Writing in the Sacred Space by Sharon Heagy

As I snuggled down among the bedclothes not quite ready to leave that sleepy half-awake state, a thought came to my brain. It's Mother's Day. The airwaves and social media had been bombarding our thoughts since Easter, spouting ideas and filling mothers brains with visions of lovely Sunday brunches full of pastel colours, cloth napkins, real silverware and well dressed, perfectly behaved young children in glass walled restaurants where the sunlight beams in with heavenly rays, when what moms really want is a nap. I found out recently that many a mom would like to check into a hospital, just for a day or two, not to be sick but to have some rest and be served meals that someone else cooked. And even though that is not the reality of hospital life any more than a perfect Sunday Brunch, it gave me solace to know that I wasn't the only one who had that thought cross their mind when life with kids got crazy.

Mother's Day for many means choking down burnt toast and scrambled eggs, with a few crunchy shells thrown in for good measure, while wide eyed, expectant, flannel clad children look on as Mom, who may be riding post birth waves of hormonal instability, takes those first few bites of an almost inedible breakfast made with love. With a few gulps of coffee to wash it down and regain use of her vocal cords she announces, "It's wonderful. Thank you so much! I love it." The chubby cheeked cherubs break out in ear-to-ear smiles, relieved that Mom is loving their feast. Before she can clear her plate the kids are bringing out homemade artistic gifts from the cut and paste club, where more paint and glue stick to clothes and hair and hands than to paper. And the drawings! A wee bit Picasso and a wee bit 'what on earth is that' which, now that I think of it, is much like some Picassos. Mothers must develop an ability to discover the intention of their young artists without causing distress and unhappiness and ruining their, I mean her, day.

For many, this day of recognition is wonderful and welcome, for others it is a day to be endured and for some it is a day filled with sorrow. Yet, all these reactions come from a place of love. Whether it be a longing to share love, a love that has been lost or a love that stands beside the bed wide eyed. And all of it comes from God, who is Love.

When I popped awake that morning a few weeks ago, I realized that writing doesn't always need a specific place or time. In fact, I was amazed that my brain was firing at all in those early moments. The hamster that runs the wheel in my head hadn't even had breakfast and my desk in the basement was basking in a sunbeam dust dance.

Even as I write this post, I am not in the familiar surroundings of my own house or town but I am in the big city watching over my grandchildren. It had me a bit worried to be honest. The pressure of a deadline in the uncertainty of life on a different schedule had me slightly nervous. But what I am finding is, it is good to write in unfamiliar places with fresh perspectives. It is a good exercise, not to be feared but embraced!

The kids and I were walking home from the store and were taking a shortcut down the lane when we came across a pile of dirt and a ladder on the lane side of a fence. I asked them to make up a story about the ladder and the dirt, which both seemed to be in odd spots. Why was the dirt not closer to the gate? And why was the ladder there? It seemed to have no purpose whatsoever in the place it had been set. We could not see through the fence to see what was on the yard side that might explain this mystery. They came up with a few ideas as I encouraged them to go beyond the obvious and use their brilliant imaginations. While listening to them, my own mind was swirling with possibilities that would somehow connect to Jacob's ladder.

Heading home after walking the youngest to school, I was forced from the sidewalk by a bike gang and was almost attacked by some of the wildlife in this city! Ok, really there was just one kid on a bike and I stepped out of his way and the wildlife was a single rabbit. But the ideas were there.

The ideas will come wherever your brain goes. Recall all the places Paul wrote. He wrote while travelling, while ministering and while in prison. The nudges and notions will come wherever Love lives, which is everywhere. He who is not bound by time or space can take whatever we encounter and turn it into a piece for His purposes. Though I know this, it still comes as a revelation after being told to set up a specific space for my creative juices to flow. It seems to me now that both are true and if both these things are possible, how many more wonderful pieces will be added to the puzzle of writing as God leads.

I still prefer to write in the sacred basement space but I am coming to realize wherever I am is sacred because He is there. Thanks be to God.

 

Sharon Heagy writes from the wonderful town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan where she lives with her husband, a big dog and furry cats. She writes to bring hope and humour to a world that needs both. She can be reached at sharonheagy@gmail.com


Thanks for taking the time to visit today. God bless.

Welcome to My Office by Dana-Lyn Phillips

 

I consider myself lucky in a lot of ways. My home office comes with its own coffee machine, refrigerator, stove and sink. Not only does this make endless cups of coffee convenient, but it also ensures that I can have a hot lunch each day if I want.

If you’re confused, thinking that it sounds like more of a kitchen than an office…you’re right.

We live in a 950 square foot bungalow with only a partially finished basement.  With a husband, two kids, and a dog, there's honestly no where to go...ever.  So, that's why the kitchen table has become my desk.

Is it ideal? Of course not, but I work with what I have.

When I first started writing daily, and setting up a space on Substack, I was spending 12+ hours a day at the table with a small laptop. It wasn’t long, before this ergonomical nightmare created problems so deep within my body, that it took multiple osteopathic treatments to recover.

That prompted the purchase of a very expensive, memory foam seat cushion, which has brought my tushy, and back, much relief. Honestly, it was worth every penny.

My laptop sits on a shoebox that is layered with books, in an effort to raise the screen to the optimal height. A quick trip, to the electronic graveyard in our basement, provided me with an old keyboard that enabled me to type at a more appropriate level.

I’m not going to lie, it’s not pretty, and it’s definitely not professional, but it gets the job done. That’s all that matters…right?

Before any writing takes place, my mornings begin with God. Since my writing (mostly) focuses on encouraging others in their faith, I would never be equipped, if I was not feeding myself spiritually first. I generally rely on the Holy Spirit’s leading for topics, and references, so this is the most important part of my day—vital to my own spiritual growth, but also for the success of my writing.

