A lot is going on in my life, both good and bad. Wonderful warm compassionate individuals and people quite the opposite stripe. Compassion is the key. Definition: sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others:) Synonyms: fellow feeling, empathy, understanding, care, concern, sensitivity, warm-heartedness, warmth, tenderness, gentleness, mercy, consideration, kindness, humanity, humaneness, kind-heartedness, benevolence.
I am making the choice to focus this blog on my YouTube reading of children’s stories. I shall begin with my response to Nesh’s blog breakdown.
To Nesh
You did an amazing job with this, truly you did, catching the essence of it all without knowing the lengthly back story. Teaching Faith, Not Fear clearly says it all in four words. I will first respond to your breakdown – then tell you the backstory.
Your first paragraph eloquently expresses my underlying feeling. “In a world where children learn from screens instead of stories, I wanted to remind parents, and myself, that faith was never meant to be frightening. This is not about end-times or warnings. It is a about wonder and warmth. Allah’s love is the safest place to begin. Prior to filming another segment of the book Shamir and I were talking about this very topic. Kids, he said, should not be learning about fear. Of course, he is so right (as are you and so am I). Muslims are to be focusing on Allah’s mercy – not vindictiveness, not punishment. Up to the very end of believers life, they have an opportunity to experience the mercy of Allah (SWT) The world is not going to come tumbling down on people without warning. The Quran is full of verses speaking of many messengers sent in every society throughout time to warn, reminding the sinners of Allah’s mercy.
Teaching Faith through Stories
Stories just don’t inform They form hearts. Faith does begin in the imagination. The book I chose to read is also founded on sophisticated scientific findings. Such a coupling, such a dialogue is only possible in the Islamic Faith.
As usual, you said it better than I did. Hahaha “I am horrified by online “10 Major Signs before Qiyamah” videos, not because belief in the afterlife is wrong, but because it is misrepresented and misused.
Calling on Artificial Intelligence
Indeed I did push back from AI’s textbook answer. AI did surpassingly agree but it was superficial. Your concluding sentence said it all. “What remained were inconsistencies, patchy interpretations, and myths designed as theology. Also this sentence. “ Stories where children see themselves as beloved creations, not trembling sinners.”
Bedtime Stories, Not Apocalypses
That is indeed the intent. “Faith becomes bedtime comfort, not bedtime anxieties.”
A Morning of Synchronicity
Faith and work, laughter and learning, all intertwining all divine timing.” All of that is true, but it was not the final segment. The book went on and on. Final segment next week.
The Strongest Woman Know Their Source
Indeed Allah is the source of all strength. It was not Yasmin that sent the GIF. It seemed best to conceal the woman’s identity as she is surrounded by evil and could face consequences for her support of me.
As to the Divali gift I was unable to decline because the giver had enlisted an intermediary. The gift arrived on my doorstep, so to speak. I took a photo of one of the beautiful flowers – that became the photo on your good late morning greeting. It was me that was impervious – not affected by inappropriate gift giving but required by the faith to be gracious. The plot thickens, I have a plan. Hahahah
Faith That Feel Human
Faith should make not only a child, but all believers, feel loved, not afraid. I do think it is true, My mission is to make faith feel human again. Scores of people all over the world, copy the Saudi model – in which fear and ritual are prevalent and rather necessary. Generations of Saudis have been taught through fear and the Muslim world and Western based social media lazily clings to their outmoded practices.
Late breaking news. One of the Malaysian Muslim women pictured in your cover story put the photo in her story saying Three Generations, One Deen, Alhamdulillah
Me: Alhamdulillah
Yesterday morning Shamir and I travelled to the eleventh floor of the Malaysian Hotel to record the third segment of I am Awesome, I am Special, Allah Created Me. I was miked, making me feel like some kind of movie star. I was appropriately dressed wearing a Indonesian batik dress fashioned by Yasmin and a pink headscarf. I have had the privilege of viewing the YouTube Channel Bed Time Stories Part 4. It is 6.01 minutes long. Upon reading it sent Shamir a congratulatory text
Me; I just saw the YouTube reel. You did a fantastic job being my cinematographer. Your are hired.
He: 🙏
Me; Oops you already are. Hehehe
He: Rehired
Me: Always hired.
He: Think so
Me: hope so. Insha Allah as we Muslims say,
He: 🙏🤲🏼
The correspondence between Nesh and I began earlier in the day.
He: Good morning Alexis. I have just uploaded the Bedtime Story onto YouTube. How are you?
Me: I am great!!! Perfect timing again. Just wrapped up a conversation with Ai about the gift, learning I got everything right. And received a prayer which I will use as my morning greeting. Will speak of the YouTube on my blog of today. Everything is great.
He: Wonderful. Can’t wait.
Then later I wrote.
Me: Just saw the YouTube video. It is superb. I said to Shamir to that he did he greatest job being my cinematographer. It was fantastic what he did and then YOU put it on YouTube. You guys are great. Both of you, what a team I have. Of course, you have a great movie star – namely me. Hahaha.
He: Wonderful!! So glad of this Alexis.
I starred in a recent YouTube reel, originated as an Instagram reel made by friend Evelyn Swei. Interesting history. We met approximately a year ago. She was staying at Lexis Suites with her daughter. We were in touch through Instagram. What I did not know, but learned throughout the day, spent with she and her daughter that she has been following me on my blog. I know thousands do but it is rare that I should meet one of them. It is unfortunately true. Hahah.
With much effort, because of copyright problems we got it put on my Youtube. It took both
Shamir and Nesh to make it happen. It is called What a Marvelous Day and is 7.28 minutes long. I had NO idea she was filming me. I laughed when I viewed it.
Me: I am so deeply touched and grateful that you made this But I never seem to stop talking. My mouth is always flapping. I cannot wait to watch it on big screen television. It is unbelievable. Gonna have it played at my funeral. But I do not think that Muslims have regular funerals, like Christians for example. Hahaha
She: You’re so cute Alexis Yup usually. Muslims don’t have regular Muslims but it depends on the deceased wills..you’re a Muslim but somehow you are not under the monitor of Malaysia’s Muslims Council.
Me: I will never be subjected to them. Only Allah (SWT)
Photographs will picture some events of the past few days and some photographs from I am Awesome, I am Special, Allah Created Me.
Me: Mango brought to me by the Mojo chef. Complimentary. All praise to Allah to Mojo and Penang. It was the best EVER.
Yasmin sent a prayer that should be helpful to all my Muslim readers.
A closeup of a tulip which was sent as a late Good Morning greeting.
