Special Post 2 - Interpretation

I chose to share my interpretation of “The Traveling Onion” by Naomi Shihab Nye. Over the course of this semester, this poem has continued to stick with me. The first part of the poem includes information about its appearance, its texture, and questioning about where the onion came from. The second part is not so literal and talks about the onion as if it had feelings and emotions for example, being capable of crying. It comments on how the onion is often looked past and forgotten as being part of a dish.
        I believe that this poem needs to be interpreted because it can be mistaken as “deceptively simple.” This poem could be read in a literal sense with ease, but it takes effort to analyze and reflect on what meaning is available to access.  When we all first read this poem, we probably just perceived it as simply being about an onion. While this could apply, I believe that there is a much deeper meaning and interpretation to this poem. There is so much more being offered that would be a shame to fail to recognize its potential for wisdom and insight. It is a poem that you should read several times in order to really grasp the complexity of  its message.
        I believe that this poem could mean several different things depending on the reader and their experiences. I do not think that the author was talking about a literal onion, but was just using it as a metaphor. Inspired by an onion, but in my opinion, is representing a person. However, there is not just one meaning to the poem. The possibilities could be quite endless.

“When I think how far the onion has traveled
just to enter my stew today, I cold kneel and praise
All small forgotten miracles”

        We often forget to remember who someone may have been before they were who they currently are in your life today. People have a past. Some people have more of a significant past than others. This person may have a story to tell, but we often fail to recognize their journey  that they endured to be able to be where they are at now. Over a lifetime, we all must overcome temptations, strive to be the best we can be, and jump over hurdles. How much did it take for that person to be a part of your life? We forget that each breath that we take and each step we make mistakingly call a “small” miracle from God is something that deserves all of our praise because of its greatness. And in my opinion, I do not think that God would label anything he created as a small miracle, especially any of our lives.

“Crackly paper peeling on the drainboard,
pearly layers in smooth agreement,
the way knife enters onion
and onion falls apart on the chopping block,
a history revealed.”
       
        This describes how a person is multifaceted. Each of us have a depth, something beyond the surface. A person has a certain appearance on the outside, an initial impression. We can describe someone’s physical description when we first meet them, but how much can we know about someone just by this observation? Even after being friends with someone for years does not mean that you have seen their history. As humans, we automatically are safe about who we allow to know private things about us. We do not automatically open up about our story. However, when we allow someone to see us “fall apart” and be open, you can see the importance of someone’s story and how it plays a part in who they have become. There’s more to someone than what just “meets the eye.” I recently heard a quote saying, “ The depth that we will allow someone to hurt us is the depth that we can be loved.” I think that this applies because it relates to being open, rather broken.

“And I would never scold the onion
for causing tears.
It is right that tears fall
for something small and forgotten."

I believe that this is saying that we should not discourage or look down on this person for showing negative emotions, for crying. One would cry if they were always being forgotten and if their story and significance is so often overlooked. How could we not have sympathy on such a thing?This particular quote would make no sense if it were actually referring to an actual onion. But in fact, I believe it is referencing people and things that most often go forgotten because the big things they do mistakingly are perceived as small.

“How at meal, we sit to eat,
commenting on texture of meat or herbal aroma
but never on the translucence of onion,
now limp, now divided,
or its traditionally honorable career:
For the sake of others,
disappear.”

It points out how the role of the onion in a dish usually goes unnoticed and unrecognized. However, from cooking school, I have learned that an onion plays a major role in so many dishes. Its pungency of flavor, texture, and aroma is irreplaceable. We would notice if it if were missing, but do not appreciate its presence. It is generally not used as the main ingredient, onion rings could be an exception however. :) The onion can be related to a “sidekick” or the “backstage person.” They are usually not the one recognized because the superhero or the actor is in the spotlight, but without those invisible people, they would not be so successful or desirable. 

I like how it referred to an onion as being translucent. An onion in its raw form is white, but when it begins to be cooked down, it becomes translucent.  Transluscent can be defined as transparent, clear, and free from disguise or falseness. When one thinks of it this way, a person being translucent can refer to  their honesty, their openess, their dignity, or their authenticity. 

People will often praise the “meat” people who take the lead role, or “herb” people that appeal to the senses immediately. However, the small onion that that is now taken apart, no longer in its original form is not even mentioned. People allow themselves to become vulnerable, taken apart, and used in honor of who they are as a person. Though they know they are not going to receive recognition, they still do it as a sacrifice for some one else. There is power in the phrase “For the sake of others, disappear.” Not many of us are willing to do this. Not many of us are good at sacrificing ourselves so that others can receive the glory. I think that the honorable things that we do that go unnoticed are the things that God treasures the most.

I believe that this interpretation matters to both myself and the reader. By reading The Traveling Onion on a surface level, just being about a literal onion, we are simply just missing out. Yes, it may be an entertaining poem but would we really get anything meaningful out of it?  When you analyze what the poem could really be saying, you can see that there is a life lesson being taught. The overall message that I got was that one should not forget to recognize great, seemingly small people worthy of praise in the midst of the crowds. Take time to recognize their journey, hear their heart, allow them to share their history, appreciate their sacrifices, and see their selfless acts as an example for your own life.

