September 12, 2022

The Beauty of Rituals and Routines - Guest Post by Brenda Leyland




"It's the habits you develop over your lifetime
—that will make you or break you—as a writer."
Unknown


Years ago, I read Gordon MacDonald’s classic Ordering Your Private World. In it he deftly illustrated how the chaos in our lives often comes from the misuse of time or lack of discipline and routine. As a young woman I recognized my own struggles in that area. Which made me feel empathy, and sorrow, for Samuel Taylor Coleridge when I read how he squandered his gifts for lack of discipline and his inability to seize control of his time. MacDonald quoted William Barclay’s pointed commentary about the English poet:
"Coleridge is the supreme tragedy of indiscipline. Never did so great a mind produce so little. He left Cambridge University to join the army; he left the army because he could not rub down a horse; he returned to Oxford and left without a degree. He began a paper called The Watchman which lived for ten numbers and then died. It has been said of him: 'he lost himself in visions of work to be done, that always remained to be done. Coleridge had every poetic gift but one—the gift of sustained and concentrated effort.' In his head and in his mind he had all kinds of books, as he said, himself, 'completed save for transcription'. . . . But the books were never composed outside Coleridge's head, because he would not face the discipline of sitting down to write them out." from The Gospel of Matthew by William Barclay (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1975), p. 280
I felt such a pang in my heart when I first read this, especially the bolded line above. I understood my own inability to follow through on many projects. I imagined for a moment. . . what if Mozart never sat down to write out all that glorious music inside his head? Or Shakespeare left Hamlet, MacBeth, and King Lear unfinished? Or, even more tragic, what if Peter, James, and Paul never got around to writing those letters that millions still rely on for guidance? The very thought gave me a sick feeling inside. If I wanted to fulfill God's dream for my life and my own personal dreams, I needed to change. And, thankfully, with the help of this book and many others, the journey began.

As a young woman, I loved to flow in the creative moment. To be spontaneous, a free spirit. And I still love it, but I came to see that didn't always work out. I could not forget Barclay's pronouncement on that young English poet. I needed boundaries that weren’t restrictive but created room for both spontaneity (blowing as the wind listeth) and routine (parking myself in the chair and getting the work done).

All these years later, now as a senior in a new season of life, I still fall back on habits and routines long grooved into place. With fewer outside influences vying for my attention and energy, my life is simple and easy to maintain, giving me time and space to write.
 
Mornings work best for me. In my quiet solitude while hubby snoozes, I pull out my Morning Pages notebook, scribble the requisite three pages dumping out the niggles and frets of my mind. Because I give myself complete freedom to be honest with myself—the notebook gets shredded when full—I'm always surprised at what sneaks out of the dark into the light. The good, bad, and ugly. It’s like having a therapist, only cheaper. The best part? With my mind free, creativity now has a chance to flow unhindered. From there, I turn to my journal that's a bit of a diary what with noting weather and to-do lists. Mostly, it’s where I process my life; ask and listen for guidance; write down quotes and extracts from books I'm reading. A quick scroll through my Twitter feed connects me to creatives everywhere—poets, writers, artists, photographers, and lovers of nature and beauty. By this time, hubby is brewing the coffee. And my mind is a-whirl with possibilities... all in preparation for the new day.

After a simple breakfast, with small house chores already underway, I come into my favourite room in the house. My study. I sit at my desk and look out the window into the garden. I need that connection to nature, whether it’s going outside for a walk or catching it through my open window. I notice the light and shadows changing with the season, listen to flocks flying overhead, and smell the scent of autumn's drying leaves. My window perch creates that perfect zone in, zone out space where I wait, listen, write.


Top Photo - Lisa Fotios on Pexels



Inspired by the beauty of God's world around her, Brenda Leyland writes from her home in northerly Alberta, Canada. When she's not watching for glimpses of heaven in unexpected places, she's probably writing about them on her blog It's A Beautiful Life or Facebook page.



