Last Saturday (October 26), a group of African brothers and sisters known as the Association of Brotherhood Academic Scholars-USA invited me to give a talk on Haitian Vodou. It is a Christian professional academic organization. The venue was inviting, intimate, and simply beautiful, and it was quite a relaxing atmosphere. The highlight of my conversation was my interaction with the audience and to be able to answer their questions (there were a lot of them. lol).

Because the audience was primarily Christian, in my explanation of Vodou as religion, I also used Christian concepts and comparative religious ideas (i.e. the Yoruba tradition) The President of the organization wrote this beautiful letter to me:

“To Dr. Celucien Joseph,
Head of the English Department
San Jacinto College, Pasadena, Texas,

Dear Dr. Celucian,

We wish to express our deep appreciation for your generous time and presence at our gathering on Saturday, the 26th of October, 2024. Your intellectual expertise, humanistic approach, insights on the African diaspora, and wisdom on the strengths of the black community were truly remarkable.

Your patient explanation of the concept of Voodoo and willingness to address our inquiries made the session truly exceptional, and your kind demeanor did not go unnoticed.

We also thank you for graciously accepting our gift of the Everlasting Gospel, trusting it will be a valuable addition to your collection of research materials.

May God continue to inspire and bless you as you share your scholarly knowledge with others. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sincerely,

Brother Aeroezona Obiadazie
Christ Ambassador
President
ABAS-USA
Oct. 28, 202”

Here are a few photos they sent me.

My new poem, titled “Torn Threads of Affection,” draws inspiration from two poignant sources. The first is Labrinth’s hauntingly beautiful song “Jealous,” which has the power to reshape our understanding of love, revealing the delicate balance between love and jealousy. I’ve listened to this song a million times and profoundly wondered about the meaning of its lyrics and the wild passions they evoke. 

The second inspiration comes from the dynamic between two high school students who are best friends; they share classes, lunch breaks, and spend quality time together. The young man’s deep affection for the girl is undeniable; yet it is his friend who receives her love, touch, and passion, creating a bittersweet tension in their relationship. The rest is a story untold, or a tapestry of moments yet to be revealed.😊

“Torn Threads of Affection”

Weighed down by the human hand,
That draws close to your body, 
Reaching deeper than my fingers ever could.
I lament how he shattered your garment, 
A place where my shadow has never tread.
In his grasp, your will was silenced.
He stole your essence in the darkest of nights.
It is his touch you idolize, his image you memorize.
Inside, I wither like a flower in winter’s grasp.

I’ve offered you treasures coming from undiscovered lands,
And guided you to untraveled paths.
I crafted memories that dance in your heart,
And to move the fabric of your soul.
I starved my desires so your hunger could fade,
And spilled my lifeblood so your heart would beat on.
It wounds my heart that my offerings go unseen.
The silent burdens I’ve carried for your sake
are buried in the shadows of your indifference.

I feel the sadness in the way you light up for him, 
Though I’ve given my all just to see you smile each day.
Consumed by jealousy as you text him endlessly,
At dawn when you rise, at midnight before sleep calls.
It stings to know you spend more time with him than with me, 
After all this love I’ve carried through the years.
He shattered your trust,
Leaving you to rebuild in the ruins of betrayal.
Where will you seek solace now?
Who will bring you comfort in a world where doubts bloom like wildflowers?

I envy the nights he shares with you, 
Every moment you lie beside him, 
Every smile you give that he takes for granted, 
Every breath exchanged while he’s unkind to your warmth.
He doesn’t treat you with the gentleness I offer.
I can’t help but wonder— is this love?
His heart lacks the depth of the love I hold for you.
Though you seek warmth in fleeting moments,
I hold the light of a love that is true.

I dedicate my new poem “The Weight of your Heart” to those who’ve experienced what I call a transient love, an ephemeral joy, and to the one who has been betrayed by love. The French translation, “Le poids de ton coeur,” is followed.

