"This is boring. I'd rather read a legend."

Hello Myth-makers.

*tired sigh*

So... you know how I said before that I'd alternate work updates with legends? Well, I've since regretted saying that. I'm moving the blog onto work updates, so I don't know what other "work updates" I'm going to write about. 😅

But I decided to give it a go. I wrote out a whole email about my rebranding journey, and gave it to my sister. Her response: "This is boring. I'd rather read a legend."

The thing is, I completely agreed. I was bored. I would rather share a legend. And if I'm bored by my own writing, how can I expect you to sit through it too?

(If not for her, I'd probably have sent you that email anyway, in the spirit of "giving it a go". Thank God for sisters, eh? :P)

So, I'm very sorry if you were stoked to read about what I've been working on in these emails. 😂 If you were really hoping for those updates, you can read them on the blog. For everyone else--

Let's have a story. (*tired cheering*)

One of you sent me on a hunt for a Native American legend: specifically one from the Cherokee people. I've finally found one! This is the legend of the Uktena.

Long ago, the Sun sent a disease upon the earth. Terrified and desperate, humanity decided to create something that could kill the Sun and end the pandemic.

They made the Uktena.

The Uktena looked like a massive snake; its body was about as round as a tree trunk. It was covered in spots (though some later ones were striped), and had long, wiked horns at the back of its head. Its name means "The Keen-Eyed", and it shines so bright that, despite their danger, hunters are drawn to them. But even to look at the Uktena means death for your family. The only way to kill the Uktena is to impale the seventh spot down from its head--this spot covers its life and blood.

But despite its power and danger, the Uktena failed to finish its mission to kill the Sun. The humans sent the Rattlesnake instead, and this decision made the Uktena angry and jealous. The humans banished it to live in the high passes of the mountains, with many other dangerous things.

Only one man has ever killed an Uktena: Aganunitsi. He searched the mountains for an Uktena, and it's said that he passed many dangerous things, on his quest kill the Uktena. He brought back the body of the Uktena, and his village have kept it to this day.

The theme of humanity creating something that turns on them is, unfortunately, familiar. The reality is that all things were created by God for good, but a lot of it was abused by humans. That's why we have a beautiful world that's polluted, wonderful families we hurt, and fantastic countries with terrible leaders. Jesus is the only person who treats us and the world as we should be treated: loved for who we are, grieving for what we've been through, and judged for how we continue to rebel against him.

If we follow the way Jesus loves people and the world, we'll not only stop rebelling against him, we'll also start doing much good for the world. We can't undo the harm we've already done, but Jesus can take the guilt and shame from us, because not only did he live perfectly, he also died the criminal's death that we deserve. If we trust him, he offers freedom from guilt and a blank slate that only he can provide.

What do you think? What's a culture you'd like to hear a legend from?

(Note specifically for my sister: I have not forgotten your requests of Korea and Egypt. I looked up some Egyptian ones and they're just very long and dense and I can't read them when I'm tired 😅. (Interestingly, the writing style reminds me a lot of Genesis... and Moses :P. I don't know why that's so surprising to me XD.) )

It's always an exciting day when I hear from you! :D

Till next time,

PS For those who were waiting on the edge of your seat: This week's blog post... IS A WORK UPDATE! *throws confetti* It's my to-do list for 2023: a list of all the projects I'm working on and where I'm up to with them. This post isn't really one to read through from beginning to end (though you're welcome to), but it's more a helpful glossary for later. If I mention projects in later posts, I can link to this and you can have a refresher on each project.