Technology: A Love/Hate Relationship by Lorrie Orr

 

November's Prompt: Technology vs analog. How do you handle the tension? What social media platforms or web-based tools do you use to ensure your work is read by others? Do you find it difficult to manage technology?

 

Photo by Lorrie Orr - The last bouquet of roses cut this week from my garden

Typing 9. I sat in front of a fully manual typewriter. Early technology, and faster than writing by hand. Typing came easily, and the teacher said I had strong and accurate fingers – from practicing the piano. I learned to center titles by counting the letters and spaces, dividing that number by two, finding the center of the paper, then pushing the space bar to find the correct place to begin my line of text. Whew! It was a lot of work. Technology for writers has come a long way since then!

Now technology threatens to take over so much of our lives. I have a love/hate relationship with it. Very glad for some things, not so much for others. Here are a few of my thoughts:

Love

My Surface Pro 8 computer. It's a few years old, but works wonderfully, especially after the updates are installed. I like it because:

* It’s small enough to tuck into my carryon or personal bag when travelling.

* It acts as a real computer in that it stores lots of documents and photos.

* It’s easy to pack around the house if I want to write in the living room, the kitchen, or my studio/office.

Hate

When technology doesn’t work as planned. I get so frustrated when I seem to be doing the right thing and it doesn't work the way I want it to. However, I’ve learned that, like most humans, phones and computers benefit from being turned off for awhile, then re-started. And make sure the updates are installed!

Love

My I-Phone 17. I love it because:

* It keeps me in touch with those I love, via texts – group or individual, phone calls, and Facetime.

* It has a great camera. I have a larger camera that I like to use around home, and I had a smaller digital camera for travelling. Actually, I had two of those smaller cameras, but they were kind of finicky and I decided to replace the last one with the newest I-Phone. It’s got a great zoom and takes good photos, although I think my larger camera still beats it.

* I control my notifications and have only the phone and text notifications enabled. If you email or message me another way, I check those regularly, but I don't want a barrage of interruptions in my day.

Hate

Generative Artificial Intelligence. It’s mere artificial plagiarism. I have briefly, very briefly done a few experiments with AI and I don’t like the results. They make me feel squeamish. So I’ve taken a firm stand on AI. Why?

* Because it takes away from the humanity of thinking and working through problems. Walking helps me when I have a thorny problem to work through, or an activity like dishwashing or folding laundry that keeps my body busy and lets my mind wander. Plot problems and ideas flow when my mind is in neutral and I often get my best ideas during a walk.

* Because it uses so many natural resources, like land and water. Here's a link to a Canadian Government site about the issue.

* Because human creativity is a gift from God – because creativity is part of the image of God in humans – although I struggle to draw and paint, I will not resort to AI to create images for my work. Generative AI lacks soul, whether in writing or in art.

As with all love/hate relationships, there are qualifiers and extenuating circumstances. I am thankful for the amazing abilities God has given the human mind to solve problems and make life easier and more stable. Without modern antibiotics my husband would have died of pneumonia. Without natural gas, I would be chopping wood and feeding a wood stove to stay warm in the winter. Technology is all around us, from the wooden spoon I use to stir soup on the stove to the elaborate computers used to power our world. Humans benefit from technology. But let's not lose our humanity.

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island, BC.

She is the author of one book, a memoir, Life is Short but Wide,

and has a number of other books waiting to be worked on,

as well as a vast amount of writing in her head. Unfortunately,

technology doesn't help her sit at her desk to write.

She also writes on Substack and her personal slice of life blog.

A Prayer to the Giver of Words by Lorrie Orr

 

October's Prompt: Believers are told to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Share a story of when you found it difficult to give thanks in your writing life. What did God teach you through that experience?

Photo: Lorrie Orr

Sometimes the words come easily and sometimes they don't. This was a month when writing a post was like pulling teeth. Hence, a prayer, always a good idea.

A Prayer to the Giver of Words

O God and Word come to earth

In your mysterious gifting you have given me the desire

To fashion words into beauty and meaning.

On mornings when the leaves dance in the light,

and my garden is alive with dahlias bright and sprawling cosmos;

when hummingbirds whirr in the top of the birch tree,

and the Dark-eyed Juncos dart in and out of the hedge,

A sense of wellness sinks deep into my being.

Words, like flocks of feathers, alight on the page,

And I am satisfied with their shape.

Yes, I say, and thank you.

 

On mornings when the wind curls around the corners of my soul

And rain batters my heart

When words are mere marks on paper or screen,

ugly and stupid,

when beauty is trapped as I wrestle –

this word or that one,

this sentence here, or there, or nowhere --

I sit empty and frustrated.

Then.

In despair,

I remember your words and I find shelter.