“The Weight of Your Heart”

I carry you in my heart, 
It’s over, but you linger, 
A ghostly touch that never fades, 
You left me without a final word, not even a text to remember.
Yet your heart, it still travels with me.
The moments we lost—could they be saved?
I could have held you tighter, 
So I would never miss you again.

You are my forever companion, unseen but near
A love that exploded in sight cannot be tamed. 
Nothing can hold back a woman in love.
But you don’t want it from me— 
Not the way I craved, 
Not the way my soul longs for you.
I stand in the naked distance of (your) love.

I don’t feel alone, 
But without you, the distance stretches, 
Like naked space, 
Peeling away layer by layer, 
Until only the lingerie of our feelings remain.

I miss you—come back to me, 
My window to the world is cold, 
I want you, not in  the way of flesh, 
But in the way of life—your hands on my face, 
Your breath on my neck, your lips on mine, 
Fingers tangled in your hair,
legs intertwined until the morning light.
I want to wake to your smile, 
To hold the moon with you. 

But you played with my feelings, 
And now you don’t care. 
So I began this love story,
but you were the one who wrote its end.
It’s from you that I learned the fire of love.
And from you I learned its burn.

I don’t need perfection, 
Just someone afraid to lose me, 
Someone who respects the fragility of what we had, 
But now, all that remains is fear— 
Fear of writing a love letter 
That will be met with rejection.

I can’t move on. 
No matter how you’ve torn me apart, 
A piece of you is forever stuck to me. 
You taught me love, 
Unconditional, sacrificial, 
But you also taught me pain, 
A lesson I never wanted, 
From the one who showed me what it means to love 
And to lose.

——
“Le Poids de ton Cœur”

Je te porte dans mon cœur, 
C’est fini, mais tu persistes, 
Un toucher fantomatique qui ne s’efface jamais, 
Tu es parti sans un dernier mot, même pas un texte pour m’en souvenir. 
Pourtant, ton cœur voyage encore avec moi. 
Les moments que nous avons perdus—pouvaient-ils être sauvés ? 
J’aurais pu te serrer plus fort, 
Pour ne plus jamais te manquer.

Tu es mon compagnon pour toujours, invisible mais proche, 
Un amour qui a explosé à vue ne peut être dompté. 
Rien ne peut retenir une femme amoureuse. 
Mais tu n’en veux pas de moi— 
Pas comme je le désirais, 
Pas comme mon âme te désire. 
Je me tiens dans la distance nue de (ton) amour.

Je ne me sens pas seule, 
Mais sans toi, la distance s’étire, 
Comme un espace nu, 
S’effeuillant couche après couche, 
Jusqu’à ce qu’il ne reste que la lingerie de nos sentiments.

Tu me manques—reviens-moi, 
Ma fenêtre sur le monde est froide, 
Je te veux, pas dans la chair, 
Mais dans la vie—tes mains sur mon visage, 
Ton souffle dans mon cou, tes lèvres sur les miennes, 
Doigts emmêlés dans tes cheveux, 
Jambes entrelacées jusqu’à la lumière du matin. 
Je veux me réveiller à ton sourire, 
Tenir la lune avec toi.

Mais tu as joué avec mes sentiments, 
Et maintenant tu t’en fiches. 
C’est moi qui ai commencé cette histoire d’amour, 
Mais c’est toi qui en as écrit la fin. 
C’est de toi que j’ai appris le feu de l’amour. 
Et de toi j’ai appris sa brûlure.

Je n’ai pas besoin de perfection, 
Juste de quelqu’un qui a peur de me perdre, 
Quelqu’un qui respecte la fragilité de ce que nous avions, 
Mais maintenant, il ne reste que la peur— 
La peur d’écrire une lettre d’amour 
Qui sera accueillie par un rejet.

