Do you
ever feel like you are living in Narnia?
The writing
life can be like living in the cursed kingdom born in the imagination of Clive Staples
Lewis where it’s always winter and never Christmas. Spirits sag. Exhaustion sets
in. The forecast is for more snow and cold of the emotional kind. Are you
living or renting space in such a place?
Narnia’s spell was conquered by the “deep magic from before the
dawn of time” and the inhabitants could finally brighten their dark days. Words
are the source of a deep magic for my writer’s Narnia. Words - particularly affirming words - brighten my dark days. Gary Chapman lists words
of affirmation as one of his five love languages. Affirmation is the language
of my soul.
Words of affirmation are refreshing -
invigorating. The right words at the right time from the right person are like
gold. The sage of the ancient Book of Proverbs opined, "words fitly spoken
are like apples of gold in pictures of silver."
The proverb suggests the esteem Solomon placed upon well-chosen
words. In his day, when a banquet was given by an Eastern king it was customary
to present each guest with a golden apple. These golden apples were placed upon
the tables in lovely baskets of silver filagree work and then through the
meshes the glittering fruit delighted the guests.
My spirit
and writing are rejuvenated through words fitly spoken or written.
Hugh
Macmillan says, "The term translated 'fitly' is a very curious one in the
original Hebrew. It signifies 'wheels,' and means a word that rolled smoothly
and pleasantly from the lips of the speaker to the ears of the hearer. The wise
man says that each of your words should be like a vehicle on easy-going wheels,
so smooth and courteous that it would produce no jar or shock to either speaker
or hearer; not hurt by any harshness or roughness, or leave a painful rut
behind in the memory."
Case
in point. Vahen King is the first Miss Wheelchair Canada, and founder of Going
Farther. I admire her grit and grace. Vahen invited me to organize a mental
health conference with her for Bell Let's Talk Day in Edmonton. She invited me be
the closing speaker. The day following the Conference she posted on Facebook,
"Bob was REMARKABLE yesterday, and I couldn't
think of a better way to end our day, he was funny, engaging, powerful, and
challenged us in MANY ways."
Vahen
described me as “funny.” Her comment was like a gold star. It’s important to me
as a speaker to hear people laugh. It’s a signal that they are emotionally
engaged. I’m not naturally funny so I have to work at it. I don’t always
succeed.
After
publishing a monthly Inscribe contribution, I wait a few days and check for golden
apples of fitly written comments on my post. (I can count on the Inscribe tribe to excel at affirming engagement.)
I’m refreshed by what people take away from my writing.
I like the words of one unknown
author:
“Bring me all the flowers today,
Whether pink, or rose, or red.
I'd rather have just one blossom
now
Than a whole truckload
When I'm dead.”
Apples of gold, blossoms of pink,
or words of affirmation – they are the magic that breaks the curse of a Narnian
winter on a writer’s soul.
So interesting about the golden apples! Your words rode smoothly through my mind like a wagon's wheel on a carriage driven for a prince. Thanks Bob!
ReplyDeleteYour words wheely mean a lot to me. Words of affirmation are a wheely big deal to me.
DeleteThis was a pure delight to read, Bob. I just love the way you put together some of my own favourites: C.S. Lewis and Narnia, the apples of gold proverb, the mention of Gary's love languages. Like you, words of affirmation are the language of my soul. Thank you for this refreshing, satisfying piece!
ReplyDeleteThis post is a delight to read, Bob! Everyone is encouraged by words of affirmation, but writers, I think, are particularly sensitive to our reader's opinions of our work. Because our work is solitary and cerebral, we find it difficult to be objective about it. A few fitting words of affirmation can spur us on through a dry spell or a period of writer's block. Thanks for this well-researched piece.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Val. You are SO right about writers and words of affirmation.
DeleteVery engaging. It lifted my spirit which is admittedly down right now, so thanks for that!
ReplyDeleteYou lift everybody's else spirit. Glad to be a spirit-lifter. Good exercise.
DeleteThank you Bob, for your reminder that we all need affirmation. I was praying this morning for a friend and God reminded me how much she needs affirmation. He pointed out to me different areas where I could affirm her. So thank you for your timely words of wisdom. And thank you too for bringing to mind that my words can be apples of gold to a friend who desperately needs to hear them.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you too for bringing in your metaphors of CS Lewis and Narnia, and the illustration of ancient customs with golden apples.
Thank you, Sandi. I know your affirmation of your friend would be golden. Are you a CS Lewis fan?
DeleteThank you, Bob, for your great use of words. I affirm you as a great writer without question. Keep writing, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alan.
DeleteI love your anecdotes about golden apples I bowls of silver, and also about the word "fitly". Those are new word-pictures for me to ponder and enjoy.
ReplyDeletePam Mytroen
Good to ponder. I very much like that word.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pastor Bob, for another good read. I have enjoyed your blogs here and in the North Pointe Blog. I’ve read The Ornament. I remember reading about the Velveteen Pastor and have read probably all of your blogs on InScribe Writer’s Online. I consider your words to be fitly written.
ReplyDeleteI will always remember and appreciate your words fitly spoken at the funeral of my sister, Joan O’Reilly, on October 30, 2015. Your greetings to the family before the service and to the congregation during the service were like “apples of gold in settings of silver.” We at Northpoint Church that day, felt so good to know that someone from Joan’s public world had recognized Joan, our sister and friend, as the loving and giving person she had always been.
By your affirming the kind of person we knew Joan to be, you began the healing process for me and, I suspect, for others. Please continue to write and say those fitting words that are not flattery, but words that come from your heart to the heart of those who read or hear you, Pastor Bob. May God continue to bless your ministry.
Thank you, Sharon. Joan was a gem. And your comment is like a hug. We still have to have coffee someday in Barrhead. #Flowershoppe
ReplyDeleteCoffee at the Flower Shoppe sounds like a great idea. I don’t know exactly when you’re in Barrhead, but I will private message you my phone number. Thanks.
ReplyDelete