The Spirit of God Hovered

Every time I think about those that are disabled physically or mentally, I cannot help but question God about why they were specifically chosen. 

It is hard not to automatically sympathize with these people because we feel badly for them for the “challenges” they must go through on a daily basis. 

We automatically feel that we should pray for these people because they are in “desperate need of healing.”

When someone needs to be healed, it implies that there is something wrong with someone. But can we say that this would be the case for all those who are mentally and physically disabled? 

Would they consider themselves “unfortunate”? Maybe they see us those who are actually unfortunate. 

We are taught that God created us in His own image, wants the best for us, had a specific plan for each of us before we were even born, and is a God of healing. Do we still believe and apply this when it comes to those who are physically and mentally disabled?

As I read the story about the man whose son was born disabled, I tried to put myself in his situation. What kind of questions would I be asking of God? Things are easier watched and spoken of rather than actually doing and experiencing. 

The father in the story spoke about how he and his wife might actually regret the healing of his son. They did not want him to be “ill”, but they would regret losing the son they currently had and that God gave them. This further proves how God knew what he was doing. He is all knowing. We may doubt things that seem wrong to our flesh, but in the spiritual, all things are made according to His will.

People often become frustrated when a miraculous healing does not occur when they are praying for someone. They can have all the faith in the world, but if it is not part of God’s calling on their life then He does not step in. We can often mistake this for God being mean and not there. This is when we must simply have faith and trust our God who is all knowing. He has plans immeasurably greater than our own. 

Boys Next Door

Ultimately, the Boys Next Door has reminded me that I should be thankful for God’s blessings on my life physically and mentally. 

We take for granted the things that we are capable to do in a daily basis. 

It’s so cliche, but important enough to state anyway.

We all at one time wish that we were better at something. 

We compare ourselves to others, but we compare ourselves that are greater than us. This makes us feel inferior and gives us a spirit of dissatisfaction.

Everyone is bad at something. Everyone has insecurities.

But who are we to be unthankful for the talents and abilities that God HAS given us.

This should only inspire us to see our God-given strengths and utilize them according to His will and use them effectively. 

Think......If you were not able to read....

You would probably think to yourself.......

Oh, the things I could do if I could read.

We all have so much potential. 

Potential to do different things.

The person that is labeled as mentally disabled has a lot more potential in a different area than me. 

This is a random side note that kind of popped into my mind, not really relatable to this specific subject but kind of goes along with our potential.... I am not quite sure where I heard this quote, but it has stuck with me. “What would you do if you knew that you could not fail?”

Having this outlook could change lives. We constantly do not attempt to do things because we think that we will fail. If people could not overcome this fear.......how different would our world be, our society be. The mentally disabled should not believe the statement of "You are not capable of doing that"

What I love to see is when people with mental disabilities do not focus on what they are incapable of doing but rather what they ARE capable of doing. 

Its inspiring to see their spirit of optimism, to keep pushing on, to make the most of their life despite what they are experiencing. 

Often times, they are the most joyful of all people. 

They have a sense of being carefree. They are not worried about useless things as we are.....

I can actually say that I envy them. 

How would it feel to be so feel that freedom? 

although they are probably unaware of this liberation

just as they probably envy us .....as we are unaware of their idea of “liberation”

we are oblivious.

I enjoyed going to AFI. Again, it was just an eye opener.

I love to be exposed to the lives of people different than mine.

I hate to think of myself as ignorant. 

Also, I really admired the workers there. 

God really blessed them with a heart for them. 

Art Museum

I had never been to a museum of art

always pictured it for those who were smart

We got stickers that said P.M.O.A

stickers are a guarantee to a great day

First exhibit was Japanese prints and textiles

kimonos seemed to go for miles

The security guard thought we were up to no good

did we look like we could be from the hood?

The room of student’s art

overflowed with so much heart

Their work was truly inspirational

such talent proves that art is transformational

Next room looked like an aquarium

Yes, this happened to excite us some

It was a room of Ancient art of the Americas

cool display of artifacts it was

Upstairs there was another art filled-room

Even a dinosaur chew-toy, well we assume

Families and what they called home displayed

a message of appreciation conveyed

I went to the Polk Museum of Art for this assignment, and I stayed there for at least 40 minutes.

On Friday, Juliet, Annalee, Brendan and I attended the Polk County Art Museum. I really did not know what to expect because I have never been to an art museum before. First, we walked by beautiful and peaceful bonzai trees into the Japanese art exhibit that just opened that day. How special is that?

