Dec 5 - When Celie says, “The God I been praying and writing to is a man. And act just like all the other mens I know,” she expresses disappointment, betrayal, and disillusionment. Discuss a moment in your own life when something you believed in turned out to be different than what you imagined. How did this realization shape your identity or worldview?

Response: A recent phone call made me realize that he will always be the same, no matter how much time passes. For the longest time, it felt like I was just interacting and talking with him out of pity, or so he wouldn't get mad that I wasn't talking to him. It had felt like I was finally getting him on the right path in life by having our relationship grow and heal, but it's clear to me now that he will still be the same man I've always known. The message of this whole story is more important than the details, but we had gotten into an argument about when my sister and I were going over to see him, and it was clear that he was having trouble understanding that we couldn't see him for a while because of all our events here (he lives an hour away in Dallas, GA). During our argument, all I could hear was the same voice he would use with my mom whenever they would have petty arguments like this, and it was just so disappointing to realize that this man is never going to change. He said some very hurtful things about me and my manhood (which especially hurt at the time and definitely now), just to win some kind of petty argument that hurt his feelings, and that betrayal and disappointment I felt reshaped me to see that I don't really need, and have never needed, my dad to be present in my life, because he never was. I have been growing up fine without him in my life, and trying to win over his approval and satisfaction my whole life was never going to happen. This realization wasn't sad to me either, it felt freeing to know that I could just live my life without having to try and please someone who couldn't care less about me. Now I get to just live my life, without worrying about what anyone else thinks about my identity and choices.

Summary: Today, we read letters from The Color Purple.

Reflection: Disappointment and betrayal can be great opportunities to make a change in your life for the better.

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