Je ne peux pas passer à autre chose. 
Peu importe comment tu m’as déchirée, 
Un morceau de toi est à jamais collé à moi. 
Tu m’as appris l’amour, 
Inconditionnel, sacrificiel, 
Mais tu m’as aussi appris la douleur, 
Une leçon que je n’ai jamais voulue, 
De celui qui m’a montré ce que c’est d’aimer 
Et de perdre.

I call this new poem of mine “Unwritten Futures.” It is a story that revolves around a very attractive woman who is torn between two men. While she has strong feelings for both, her heart truly belongs to one, and she dreams of a life with him. Meanwhile, the other man remains unaware of her secret romance 🙂

“Unwritten Futures”

She stands at the crossroads, torn in two, 
With hearts entwined, yet mine feels blue. 
He came first, she whispers, eyes cast low, 
In love’s embrace, there’s room to grow.

But I can’t help but wonder—
what is the cost?
In her heart’s garden,
am I just a ghost?

In her gaze, I’m shadowed,
lost in his light.
She weighs my heart against his might.
She says, “He knows me whole, accepts my flaws,” 
Her daggered words, a silent war.
Each word reflects pain,
.Comparisons drown me like falling rain.
 
She weaves her tales,
a web of lies, only to be torn apart.
hiding the truth behind her eyes.
She whispered,
“He was here before you,
the first chapter of my story.’”
In his arms, her heart ignites,
While I’m but echoes of a fading name.

He knows nothing of my presence, 
the secret we weave in the dark, a stranger to the truth.
While I hold her close, 
lost in the moments he can’t see. 
She said, “He will never know about us,”
as if our moments are shadows,
fading at dawn.
Yet in the depths of her heart,
she dreams of a future with him,
of growing old,
while I hold her now,
just a fleeting whisper in her story.

A web of trust, then swiftly tore. 
Her laughter dances in another’s light, 
In every glance, her heart takes flight, 
For him she loves more, beyond my reach.

Her days are filled with his embrace, 
While I wait in empty space. 
In stolen moments, their laughter rings, 
And silence wraps my heart in strings.
I stand,
lost in fading night.

I wrote this poem last month and gave it the interesting title “Journey of our hearts.” I also translated it in Kreyòl, but the Kreyòl translation does not capture all the nuances the English original possesses.

“Journey of our Hearts”: A Poem

Let’s go, let’s go, my heart’s open wide. 
It knows your worth.
I can’t promise you the world, but I’ll be by your side. 
With secrets to share, and dreams to unfold, 
In the warmth of your presence, a love to behold,
Let’s walk this path by my side.  

Even if nothing on earth is perfect and bright, it’s true, 
I want you in my life—this secret’s for you. 
Let me take you somewhere where youth won’t decay, 
A place where we will play
Together, we’ll dance in the rain. 

Let’s go, let’s go, to a place where love thrives, 
The greatest treasure we’ll find, the spark that survives. 
A bond that grows stronger, two hearts intertwined.
A garden of laughter, you and I will share.
Let’s go, let’s go, where the sun lights our way. 

If we wait for wealth or riches to make our dreams whole, 
We might lose the essence, the heart of our soul. 
But knowing you is a blessing so bright, 
In the glow of our love, just me and you.
Let’s go, let’s go, and chase love’s endless light. 

Let’s go, let’s go, hand in hand we will stride, 
With you in my life, I have nothing to hide. 
Those who doubt our journey, who say we’ve lost reason,
Don’t see the blessing that’s in every season.
So here’s my heart, in this journey we’ll tread, 
In a world filled with wonder, with you as my guide.

“Vwayaj Kè Nou”: Yon Pwezi

Ann ale, ann ale, kè mwen louvri laj, 
Li konnen valè ou, se pa yon maji. 
Mwen pa ka pwomèt ou mond lan, men mwen la bò kote ou, 
Avèk sekrè pou pataje, ak rèv pou devwale tou. 

Menm si anyen sou tè a pa pafè ak klere, 
Se laverite, mwen vle ou nan lavi mwen—sekrè sa a se pou ou. 
Kite m mennen ou yon kote kote jèn pa pèdi, 
Yon plas kote nou ka jwe ansanm, anba lapli. 