And steadiness. And hope. And love.

I trust you, the giver of blessings and of words,

And I believe beyond my feelings

that in days or weeks or months,

the words will once again fly lightly and land with grace,

shaped into beauty that honours your gift.

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island, BC.

She is the author of one book, a memoir, Life is Short but Wide,

and has a number of other books waiting to be worked on,

as well as a vast amount of writing in her head.

She also writes on Substack and her personal slice of life blog.

 

Planning and Plotting by Lorrie Orr

 

September Prompt: With summer over, autumn is often a time of new beginnings. What Ten Things will you be doing in the last four months of 2026? These could be short term goals you set, intentional practices, writing tasks, etc. Don’t be limited by the number – choose any number you like.

Photo: Lorrie Orr

September brings some nostalgia for the fleeting summer, and some excitement for a return to cozier pursuits indoors. I think back to my not-so-far away teaching days and want to organize my desk, sharpen a fistful of pencils, and arrange my notebooks. I feel energized in the fall, and I often start new projects. So, what will I accomplish in these last months of the year? These are 12 of my goals.

** Writing **

1. Revise The Characters of Christmas manuscript (written at least 10 years ago) for possible Substack articles in December.

2. Compile my Christmas recipes into an e-book for family and friend.

3. Take Ann Griffiths’ online writing course in September.

4. Continue to work on my children’s book: rough copy, revise, revise, revise

5. Check with my local bookstores to see if they will carry my memoir Life is Short but Wide.

6. Work on my Substack site and perhaps a self-contained website.

** Home Refresh **

1. Tidy my studio where I write and sew. There will definitely be new notebooks and freshly sharpened pencils.

2. Sort through photographs. Label / discard / organize into years.

3. Switch my wardrobe from summer to autumn/winter. This involves tidying closets and drawers, discarding worn items, and donating items that no longer fit my life.

4. A thorough house-cleaning. This has already begun. I try to use natural cleaners and have been very happy with Mint Cleaning Products – a two-woman company making products in Ucluelet, BC. In autumn I also use a peppermint oil spray around door frames and window screens to keep spiders away.

** Celebrate **

1. Out of 13 family members, 8 of us have birthdays between September and December. We have one combined party in September, another in November, and another in late November/December. It’s fun and busy. Plus, there’s Thanksgiving in October and Christmas in December.

2. My birthday. This year is a big one for me. One of those numbers that ends in 0. This one is hitting hard and has made me think a lot. I’m thankful for health and energy and hope to stay active for many more years. There’s so much richness in life.


I look at my list and think everything is doable. I also know that unexpected things happen in life, and I trust that I will meet them with the grace and wisdom God provides.

“In their hearts humans plan their course,

but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NIV 

 

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island, BC.

She is the author of one book, a memoir, Life is Short but Wide,

and has a number of other books waiting to be worked on,

as well as a vast amount of writing in her head.

She also writes on Substack and her personal slice of life blog.

Flexibility and Grace by Lorrie Orr

 

The famous lines of times and seasons in Ecclesiastes 3 tell us that “to everything there is a season.” How do you balance life and writing in the seasons of life? We all have lives that require physical presence away from the keyboard. What have you found helpful in maintaining balance? 

 

Photo by Lorrie Orr

I get up early, dress quietly and close the door softly so as not to wake my husband. I go downstairs to make a cup of tea, then climb the same stairs up to my studio. A neat stack of pages sits on my desk, the growing height an indication of the words typed and printed yesterday and the days before. Moments of meditation and prayer are followed by a productive hour or two of writing before I eat breakfast with my husband. I clean up the kitchen and do a few chores before returning to my desk to deal with correspondence, business items, and perhaps some editing.

Oh, if only. It's fun to dream about an ideal writing life, but that's all it is, a dream. In my real life, there is a garden to tend to, grandchildren to entertain, shopping and cooking that must be done, and a plethora of other tasks and delights to distract me from writing. And that’s okay. I like my varied life.

Writers throughout the ages have faced the challenge of their writing lives. In his article The Daily Routines of 12 Famous Writers, James Clear writes of authors who get up early, of others who rent hotel rooms for writing, and others who spend their days teaching and write in slivers of time. The key takeaway for me is that every writer has an individual approach to balancing life and writing. It may take time to discover the balance, and it’s likely to shift throughout life.

Flexibility is a key word for me. When I am engrossed in a project, I find it easy to dedicate more time to it, and I do get up early to work in the hush of early morning. This is easier now that it’s just the two of us at home. When my children were younger, I would use the time they were at school to write my articles or write while they were doing their homework. I fit my writing around the daily routines of meals and teaching. I don't determine to write every day. I try to write four days in a week, usually in the morning, but not always. 

