START Would you rather have less hope — or be hopeless? Hope is a word that evokes all sorts of thoughts, isn’t it? When life is hard, we dig deep to find hope — because otherwise we’d simply quit. And quitting isn’t an option. Hope is the “thing” that lives in our inner beings that spurs us on. I find hope in the seasons of nature (and life) and in the knowledge that the sun will rise and set today — and tomorrow. Ultimately, I find hope in God, the creator of all. Can I physically see his face? No. Can I audibly hear his voice? No. Can I reach out and touch him? No. And yet . . . I see him in a child’s voice, a senior’s wisdom, an unexpected ... Keep Reading...
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CREATE: Free Write Day 3
START I’m a creative. I love the elevated heart rate, the mind-racing thoughts, when I get a new project. Give me a theme and I’ll play all week! At best, I’m a B+ art student, but—if you don’t make me draw—I can manage to pull off a few A+ projects. Original? Not always, but I can sure take an idea an improve upon it — or stretch it a little further — or use it as a jumping-off point. From tablescapes to ornament wreaths to event planning, I wish I could make money playing! Instead, I enjoy the process. Once the spinning thoughts settle, I enjoy the quiet time of creating. The slow, methodical selection of colors, textures, methods. I love seeing the ... Keep Reading...
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TELL: Free Write Day 2
START TELL: It's a word loaded with explosive possibilities. Tell a secret. Tell a lie. Tell a story. The consequences of telling could be grave ones indeed. But to NOT tell? Sometimes grave consequences there, too. I’ve found that telling my story—even the sometimes uncomfortable parts of it—is important. I don’t mean an “airing dirty laundry” telling, but one that shares my humanity and “real” with others. We’re all insecure, aren’t we? We all have things in our stories that are hard to talk about. Sometimes talking isn’t appropriate, but sometimes . . . Sometimes, in just the right setting, telling those parts of our stories is exactly what’s ... Keep Reading...
