Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Author Archives: Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

The tempestuous soil

Posted on January 19, 2019 by Jo Ann J. A. Jordan Leave a comment

This Soil I Call Home

They wonder why tearing down monuments rankles. Apparently, they do not know the history of this earth where we are bound. I only know a little, but I know the land is holy.

Once, tribes of indigenous peoples, later called Indians roamed this country. They battled among themselves in societal tribes. They lived, loved, hunted, died, made lives. Then all they owned, all they loved was taken, and they were left, bodies, bleeding into the soil once their heritage.

These conquering Europeans also brought criminals who they restricted and mistreated, tortured, letting some starve, others became indentured servants, used, abused, unpaid. Some finally won free but were still cast down, called trash.

Then industry rose and needed cheap labor, or labor unpaid. So ships brought cargoes of ebony people taken captives from their lands, forced to do the back-breaking, soul stealing work, making greatness by the labor of their hands.

A cry for freedom rung clear, a peal that would not be silenced. The nation, tore asunder, brother against brother, blood was shed. The ground cried out, flooded with scarlet rivers and elsewhere torrential streams of tears.

Other fights, other massacres occurred. A price was always paid in blood, for blood has ever been the sacrifice for freedom. The fighters, their names too numerous to recall, on both sides of the stories gave everything for who we are.

Whether right or wrong they paid, and it is we who should remember. We should let the monuments stand that we never forget how great is the price of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Least in tearing down, we awaken the hungry monster who destruction, war, and death, is named, and allow it to break loose drinking lifeblood again.

I am always surprised by inspiration. It usually has no reason nor rhyme. It overtakes me in its own way and time.

For a prompt: Write or otherwise create about an issue that moves you, heart and soul. Be blunt, be real, let it show what you feel. When you access your creativity, you should be your most honest self. Share if you like. If not, allow the revelation to be yours alone.

I hope this suits you. If not, still come again. Have a blessed night.

May it fill a need

Posted on January 19, 2019 by Jo Ann J. A. Jordan Leave a comment

2016-11-12 crumpled paper hawthorne

Reach for Forever

You’re still here today,
Though last night held bitter dark
Which nearly took you,
You fought the fight and survived,
You will battle on again.

This war, it never
Ends, but sometimes the winning
Becomes easier,
You find someone to help you,
Becoming like miracles.

Sometimes you reach out
With a little faith, and feel
Heaven touching you,
God’s embrace empowering
You, through love, to carry on.

You are not alone,
There are those who are rising
To the challenges
Of fortifying against
Death’s shade in its onslaught.

Do not consign to
Darkness, a self so gifted
By Christ that no one
Like yourself exists or will
In all the records of time.

You who see yourself
Damaged, insignificant,
Unworthy of life,
Are a precious treasure, made,
Endowed with unique purpose.

Chase those dark shadows
Out of your existence, rise
With fresh found meaning,
Become the person you know
Grace made you to be, alive.

Arise, walk, for you
Have missions to accomplish
Of such importance
You are exclusively meant
To creatively succeed.

A Prompt: If you will spend a few moments looking around you, then pick something and imbue it with some sliver of meaning, touching it with your creativity, you can make art or writing that might change your outlook. You might share it and wake someone to themselves in a new way they have forgotten or never noticed before.

You may fail to recognize it, but with your gifts and talents, the skills you have learned, you are an agent of change. Though change may cause fear it is the one constant in life. No matter where you are today, or even tomorrow, change will eventually exert pressure on you, to make you into a new being. You will still encompass who you are, but like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis, you will leave what you were behind. You will carry an essence, but nothing will be quite the same.

If you have not done one lately, make a gratitude list. Here’s mine:

I am thankful:

I realized I need to read my own books more than those coming from the library. This because the books I purchase I need or want enough to invest.
My son, Alex, called and we had a good conversation.
I have done a little art lately.
Themes were available for free.
I have Tribble and Marbles to keep me company.

Thank you for visiting. I hope you enjoyed your stay. If you like, follow Haphazard Creative, or come back when you wish.

All the best to you and yours. May God Bless and Keep You in All Times and through All Things.