Sometimes I must be intentional about my writing. It’s easy to get out of the habit of sitting down to write regularly and much more difficult to get back into a routine. There, too, however, flexibility comes into play. It’s okay to take time off when life presents challenges or other opportunities. As a teacher, I’ve always found sticking to a schedule in the summer almost impossible. Now that I’m retired, I give myself permission to take summers off.

Grace is another key word when it comes to balancing life and writing. Or life and anything! I can become quite negative about myself when I let things slip and I fail to meet the goals I’ve established. I am learning to give myself grace and to rest in the loving presence of God who loves me whether I write a single word or not. And I realize that sometimes God has other things for me to do.

Some days writing takes the form of words added to the Notes feature on my phone, or capturing a few thoughts on paper while I’m in the kitchen preparing food. These are small steps, but each step forward brings me closer to my writing goals.

The writer of Ecclesiastes also wrote these words: 

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding

it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled 

with rare and beautiful treasures.” 

(Proverbs 24:3-4) 

As I build my life and my body of work, I want to be wise, and am so thankful that God generously gives his wisdom to me, and to anyone who asks him.

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island.

Her first book, Life is Short but Wide, a memoir of 21 years

in Ecuador, was recently published.

More of her writing can be found at

Substack

her slice of life blog

 

 

On the Making of Books by Lorrie Orr

 

Welcome to July's new prompt: Tell us about your first book. Was it a childhood project like Madeleine L’Engle’s? Was it a book you published, and if so, what success did it bring you? On the other hand, maybe your first book is in folders in your computer. Or sitting in a closet under a pile of other items. Or in a landfill. Perhaps your first book is still a dream. Or maybe you haven’t dared to dream—yet.

Whatever your story, tell us about it. (Prompt taken from July 2018 InScribe blog)

My first book is a co-writing project, still unfinished. It will never be published in full, and is read unconsciously by those I interact with as I move through my days. This book is my heart and my life, literally, for as Solomon urged his son to write his father's teachings on the "tablet of your heart," so I am collecting wisdom and words from my heavenly father. I gather them when I read and listen and observe, and store them deep within my mind and soul. Some of this wisdom emerges in other forms of writing more visible to the human eye, but everything I produce springs from the experiences of the life God has given me. He is my co-author, encouraging and inspiring me with his faithful presence in my life.

I have written many other books, physical ones, including a small book of children's Christmas crafts, photocopied and stapled for a women's event many years ago, a children's story illustrated by my 3- or 4-year-old daughter, numerous journals, and several commonplace books. On my computer sit 50,000 words of an unfinished mystery novel, a small collection of poems, a Christmas devotional book, and numerous story starts. I can't not write.

For many years, including lack of knowledge and confidence, I didn't move forward with publishing my writing beyond a few articles and short stories. Any queries to publishers were ignored or rejected, not an uncommon experience for many authors. I began to wonder why I should even bother. I didn't have a blockbuster novel or an important name or a large social media following that would impress any publisher.

In a casual e-mail exchange with Brenda Leyland, our lovely blog co-moderator, she mentioned Siretona Creative, a publishing company founded by another InScribe member, Colleen McCubbin. Well. I was introduced to the ins and outs of various ways to publish a book. Colleen shared her great knowledge of the industry and also gave me the confidence to move forward. To make a long story short, my first fully published book was released just over a month ago.

Life is Short but Wide was built on the many letters I wrote to my husband's parents during our 21 years in Ecuador - wonderful source documents! Mum had saved each one and stored them in boxes for me. It was my eldest daughter who said, "Mom, you should write a book with these" that gave me the impetus to begin writing a memoir about those formative and eventful years. I am so glad that I persevered and now have my words able to reach many people. I hope readers are encouraged as they read the stories of someone who experienced different events in a unique setting, but who felt the same emotions, learned much about God's love and faithfulness, and who found beauty in the life given to her.

Now I feel like a floodgate of possibility has opened with the publication of this book. Ideas swirl continually in my brain. What to write next? I nod in agreement when I read Solomon's words "Of making many books there is no end."

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island.

Her first book, Life is Short but Wide, a memoir of 21 years

in Ecuador, was recently published.

More of her writing can be found at

Substack

her slice of life blog

Longing for Beauty by Lorrie Orr

 

June 2026: Writing as beauty. In his book Beauty: The Invisible Embrace, John O'Donahue writes "to participate in beauty is to come into the presence of the Holy." What does creating beauty mean to you and your writing? How have you sensed God's Holy Spirit filling you as he did Bezalel and Oholiab in Exodus 35:30-35?

Beauty is God's invitation to delight in him.

Wonder and awe whisper to us that there is

something beyond, something more.