23 comments:

  1. My heart dropped when I read the quote about Coleridge. How devastating! May we not squander the gifts God has given us. As I continued to read your post, I felt such peace to read how your day begins, the routines you follow, and the sights and sounds from your study where you "wait, listen, write." What a beautiful way to start my day. Thank you, Brenda.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I felt the same, Joy, when I first read that quote years ago about Coleridge. It really made me call out to the Lord and pull up my socks. Thanks for your lovely words. xo

      Delete
  2. Brenda what a sad thought about Coleridge. This post makes me stop and pause and ask myself why I am not more self disciplined in creating art and writing. I have a daily routine but it doesn't allow time for what brings me joy. Thank you for giving me a gentle push to rethink how I am not living up to what God may be calling me to do. As always I so love to read your lovely thoughts friend. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So lovely to get your note, Debbie. I hope you'll find ways to include those things that bring you joy. I'm asking for His clear guidance as you listen. xo

      Delete
  3. Dear Brenda, I love the challenge and the hope you shared in this post. The quotes you shared certainly chastise the undisciplined parts of our routines, while encouraging the disciplined aspects of our writing lives. May we allow Christ to continue the good work in us so that we leave lots of finished work behind, rather than a pile of unfinished beginnings.
    Blessings ~ Wendy Mac

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Wendy. I was drawn to your last line... 'so that we leave lots of finished work behind, rather than a pile of unfinished beginnings'. Oh yes, let it be!

      Delete
  4. This is beautifully written. I love having a place to be creative, sometimes just to sit and ponder!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Diane. Sometimes just to sit and ponder, oh yes! Your comment reminds me of something Canadian author Alice Munro is attributed as saying: "I can't play bridge. I don't play tennis. All those things that people learn, and I admire, there hasn't seemed time for. But what there is time for is looking out the window." Alice Munro

      Delete
  5. Oh, this struck a cord with me which brought up personal feelings of hurt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Peggy, I hope there is restoration in that for you. I'm so glad you left a note.

      Delete
  6. Many thanks for this post. So much to ponder. So much to put into practice. I have read it over a number of times and will be printing it out, with your permission, so that I can re-read it again. (Love having something tactile in my hands.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sharon, of course you are welcome to print it out. I'm so glad it found a place in your heart, and hand, at this time. :)

      Delete
  7. Oh the quote about Coleridge!!! I has affected many of your readers here, I think, me included. what a shame! On a different note, I have read Julia Cameron's books but never implemented the morning pages as described. I DO journal, but I realize these are nto the same thing. I may have to take up this discipline because it seems to benefit so many people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tracy, when I first started Morning Pages years ago, I didn't really understand what Julia Cameron wanted us to achieve. I thought it was just the discipline of writing every morning. And it helped to a point. But recently I listened to her speak about it, and as I understand it now, it's really a way to declutter our minds so we are free to create and dream and listen. She recommends not rereading those pages. If there's anything that comes up that I do want to keep, I quickly jot that note into my journal. I have found the exercise most beneficial now.

      Delete
  8. Thank you so much for this post, Brenda. So many writing gurus emphasize the need to sit down and write. But Coleridge shows us what happens when we don't discipline our writing and the rest of our lives. It spoke to me about my unfinished projects. My prayer is, as Wendy said, to "leave lots of finished work behind, rather than a pile of unfinished beginnings."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That dear man's example really did tell the story, didn't it? That is a great line from Wendy, I agree. Thanks so much, Sandi.

      Delete
  9. Oh, those words about Coleridge do prick. As Wendy has said, I would like to "leave lots of finished work behind, rather than a pile of unfinished beginnings." I have far too many beginnings and not nearly enough endings. A lovely post, Brenda.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, include me in that desire to leave finished work behind. Thanks, Lorrie, for your note.

      Delete
  10. Dear Brenda, this is beautifully written and such inspiration. There are stacks in front of me and I had better move on - time is passing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sandra. As you say, time is passing. I am spurred by how quickly it fleets.

      Delete
  11. Brenda, this is so inspiring. I found my heart pounding as I read through it, because it speaks to me so clearly. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen, I was so glad for your note - it means a lot to me. Thank you!

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to join in the conversation. Our writers appreciate receiving your feedback on posts you have found helpful or meaningful in some way.