A Sanctuary of Love

Posted on January 6, 2019 by Jo Ann J. A. Jordan Leave a comment

If you are one of my online friends, I hope to inspire and encourage you, help you see the best in yourself and those around you, challenge you to share your love more generously, and show you love in my contributions here. I also hope to help you become aware that you are a creative being with much to share.

You, dear friends, are helpful to me by standing by me when I am near giving up. I have had a spate of tragedies that may have defeated me without your kindness. Always realize, when you feel insignificant, you are someone’s shining star. You may not help everyone, but your help could mean survival to someone.

As we go through this year, let’s remember to share our smiles, compliment those we can, use positive words more often than negative ones, put our judgemental selves in the back of the closet, be generous when and where we may, be helpful, create beauty, turn everywhere we go into a sanctuary of love, and never give up on life, possibilities, others, or trying to make the world a better place.

Use your gifts, talents, skills to foster a growing and intense atmosphere of compassion, where everyone is free to be who truly defines them. Let us make sure no one has to hide behind a facade for fear of unacceptance. We creatives can change the world if we embrace the abilities we maintain. We are leaders, different, untamed, free to love, able to ignite the passions of those who near our flame.

Let us choose to make of 2019 a year of breakthroughs, creative, relational, emotional, daily inspirational, sharing encouragement with all who enter our spheres. Let us prefer love, hope, joy, and positivity as we face a world that needs more like us.

Loss, New Grace, Conversation

Posted on November 26, 2018 by Jo Ann J. A. Jordan 2 comments

In my time of absence here, I have been making an effort to recover. I lost Hope on October 10, after her battle with cancer. This is her last picture.

On November 21, I went to the shelter, which was a new thing for me, and adopted Marbles. Marbles is a Plott Hound/Border Collie mix. She is a much bigger dog, with more energy than any I have had, and she is a challenge. She has helped get me out of my head some, which is an improvement. Tribble and I are adjusting to this new personality in our home.

I would like to be able to say that the new puppy has made it all better, but that is a truism I cannot assert. She has made things different. I think the pain will be here for a while.

I hope all of you are having a fantastic holiday season.

I wrote this piece in my journal this morning and thought it worth sharing.

2018.11.26_Journal Writing

The fitful nightmares
Visiting in deepest night,
Cannot live in light.

I am thankful:

I had twelve wonderful years with Hope. She is free now of suffering.
I have a new friend in Marbles, to help me with my journey.
I did not awaken with a migraine today.
I have some of the best friends one could hope for in a turbulent life.
I read some outstanding books.
I have learned life, while not always easy, is always filled with generous rewards.
Love and hope remain even through the disasters of living.

As a prompt, write a mission statement of how your beliefs can lead you further on the paths of life you travel and help you deal with obstacles you encounter.

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative. I hope you found something edifying. If you like, follow the site or come again. I should be able to update somewhat more regularly going forward. My apologies to those who have missed me.

If life explodes your serenity, gather your love and hope, rebuild what is broken with faith that the future contains better experiences.

Be well and create something unusual at every opportunity.

Doubt: A Reconstructing Power

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Jo Ann J. A. Jordan Leave a comment

There are times in every person’s life when doubts besiege the mind. I am plagued with this often. I have learned to, if not welcome it, at least to deal with it.

Doubts come about relationships, faith, decisions, talents, gifts, finances, health, morals, honesty, actions, skills, any area of life can be invaded.

As a creative, imagination may make doubt seem more devastating than its reality. All the possibilities and probabilities of failure come like puppies to an offering of steak. The work is to manage all the errant thoughts and dispel as many as one might.

There are times when merely redirecting the mind to something else will enable clarity. Sometimes reaching out to a stabilizing influence, someone who merits trust, and discussing the doubts can free one from unnecessary fears. Sometimes doubt and its partner, fear, are deeply entrenched and require a great effort to depose. Such a battle is beyond the will, mind, and heart. It involves the soul and powers not easily fought. Prayer is a necessity, and enlisting others in prayer can be efficacious.