Steve DeWitt, (Eyes Wide Open)

It's Sunday evening, May 31. Sunlight streams through the window onto the vase of peonies on the dining room table. How beautiful it is. I fill my eyes with the extravagantly ruffled pink and white blossoms while my mind ponders the question of beauty, and the fast-approaching deadline for this post. I had thought this would be an easy post to write, but instead, I've found the topic so vast that it's hard to pull something coherent together.

I have always been appreciative of beautiful things in the world, but it is only in the past few years that I've come to realize that embracing beauty is a personal core value - something that is important to me and that acts as a guiding principle in my life.

When I attended a concert in La Sainte Chapelle in Paris years ago, I marveled at the exquisite beauty of the chapel expressed through architecture, glass, stone, and paint. The music that soared upwards to the curving arches and filled every nook and cranny of the space was equally beautiful. Creative expression is a reminder to me of one way that humans are created in the image of God.

 

The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located

will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came

through them, and what came through them was longing...

For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower

we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard,

news from a country we have not yet visited.

C. S. Lewis (The Weight of Glory)

This ache of beauty, this longing I feel, reminds me that I am a spiritual being with a desire for something beyond myself, for that which is greater, for God himself. The Psalmist longs to "gaze upon the beauty of the Lord" throughout his life. The beauty of this world is a reflection of ultimate beauty, of God himself. More than an aesthetic quality, beauty has the most impact on me when I recognize God's presence in the things I experience.

In L. M. Montgomery's The Blue Castle, Barney says "There are so many kinds of loveliness." Beauty comes in myriad forms and I am glad that the Apostle Paul encourages us to think about lovely things. Beauty is multi-sensory, not just the things we see or hear. Human interactions such as watching a mother with her young baby, or cars pulling to the side of the road to let an ambulance by, or a conversation with a grandchild - all of these things, and so much more, are experiences of beauty.

Beauty does not erase the brokenness of this world, but something in me was created to absorb beauty and to recognize its divine source. As a writer, I long for my words to point to the beautiful grace and goodness of God. The goal of beautiful writing is to make the reader feel some emotion. Even when my writing is not explicitly spiritual, when someone reads my words and discovers a longing they cannot perhaps explain, that is beauty.

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island.

Her first book, Life is Short but Wide, a memoir of 21 years

in Ecuador, was recently published.

More of her writing can be found at 

Substack

her slice of life blog

I Will Write Words Everywhere by Lorrie Orr

 

Our May blog prompt is: Time and Place

Where do you write? Do you have a specific place and time? How often do you write? Are you easily distracted or do you need things around you to bounce your eyes off to inspire you? (suggested by Joy Bailey)

I Will Write Words Everywhere

(With apologies to Doctor Suess)

I will write words in my head

When I walk and in my bed

I will write words with my brain

In the sunshine and the rain.

I will write with pen and ink

But not when at the kitchen sink.

I will not write when I drive

For that’s a way to be un-alive.

 

If I want my words to be read

I will sit and think in my head

In a chair with my glasses on

Maybe in the early dawn.

And type and type with keys a-clacking

All the while my brain a-wracking.

 

I will write words here or there

I will write them on my chair

I will write them up or down

In my jeans or a dressing gown.

By a window is always best

To gaze outdoors for my eyes to rest.

On the keyboard my fingers fly

Like birds soaring in the sky.

A candle helps to set the mood

Along with flowers and perhaps some food.

 

I will write words here and there

I will write words everywhere

I like to write, now this is true

But where, oh where, do you?

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island where there is much scope for the imagination, as Anne Shirley once said. She's composed great works of literature in her head, but alas, the words have not made it to print. However, she has just published her first book, a memoir, soon to be released.

Read more of her breathless prose here:

(9) Lorrie Orr | Substack

 

A Few of My Writing Resources by Lorrie Orr

April's prompt is all about Writing Resources. How do you fill your creative container? How do you strengthen your craft? What writing resources do you use? Share books and publications, quotes, podcasts, and other resources you’ve found helpful.

Please remember that if you have difficulty writing to a particular prompt, you are free to write something else with a writing life focus.

Resource: a useful or valuable possession or quality that a person or organization has, for example, money, time, or skills

When I'm stuck for something to write, I often find definitions help me get started. A dictionary is definitely a resource, along with a thesaurus, and The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. The latter is useful for matters of grammar and punctuation.

Dozens, hundreds, even thousands of resources useful to the writer abound in libraries and on the internet. The key is to discover which resources are most useful to me. A search engine is a great resource and I can quickly scroll through the various suggested sites to see which might pique my interest or fulfill a need.