Next, is a hot cup of coffee and a quick call with mom. Yes, we talk every morning. Since my father’s passing, two decades ago, this has become a daily routine. Not only is it a good check-in, to make sure she is alive and well, but it’s also a time of encouragement. My mom is one of my biggest supporters when it comes to my writing.

By 9:30 a.m. the work begins. Everyone has finally left home for work or school. The dog has been out at least three times (insert eyeroll here), so he’s finally ready to settle in next to me for the long haul.

My mornings are generally super productive. If I am on a roll, I will often write until 1 p.m. at which point my stomach reminds me that I missed lunch. A quick bite to eat, and a loop around the block with the pooch, enable me to return to the kitchen chair for another couple of hours.

I’m not often distracted, but when I am, it is usually because it's a really nice day out and I find myself staring out the window. Since the eye doctor once told me it’s good to take breaks during the day to stare into the distance and reset my eyes, I feel these breaks are not only justified but mandated.

I’m still pretty new to this world of writing, so I haven’t dealt with writer's block often, but when I do, it’s pretty scary…especially when I have a deadline to meet. The best antidote, I have found, is prayer, and playing some Christian music way too loud. On days when I am really stumped, there may be some dancing, but I will deny it if anyone asks.

Maybe one day the kids will move out and I’ll have an office of my own. One with corner windows, a new computer, an ergonomical chair, and a built in speaker system necessary for those rare days when writer’s block hits and nothing will suffice but a dance party.

It’s good to have dreams right?

 

Dana-Lyn is a wife, and mother to teenage boys as well as a 14-year-old cava-poo named Hockley. She is passionate about encouraging Christian women in their faith and is stepping into her mid-life "calling" as a writer. Her happy place consists of a comfy chair, a great book, a hot cup of coffee and a chocolate…or three! You can read more of her work at https://plansfargreater.substack.com

My Places to Write by Alan Anderson

 

Physical Places

I write most often at home in the front bedroom and always with the curtains open. Morning is my preferred time of day to write, and I never write in the evening. Home is where I am most comfortable writing, and perhaps the familiarity of home adds to a sense of belonging as the words flow.

I also enjoy writing in a local coffee shop in the company of other people. I don’t, however, interact with them, but I can write as if alone. There is something about the atmosphere of the coffee shops I am attracted to that allows me to concentrate and write with focus.

A Different Perspective

As I developed this blog post, thoughts kept going through my mind about a different perspective of “place.” I kept thinking of the perspective of one of my all-time favourite writers, John O’Donohue. With our Celtic backgrounds, I am drawn to his words as a life-giving drink of water. I resonate with his term, “inner landscape.”

The Place of My Inner Landscape

My favourite place to write is a place inside me where my mind and heart meet. In time, my soul engages, and my writing receives my embrace. This is my inner landscape, a term I first read about in books by the poet John O’Donohue. O’Donohue explores the inner landscape in books like Anam Cara and The Inner Landscape. Lord willing, I will write more about the inner landscape in a future post.

This inner landscape is the place where I absorb life within me and around me. This place, where the joys, sorrows, experiences, and memories of my life proclaim who I am. Within this place, my poems and stories are born.

I have heard writers say they like to write for several hours per day. Energy and concentration are my fuel for writing. My approach is based on the energy available to me from my inner landscape. For instance, my energy level one day might be higher than the day before. In such a case, I might write for three hours, where the day before might have been for one hour. This approach works for me and helps me accomplish writing projects.

Highway traffic, shopping malls crowded with people and impersonal stores, all remind me I cannot write amid noise. These crowded spaces drain my energy and frustrate my creativity. For me, such noise drowns out the words within me.

My wife, family, my church, strangers, the world around me, help form and bring to life the words that make their way onto a page. This inner landscape, this sacred space from which I write, is where I hear God’s still small voice. This still small voice requires I listen. If I listen, I will focus on what I am to write.

The acknowledgement of the reality of my inner landscape sets my writing free. My imagination can bounce all over the place, but my reflective nature allows imagination to be brought into focus. I don’t just write and hope for the best. The words that come to life express what I want to say to my readers.

My inner landscape is with me whether I write at home or in some more public physical location. This inner landscape, this place where I write from, has formed my writer’s voice and writes the story of who I am.

 

Alan lives in a small village called Deroche, British Columbia, with his wife, Terry, and their poodle, Charlie. He enjoys walking on the dike near his home, with trees all around and where he finds inspiration to write. He has occasionally written articles for FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship blog. Alan’s website and blog is https://scarredjoy.ca. He also writes on Substack.

The Search for the Ideal Writing Spot by Steph Beth Nickel

 

a coffeeshop 

i wish

but the espresso machine

the buzz of conversation

the bell that sounds

every. single. time

the door opens

nope

not a coffeeshop

<sigh>

the park

i should be walking

i should be taking photos

i should have worn

bug spray

sunscreen

a hat

nope

not the park

<double sigh>

my desk

nonexistent

happens in the midst of renos

 in its place

couch that needs replacing

multipurpose couch

reading nook

dining area

location for napping

for now

the couch is it

my makeshift writing spot

ideal

far from it

but workable

temporary

a spot

to be grateful for

but maybe

just maybe

i'll give the coffeeshop

or even the park

another try

how about you

Steph Beth Nickel is the former Editor of FellowScript and the current InScribe Contest Coordinator. Steph is an editor and author and plans to relocate to Saskatchewan from Ontario to be close to family in this year or next. (Headshot Photo Credit: Jaime Mellor Photography)