NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Seeing Red, Birthday Hope & Love
© NaimaLett.com/blog



Lupita Nyong’o (Ralph Lauren), Alicia Graf Mack (Alvin Ailey) Roses and Me

I SEE RED… everywhere.

Don’t you? Which usually means one thing: It’s February aka the Month of Love.

Red roses parade around Valentine’s Day while red dresses bring much-needed awareness to heart disease. Leading up to Love’s month, red ruled the red carpets including rising star, Academy Award nominee Lupita Nyong’o in that stunning Ralph Lauren red cape pictured above. My friend, screenwriter and filmmaker Malika Ali, also got in on the red action in her familial blog post, A Woman Wearing Red.

BIRTHDAY HOPE

I like red. And the red that really caught my attention last week on my birthday, which I posted on FACEBOOK, was the unforgettable photo of dancer extraordinaire Alicia Graf Mack soaring through the air for Alvin Aliey’s Memoria. Each time I see that picture (above), I am lifted. And I was particularly lifted on that day.

Birthdays have always been a big deal in my family, and those close to me know that I usually use mine as an excuse to celebrate the entire month. But this year was different. Leading up to last Wednesday, I literally had to will myself towards a Happy Birthday. Ever been there?

But something happened when I encountered Alicia’s 5′ 10″ svelte frame perfectly defying gravity. Like all powerful artistry, I was moved. Not just because Alicia is an amazing dancer, but because Alicia epitomizes the Comeback Kid. Suffering from an autoimmune disorder (classified as reactive arthritis) which exasperated painful injuries, Alicia had to retire twice from professional dance at the height of success. Both times, she turned lemons into lemonade and got her Bachelor and Master degrees. And both times, she managed to find her way back to sharing her gift of dance.

Alicia’s story inspires hope. Isn’t that what birthdays are made of? Hope for another year!

LOVE

I was asked throughout the week about reaching this next milestone in life. As I reflected in gratitude, I simply said, “My life thus far has been so full.” I’ve had the privilege of being entrusted to touch countless lives through the arts and through ministry. I’ve been honored to travel internationally and have amazing experiences. And most of all, I’ve been so very blessed to love and be loved. I have an incredible husband, family, friends and faith family.

Life has not been easy, but it has been full of love and loving authentically. I’ve been meditating a lot on Romans 5:1-5. The latter part says, “And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our tribulations, because we know that tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Fam, all that you and I endure produces within us perseverance, character and hope. The kind of hope that comebacks after two supposedly career-ending retirements (Alicia). The kind of hope that struts down a red carpet after landing our first pro film role while still in school (Lupita). The kind of hope that does not disappoint because it stems from love and the One Who is Love. That’s what I pray for us today.

Happy Love’s Day!
Happy Love’s Month!
Let’s get our Hope on.
Put on a red cape. Leap through the air.
Love and be loved.

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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