What Inspires You?

I have been in a Journal Writing group that began on Yahoo and moved to Facebook for a very long time. Today, our moderator asked, “What Inspires You?” Me, being an equal opportunity opportunist jumped on the subject and brought it here. What follows are a few of my inspirations.

INSPIRATION:

Reading, writing, photography, kindness, the beauty of creation especially people, music, a taste, a smell, a sensation I cannot describe, light, shadows, my dogs, being alone, being free, you all here, knowing those who have gone still have influence in life, love, belief, togetherness, God’s presence and blessings, devices, shelter, chocolate, diet soda, everything my dears.

There is no limit to what can lead my mind to ponder. I wonder, is it like that for you? Do you have to be in a certain mood? I find myself often excited by the simple fact of being and must celebrate its vast array of goodness.

Life is dangerous
Never fair without God near;
The love of ages
On us befalls when we call
Jesus into our dreams, plans.

I am sure I fall
Far short of who I should be,
But it is beyond me.

I am grateful:
1.  I have a Kirby.
2.  I have stupendous dogs.
3.  I have collected tons of books.
4.  I am gifted with the ability to write.
5.  I tend to inspire extreme loyalty in my friends, those few who remain.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wonder, do you like WordPress’ Block Editor? I tried it and found it was like hieroglyphics. I, therefore, reset my space to classic.

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative. I hope you found something to your liking and that you will follow or return to the site. It is my prayer that God keep each of you safe and blessed. No matter what may befall your circumstances rest in the assurance that you are much loved.

As a prompt, just to give you a boost, create something in celebration of your inspirations. Also, remember always, no matter what, never give up.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Broken

Wookie and I were playing. I threw her toy, and it hit the rice bowl I made in maybe kindergarten, maybe first or second grade. I knew it was terrible; then I heard the china hit the ceramic. The delicate china at that velocity under gravity’s influence stood no chance. It shattered, as you can see.

Sometimes we are like delicate china, safe enough until a tempest of trials and troubles hits us out of the blue. Maybe it is the winds of change in our finances or our health—the loss of something or someone we hold dear. We break, and we feel we are permanently damaged, but we are fortunately more resilient than china.

Somehow with God’s help and the passage of time, we recuperate and usually become more durable than before. We learn from the problems. We have so many reserves of strength and such power to overcome adversity.

I am not sure what to do with my broken keepsake, but God knows by sending us through the fire that he refines us and fuses our brokenness into greater faith and reliance on Him.

I did not have a post for tonight. I had been away from home today, spending time with one of my most favorite people—nothing like broken memories to set me straight.

© Jo Ann J.A. Jordan.

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative, please follow the site or come back soon.

As a prompt, create something influenced by brokenness or healing. You may conduct your work in any media that suits you.

May Christ guard and keep you and yours now and always.

Wookie

Sometimes this Wookie is a hard dog to handle, but there is this fact, you see: the Wookie is a beast wholly dedicated to me. If I cry, as sometimes I do, the Wookie will kiss my tears away and cuddle with me. Now, that is a bit a challenge because Wookie is not small, no-sir-ee. Wookie is a beauty, at least to me. She stole my heart, to my pain, but I am glad she is my adoptee. A majestic canine is my Wookie. Love lives with Me and Wookie.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Literary Games

I became a reader and writer simultaneously at age three. I quickly began to employ color and text and illustration together. I found in poetry a heart like unto my own and have written it continuously. I guess my hope to be a publisher was born on my mother’s knees or perhaps in the floorboard of the Buick with the dash lighting shining down on my pages.

The dreams persist.

Reading is my favorite form of entertainment, with my rarely watching television. I usually steer away from series, but I have been drawn into a few lately. The idea is commendable, but the execution leaves much to be desired. I am one who becomes immersed in a book or books. It is most disappointing to be prepared for the continuation of a tale and find that it will be a year before you can learn the rest of the story. Not an easy acceptance for a poet who must complete a whole composition in the space of a page or a bit more.

Sometimes I will circumvent the imposition by waiting until all the volumes are complete to read them, but with current works, that is hardly possible. I lately did this with Tolkien’s masterpieces again. Someday I will open the shrink-wrap and dive into Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, I suppose. I begin to wonder about it because I have had those books over a decade. There is also The Game of Thrones, which I have in series and read two volumes from the library, but have yet to break the shrink-wrap on the collector’s edition.

Bibliophiles can be characters. My family tries to encourage me to dispense with some of my literary collection, and I blatantly refuse. I find my books are comforting, and the possibilities they contain, make me feel life is still an adventure. The missives from other minds are great consolation when the world becomes difficult.

I should think with fifty-four years at the vocation, I would have some idea of how to relate to readers, but I often wonder that others must be so unlike myself. Even so, I continue. I write every day and read a wide variety. I have thought l should make some provision to get out into the world and find some worthy subjects for photographic composition. I tend to be dull and remain close to home, which may not be the worst thing with a worldwide pandemic. My dogs and I are company and family.

The Vine Witch and The Glamourist by Luanne G. Smith have me wishing The Conjurer was not to be released next year. The Library of the Unwritten by A. J. Hackwith is another I am considering following up.

I wonder, those of you who are readers, what do you like? Are you a series person? Writers, have you been at the craft for years, or are you new with beginner mind?

World symmetry
Captured in quaint syllables,
An eagle on wing.

***************

Sheltering in place
The world no more freedom’s space,
Dreams are not contained.

***************

I see you, a smile,
Broad as day, deeper than night,
Come join in delight.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan