Battling the Specter of Nevermore

In recent books, I have read about hemlock, strychnine, and other poisons. I read a variety, this is not about genre, fiction or non-fiction, this to me speaks of destruction.

Our whole lives are immersed in depression, despair, lack of dignity, lack of respect, an absence of tolerance. It is no wonder suicide, and murder rates are soaring, mass killings are rampant.

We as a world, need an infusion of hope, a multiplicity of loving-kindness in every aspect of life. We cannot point at one another and claim others should be the solution. We must be, ourselves, the answer, every one of us. We must carry love within us, and to each person we encounter.

Forgiveness, grace, love, mercy must become our functional vocabulary, as well as our method of conduct.

We never know, by reaching out, by being a friend, we may be lifting ourselves or someone other from the precipice of death. The Lord is Love and He inhabits our acts of kindness and compassion. We are called and sent, let us reach out. May we be the solution for one another.

It is, and has been for some time, a fight against Nevermore.

May it fill a need

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.

It Called For Haiku

Brown Teddy

If you have been with me awhile you know one of my favorite things to write is haiku. I will remind you that a haiku is a form of counted syllable poetry consisting of three lines that number five – seven – five syllables. In the original, haiku were usually nature poems. I have, over the years, adopted my own way of doing them, as long as the syllables add up, anything goes.

As a prompt, I recommend you write some haiku; however, you choose.

I had written two and a half dismal pages in my journal, and then on the new page, the haiku took over. As usual, everything about my mood got turned upside down. I cannot ever remain in depression and create haiku. For me, this short form is a therapy. I do not really invite haiku, they just occur. So, enjoy.
1.
We have seen the stars,
We are the material
Making them shine bright.

2.
Nothing is beyond
Creativity’s power,
It brings life to life.

3.
You are not alone,
The universe cheers efforts
You make to succeed.

4.
When suicide seems
A viable solution,
Reach out, share your love.

5.
You! Never forget,
Life is love and love becomes
Reason and purpose.

6.
Creativity
Lodges within every soul,
Building life, a whole.

7.
It may not go right,
But failure is no reason
To desert your dreams.

8.
Just create something,
See where the making takes you,
Discover yourself.

9.
If you feel down, lost,
Grab paper and pen, see if
You find your way back.

See, there is no way to stay in the doldrums and write haiku. Try it, you will see.

I am grateful for the creativity God blesses each person with, that they may make the world a better place. I am also thankful for your visit here today. I hope you will follow the website by clicking the button or that you will come back soon. If you enjoyed this entry, take some time to peruse some of the other material here. The site is mainly devoted to creativity, and you might find some edifying ideas to inspire your own work. None of us lives in a vacuum, we are supported by each other. Love carries us through the best of times and those that are very difficult. Helping one another makes the whole stay together.

Remember, no matter what, there are people to whom you are a treasure, and your love for others maintains many peoples’ feelings of worth.

Be well. Create. God Bless You, Always.

I am totally messed up! Really?

You alone are you, and you are enough. There is no need to hide who you are nor strive for unachievable perfection. You are adequate in all your ways. You be you and let the world think what it will, for you transcend the world. You are magnificent and whole. Be yourself. Believe in yourself. Use your creativity to outshine the stars, realize yourself more fully than yesterday, and build your dreams. Treasure your ideas and be uniquely and entirely genuine. Do not fear! There is no need to worry! Your journey will carry you where you belong. Trust that even in the darkest hour you are being led into your good.

Advice to a friend, I share with my friends…

You cannot give up, you have family and friends who love you more than they could ever express. You have survived and thrived in situations people cannot even imagine, you are as strong as most and stronger than the rest. You are vibrant, generous, friendly, loving, lovable, funny, kind, beautiful, and good; the world needs you and more like you. Believe in yourself, believe you are Beloved, remember the Lord is with you, and Never, Don’t You Ever, Give Up!

We Are So Much More

Growing wild in a world
Where trials seem like mountains,
And temptations insurmountable;
There is hope because we surely know
God loves us more than any creation,
And made us with greater love,
But look, see, even the weeds are beautiful.

Do not doubt your worth,
Do not hold down your head,
Do not tell yourself you are less
Than enough; you are purposed
For this time and place, a chosen one,
A Child of Most High God,
He gave you life, He builds your hope,
He knows your pain, He supplies fresh joy.

Every day you are given
Is a chance to enact agape goodness
To those traveling the same realms.
Lift up your face, set your shoulders,
Lighten your voice, settle your smile,
Claim your place as one blessed,
One Beloved, given to share Love.

I am grateful:

Even in my darkest times, I am given positive words to share.
Things are no worse than they are.
Libraries are bastions of knowledge.
I live in the hope of the resurrection, believing there is more than this life.
My dog, Hope is still with me.
I renamed Ko-Ko as Tribble.
There are always little things to bring smiles and satisfaction.

As a prompt: Consider the weeds, write or create what you will.

We Are Not Failures

2016-11-19 Crawling Kudzu

Please don’t degrade yourself by saying you are a failure. You are a Child of the Living God, and He can make no mistakes. You have His resurrection power flowing within you, and all things are possible for you. You may fall, but not always, and you will not stay down, you will rise like a phoenix and fly high above the clouds.

Failure just is not an option, it is an illusion to dissuade us from our purpose. Let us shake off the spirit of negativity and doubt, take up the task we are given and move forward on the path to eternity.

We are often beguiled by false impressions, but the Truth remains light to our eyes and guide to our feet. We cannot be overcome for our lives are rooted in the righteousness of Christ Jesus. We live, not for the temporary world, but for the Kingdom of Heaven within us presently, and also of the glory to come. No power brought against us can maintain its barrage for a Mighty Warrior, forever undefeated, protects us.

Let us rise up as the Heirs of Salvation and take prisoner the powers of darkness besieging our world. Let us be love to the loveless and unlovable, let us be a mercy to those who have been mired in misery, let us be voices for a new freedom to those in chains, let us be Jesus’ messengers to a world in need of a Savior. Go fearless, go strong, remember our heritage, and shine light where shadows threaten to bring despair.

We cannot fail, we are Children of the Creator of All Things. Jesus saved us, let us bring faith to a dying world. Be well and remember we are the Beloved.