Quote the Ravin, evermore.
The raven is the first bird to be mentioned in the bible. The raven brought provision, inspiration, and confirmation. In Genesis, Noah sent out a Raven to check on the flood situation, in Luke we are encouraged to have faith like the raven, and in 1 Kings the ravens fed Elijah as he was hiding from Ahab.
I am blessed to be one of the rare people to have grown up with a raven.
Ravin is the flyest, yet most graceful bird I know.
A true provider, he always finds a way to provide for his family, give his friends great prices on incredible art, and have something left over for me whenever I hit him with the “send me a cash app for $100” with no explanation as to why I need the money. He’s an entrepreneur who seems almost carefree in his daily living because as he rests in his purpose, God provides enough for him to provide for others.
Ravens are among the smartest birds, capable of solving complex problems and are very effective communicators. As a graduate from the greatest university in the world (The University of South Florida), majoring in Mass Communications – I can vouch for his genius.
Weekly, Ravin and I hang out in the shed, talking about life, dancing and singing Kirk Franklin songs and trap music to the top of our lungs, encouraging each other and laughing without restraint. These sessions, accompanied by heartfelt art, has become my therapy and my joy.
Ravin has always been this person for me. He has always been like the good bird on my shoulder cheering for me and helping me make the right decisions. In childhood – we created talent shows with my cousins, which we not only performed in but also judged and won every time. To our teen years, starting a band that toured locally and leading our church youth choir in some of the most epic of solos. To college – living together, working together, pledging together, and going through the craziest and best of times together. To adulthood – creating life-long memories, living our wildest dreams and of course, doing it all together.
Today is thanksgiving, so I guess you can consider this my thanksgiving gratitude journal.
I am so grateful for my brother.
I love you, Ravin.
“God told me to tell you to stop what you’re doing. Stop painting for two days. Watch a movie. Get still. Get quiet. Write the vision and make it plain. Then, work the plan.” - Ravin. 11/22/21