Creative Spirit

Quote of the Day:  Do not worry beforehand what to say.  Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. - Mark 13:11

Did you know that the creative offices for Highlights for Children are located on Church Street in Honesdale, PA?  Churches of various denominations stand side by side, lining the street.  Old homes and parsonages where pastors and their families lived are scattered amongst the steeples.  This quick shot that I took from the minivan is a bit murky, not unlike our understanding of religion, ours and others' faiths.

No matter where you are on your faith journey, or how you were raised, or what might have clouded your understanding of God, most people seek to love their neighbor, find peace in nature, and know that the great gifts of beauty, inspiration, and love come from an inner Creative Spirit that does not abandon us.

At times, we feel broken and bent like this tree.  And, yet, something beautiful and interesting comes of this change in direction.  Whenever I gather with a new group of people, I feel a bit anxious.  Will I say the right thing?  Will they like me?  Will I be comfortable around them? 

The Holy Spirit is there to guide my words and actions.  I was given intuition to discern the trustworthy from the wicked.  If I listen to that voice, when I let the Spirit guide me, I learn that in mere hours, I can be surrounded by loving and caring people who have gathered for a similar purpose, who truly want to create something good, and who want to bring out the best in me.

By Saturday afternoon of our writer's retreat, after we'd shared our writing from a deep, emotional memory, we became bonded to one another in trust.  We allowed ourselves to be vulnerable, to talk about the pain, and to realize that the characters we create must experience pain, be unsafe for a while, and become empowered through their stories.  Through our creativity we empower ourselves and others.

Journey on, fellow Creative Spirits!  May our paths cross in spiritual and physical ways as we follow our callings to create art and music and literature that connects people and brings understanding to a world that often seems like Hell, yet gives us glimpses of Heaven.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Write about a time when you allowed yourself to be vulnerable and found true compassion and healing.

Sunrise Sunset

Quote of the Day:  Chorus of Sunrise, Sunset, from the musical Fiddler on the Roof

Sunrise, sunset,
Sunrise, sunset,
Swiftly flow the days;
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as we gaze.

Sunrise, sunset,
Sunrise, sunset,
Swiftly fly the years;
One season following another,
Laden with happiness and tears.

Are any of these magazine covers familiar to you?  Do you remember reading Highlights for Children at the dentist's office like I did?  Does it make you feel wistful?  These magazines are filled with words and images from our youth.  Just a few days ago, I was in the offices where the creative team works on this magazine.  I flipped through these older issues.  I stood in the presence of people who love to bring stories to children.

I attended a workshop for writers at the founders' home in the Poconos, along a beautiful creek, near Honesdale, PA.  We stayed in our own cabins and met at the house for meals and learning.  All of our needs were met.  The food was made by loving and skilled hands with home grown vegetables and the 4H pig.  We could focus on being writers, our connections with each other, and our gifts of storytelling. 

I am so filled with what I learned, that I can barely begin to tell you of all my adventures and the beautiful images and experiences.  As I began my journey, I looked out the window of my airplance, descending into the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport and saw the most gorgeous sunrise.  A bright fuschia ball of light was coming up over the horizon, filling the sky with such vibrant color that I couldn't take my eyes away.  I knew big things would come from this journey.

Bridges and flowing water of ideas and people,
Glimpses back into our past,
Hope for our futures,
Connections made in a brief moment of time
That will last forever.

On my return flight, I looked out the window, again, as we were descending into the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport, and was given the gift of a beautiful sunset.

The journey is not over.  The path continues on.

Come back this week to meet my new writer friends and read about some of what we learned in a few days together.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Where would you like to go to be inspired?