Writing, Prayer, Light, and Love

Ok….so been thinking it’s time to write another blog post....

Like some of the others, I’m not quite sure what direction this one will take. It is entirely possible, and highly probable, that our journey will include several detours or pit stops along the way J. Ah, for a moment, I wax lyrical: Perhaps, we will chase a few butterflies. Perhaps we will stop and inhale the lovely fragrance wafting through the air. Sniff, rub and dab the eyes, sneeze! “Achoo.” Perhaps we will sit and rest as we look up and observe what unique shapes, faces, and creatures our imaginations can find frolicking among the clouds. Perhaps we will make a stop and take time to look down at the path we are on, contemplating where we have been and where we yet have to go. Perhaps, we will just stop and catch our breath as we realize and absorb more deeply, the extravagant grace and love that is ours through Jesus Christ!

I originally started working on this post more than a week ago, saved it, and thought I would work on it over the course of the week and have it posted by the weekend. Well, apparently the timing wasn't right! I didn't come back to it until today. At the initial time of writing, I had a few paragraphs that felt right, but others did not. Just couldn't quite get a grasp on what to do with them. So, I waited. Today, I believe it has come together. After deleting those untidy paragraphs, a clearer direction was now in view. Yay! Only glitch .... can't think of a title for it. 

Sometimes, it’s like that…some things have to gel, settle, and  then be revised…like a writing assignment for school – you know - draft, read, revise, reread and revise, then reread and revise again, and sometimes you find you need to revise it again to get it to where it needs to be. And, I’m thinking that must be just a smidgen of the process experienced by other writers, especially those who have had works published.

Detour: I enjoy reading – always have – but sometimes, because of fatigue and Fibro Fog, it is a struggle to stay with the author and the story line, especially the more complicated ones! I finally finished one of those more complicated stories yesterday – took me over a week and lots of hours to get through it. (I have a few reading apps on my phone, but really like the Kindle app because it has four highlight options instead of just one.) Granted, using the highlights and adding notes adds additional time to my reading, but I find that it helps. Ha! I can watch to see how close I am to figuring out where the author is going with a particular character or event…and, for me, it actually adds to the intrigue and excitement of the story! 

Anyway, with this last book, I really found myself thinking more about the whole process of writing a book, what it takes, and the time involved from start to finish, or should I say from start to publication! Tossing around ideas till one gels just right, the research, writing drafts and revising, making changes along the way, input and critiques from others, etc.! Not even including the time, process, and frustration of submission and waiting, hoping, only to hear “Sorry, but no we’re not interested” and the pressure of working under a deadline. Yikes!

           Follow Up: Not long after my last blog post, I had the opportunity for a much-needed change of scenery for three weeks. It was quite enjoyable and refreshing to be able to spend time, again, with my older son and his family at their home. During this three week period, while I basked in the beauty and serenity of the neighborhood, soaked up the fresh air from the comfy chair on the covered patio, watched birds in flight, listened to birds singing, observed new life unfolding in the form of leaves and lovely floral regalia, and interacted with my grandchildren at play, my mind, my emotions, and my heart continued the healing process in regard to the situation back at home. I was letting go. This was good.

I was making progress; however, I still had some lingering reservations when it came to thinking about the inevitable - going back home. Honestly, I didn’t have much faith that things would be any different. Not yet, anyway. Not this quickly. Would I be able to hold on to the progress that I had made or would I find myself falling into the same emotional trap as before? Was there more that needed to happen for me to get where I needed to be with this particular issue? Would the situation get worse before it got better?

The day came for the kids to bring me back home. Much to my pleasant and most grateful surprise, when I got out of the car and headed to open my front door, I sensed something different, something changed….in a good way! Whether or not it was just my attitude adjustment or something else the Lord was at work doing….it felt great, exhilarating, in fact!

The situation next door hasn’t changed much, and I find myself having to frequently dismiss (Casting down imaginations, …. taking every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ ….2 Corinthians 10:5) those barbed thoughts the enemy throws at me hoping I’ll press that mental replay button thus igniting the fire of frustration and resentment towards the neighbor woman just so he can get a good laugh at my expense and point the finger of guilt back at me. I am sure he really doesn’t like it when I begin praying for the neighbors instead! By the way, I do want to say a big thank you and tell you how much I appreciate those who have been praying for me and for them. We all need others praying for us as much as it’s important for us to pray for others.

Stop and contemplate: We are instructed in scripture to pray for one another. It’s an important part of our support system. Now, this doesn’t mean that it’s only a “you pray for me and I’ll pray for you” kind of thing. It’s also praying for others and the needs we are made aware of even when someone does not tell us directly. And, it’s praying and interceding for those whom the Lord lays on our heart. Personally, it’s realizing that no matter what you are going through, whether or not anyone tells you they are praying for you, even if you might think no one cares and no one is praying for you, God loves you so much that He has laid you on someone’s heart. He has someone, somewhere – may even be someone more than one halfway across the world - praying for you. That believer or those believers may not know you or know your name, but God does, and when He speaks to them to pray about your need, they obey. And, as our Great High Priest, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25). Such love, such amazing love!

So, where do I go from here? Gonna wrap it up!  I am a work in progress. We are a work in progress. May we allow God to continue to mold and shape us, to bring glory to Him, to be the light, to let it shine, to bring hope to others (Matthew 5:14-16). He did not promise a life of ease here on this earth. He promised He would go with us, that He would be there for us, and He gave us a helper – the Holy Spirit. He promised a life with eternal rewards far beyond any earthly measure.

           Finally, I skimmed through some of my writings for one related to the subject matter of this post. I chose two. Here is the first one, along with a picture of the piece of art I created for a light and perspective assignment in an art class I took several years ago: (It is actually rectangular - wider than it is tall - but when I took the pic with my camera, I didn't get the perspective right!)  

Jesus

Light of the world

Shine Your Light of Love

Shine Your Light of Truth

Deeply within my heart

Deeply within my soul

Deeply within my thoughts

Into every nook

Into every cranny

Reveal anything concealed

That needs to be healed

Reveal anything

That does not bring

Glory to You

Continue to mold me

Continue to shape me

Continue to work in me

Your Perfect Will

Your Perfect Plan

And, here is the second - a complement to my earlier statement about reflecting on God’s extravagantly lavish love and grace:

LAVISH LOVE        

July 7, 2011   11:40 PM

Mercy for judgment
Hope for despair
Help for trouble
Your burdens to bear

This is the reason
This is the purpose

Jesus gave His Life
Jesus shed His Blood

God raised Him from the dead
And He sits at His right Hand

All who believe
All who receive

Sins are forgiven
Now this is livin'!

Such wondrous Love
From Heaven above

Lavished on me
Lavished on you