This week I have the opportunity to
take in some of the Festival of Words, which is an annual author and writers gathering
that happens every year in Moose Jaw. I love the word festival that was chosen. It conjures up the image of words dancing
across the page in a party like atmosphere similar to music notes. Truly you
have to be a writer to see words in such a way.
I have always seen the beauty in
words and in the placing of words in the perfect sentence. A well placed and thought out sentence is a
beautiful thing.
Proverbs 25:11 says that “A word fitly spoken is like apples
of gold in pictures of silver.” (KJV) Other versions refer to a word fitly
spoken as ‘a design of gold’ (GNT); settings of silver; (NET) and as being
‘inscribed in silver.’ Although most versions refer to it as an oral word, the
Good News Translation says, ‘An idea well-expressed is like a design of gold,
set in silver.’ So I see it as applying to any form of expressing that idea,
whether oral or written or another creative way. When it is done well and with expertise
it becomes a valuable work of art; true beauty. Our written words truly do
matter and have the potential to have much value in their ability to affect
others.
When I listen to a reading at the
festival I will listen for the cadence of the words, their meanings and how the
author perfectly positions them in the sentence to make that sentence come
alive. If that one sentence then joins other such sentences it is a true work
of art. I will leave feeling the life of those words, stirred to create such
beauty of my own.
Finally I cannot leave out the most
beautiful, valuable words ever written, which is the Word of God. God used the
spoken word to bring the world into existence and then He used the written word
to tell His Story to us all. His words dance across the page; sometimes in sad and heartbreaking steps and other times in
joyous jubilation, but all joined in the telling of the beautiful, festive
story of His love for us. There is nothing more beautiful than that.
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| Books are beautiful (as are cats ;) |
I grew up near Moose Jaw and have wanted to attend the Festival ofd Words for quite a few years now... maybe someday I will make it!
ReplyDeleteYou'd really enjoy it. There are so many authors and writers there, it's fantastic. I'm not getting to take in very much this year but even a little is fun. Maybe a group of Inscribers should come one year :)
ReplyDeleteOoo! Sounds interesting...
DeleteI loved your piece and how you referred to the Word of God as festive - it really is!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam. Missed you though.
DeleteI enjoyed your post, Gloria, and found pleasure in the flow and in the cadence of your words and sentences. I was especially drawn to these lines:
ReplyDelete- "A well placed and thought out sentence is a beautiful thing."
- "His words dance across the page; sometimes in sad and heartbreaking steps and other times in joyous jubilation, . . . telling of the beautiful, festive story of His love for us." Oh yes!
Thanks Brenda. God was and is the best author ever.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you got to participate in the Festival of Words in Moose Jaw. I believe some of our Women Word Weavers from Barrhead attended this a few years back. I haven’t heard of them gong lately.
ReplyDeleteI too love apt words. An example of fitly-written lyrics is Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire. The names and events he listed are so evocative. The same is true of Kraftwerk's lyrics.
ReplyDelete