a long and arduous process, but the result is clarity that is majestic to behold.

I do not know precisely what others see in me and I don't know how grand God's plans are for my life, but I know they are great. Now is the time that I am being prepared to meet those who will be a part of the process of shaping my destiny according to my purpose as I do the same for them.

...That's why you're beautiful...

I Heart New York No. 2 - The Stroller

J Edward — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:20:44 -0500

As a part of my confession of my undying love for la grande Ville de New York, I must relate the perennial tedium with slow moving proplr in the city. My sister and I have developed the following philosophy: When walking in New York City, please move like you Phuckin' have somewhere to go! Honestly! I am almost never able to take a leisurely walk through the city and even when I am able to, my friends are always telling me I move far too fast. Honey, I don't move too fast, you move too slow.

More after the jump!

I Heart New York No.1 - The Voice

J Edward — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:04:46 -0500

Welcome to my collection of rants in dedication to my beloved city of New York.

Let's begin with the bane of my existence: the subway. Namely the broken PA systems and soft spoken operators. How many times have we missed a stop or were conveniently unaware that our train was out of service or delayed because the "voice" sounds like it's coming from the beyond. Even on the rare occasion that the loudspeaker is not spasmodic, there is always the person speaking who sounds like Micheal Jackson caught laryngitis. Now that the new trains feature those wonderfully buggy automated voices, I find myself wishing for them when an old train pulls in. They're clear and concise and completely devoid of any kind of accent. In other words, if you missed your stop, it your own damn fault because you had your headphones on too loud.

Perhaps this will be adjusted sometime after Ricky Martin comes out of the closet.

Phierce Pholks

Introspection - Finding Clarity

I Heart New York No. 2 - The Stroller

I Heart New York No.1 - The Voice