I write some things by hand on paper, but most of my writing is done on a computer, specifically my Surface Pro 8, a cross between a tablet and a desktop. With it I can write anywhere. I use Microsoft Word as my writing tool and find it very useful. Another tool I use is my iPhone, useful for jotting down thoughts on the go or for taking photos of things I don't want to forget such as signs, logos, etc.

My greatest resource is my mind. Without that unseen, complex part of me that's hard to define, I am a shell. With my mind I see, hear, taste, touch, and feel. My mind motivates my behaviour and my emotions. Just thinking of all those synapses constantly firing in my brain is enough to make my mind explode. I am "fearfully and wonderfully made." When my mind is in tune with God's Spirit, it is indeed a marvelous thing.

Since my mind is so important, I must care for it properly so it will serve me well throughout my life. I must nourish it carefully, minimizing the garbage that can hinder its function. I am careful about what I put into my mind, focusing on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy, as the Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4. Things that fit those descriptive words in my life become more resources for my mind to employ in writing.

I am also cognizant that my mind needs rest and relaxation. During stressful times of life, I am learning to pull back and let my mind recuperate. Time away from writing is just as important as the writing itself. A good night's sleep is something I appreciate more and more. My mind needs gentleness as well as occasional reminders to "do the next thing".

Tea is my hot drink of choice when I sit at my computer. In summer it's a glass of cold water with sprigs of mint or lemon balm. A comfortable chair and a table at just the right height are useful, although I can sit on the couch and write, too. Being in a good position helps me to focus on my writing rather than my physical state.

Creation is also an immensely powerful resource. While walking this morning I thought about how so many people play music or listen to podcasts while walking. I don't. My mind is full to overflowing with thoughts, prayers, songs, and stories. When I write, I find that mental pictures absorbed from what I've seen in nature often provoke a written response.

These are just a few of the things that help me to write.

I could include a vast number of websites, blogs, SubStack writers, and more in this blog. But I'll leave that to you. What resources help you to write?

Lorrie Orr writes from her home on Vancouver Island,

finding beauty and grace in the natural landscape.

Her memoir of 21 years in Ecuador will soon be published,

and you can find more of her writing on SubStack and her blog.

Writing Advice by Lorrie Orr

 

March Prompt: What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received, and why? Was it given in person or through another format?

I sit at the kitchen table trying to pull together all the thoughts and notes I've had this month. While my mind wanders this way and that, I idly watch a pair of House Finches flit about in my neighbour's plum tree. The male's bright red breast is a stark contrast to the neutral browns of the female's plumage. My mind suddenly snapped out of neutral as I watched and a thought suitable for this prompt came to me. I'll include it later in my post.

Don't you wish you could discover the absolute best advice on writing that would galvanize your writing into perfection? Alas, such advice does not exist. But there are many good tips on writing, as illustrated by the photo above, a small sampling of the plethora of books on the topic. Every writer offers their own advice, gleaned through experience over time. I couldn't come up with one succinct piece of writing advice, so I'm including five of my own, gathered through the years.

Number One

Commit your writing to the Lord.

Ask yourself the question, "what is the desire of my heart?" I know that there are many things I want in this world - health and happiness for myself and those I love, work that satisfies me, good relationships, beautiful blooms on my rosebushes in a few months, to lose a few pounds, and so on. Desire is deeper than want, and ultimately, my desire and my delight is to please Jesus who loves me, saves me, and transforms me. And so, I commit my days and my plans to him, asking him for guidance and wisdom along the way. 

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him..."

Psalm 37:4-5a

Number Two

Write down thoughts as they occur.

When my husband retired a couple of years ago, it became important to have a coordinated calendar. I prefer to use a paper calendar and write things down. I love a day planner where I can see everything at a glance. He, on the other hand, prefers a digital calendar because that's what he was used to in his career. We decided to use a joint digital calendar, accessible on our phones and computers. In the early days, before I got used to the habit, he would say, "If it's not in the calendar, it doesn't exist." (note: I still keep my own paper calendar.)

That pithy statement of Tim's applies to writing, too. How many stories have I written in my head? How many wonderful lines were lost because I didn't write them down? Too many to count. If the words are not recorded on paper or digitally, they don't really exist. I will now open the Notes app on my phone and stop in the middle of a walk to quickly type something that has come to me. If I don't, I'm likely to forget it when I walk in the door and become busy with another task. If it's not recorded somewhere, your writing doesn't exist no matter how vivid the pictures in your mind.

Number Three

Take time to read.

Remember the enchantment of losing yourself in a story. Each story you read deepens the vast creative pool in your brain, where life's experiences swirl to provide you with a unique perspective on the world. 

Read for enjoyment. Read to learn. Read widely. Read deeply. Just read!

Number Four

Be observant.