Ann ale, ann ale, nan yon kote kote lanmou fleri, 
Pi gwo trezò n ap jwenn, sa ki kenbe vivan. 
Yon lyen ki vin pi fò, de kè ki entwine, 
Yon jaden ri, ou menm ak mwen ap pataje. 

Ann ale, ann ale, kote solèy la klere chemen nou. 

Si nou tann pou richès oswa byen pou reyalize rèv nou, 
Nou ka pèdi esans lan, kè nan nanm nou. 
Men, konnen ou se yon benediksyon ki klere, 
Nan limyè lanmou nou, se mwen ak ou sèlman. 

Ann ale, ann ale, pou chache limyè lanmou san fen. 
Ann ale, ann ale, men nan men n ap avanse, 
Avèk ou nan lavi mwen, mwen pa gen anyen pou kache. 
Sa yo ki doute vwayaj nou, ki di nou pèdi rezon, 
Pa wè benediksyon ki nan chak sezon. 

Men kè mwen, nan vwayaj sa a n ap fè, 
Nan yon mond plen etonnman, avèk ou kòm gid mwen.

Navigating Cultural Perspectives on God:  Some Fundamental Questions to Consider (Part 1)

If there exists a singular Deity/God who has disclosed himself/herself in various cultures worldwide, it follows that this Deity/God, both in essence and in personal attributes, must exhibit a consistent nature across these diverse cultural contexts. While different cultures may interpret the nature and identity of God in varied ways based on their unique perspectives and cultural frameworks, the fundamental ontological unity of God should remain unchanged. For instance, whether viewed as a singular entity or a trinity, this ontological understanding of God should ideally transcend cultural boundaries, hermeneutics, and epistemologies.

However, despite the universal availability of divine revelation, cultural interpretations of God can diverge significantly. Why, then, do some cultures perceive God as singular while others perceive God as triune? If God represents the ultimate reality and truth, shouldn’t human understanding of God align with the manner in which God has revealed himself/herself, reflecting a consistent truth?

Let us explore these issues important questions below:

1. Is it conceivable that certain cultures grasp a more accurate understanding of God than others? If so, how can these cultures be confident that their comprehension aligns closely with God’s original intent and revelation?

2. Could it be that some cultures’ conceptions of God represent a departure from the authentic divine revelation?

3. Is there a possibility that all interpretations of divine revelation and knowledge about God are fundamentally flawed? How can humanity ultimately come to know God accurately or truthfully?
These questions delve into the complexities of theological interpretation across cultures, prompting reflection on how diverse human perspectives shape our understanding of the divine.
While it can be challenging to contemplate and express certain concepts about God without filtering them through our cultural perspectives, it’s crucial to differentiate between the concept of culture and the concept of God. When God is exclusively seen through the lens of a specific culture, there’s a risk that this cultural framework might distort the true essence of God. Conversely, if God is not considered within certain cultural traditions and practices, that God may seem unfamiliar or foreign to those within that culture.

If God indeed transcends our cultural constructs and exceeds our imaginations, it becomes necessary to somewhat disentangle God from our cultural biases and specificities. A God who mirrors human behaviors may not rise above human conceptions of God. Conversely, a God who transcends human imagination and cultural boundaries is not confined to such habits or specificities.

Moreover, let’s revisit my previous discussion about Pope Francis’s remarks regarding God and how different cultures or religions perceive and interpret God. Christianity and Islam, for example, are particularly noteworthy due to their explicit claims about the authority of salvation. For example, Jesus asserts his divinity as the sole true messenger of God on Earth, describing himself as the exclusive gateway to God. Crucially, Jesus also claims to be God incarnate.

