Renaissance of the Coptic Diaspora
Something is happening across the Coptic diaspora--a kind of renaissance that I have never seen before and that likely wasn’t possible just a few years ago.Coptic artists and creators in every category are making a public, global appearance.It’s not that they didn’t exist before. Paul Hanna out of Hawaii released 3Youth albums a loooong time ago. Monica Kelleny, Voice of an Angel, and Sandra “The Songbird” Mathoslah have both had music of SoundCloud for a decade at least.But with the massive reach of Facebook and Instagram and how building your own site is now as easy as a couple of clicks, word spreads.Now we have bloggers, calligraphers, comic book artists. We have novelists, we have children’s book writers, we have crafters...By comparison, CDM (i.e. me) is starting to feel a little quaint, a little establishment--and here I thought I was the revolutionary!Then I realize to most of you, Coptic Dad & Mom is still revolutionary. Some of you are trapped in corners of the world where change isn’t happening anywhere near at the pace you need. While I am privy to all the insanely incredible things happening across the Coptic world, privy to all the HOPE for a bright future for our beloved Church, some of you are still begging for an English sermon.I live in a bubble with none of that.Recently someone was commending me for being such a genuine human being and active tasoni (priest's wife), and I could only tell her the truth: I am naive. I am still naive enough to believe I am loveable exactly the way I am. I am naive enough to believe that I can be forgiven my countless weaknesses. "I'll run as far as naivety will take me, until reality wears away my idealism," I said to her. I'll be myself until people break me with their judgments and rumors and whatever else the devil's got planned. I am fragile, but my God is not. And when I'm shattered, a new warrior will rise up in my place.Or maybe you'll rise up beside me and we'll be a huge wave that cleanses the Church of the things that make God discontent. ("Holy Discontent" as Fr. Kyrillos Ibrahim put it in his sermon on Pope Kyrillos VI or "Holy Dissatisfaction" as Bishop Youssef put it in is sermon on finding your purpose - if I remember correctly). Rise with us.
CREATE
Create. We need you. The table is literally empty. Come sit with us. Do whatever it is you do best. If you need a cheerleader, here we are. If you need permission, let me sign the form. Write. Sing. Draw. Do accents. Carve wood. Whatever it is. We need you to CREATE. You were made in the image of the Creator. Honor Him by mimicking Him.
HOPE
Hope. Take heart, whatever your current church situation. You can affect change. You can lead the services you wish existed. You can petition for an all-English liturgy or a hymns class or whatever you need. You can volunteer to help make it happen. Take heart, my beloved, wherever you are and whatever the situation. God is here.
CONNECT
Connect. Reach out. Share what you’re doing with us and with the world. Be yourself about it. Let your guard down when you talk to us and make it easy for us to do the same. Say, "Here, guys, look what I made!" Or say, "Wow! I love what you made!" Building relationships with other Copts who have your perspective is the best way to find courage, patience, and whatever else you need.I'm going back to blogging my heart, instead of blogging what I think you want to hear. That's where I'm starting. I'll share my truth, and I'm always open to hearing yours.But, please, for the sake of our future, don't just send me opinions. Send me your heart. Don't send me your complaints. Send me your efforts. Less talk, more walk from all of us will make a world of difference.Let me add YOU to this list <3!In Christ,Laura
A tiny sampling... Some I am personally familiar with; some by recommendation.(Please know that I have the memory of a goldfish. If you wish(ed) to be on this list, just contact me. Thank you to all of you who have reached out!!)
MUSIC
Spiritual Songsdelightofmysoul: SoundCloudCopt-A-Cappella: SoundCloudAsaph Tunes: SoundCloudOlivia Bassily: SoundCloudMonica Kalleeny: SoundCloudPraise & Worship CoversDahlia Bashta: YouTubeChildren's MusicJoy of Heart Choir: FBProducerAndre Mina: Site and SoundCloud
WRITING
BlogsBeing in Community: Site and FBBecoming Fully Alive: SiteFr. Anthony Messeh: SiteJohn Habib: SiteFr. Michael Sorial: SiteBecome Orthodox: SiteChildren's Book AuthorsMireille Mishriky: Site and FBNovelistsYet, Home, Irene Noor: Amazon
AUDIO
PodcastsMy Little Children, Anthony Aboseif: Anaphora Radio
ART/DESIGN
Comics + Graphic NovelsCreative Orthodox: Site and FB and IGCalligraphy/LetteringFaith and Hand: Shop and FB and IGLogo DesignParaclete Graphics: SiteCraftsWe the Copts: FBNativity Calendar: Site
NEW AND UPCOMING
News MagazineCoptopia