Writing with Juliet Iwelunmor

Markets flooded my head this year, firing up ideas for healing and wellness. Of course I love markets, I have once written a grant about sustainable ones and how they can be used for healing.  The markets I know, beginning from a place called a festival of arts to a space near a church with a blue pillar the shape of a cone, all are bold in spirit and divine for healing. 

Still for whatever reason, perhaps because the markets here are owned for profit, and people never question where anything is from, or perhaps because we never know or greet the seller of anything we buy by name, those ideas failed. 

But I am grateful that nearly 10 years later, or perhaps Nkolika, what we remember is always great, markets came to my mind this year, firing up once more, ideas that can be used for healing and wellness and of course we took the time to dream. Even if we fail, we are so prepared to dream again how marketplaces heal. 

I ended my last presentation in 2024, reflecting mysteriously on this grant that failed in 2015. It was not part of the presentation but before I began, I asked the Holy Spirit to have his way and help me speak from the heart, something I have also never done. I don’t know why I am keeping this here today but I prayed and asked God to reveal the big dream for the new year, one where he will be honored and glorified as I am used as a vessel and somehow, we landed on markets, this grant and still it makes no sense. Not sure where we are heading yet but for the new year, my prayer is have your way, whether marketplaces or anywhere else and use me. We are keeping this because his plans are unfolding.