What Do You Stand For? – Denise M. Ford

 

If someone took a photograph of me and then applied an enhancing filter, I believe an outline would appear. I picture it glowing and pulsing depending on the situation or conversation surrounding me. Highlighting the unmistakable reactions, the facial expressions that wrangle and pull my visage into downcast, taut grimaces, or puckered, sucked mouthing. The unmistakable eyebrow lifting and reflexive grinning. Unseen but just below the surface my heart beating with loud thudding, pounding to depths that threaten to burst through my chest wall. 

An emotional outline clearly delineating my threshold, or my tolerance. I admit, my physical reactions will uncover and dismantle any pretense I hope to convey regarding social injustice. How do I allow them to produce words, spoken or written; how will my intentions influence these impulses to share my soul wrenching beliefs; this becomes my constant question. 

Especially in today’s world when we can read someone’s post on social media, absorb its brief assertion, ignore a conscientious tugging for discernment, and share it boldly to others with the ---what? Intent to sway or reprimand them in their beliefs. What moves us to press a button and feel relieved that we have contributed to the social injustice conversation, in a moment of release have we found a way to control others?  Ah, control becomes the underlying purpose, the mechanism that starts the process. Does it become the ultimate goal?

Why do we as loving, caring individuals succumb to attitudes and ways to control others to suit our own beliefs?

While I understand how writers influence and inform society on topics that demand social response, I firmly believe that we need to constantly inquire from where our honest intentions originate: From a need to control? Or from a need to stir love and cooperation? From a need to judge or from a need to accept our own responsibility? From a need to gain superiority or from a need to provide perspective? From a need to promote loyalty or to uncover truth?

I do not suggest that my outline of tolerance encompasses correct perceptions or limitations. I have confronted evil and I have accepted when I cannot. I mistakenly and impulsively share on-line posts that in retrospect I wish I had bypassed the click of the button. I listen to many descry the media at a time when information desperately needs to reach the uninformed. I cringe and shake my head to convey my disbelief at interpretations that astound me, conspiracy theories that disregard science. Yet I believe in words. I believe in accepting and acknowledging language that will record our social relationships.

Alongside my writing corner sits a framed postcard from the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. The center block poses the question: What Do You Stand For? Smaller blocks enclose the inquiry demanding visible consideration: courage, wisdom, justice, honesty, imagination, empathy, citizenship, self-discipline, integrity, caring, accountability, respect, restraint, sincerity, forgiveness, truthfulness, compassion, cooperation.

What Do You Stand For? What prompts you to create the emotional outline that surrounds you as a moral and ethical human being? What draws you forth to engage and experience the social fabric unfolding today?

What Do You Stand For? From what need do your honest intentions originate? 

Before you press a button, or type out thoughts, or speak your words to influence others, be mindful. What lies within those words? How will others receive the outline you project?

My husband and I took a much-needed day trip to Banff National Park last week. We walked by a small riverbed and discovered a beautiful outline created by nature’s changing season. Yellow leaves released and abandoned by the branches of surrounding trees haphazardly layered on top of each other snuggling against the curving riverbank. As the current brought water to lazily lap against them it drew our attention to pause and reflect on the image they created.

What do you stand for? How will you allow your emotional outline to penetrate your words? At their release will they line up in a manner that will reflect your intentions. 

Writing necessarily informs, exposes, criticizes, and enlightens. Offered objectively or satirically, factually or exaggerated. It can and has moved society to alter its ideas.  Articles, speeches, editorials, tweets, posts, broadcasts, debates, discussions, podcasts, blogs, letters, emails, texts… we fill them with words, we release them and wonder what reception they will receive.

We tread the boundaries of our own emotional outlines, we know the power and value of ideas, statements, metaphors, and stories. When we choose to breech our emotional outlines, we need to discern potential outcomes and consequences. 

As we shed our emotions, and our reactions into words will they form a visible outline to the world that motivates or inspires as our thoughts line up for scrutiny?  Will our beliefs and perceptions invoke a pause and reflection or impulse and incitement?  What do we want, what will our releases evoke? What will cause others to marvel at the visible emotional outline we design?

While we should not shy away from social injustice, I pray that we will seek the guidance and direction of the Spirit In our interactions to confront it. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-26 (NET)

Taking the Pitch from Jesus – Denise M. Ford

On days when I wonder if this writing avocation aligns with God’s will for me, I recall a specific time when I received an affirming vision.

It happened at a Holy Spirit conference that my husband and I attended. The event encompassed a weekend that included various ways to help us listen and hear how God might be speaking to us. Participants divided into small groups to discuss the context and meaning of scripture, and to share our responses and images from visualization exercises. In one guided session we reviewed specific scriptures before pausing to become introspective about a serious situation or condition in our personal life.

At the time I needed discernment on whether or not I should attend a large writing conference. It would include an opportunity to meet with a publisher for a book proposal review. My husband sought input as he considered setting up his own company as a way to regain purposeful employment.