Next, we walked through exhibits of art done by eleventh and twelfth graders of Polk County. I really found it cool to see how talented young people are. We then proceeded to the upstairs. There was a hallway filled with large sized photographs of families from multiple different countries. In each picture, the family was creatively pictured in front of their home with their belongings. For most, they had barely anything. As I examined some of these family’s faces, their emotion of their facial expressions spoke millions of words. I wanted to hear their stories. To the right of each picture, their country was written along with some other information. I cannot remember the exact words, but it said something like “what they hope for”. Some said simply a home or a refrigerator. Not too sound corny, but things like this always put how little people actually have into perspective. The “cushiony” life of Americans was pointed out by their hope for an RV to mostly likely travel in.

I feel like art is similar to poetry as it relates to the necessity for the elimination of “surface reading or observing”. It requires a certain depth and search for understanding and revelation. They are usually not things that just “click” when you look at them. You have to be open to and expecting to be changed, to learn something new. They have meanings and messages that came from the pit of their soul, something inspired them to create them. 

Take notice to,in my opinion, art is not something that can be taught. It is one of those God-given talents that people just have. Like poetry, it takes a special talent to be able to use and express your emotions in an art form. 

I am always interested as to what the person was thinking when they created their art piece. We forget to remember what all went into the making of what we see before our eyes. It was once a white canvas, bare of inspiration, thoughts, negative emotions, positive emotions, time, sweat, tears, passion, love, beauty......

Reading for Transformation

In my first teams a few weeks ago, we discussed about all things being spiritual. I think this applies to “Reading for Transformation” because it implies that poetry does not necessarily need to be Biblical for it to be considered spiritually enhancing. We cannot limit ourselves to the Bible alone as our way to feed our souls. I think that poetry is God’s beautiful way of speaking. Because poetry is not so direct in its message at times, it challenges one to really meditate and seek wisdom about what is being said. It challnges you , causes questions to arise, leads to conversation, leads to an escape from “the surface.” “To really enter the world before the text… is to be changed, to come back different, where one does nto come back at all but moves forward into a newness of being. From the genuine encounter with the true in the beautiful one cannot go home again.” To think of poetry as having the potential to be that life changing is rather radical. When I read this quote, I immediately thought of Kim Walker’s version of “How he loves us”. Towards the end of the song, there is a part where she says “Tonight God wants to encounter you. He wants to feel his love, his amazing love. Without it, these are just songs, these are just words, these are just instruments. Without the love of God, we’re just making noise. But the love of God changes us and we’re never the same after you encounter the love of God. And If you’ve never encountered the love of God, you would know. Cus you would never be the same. You would never be the same again.” She then prays that every heart would be open for a love encounter from God that night. I do not like to compare the love of God to poetry, because there is of course nothing worthy. However, it is relatable. Just as our worship and relationship with God can be merely kept at a safe level, still taking in knowledge, just sticking our toes in the water, we can read poetry without really diving in and experiencing its potency. Without reading poetry as transformational, it is just words. We can read it. We can study it. We can even memorize it. But has it ever overwhelmed us? Did we finish with a sense of newness? Are we the exact same? ( I am not inferring that I believe that you should have a life-changing experience with every poem that you read by any means.) Overwhelm being: to empower somebody emotionally, overcome somebody physically, surge over somebody or something I am not sure if this reading and the quote from the song would spark the same connection to anyone else, but it did for me. We become so satisfied with just doing it. Just doing what is necessary. We become okay with getting the same “revelation” from something as everyone else. We probably did not even get this revelation from it personally, but have just heard it from someone else as that being what we were supposed to receive from it. But if this “revelation” really was such a “revelation”, I believe it should be life changing. There is power in words. Therefore, there is power in poetry. Power has potential for transformation.

darkness, qestions, poetry and spiritual hope

“Where is God in the darkness? When we sit daily with this question, perhaps through silence and poetry, instead of ignoring it or sprouting answers, our spiritual hopes becomes authentic.”

We all have found ourselves in facing “darkness” in our lives and have asked ourselves questions about where God was in that situation. We have this idea that if we are God’s children and that He loves us, He is supposed to keep us from all suffering. We all know what the right answer is and what the common responses are. “You have to go through trials to strengthen your faith. God will never put you through something that you cannot handle. There is a purpose for you going through this trial.” THese are just some examples of what you try and tell yourself or what other people will tell you going through certain circumstances. But if you really ask yourself and meditate on this subject, do you really believe those things? 

Where is our faith in times of darkness? 

That is what ultimately tests your faith, times of trouble. 

This weekend, my friend gave me a book to read called The Barbarian Way by Erwin McMannus. To sum it up, he basically wrote about the life of an untamed faith, untamed love, and untamed life living for Jesus. 

There is so much more than the perfect religious way of living where people simply block out the idea of our fight against darkness. If we do that, yeah, Christianity would be simple. But the reality is, we are constantly at battle against the powers of darkness. When we were called to follow Christ, He never promised us a life of safety and peace. On the contrary, he warned us about how we would face more trials and tribulations. The stronger our faith, the stronger a threat we are to the enemy. 

“Take up your cross daily and follow me” We have all heard this verse so many times, but if we took the time in silence to absorb all of what that means......we would live live differently. Imagine all that it took for Jesus to take up His cross.

 He said “My god, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  How bad could it have been to make even Jesus say this.....