2022 Creativity Project – April 5

Review: Current Reads

I want to share two of the books I am reading:

Inspired by Rachel Held Evans is the book I did not realize I needed until it took hold of my heart, mind, and soul. If you ever felt uncomfortable with some of the complex parts of scripture and wondered how they could be explained in light of God being a good, loving, and just deity, this might be helpful. The answers may not be easy, but at least this book enlightens and gives you a position of solidarity.

Lore by Alexandra Bracken follows the other mythological texts I seem to keep reading and shines brilliantly. This is a modern struggle between gods and humans in a race for survival and ascension. The writing is beautifully done, and the pace never lets one slip into boredom. I am enjoying it immensely.

I know Christianity and myth are not always embraced together, but I like a little lite with my seriousness. I am always in search of variety.

2022 Creativity Project – April 1

Enough To Do

Completion of tasks
Long undone provides a sense
Of accomplishment
That borders on mystical
A release, approbation.
Overcoming blocks
And procrastination is
Difficult to do
But when the dam is broken
Blessings flow straight into view.
Life is a constant
Fight against forces that curb
Enthusiasm,
Restraining creativity
Leeching imagination.
Breaking through to
Rewards and employing faith
In God’s continual
Love, grace, mercy bestows strength
With positive energy
To live productively and endure.

Gathering Trinkets

2022 Creativity Project – March 25

Gathering Trinkets

We read or study to learn about what surrounds us. We create to discover ourselves. Both are beneficial, but sometimes when the world overwhelms us, and we feel we are losing ourselves, we need to go within and bring out the treasure which can help us hang on.

Sometimes an idea appears that we recognize as necessary, but we let it fade away because of the many things that lead us apart. Next time a vision of such quality presents itself, make it work. Life is too short to ignore inspiration.

To have the best relationships and even better brief encounters live with love and share it freely. The more love we share, the more we have to give. Love is infinite; it only waits to be given away.

Recognizing the call of temptation as something injurious is a step toward freedom. We do not always need what whispers to us; some things are beyond our means. Looking at what we want carefully and remembering those things we need can prevent disaster.

Often boredom propels us, placing us on paths toward what is not ideal. If things begin to get stale and staid, turning to creativity and putting brains, hearts, minds, and hands to work may halt disaster. Creativity can feel like love or sometimes a blessing, a prayer sent through activity.

You are a gift, infinitely precious. Shine, shine, lend your light to a world weak with defeat and trouble. Reach your hand out to someone who needs someone. God bless you – every day, in all ways.

Prompt: Find something that encourages or inspires you and get busy creating. Articles, books, essays, poems, and stories cannot write themselves; art cannot make itself real; it takes the action of a creator. YOU make it happen.

2022 Creativity Project – March 22

Goodness, and Greater Things

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance. – 2 Peter 1:5-6

Every day we have choices, and when we are faithful and follow the advice above, we are likely to have a good experience in life, with blessings of success.

Last Friday I got a letter, which I should have received at the beginning of the month. It was a critical matter, so Monday, I made calls, but by this evening, I had gotten no callback, and I was apprehensive.

I wrote a respectful email, praying that I could straighten the problem out. I wrote carefully, clearly, hoping I would find compassion. I used all the knowledge of grammar and style possible in my lexicon.

I very quickly got a response that put me at ease.

I did not give up but kept beseeching a solution.

We do well to do our best and apply every knowledge and ability to those things we attempt.

Being kind, tender, caring with the people we encounter and those who inhabit our lives fosters love and teaches us self-control. We choose how our life comes to us. If we desire goodness, we must be busy with it in our days.

God is good, and Jesus is always willing to help us if we are hard-working at well-doing.

Remember, small things add up to more joyful days and eventually may lead to greater happiness. Joy is a foundation under a life; happiness is a pinnacle less often obtained.

Bless you in all you do.

2022 Creativity Project – March 19

There are authors I return to with zeal. I read enough I have a variety of favorites. One I discovered in high school is James A. Michener. I read Centennial then and it cemented his finesse in the very highest echelon of my regard.

Recently, I read two of his excellent novels. One, coming in at 1425 pages, is The Source. This is set on that parcel of land sacred to three major religions. It begins in prehistory and tells very engaging stories coming into modernity. I am still thinking of it fondly. I gave it 5 stars, and doubt I find much more engrossing this year.

The second is a bit shorter, at 753 pages. Space is a novel of the American Space Program. It has everything one could want in an epic of an epic era. Mr. Michener is a consummate storyteller weaving yarns that keep one up well past decent bedtimes. This was also a 5 star rendering.

You would do well to read these. If you look for instruction in the craft as you read, these will deal you Aces.