When confronted with doubt we are often made aware of areas of weakness we had not previously recognized. It can illuminate parts of our lives that need bolstering. If we doubt the sincerity of a relationship, we can gently investigate the fears and seek reassurance. When we question our skills, we can take stock, and perhaps ask someone we respect to evaluate how we are doing. When faith becomes a battleground, we may call upon God to more fully reveal His presence in our lives, for Christ is never far from we children. These and such situations tend to reignite our passions, inflame our creativity, and reconstruct the mental edifices that support our lives.

Doubt though a shadow gift can build us up and make us stronger. From strength, we can lend service to others who find themselves in like circumstances. Therefore do not so much see doubt as an enemy as a remodeler, reconstructor, that may be used to a useful purpose.

We are always able to take contrary situations and turn them to benefit if we remember that we are never forsaken, never alone.

God is forever present. Conquer your doubts and fears.

As a prompt, consider your misgivings, write an action plan to deal with the most pressing of them.

Excellent Example For Our Times

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Jo Ann J. A. Jordan Leave a comment

I just finished The Good Neighbor by Maxwell King. I want to encourage you to read it.

There is a message Mr. Fred Rogers spoke in the event of a tragedy that I think in tumultuous times like the current ones could well be remembered by all of us.

“Look for the helpers.”

If we put our focus on those who are making a difference and exhibiting love, kindness, generosity, care, giving, maybe we can better cope. Perhaps we can follow their example and be instruments of constructive change amidst destabilizing conditions.

I was not one of the kids who watched Mr. Rogers a lot; I liked Captain Kangaroo. Television has never had a significant draw on me. The times I did see Fred in his neighborhood, I always came away feeling special.

After reading about his life and how he became who he was, I am in awe.

Creativity, Being Unique

Posted on September 29, 2018 by Jo Ann J. A. Jordan Leave a comment

A maxim I live by is, everyone is creative. I believe creativity is a functional portion of every person’s creation in God’s image. You can look at the world, its creatures, its objects, all we humans, the expanse of the universe and you are instantly in communion with the nature of the Creator. We are endowed with talents, abilities, attributes, and learn and acquire extraordinary skills. Our bodies and beings are masterpieces of complexity.

There are some who deny they have creativity. Often society’s focus on the arts and literature, liberal arts, beguile people into thinking there is nothing creative about them. This is a mistaken attitude. The mother who cooks tasty meals that nourish her family on a slender budget is using creativity. The man who can almost magically diagnose and repair a vehicle that helps transport him to his employment is creative. The accountant who juggles figures to make the best of a tax return is creative. The store clerk who manages to keep a positive attitude in spite of the negativity of some customers and the standing for unending hours uses creativity to heighten his or her mood and keep smiling. The friend who listens attentively and encourages or inspires someone to go on living is sensitively using creativity. The internal monologue that each of us participates in so much of the time is creative, it helps us maintain equilibrium in a world which is often fraught with problems and distress.

Because each of us is creative, we are indubitably unique. Every one of our lives is special. No one else can achieve what we can, nor has anyone ever been or will ever be exactly like us. Through our creativity, we can nourish love in the world and help others understand their importance. When we make something, repair something, say something original and uplifting, help someone, exhibit generosity, we are putting action to the creative and loving spirit which animates us. Maybe we cannot be on stage, or place something in a show, or use perfect elocution, but what we can do is so crucial, it can change the world.

Do not denigrate yourself, realize you are a vital part of eternity’s plan. Your handprints and footprints are indelibly stamped on creation with your personal signature. What you create, what you restore, your legacy is an influence that will reverberate through time. Celebrate the gifts, talents, abilities, and skills you accumulate and know you are a precious creative being who contributes to the good of all.

Love is most important, and creativity helps express love. Go into all the world and be you, you are needed, you may not realize it, but one day you will understand.

As a prompt, think about how your creativity is a blessing to yourself and others. Make a plan of how you can more closely incorporate creative acts and works into your life.

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative. I hope you found something that made you think and I hope you will follow the website or visit again. If you know someone who might benefit from the work here, be sure to share.

God Bless and Keep You, All Your Days and In All Your Ways.

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