Here's where the thought from the House Finches came in. Observe the world around you. People and nature provide infinite entertainment and ideas for writing. Sometimes you can let your mind go into neutral while gazing outside and you find your thoughts untangle or ideas come to you. Airports, waiting rooms, ferries, and parties are good places to sit and watch the world go by. Personal interactions can be wonderfully amusing or heart-wrenching.

Number Five

Never lose the wonder.

Where will my imagination take me today?

 What would happen if...?

I wonder how...? 

These are questions that can lead to creative solutions and innovative plot twists. Cultivate your imagination. Keep those synapses firing. 

Most of all, keep on writing. Your desire to write is a gift from God. Honour the Giver by paying attention to the gift. 

Lorrie Orr writes from her home on Vancouver Island. More of her writing can be

found at her slice of life blog Fabric Paper Thread

and

Excerpts from her memoir Life is Short but Wide on Substack

Written to Myself, by Lorrie Orr

 

This month's prompt is to write a letter to yourself. It can be difficult to know where to start. Here are a few suggestions whether you write to your younger or older self, or to yourself in the present.

1. Reflect on where you are in life and how you got there.

2. Express gratitude. Acknowledge both joys and sorrows.

3. Consider lessons learned and how they move you forward.

4. What are your dreams? How can they come to fruition?

5. Be gentle with yourself.

 

Hello there,

This morning, clouds are banked along the horizon, moving in fast from the west. There’s a bit of blue sky visible, but rain is in the forecast. Tonight, the full moon will shine over you, and stars will glimmer whether you can see them or not. How many more beautiful moons will sail over you? Only God knows, for your times are in his hand.

You’ve had an amazing life, and there’s more amazing ahead! You might be in the autumn of life number-wise, but spring’s tendrils of personal growth are not dependent on the physical world. They can grow anytime and anywhere they are given a little light and openness. Nurture them. Bask in the beauty of life.

Throughout life, you’ve waited for other people to validate you and that has held you back. With God’s guidance you can make decisions about your future and move ahead, trusting God to walk with you. Lean into the gentle rhythms of grace he offers.

You’re never too old to begin something new, and although it’s a steep curve, entering the book publishing world is something exciting. You’ve written all your life; letters, poems, stories, blog posts, and now it’s time to get that body of work out where people can read it and be encouraged by how God has worked in your life.

The future is unknown. There will be hard times ahead just as there were hard times in the past. God’s grace will hold and strengthen you no matter what. Be confident and step forward with a smile on your face.

And always remember, you are dearly loved.

Lorrie Orr writes to herself from her kitchen table by a window

overlooking her garden in Victoria, BC.

 

Breathing with Words by Lorrie Orr

Welcome to 2026! Here's our first prompt for the year: Journaling, at its core, involves recording thoughts and experiences in written form, often as a form of reflection and emotional outlet. There are bullet journals, morning pages, physical notebooks, digital platforms, gratitude journals, and more. Do you journal? If so, what is your process and why do you journal? Have you used your journal work in your public writing?

Like most young girls, I received the occasional diary as Christmas or birthday gifts. There was a page for each day of the year. I always began with gusto, writing down my daily activities with the pen provided. Alas, the daily writing did not last and soon the diary was discarded with very little writing. During my teenage years I wrote long, angst-filled lines on school paper and kept them in a binder. I soon shredded those embarrassing scribbles. Later I began writing in hard-bound journals, not every day, not even every week, but when I felt the need to write. And it is a need. Sometimes I just have to let my emotions flow through my hand and pen onto paper.

Journaling has benefits noted by the science community. Here are three of them:

Clarity

I once heard Elisabeth Elliot say that you don't know what you're thinking until you write it down. Often, as I write, my thoughts untangle and I find I can zero-in on why I am feeling a certain way, or how to solve an issue I might be dealing with. Plot lines and ideas for future writing often come from my journals. Lists or bullet points can be helpful in noting down disparate thoughts without worrying about writing a cohesive paragraph.

Stress Management

Wordsworth wrote "Let your words be the breathing of your heart." I have found that sleeplessness and anxiety are often eased by writing. Science backs this up. In Psychology Today I read, "Regular writing is known to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and it can be used as a form of stress and emotional regulation." I often combine Scripture with my writing as I think about the promises of God. When I write about my feelings, I acknowledge them and bring them to God who is faithful in good times and bad. I can be completely honest about my feelings without concern about what others might think. The pages can be ugly sometimes, and they often end in written prayer as I consider God who is faithful in good times and bad.

