Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts

13 January 2020

no excuses left

a dog for my feet
under the desk I listed as a need
laptop, coffee, water
Bible, journals, highlighters and pens
a good chair for my aching back
sun through the window
even on this cold winter's day
I have feathered my nest

my excuses have vanished
and yet....

words play hide and seek
just a breath away

patience, He whispers
patience

28 May 2019

writing room

sitting on our veranda in Zambia
thinking about new life back in Canada
reading writer's books on writing
dreaming, I jotted down the following:

what do I need in my writing space

  • a window
  • coffee mug - often full
  • water
  • computer
  • pens and highlighters (not sure why if I'm not using paper)
  • journals (answer to above)
  • comfy work chair
  • comfy reading chair
  • favourite bible
  • books
  • dog

in this house, as we settle
no matter how temporary
I have all but the dog

in time, in time

07 March 2019

Random, disturbed, profound

this picture has no connection with the text below, just random beauty

I was trying to read, reading about writing
instead of writing what someone else 
might or might not want to read
and remembering a dear old, no, 
young, blogging friend, who,
once started a thing he titled
Randomly Disturbed Thursdays.
I realised it was, in fact,Thursday
and after all that, still I sat
reading about writing, my highly sensitive self
aware of the most annoying, distracting
sound of a leaky faucet, drip by drop.
I inquired of my husband, who
sat beside me at the kitchen table, also reading
"Where is that dripping coming from?"
Having no answer, he turned his page
continuing, while my ears, ever sharp
even in their half-deafness, tried to discern
"Could it be coming from the bathroom?"
"I can check" he replied, yet did not.
"You're sure it's not the kitchen sink?"
I turned to stare, to see if I could spy 
a silvery slip of something, no
not there, but still, the tap, tap, rhythmic
almost like the ticking of a clock, yes
almost like the clock just behind me 
on the wall, the second hand perfectly timed
to the same pestering sound.
On this Thursday, I found
random, disturbed, profound 
the truth, nothing is as we first
believe, flexibility is essential
and a touch of silly helps sometimes
when you're finding it hard to breathe.


23 February 2019

Second love


years have passed swiftly
my mind, my heart distracted
months of preparation
for the mission field
then the years of serving

my pen ran dry

with Jesus as my first love
writing was my second
and in pursuing the work of One
in a new and foreign way
I have lost the other

I know I can have both
for He tells me, over and again
the He provides the words
if only I will share them

as we begin preparations to come back 
to the life we had forever placed behind us
may I find the path to return
to my life of words

sharing His heart and mine

My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.


05 October 2017

no digging

I have been distant, yes
somewhere down deep
following the Light

words scattered into 
places hidden

but His voice reminds 
He has called me
as His pen

I must not dig for words
but embrace them
as they come
refreshment in this
the driest of seasons

25 April 2017

From Ashes to Glory


You have journeyed with me
through the span of time
from Ash Wednesday
to Resurrection Sunday

I have compiled the daily psalms
into one volume, now available as 
From Ashes to Glory

come find the holy with me



03 March 2017

Psalm 3

Psalm 3

if I had millions of phrases
a basketful of languages
and eloquent oration skills
my tongue would yet fail
words cannot, will not
contain You
You are beyond all attempts
at description
glory beyond measure
and who am I
to call You mine?

02 March 2017

Psalms for Lent

A young writer friend and I have chosen to write a psalm a day during this Lenten season. Here then are my day 1 and day 2 attempts:

Psalm 1

to Him who holds my breath
inhale Spirit
exhale flesh
You alone are worthy
of all of my words
to You, of You, from You
now and evermore


Psalm 2

I circle round and back to You
always to You, my Light, the Source
of all that lives, and breathes
and shines
the darkness never dark
in You
why should I choose the shadows
as if I could hide
what You already know
stepping in to my Light
shine on
not for me, for Your glory

24 February 2017

if I were

if I were to ask you
what flows through your veins, ice or fire
if I were the gambling sort
I’d bet on both, and then inquire

if I were less certain
that your erratic heart sings, wild
unmarkable rhythms, spark this inner child

if I were bold
if I were free
I would cast off chains, set sail
invite you to my sea

if I were to venture 
being thought a fool, unguarded
words could take wing
to finish what I’ve started

if I were, yes, 
if I were, the sneaky smile, the wink
indeed,  I am
I think

04 May 2016

how I write

words
are slippery and
easily find places to hide
there is no magic
to conjure or
pull them out of a hat

my only secret
is release
and surrender
to His call
my hand moved by His

I am the goblet
not the wine
holding only what He provides
tilt me
pour me out

My heart is stirred by a noble theme
    as I recite my verses for the king;
    my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