(Pope Francis recently made this declaration in public, but the statement cannot be both true and false at the same time and in light of the exclusive claims of Christianity and Islam—Christianity concerning Jesus as the “Christ” and Islam concerning Prophet Muhammad as God’s “Final Prophet”—for example:

“All religions are paths to reach God. They are—to make a comparison—like different languages, different dialects, to get there. But God is God for everyone. If you start to fight saying ‘my religion is more important than yours, mine is true and yours isn’t’, where will this lead us? There is only one God, and each of us has a language to arrive at God. Some are Sheik, Muslim, Hindu, Christians; they are different ways to God.”
—-Pope Francis)

Pope Francis’s statements have several implications:

1. All religions are perceived as equal and provide an equivalent path or access to God.

2. All religions essentially tell the same universal story about God, albeit with cultural variations.

3. God does not belong exclusively to any religious system nor is God bound by any particular tradition.

4. God is a shared inheritance and possession of all religions and their adherents; in other words, God belongs to the people.

5. God transcends all religious traditions and their doctrines.

In reality, religions do not universally share the same language or beliefs about God; often, they contradict each other in their teachings and doctrines. Nevertheless, God is aware of and acknowledges the languages and belief systems created by humans because God is and has been present within every culture and left a mark on each. To put it differently, God exists simultaneously here and there.

For instance, in Haitian Vodou, “Bondye” (God) is viewed as a distant and transcendent deity whom no one can directly approach. Instead, Bondye created and delegated the lwa (spirits) to assist humans; thus, it is through the lwa that Bondye interacts with people within this tradition. Conversely, in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, God is seen as the supreme ruler of the universe, and he is actively involved in human history and affairs, while also being transcendent and omnipresent. Another example contrasts Christianity, where Jesus is regarded as the cosmic Savior and Lord, with Prophet Muhammad, who did not make similar claims. Similarly, the Yoruba and Vodou religions do not espouse the concept of a cosmic Savior and Redeemer. Despite these differences, all religions offer elements of truth regarding God, human origins, ethics, and human relationships, albeit with varying goals and interpretations.

In conclusion, while religious pluralism and epistemic relativism acknowledge the diversity among religions, it’s essential to recognize that religions differ significantly in their perspectives. Ultimately, every religion may present distinct concepts of God and varying teachings, yet God understands and embraces the diverse languages and beliefs of all religions, having left an imprint in every culture.

What am I doing this summer?

1. I will be teaching an 8-week course (May-July) at my institution.

2. I will be presenting at a Literature conference in England in July.

3. I will finish working on my revisions for my forthcoming book on Jean Price-Mars (Vanderbilt University Press)

4. Take a short vacation trip to New York (a weekend in June)

5. Summer Reading list: here are the books that I intend to read this summer if the good Lord continues to grace me with good health and mental stability:

a. “Village Weavers” by Myriam J.A. Chancy (Tim House, 2024)

b. “God’s Ghostwriters: Enslaved Christians and the Making of the Bible” by Candida Moss (Little, Brown and Company, 2024)

c. “Spinoza, Life and Legacy” by Jonathan I. Israel (Oxford University Press, 2023)

d. “A Darkly Radiant Vision: The Black Social Gospel in the Shadow of MLK” by Gary Dorrien (Yale University Press, 2023)

e. “Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements” by Malcolm X, edited and with prefatory notes by George Breitman with an introduction by Ibram X. Kendi (Grove Press, 2024)

f. “Towards a Christian Theology of African Ancestors” by Thomas Ochieng Otanga
(Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2023)

g. “Inner-City Blues: Black Theology and Black Poverty in the United States” by Darvin Anton Adams (Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2023)

h. “Dylan’s Visions of Sin” by Christopher Ricks (Harper Collins, 2003)

It’s been a little over three to four months since I have written a poem. Since yesterday, I have been thinking about the intersection of nature, romance, and human connection with nature. I just finished writing this new poem I called “Nature in Love” that explores these various dynamics and themes. It is a poem of three stanzas. Let me know what you think.