Creativity

Journaling is not a daily practice for me unless I am traveling. When we travel I keep a daily record of events. I have found it interesting to look back and remember the activities of the day. I also write sensory descriptions and spend time thinking about how I felt and how to describe it without resorting to cliches. When we visited Provence, we rented a motorbike and zoomed around the countryside. I was bombarded with the scent of the fields - lavender, rose, and fruit - and tried to describe that in my travel journal. When I reread those journals, the scents and sounds are immediately brought back to the forefront of my brain.

Writing anecdotes of interactions with people also stretches my writing ability as I strive for succinctness and precision. I can practice new ways of communicating through my words by writing from different points of view. I use new words to see how they flow in sentences. Once in awhile I sketch alongside my words.

My journals are where I collect words of others that inspire me, and scraps of conversations, or fragments of thoughts.

________________________

Normally, I might write for several days in a row then leave it for a week or two before returning. This Boxing Day morning as I put the finishing touches on this post, I sit in a pool of lamplight. I have just written in my journal of the fullness of my heart after a most lovely Christmas Day. In years to come, Lord willing, I might read those words and think of the happiness of that day.

Are my journals useful beyond holding memories? Yes. When writing blog posts, devotionals, even stories, I'll check back over my journals for ideas or clarification. And as Oscar Wilde once said, "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train." It's fun to look back over the years at the scribbles contained in my journals. God has been constant and caring throughout my life, always present, always loving.

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island.

More of her thoughts can be found at

Fabric Paper Thread

Substack

 

The Night the Sky Sang by Lorrie Orr

 

December is a month filled with story, the story of God reaching down in love. This month’s prompt asks you to share a story about Christmas. It can be funny, poignant, sad, or inspirational.

The Night the Sky Sang

I know what people think about shepherds. Crude, smelly, and not very intellectual. Our lives are ordinary, even tedious. It's hot in the daytime and cold at night. Sheep are stupid animals - they get themselves into a lot of trouble if there's no one watching them. You can't be a shepherd and be lazy. It might not take much education, but it does take skill and perseverance. We shepherds usually work as a team and keep an eye out for each other's sheep. It's more efficient. 

I like the nights best of all. We find a bit of shelter from the wind, perhaps against a big rock, and build a fire. There's conversation. Mixed in with the chitchat some serious debate goes on. Philosophy, you might call it. Life, love, and politics. On such a night my life changed. 

The fire was dying down. I lay on my back, wrapped in my cloak, watching the stars. How far away they looked, and how beautiful. Conversation dwindled to silence. My eyelids sagged, weighted by sleep. Then, blinding light. I awoke with a start. From out of nowhere appeared this glowing being. I know it was an angel, but to this day I can't completely describe it. I jumped to my feet along with the other shepherds. Then I cowered in fear. I was certain I would be struck dead. Instead, I heard a voice say, 

"Don't be afraid. Listen to me. I have good news for you."

The angel went on to tell us about the birth of a baby, a Saviour, the Saviour we had been waiting for. He said it was news of great joy for the whole world. Before I had time to really think about his words, the sky filled with more angels, and music. It was as if the stars and angels whirled and danced together in a vast chorus of light and sound.

The sight tore at my heart and caused such an ache of longing deep inside that I clutched my hands to my chest. The song was perfect, the most perfect thing I'd ever heard. It made me long to join them, to raise my cracked warble in the same harmony of praise to Almighty God. Tears ran down my skin, and I knew the message of the angels was for me. God was sending his son into my stinky, dirty world.

Then just as suddenly as they came, the angels left. The stars had hardly changed position. The small fire still burned low. Everything was the same, and everything was different. We stood there, our hearts thumping wildly. 

"Did you see...?"

"Could it be?"

"Let's go!"

The angel had told us where to find the baby, and we stumbled over rocks and tufts of grass in our eagerness to get there. We stood outside the stable, hesitant for a moment. A man appeared, tired, with a puzzled look on his face. None of us knew what to say to him. Then Jethro stepped forward.

"Please," he said, "we want to see the Saviour, the baby."

And then we all spoke at once, blurting out words about angels and music. The man smiled slightly, then beckoned us to enter.

My eyes were drawn to the baby, so helpless, lying in a manger. His mother watched us carefully but said nothing as we crowded nearer. I even dared to reach out and touch his soft, tiny head with my rough fingers. 

We left soon after, seeing the fatigue on the young mother's face. I knew that I couldn't keep this news to myself. It was too wonderful, too amazing. I told everyone I met about the baby. And then, I went back to the sheep, to the hillside and the night fires, but I wasn't the same person inside.

God, who lived beyond the stars, was suddenly close. That night I caught a glimpse of him. Now when I go to the Temple and hear the priests' monotone reading of the glory of God, I think back and even now, my breath catches in my throat. 