19 January 2016

not writing

there is a stirring in my spirit
aching, itching
a deep knowing
I am missing the one thing
I am meant to do
designed for, gifted
and chosen
I have been called
to proclaim
to create
to write
1 Corinthians 13 turns 
in my mind, twisted
if I have not words
I am nothing

 

26 September 2015

not just communications

I have pondered long this word that my Lord shared with me perhaps two weeks ago now
are we writers? communicators? story tellers? messengers?
May I remember to surrender my pen, to His hand,

I ask of you
as a chosen one
a beloved one
consecrated, set apart
by Me and for Me
Let the words you share
be Mine
the stories told
My story
not mere imaginings
or retelling
not just creative art
No, I have a higher call
upon your life
and your work
it is not only “communications”
it is prophecy
Tell My people
That is why you are here
This is what I have gifted you for
I Will provide the words
your part is to share them
Spread My glory

10 July 2014

writing a life

in posts and tweets and status reports
it seems that more and more
of those I know, are writing books
in my honesty, transparency
I admit, here
that my heart stings, aches
turns toward envy
then, yes, then
I console myself with this --
they are writing books
but I am not still
I am writing a life

I have grown accustomed
to much time alone
to breathe, expand
ponder and play with words
now time rushes past me
filled with the tasks
of living my word for 2014
prepare

soon, in the blink of an eye
I will transition yet again
from preparation
to actualization
as we step into our new life

my heart both races ahead
and lags behind
and words will come 
when they will

21 Days of Rest: Finding Spiritual Whitespace

joining Bonnie in a small act of creation

 

08 July 2014

learn to learn

I know that
life will slow
time will come
and linger
and I will sit
with words, enveloped
snuggled in

but for just now
those moments
belong to all
I have surrendered

fighting for peace
steals my peace
as I learn to learn
to find stillness
in the rush

For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven.
 A time to be born and a time to die.
    A time to plant and a time to harvest.
 A time to kill and a time to heal.
    A time to tear down and a time to build up.
 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
    A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
    A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
    A time to keep and a time to throw away.
 A time to tear and a time to mend.
    A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
 A time to love and a time to hate.
    A time for war and a time for peace.
 

28 June 2014

a holiday by the sea

picture found at trip advisor
In my early twenties I had saved enough money and time to travel to the East Coast. I had dreamed of fishing boats and lobster traps and long piers, sails, seagulls and salt in the air. Such was my idea of the sea.  Everyone thought I was crazy to want to travel alone, but I wanted the time to walk windy shores, where I wouldn't expect anyone to know me.  I didn't want to take anything or anyone along that would remind of me of home and the life I lived.

I wrote in the new journal I had purchased for the trip:

I shall wander to the sea, and by the sea yet I shall wander.  I will listen to the secrets that the waves call out to me. And I will be changed, forever changed by the mysteries of the waters.  I will finally be who I am meant to be.

Vacation plans take on a life of their own, and hearts create expectations that can rarely be fulfilled.  But for once in my life, in many ways I was not disappointed.  I longed to hear the calling of the waters.  For three weeks, the waters sang.  For three weeks I was free of any sign of home.

I found a waterfall in the middle of a small Maine town.  I was dismayed to find only a trickle of water flowing over the rocks. Passing by later that day, the trickle had expanded a bit, flowing faster and fuller. My motel was only half a block away.  When I woke the next morning, I could hear the song of the water, and  rushed down to check.  The little bit of water had now grown to completely cover the rocks, leaping, dancing and bubbling into the bay.  I sat beside it on a rock, and let the sight and sound empty me of any other thoughts.

Soon I opened my journal to write:

I could stay here forever.  Here I can be whoever I chose. This would be a chance to create myself again..  I would live here by the sea and have friendships with sailors.  When they hauled in their nets I would have a comfy place for them to rest.  Fresh bread and wine, coffee and cookies, flames in the fireplace to chase away any chill in the air.  I would write music and sing them to sleep.  There would always be flowers, their fragrances  fresh and sweet.  Life by the sea has a life of its own.  Morning light would shimmer through lace curtains.   Maybe I would learn to paint expressing myself with colour as well as words, filling journals and sketchbooks.  I would take a  basket down to the waters edge,  picking up shells and beach glass in all the colours of the sea.  I would give them as gifts to my visitors as they departed, as if the tokens could show them the way back.   I would be known simply as “the woman who lives down the lane” and that would be enough.

