I love basketball! When I was a kid I secretly dreamed of being the first female to play in the NBA – but I maxed out at 5’6″ and that dream went out the window.
My back up plan was to be the Empress of the World – I had a plan on how to accomplish this. It started with becoming the US president and ended with me being remembered like Caesar minus the 23 stab wounds.
I love music. This love is causing me to go deaf because I listen to my music way too loud which is why I can’t hear you laughing about me being Empress of the World.
I love to read, too. My taste in books is almost as eclectic as my taste in music. I read books of all kinds, but I only read good books. My favorite book is I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree by Laura Hillman; it is a Holocaust Memoir.
I love to read books about the Holocaust, Nazi Germany, and World War II. I am fascinated with this part of history. I find the word Holocaust as interesting as the history itself. The Latin root (which is where the English word is derived) means a large destruction and death, the Hebrew word means a catastrophe, and the Greek derivative means a completely burnt offering. Each language describes it very well.
Now that I have taught you something … let me tell you this: I absolutely love language! I love speaking them, learning them, understanding them, learning where they came from, how they were formed, and how they are used. Language is the best way to understand a person from their perspective, to understand their cultural background. The language barrier is so much broader than just communication.
That being said, I love culture. I love studying it, experiencing it, and understanding it! I want to experience every culture and people group I can, and I want to be literate and lingual in every language I can (my current goal is 5 – 3 down; 2 to go!)
I love to draw pictures of people, hands, and nature. Every person is unique and every person matters. Depicting people is difficult because if one detail is missed it’s no longer the person you intended to depict. Hands are special… Feet are to Hands as Go is to Do. Hands do things and create change. They have the power to impact everything they touch. Nature is the glory of God portrayed in any image and I can’t do His work justice.
I see and understand everything in a way that is utterly different than everyone I have ever met. I process everything in a unique way and am often misunderstood because of these facts… This does not bother me because:
I am curious.
I am ambitious.
I am astute.
I have gumption.
I am stubborn.
I am driven.
I am willing.
I am ready…
I will use my unique perspective on the world to change it!! I will use my feet to go so that my hands can do!! I will use my love of culture, language, and people to reach the most distant people groups!! I will use my knowledge of the Holocaust to stand up for the persecuted, lost, and forgotten people across the globe!! I will use education, music, and sports to connect with people and lead them to Christ. And I will conquer the world not for my own kingdom but for the Kingdom of God … because “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).
Keighty Patton