Just prior to this break-out session an emotionally charged worship period primed our hearts and minds for the prospect of receiving the Holy Spirit’s insight. We had raised our voices in songs of praise to express our adoration and gratitude, and in prayers of forgiveness to admit our weaknesses and fears. We now approached this contemplative activity with hopeful anticipation for what might unfold for us.

The instructor directed us to put forward our concerns and submit to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

My husband described the picture he received as his participation in a game of chess. He felt calmed and relieved to know that a guiding hand prompted his every action. He explained that he could see precise and specific pathways each time he pondered his next move. He knew which piece to play because the way was prepared for him. Anxiety and apprehension left him so that he didn’t wonder what might happen after his completed turn. He accepted this image as a reassurance that God would provide him with the wisdom to establish a business venture and the knowledge to access a client base.

Surprisingly I found myself in a vision where I was lined up at home plate in an old-fashioned game of kickball. This felt shocking to me because when I had played this game as a child, I would often display my lack of coordination to the amusement of others!  I would run up to the plate as the pitcher rolled the ball towards me. I would swing my leg backwards readying my foot to take the brunt of the pitch, trying to connect in a fluid motion to that barreling ball. I wanted to lift it up like a rocket for a clear take-off towards the outfield. In reality my foot would graze the flying sphere and I would usually slip while losing my balance in a weaving, wobbling motion. Sometimes I managed to sideswipe the ball as it zoomed into my vicinity, but then I would have to race to first base before a fielder threw the ball into my back. Ugh, I definitely disliked kickball. Instead of being fun, it made me feel beaten down and defeated.

But there I was in this vision, lined up and ready to attempt a kick. When I looked up to stare down the pitcher, I saw Jesus spinning the ball in his hands, tossing it up in the air; catching it and giving it a powerful whirl down the center line. That ball flew at me with an intensity that made me want to jump out of its path. Except that didn’t happen. This time I ran towards the plate and enacted a simultaneous burst of kicking power as the ball entered the plate zone. I swung my foot with precision and a finesse I didn’t know I could achieve. That ball hit my foot and my foot hit that ball. It went soaring in a beautiful upward curve that arced high above the opposing team players and travelled into the far corners of the outfield.

As I reviewed this vision, God’s answer seemed to depict that Jesus would inspire my ideas and empower my words if I brought myself to the writing desk. My doubts about whether or not I can write would be overtaken by a cataclysmic explosion of creative power. The Holy Spirit would provide the enthusiasm for me to enjoy and play a part in this writing world. If I show up to the plate, He will pitch the ideas to me!

For me this translates to the concept that the Holy Spirit illuminates my thoughts. My imagination becomes powered by His illumination. I try to prepare my heart and mind as often as I can, so I am primed for my turn at the plate. I eagerly put myself into the line-up, at my writing desk, so that I am ready to take the pitch from Jesus!

I offer this vision to you, fellow writers, for we belong to a team of scribes, who hope to illuminate and share our faith to others. May this kickball scene bless you and encourage you!

Matthew 5:14-16   The Message

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Dreaming of Things to Come by Susan Barclay

Getting on the fast-track

As I faced this month's writing challenge, initiated by me, I wondered what I had in mind at the time of suggesting it. Anything? Anything at all? Has God spoken to me about my writing or used it to speak to others about Him in a meaningful way? Is He speaking to me now?

If you count my contributions on Inscribe Writers Online, I have received positive feedback fairly often. Thank you for letting me know when a piece I've written speaks to your heart; it's greatly encouraging!

For this post, though, it's the present I latch onto: "...perhaps He is speaking to you now."

He is speaking to me now indeed. Whether it's about the writing or something else, I'm not 100% sure. What I am certain of is that it pertains to my work and that He is calling me to a new thing. This doesn't mean that I'm to stop what I'm currently doing, that I'm to resign my position at the library or step away from my writing commitments or forget about submitting manuscripts, poems, etc. It does mean that I need to pay attention, to look for doors that might be opening, to listen to the comments of others who may be dropping heavenly hints, to hear what God is saying to me through His Word, and to be in prayer, seeking His direction.

One way He has spoken to me recently is through a dream. While I won't go into its details, and I know that it may sound weird to some, a friend who is gifted in interpretation shared that God is entrusting me with something of great value and is putting me on the fast-track somewhere. Through the dream He says that He hears my heart and it matches His for this particular thing. He is present with me, even if I can't see Him. The dream is about something to come but also has a warning: this is the time to get ready, to prepare. A life-changing moment is coming. He will advise me what to do, and it will be done through Him, supernaturally.

If life has been "interesting" this past year (to say the least), it seems that the wow factor may just be ramping up. My desire is to be in the centre of God's will and to say yes to whatever He has for me. I trust that is the desire of your heart for your life as well. May God bless each of us as we respond in obedience and follow where He leads.

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Susan Barclay maintains a website at www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com and has practically given up on blogging there.