Closing the journal and taking a last look at the waterfall, I went for a walk down narrow streets dreaming of houses I could own. I  remembered  I had reservations in another town further up the coast. I stopped one more time at the waterfall, then back to the motel to shower and pack.  I grabbed a sandwich and drink for the road.

I am always saying goodbye to my dreams I thought as I drove through the changing colours of the New England autumn.

linking up with friends sharing vacation stories at The High Calling

 

17 May 2014

getting out

For yesterday's exercise in Making Manifest, Dave Harrity asked us to step away from our regular surroundings, spend ten minutes in still and silent observation then open our journals and write. I couldn't get to it then, but caught up today.  Here's my getting out:

The air has grown warm enough to sit without a jacket, but the wind brings a chill each time it passes through in waves.  I have left the solitude of our end-of-the-road, edge-of-the-world acreage and come to town, both to do this exercise and pick up some items for dinner at the grocery store.

I pulled the car over and left it to enjoy this small park and sitting area that the town built a few years ago.

Stone planters and wooden benches wear placards honoring those who donated the funds to purchase them, for themselves or loved ones. The bench wood is streaked gray through the brown stain. I believe it is weather, not human use that is fading the colour, for I never see anyone making use of the benches, or the paths or the skate park down at the far end.

The park is lonely for users.

The trees are still bare, even as small buds begin to appear.  The branches twist and reach and following them with my eyes is like trying to track my way through a maze.  I loose my way and then can't remember where to begin again.

A large Canadian flag flutters 
proud, even with an edge tattered 
dancing to a tune of its own
like these small towns
not dying, not living
moved by time
and wind
still holding on

I ambled back to the car, and took a drive to look at one of our rivers, hungry to see life.

 

07 May 2014

to tell the tale

it seems my heart is trying to find abalance
(interesting that I write that as one word, without a space, a-balance)
between being grounded
and flying, even with
broken wings
a balance

between rooted
and free
so that I could claim
I am abalance now
but perhaps that is not
His aim
and He keeps me
off kilter to remember
my need of Him
He Is, then, my Balance
my Grounding, my Freedom

again and again I write
of brokenness, of longing
of surrender to
His hand, His design
I am His creation
unfinished, ever imperfect
He Is not done yet
and He made me
to create, but I don't
create my self, rather submit
to His creating
so that I might tell the tale

weaving through Dave Harrity's Making Manifest with Sandy and

walking in imperfection with Emily
 

01 May 2014

my eyes, His

today I began
the first of May
exercise one in Making Manifest
What do you want to see in the world? What do you hope for? What people and events have shaped your vision? What informs it most? What is it that you want to say to the world? What do you want your voice to be for?
I was struck by this line in the opening poem
There's a waking in every wilderness
and I began to write:

I want to see whatever my Lord chooses 
for my eyes
to hold the vision
using words, images crafted

to capture time
even as it refuses to be captured

I want to see what He wants me to see
but so often turn my eyes
to my own desire
to have my way, yet again

I am moved 
by the perfect
crystals of memory
recorded by poets
and other writers
of broken prose
imperfect, like me

attempting to leave behind
a road map of sorts
a trail of scattered crumbs
that can lead a weary
wanderer toward
the heart of God

Who chooses to unite
my eyes with His
creating vision unique
filled with colour
with light
with life
Whitespace Community Linkup @ faithbarista.com

also creating whitespace with Bonnie

29 April 2014

stretch

I have waited for Spring
steady light spreading
days long, bright
snow chased away
when rains fall hard

cold retreats
yet as my bones
thaw, parts of me
remain hard, frozen
creativity stiff, ice crusted
words, like tender 
muscles need to 
stretch slow, steady
so I shall begin
training, a writing fitness
routine, day by day
making myself accountable
to Him, and to others
spirits in community of warm

I ache for the melting

Beginning on the 1st of May 
I will join Sandra Heska King and others
working our way through Dave Harrity's book
Making Manifest
On Faith, Creativity and the Kingdom at Hand

 

25 April 2014

unwired, unbothered

Be content - just for a short time - 
to sit unwired, unbothered, in the quiet of your home.  
Be still and enjoy it. 
Do as Christ urges in Luke 12 and consider the lilies - 
be present, pay attention - 
don't cultivate concern but focus.
Dave Harrity - Making Manifest

my spirit vibrates
with a steady, quiet
yes
there is honesty, here
clarity, a path that is true

Sandra Heska King - Still Saturday
happy in the quiet still with Sandy