            

           Lorrie Orr loves Christmas and is so glad for the gift of Immanuel, God with us. She writes from Victoria, BC, where she always hopes for a bit snow in winter, but celebrates whatever the weather. More of her writing can be found at her blog, Fabric Paper Thread, and on Substack, where she is posting excerpts from her memoir, Life is Short but Wide.  

            

Words to Encourage by Lorrie Orr

 

November: Encourage Each Other

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11

We are writers together in God’s kingdom; what a blessed place to be. This month share how you have been encouraged, stimulated, and motivated by others to write, or how you can be an encouragement to fellow writers.

I write because I must. Thoughts flow from my brain to my hand to paper or screen. Writing clarifies my thinking and gives my emotions an outlet. I write for myself, for my sanity. I also write for others. I write to connect. Blogposts mostly, some devotionals, and currently, a memoir. How do I know if I'm making a connection?

On my blog there have been some nasty comments with pointed remarks that make me wonder if it is someone who knows me in my real life. Perhaps not. Those comments scrape me a little, but do not cut me. I have learned to delete and ignore them. Now I have comment moderation enabled so that no one else has a chance to see them.

Conversely, when someone says they enjoy my writing, that they find my words beautiful, or challenging, or interesting, that they provoke some sort of emotion, I am thrilled. Recently I received a private message from someone I do not know. She wrote, "I wanted to let you know how much I like your blog and IG. I hear encouragement in your words. Your messages are uplifting at a time when we need it most." My heart was softened by her words.

So often I think I am sending words into the void. But there are people reading my words, finding solace and encouragement. Is that not also why I write? To assure people that no one is alone, that we gather around a common table, that we live life together. That grace and mercy flow in an unending stream and God's heart is always for us. That in this world of brokenness there is healing and wholeness.

As I am encouraged by others, I also want to affirm the words of other writers that speak to me. Reading inspires all sorts of emotions, from laughter to tears, and joy to sorrow. Telling a writer how their words have affected me encourages them and makes me thankful. Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl in hiding during WWII wrote "I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn." Anne never knew how many people would read her words. She wrote for herself, but intended one day to publish. Sadly, her life was cut short and she never saw the impact her diary would have on the world. I wish I could tell her how much I enjoy her book, and how it has made me think. Let's not lose the opportunities we have to encourage other writers.

Lorrie writes from Vancouver Island where the leaves alternately

fly off the trees in golden sunshine or lie sodden on the ground

under rainy skies. Excerpts from her memoir, Life is Short but Wide

can be found at SubStack, and her slice of life writing at her blog.

Her writing can also be found at 

Fabric Paper Thread

SubStack

 

My Recycled Life by Lorrie Orr

 

Inspired by Brenda J. Wood’s post on this blog in June 2024, R is for Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, share your thoughts on making the most of your written work. How do you recycle writing projects? Rather than reinvent, rethink.

 

It’s Tuesday morning. At the foot of every driveway is a collection of blue boxes – one for paper, one for plastics, and one for glass. I will soon hear the intermittent roar of the city truck coming up the street, stopping at every driveway to throw the blue box contents into their respective bins. (Here’s a short and interesting look at what happens after pick up.) The plastic detritus will be turned into more bottles, fabrics, plastic garden pots. Paper is made into new paper products.

Just as the physical garbage of life can be recycled (and I haven’t even mentioned composting), so can life experiences and writing. God takes often-messy life experiences and transforms them into good and beautiful things that reflect his love and light. Then we, in turn, can share about them in our writing. One example is an article written for Today’s Christian Woman about the walks that my husband and I take together. Writing about a bad mood while walking led to Staying in Step: How walking with your spouse can keep you connected. Perhaps I could now take the bones of that article (published in 2008), revise, and submit it to another publication. Or I could write the scene about being grouchy into a novel or short story.

I love the words of Isaiah where he speaks of God turning ashes into beauty, mourning into gladness, and despair into praise. What wonderful word pictures of the transformative power of God’s love for his children. I used to worry about what people were looking at when my eyes would meet those of a stranger on the ferry, in a restaurant, or while walking. Was my makeup messy? Was I wearing mismatched earrings? I’ve learned less to care about what they think about me and now pray that they would see the light of Christ shining through my face. 

On my windowsill as I write this post, a cheerful sunflower smiles at me. It's standing in a recycled glass bottle that refracts the light. Soon the sunflower itself will be tossed in the compost bin to rot and create dirt in which to grow more sunflowers next summer. The bottle will be used again and again. God is the ultimate recycler – turning darkness into light, despair into hope, and chaos into creativity.  

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island where autumn is slowly creeping

into the landscape. She is looking forward to publishing her first book, a memoir

of her experiences living in Ecuador, South America. Her slice of life blog can be found at at Fabric Paper Thread, and excerpts from her memoir at Substack.