Behold the dawn a sound among the trees through open windows. Hear the applause of heaven in a syllable of water. God is closer than you think, and there is gaining through losing with absolute surrender. Abba’s child is walking on water in the eye of the storm traveling light fearless walking sacred pathways bringing […]
And. Did. Nothing.
Downy woodpecker with an itch. I woke up at 6 this morning. On my own. No alarm. And I did something I hardly ever do. I lay in bed. And. Did. Nothing. Well, I closed my eyes and breathed deep the cool breeze through the open windows. I pushed all thoughts of what I ought […]
Spiritual Seizures, Surrender, Starvation, and Possibility
It’s an Indian taco spread, and I’ve heaped my plate. I’m munching homemade tortilla chips while I watch the birthday girl in the air-filled jump house. And one of my daughter’s friends, he says those words. “You’re a good writer, right?” I stare a minute, and mutter quiet. “Um, I write.” Mentally I smack myself […]
Poetry by Erasure
Kimberlee Conway Ireton wrote this morning at Tweetspeak Poetry about Wave’s Erasure Poetry Page where they present a piece of writing. You take out words to create a poem. It’s kind of like the black-out poetry we did at Laity Lodge last fall. Here’s the black-out poem I created then. You can’t read it well […]
Anger’s Invitation
I wake up angry. And I’m angry about it. I’m angry that Lyla’s making us do two whole chapters at a time, and I know I’ll have to go through this book again and take my time, and I’m afraid won’t. I’m angry that I can’t answer even one childhood question–the ones Julia says will […]
The Artist’s Way: Descent into Ashes
I’ve written about the story before. The one I wrote and sent to the local paper–just like Jo in Little Women. How the newspaper sent it back–rejected. They might have sent an encouraging note, but I don’t remember. I only knew they didn’t want it. It wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t good enough. I threw […]
Rumors of Wine
There are rumors of water. And Time winds down hidden hallways, sips tea with feathered memories and eats bagels with Imagination who sees beyond what is to what can be in gaping holes and medieval laundry baskets and berry-colored bottles. In time, Time whispers words and songs that rise in some kind of prayer […]
It’s the Climb
We called it a salt lick, the stand in the woods behind our house. I never saw salt, and I never saw deer licking it. But it made a great platform to climb up on and belt out words to a standing-room-only crowd. This audience swayed to the melodies, whispered their appreciation, and clapped […]
In Which I Cultivate My Wild Side–Or Not
Someone landed on my blog the other day when they searched for “Hoosier cabinet.” I doubt they found what they were looking for. That short little post was written in response to L.L. Barkat’s suggested writing exercise from God in the Yard to play with words. In the section on “Habits” from her newest book, Rumors […]
I’m Afraid to Read Ann Voskamp
“What are you hiding?” She asked. I stared at her. “What do you mean?” (It probably really came out like “Whaddayamean?”) I’d been transcribing reports for Heidi, a rehabilitation nurse, for several months. “I tell you about my family, stuff I’m doing, but you never tell me anything about you. It’s like you’re in the […]