“Nature in Love”

Walking a lonely night, in a field where wildflowers sway,
Love blossomed in the light of day while we gazed at the sky.
We felt a sense of connection with celestial hosts, and a gentle breeze birthed nature’s song.
We experienced the healing power of nature’s grace, and a symphony of life filled the air.
A tender embrace at the dance of the leaves sealed two drifted hearts in a harmonious path.

On the other side of the forest, silence reigned supreme, and every shade created a story pure and true.
Underneath the starry sky, we heard our own voices, and we chased our dreams with resilient hope and creative imagination.
Your body, adorned with the tears of the forest birds, revealed the hidden secrets and pains untold.
The tranquility of the night made love a sacred art in every heart.
You and I wandered hand in hand in this vast and wondrous land.

Mountains rose with steadfast grace, the escape gate to a failed romance ensured the kiss of rain upon the earth.
Being surrounded by strange creatures that sustained the past and memory, nature and love joined forces to create the masterpiece of life.
In nature’s arms, we found our place.
In nature’s love, we recreated ourselves.
In every valley, every hill, love and nature will make human presence in the land soft and still.

“Consistent Faith (in God) and Stories of Faith in Moments of Grief”

To be honest, I don’t like listening to stories about people suffering.Yet I know that listening actively to those going through moments of grief and mourning can make us more humane and through which, we are given countless opportunities to grow in relentless compassion and mental maturity.

I have always done my best to emphasize with those who are experiencing seasons of grief and pain in their life. I often try to understand their backstory and their life trajectories so I could engage them in meaningful conversations with a purpose to find healing and provide guidance.

In the past few months or so, I have read various stories by people of faith, especially Christians, on unbearable terminal illnesses; stories about miscarriages and forced abortions; the devastated loss of a baby or a child; the passing of a dear mother or father; the unexpected death of a dear brother or sister; the problem of suffering and pain in life; and stories about disappointment and defeats,  and stories about moments of challenge and darkness in life.

For example, I read a story about a single mother who worked two jobs to pay her car note and rent as well as  to provide for her daughter and put food on the table. She said that I  have been a faithful Christian and never missed a prayer meeting or a Bible study at my church. Yet “God has allowed the car dealer to repossess my car because I couldn’t keep up with all those bills. I have been faithfullly serving him. I just don’t understand why he let that happen.”

I read a story about a young married couple (they have been married for less than three years. The wife became pregnant in the second year of their married life.) who lost their baby while the mother was eight months pregnant. Their grief was unbearable; yet the mother writes, “I love you,  my child. I know that I will see you again in heaven one day when all of us will be united.”

I read another story about a seminary couple. They have been married for about five years. Their precious 7 year-old daughter was going through a difficult time: a terminal cancer. She died at the local children’s hospital while the husband was in a seminary class learning about how to minister to youth and young adults. The young man was studying to be a Youth Pastor.

Yet I read another story about another family of five who were driving home from vacation. A teenager was speeding while driving, losing control of the wheel, and hit the family car. Four members of the family were pronounced dead at the scene.

What surprised me throughout these various stories was how these Christians were still firm in their faith and clinged more to God through Christ. They became more assertive about divine providence and God’s faithfulness in their journey of faith. Although some of them asked God difficult and challenging questions, they never doubt the grace and love of God in the midst of these challenges and moments of grief.

As  I continue to reflect upon these stories of grief and devastated human experiences, I have somewhat become attached to the pain of these individuals, but at the same I am deeply moved by their shared suffering and cry for consolation and comfort from God and others. Listening with care and understanding to others who are grieving and suffering may pave the way towards our own healing and psychological relief.

Six years ago, I wrote this essay on James Cone and the vocation of the contemporary church in America. As we begin the new year, if you want to hear a fresh perspective and a prophetic voice and message about the role of the church in society, check it out: “James H. Cone: The Vocation of Christian Theology and the Christian Church Today”

Click to access 12.7-2-CLJoseph%20(1).pdf