“No one who values originality will ever be original. But try to tell the truth as you see it…and what men call originality will come unsought.” C.S. LewisSince I’m an individual, a unique personality with an original perspective, my writing should then also be uniquely my own. Right? It seems right, but my experience proves differently.
But in writing I’m challenged to be original, to be set apart from all other thought. Plagiarism is devalued, except for short quotes giving full credit to the initial author.
And so it is with writing. I began by mimicking my favorite authors and those I read most often. It took a while for my style to begin to emerge, and it's still forming years later. I still endeavor to focus on my truth, to better tell my story, to better use my voice. Does it feel like your efforts are still similar to the works of others? Are you trying hard to be original? What shift can you make today to practice telling your truth? Lord, thank you that I am unique from finger prints to perspective; help me to tell my truth in my craft. Amen “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 What are your thoughts? Libby
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“Grief drives [people] into habits of serious reflection, sharpens the understanding and softens the heart.” John Adams
C.S. Lewis, a writer and Cambridge professor, journaled his reflections that "sharpened his understanding and softened his heart" as he wrote, “For a good wife contains so many persons in herself…my pupil and my teacher, my subject and my sovereign…my trusted comrade, friend, shipmate, fellow-soldier…my mistress; but at the same time all that any man friend has ever been to me. Perhaps more.”
I don’t know who said, “If I allow [grief] to pass through my life without trying to change it or escape from it, grief will leave me a more finished person.” This has certainly been true of my experience. I feel I will be better able to walk the path of grief and pain again when the time comes because I know there is a rainbow at the end of the storm. Are you remembering a loss that still stings the open wound in your heart? Have you allowed yourself to fully walk through the grief yet? If not, what can you do today to allow grief to walk you through to recovery as ”a more finished person”? Lord, thank You for allowing me to yell at You in anger yet still You stayed by my side and accompanied me through the grief journey. Amen “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
“Two roads diverged in the wood and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost
There were parts I learned a lot from and other parts that weren’t clear to me. In the end I primarily gave feedback on wording, format and layout. I thought it was my fault that I didn’t fully understand all their points. I thought if I gave this feedback it would just reveal my ignorance?
Lord, help me be bold, to take the road less traveled and trust my instincts, believing my perspective is valid, useful and helpful. Amen
“But God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God…” Genesis 3:3-5 What are your thoughts? Libby Note: Robert Frost (1874-1963), an American poet, initially published in England before being published in America; known for realistic depictions of rural life in New England as they relate to the complex social and philosophical issues of the early twentieth century. Frost, thought of as an artistic institution, was awarded four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry, the Congressional God Medal in 1960, and named Vermont’s poet laureate. “No thinking, that comes later. You write the first draft with your heart, you rewrite with your head. The first key to writing is to write, not to think.” Mike Rich, screenwriter for Finding Forrester
My muse is application, how I can absorb wisdom from quotes—words and saying from other’s life experiences—as a way to inspire me to be better, or sometimes just to be. So, when my writing is stalled I turn to quotes and ideas like:
Lord, take my fears and replace them with Your purpose that I might be all You made me to be in this life. Amen
“On action alone be thy interest, never on its fruits.” Unknown“Look down, not out…keep your eyes on your mark,” my friend and coach reminded me. “Don’t worry about the pins, just hit your mark.” Bowling is one game where your entire focus is on your mark and your follow-through. If you do those two things—assuming you’ve chosen the right mark for your release and the lane condition—you will hit the pocket. Notice these professional bowlers are all looking down at the marks, not at the pins.
When I first started bowling, all I looked at were the pins. All too often I would hit only two or three of them. The idea of focusing on a mark on the floor and aiming for that didn’t make sense to me. When I got a coach I discovered the marks are about twenty feet from the foul line, but the pins are sixty feet away. It’s much more likely to hit the marks accurately. Then I just needed to discover which mark was the best place to aim for the way my ball would spin and roll from my release. I wish we had marks in life goals, also. Oh, wait. We do! Years ago I was part of an automation team working on a two year project, when management cancelled the it due to an emerging technology that would make our solution obsolete. So, today we take projects in steps, and then re-evaluate the goal after each step. This also works with declaring a major in college, or when planning a weather-dependent event ahead of time; like a vacation, camping trip, or wedding. Today when I bowl, it’s enough to give my full attention to having a consistent release, follow-through, and to hit my mark. When I get it right, I’m pleased with the results. Are you dreaming of goals that you’re not reaching? Have you thought about breaking them into smaller, more manageable steps? What can you do today to make your goals more achievable? Lord, keep my focused on my next step and not lose my way trying to see into the unknown. Amen “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.” Matthew 6:33 What are your thoughts? Libby |
WelcomeI love the wisdom of the ages gleaned from relevant quotes. In them there is a connection to the human experience that crosses all borders. Join me as I relate my personal experiences, and link the wisdom of the quote to the Source of all wisdom: God's Word, the Bible. Enjoy, Libby Categories
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