Gateway to the New Year by Sharon Espeseth

Taking down the kitchen calendar, I couldn’t help but notice the cluttered squares representing each day of 2013. Using White-out to clean it up would be ridiculous. Instead this historical record will go on the pile of similar calendars in the closet.

Posting the 2014 replacement calendar, I smile at its white spaces. Although some appointments are already noted, the pages look snowy clean by comparison. Pen tracks will gradually personalize these pristine pages too. Who know what events, emergencies, and milestones will fill these squares.

Standing at the gate of the New Year is not a new idea by any means, but still it's worth considering. Janus, the mythological Roman god, was considered the Gatekeeper of the New Year. If I needed a gatekeeper, I wouldn't choose a Roman mythological being. I do however like the image of Janus looking back over what has happened and looking ahead to anticipate what might come. Like Janus, I too glance back at the bumpy and diverse roads I've traveled and I do wonder about the future.

Grandsons Caleb and Logan pose for a "Janus" photo.
Photo by Jenny Bayes

Today we are encouraged to live in the present, so much so that it seems we are discouraged from giving serious consideration to the past or the future. Take that memoir writers and goal setters!

This strong living-in-the-present philosophy may have stemmed from Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher from before the time of Christ, who said, “If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.”

I agree that if we let ourselves get stuck in the past or dwell too much on the future, this may not be mentally healthy. I have heard present-day psychologists explain in simple terms that worrying about the past causes depression and worrying about the future causes anxiety. It isn’t thinking about the past or the future that would cause us harm; rather it is worrying about the past or the future, neither of which we can do anything about, that would cause us harm.

In Matthew 6: 34, Jesus said, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Following Christ’s teaching, I feel no guilt about looking behind me to see where I’ve been, nor looking ahead to set goals for growth and improvement in the year ahead.

I see value in looking backward and forward from the moment I am experiencing. I am thankful for the blessings of the past, for lessons learned, and for the people who’ve helped me to become the person I am.

From a faith perspective, our errors, oversights, or sins of the past can be forgiven. Christ died for that purpose, and I am thankful the old calendar of my life has been wiped clean. Isn’t that something to write about? Like Moses, I have stories to record and share. My lessons learned may be of benefit to others.

As for the New Year ahead, I have hope. No, I don’t know the future, but I know the One who does. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God gave us the message, “’For I know the plans I have for you. . . plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Prayer: Lord, I trust you to be the Gatekeeper to my past, present, and future. May I ever trust in You, who are my Shepherd and my Gatekeeper.

          Sharon Espeseth

        

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia - by Glynis Belec

Genesis 11:1

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.

  So do you have it? Are you hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobic? I used to be that way until I armed myself with my trusty thesaurus and my dependable dictionary . Now the fear has settled nicely into cope-ability and intense fascination, thanks to my trusty ebony resource books with the gilt lettering.

     Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia - fear of big words.

 

This favourite word of mine is longer than the meaning. When I do a presentation at schools or libraries, I often will use this word to 'attract and hold’ the attention of fidgety five year olds. For some reason, children like arming themselves with a big word or two and then trying it out on teachers or parents or big brothers and sisters.

    Amazing what words are to be found at our fingertips. The thesaurus/dictionary duo can be a perfect friend for word-smiths of any ilk - students, writers, readers...

     Seriously, I love my thesaurus. In fact I love my Roget's Thesaurus so much that I have worn off some of the gold lettering and the spine has come loose. (This is starting to sound a little like the Velveteen Rabbit story.)

     I could never have made it through 26 or so years of writing without my good old writerly companions. I will, when I am in a hurry, use the thesaurus or dictionary in the Word program. They are helpful to a point. Then the same online resources are a mere click away and they can be helpful, too, but as a distractable soul such as me is wont to do, I get side-tracked and before I know it I have clicked link after link and soon find myself  wandering recklessly down online rabbit holes.

     There is something warm and cozy; comforting and calming about my good old dictionary and thesaurus pair.  Sometimes I will just read parts of them and stories begin to form. I get so fascinated with the way words can mean so many things. Much to the chagrin of some of my students, I love playing with words and using the thesaurus and dictionary to try to help them overcome being hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobic.

     When you think about it – a mere 26 letters make up so many words. And the combinations of these words are endless. I tried to look up actually how many words there are in the English language but didn't really find a definitive answer. There are variations of words, then plurals or homonyms or scientific terms, dialect, abbreviations, obsolete words and so on that might or might not make it into the dictionaries. From what I can see from some of the dictionary sites I checked out, the best guestimate on that would be somewhere around three quarters of a million words.. 

    As I have discovered over the years words are not to be feared. I've learned to dig out the resources and remember the power of the written word. Words are magnificent and I am grateful that God blessed us with 26 of them. 

May you and I dare to use magnificent words (big or otherwise) as we string them together for amazing purposes. 

Words...Another reason why God is awesome.  

DIY Writing Retreats – Ramona Heikel

Is there anything that sounds more delicious to a writer than a writing retreat? I think it must be our version of a decadent chocolate dessert. An opportunity for time away from the cares of the world in a quiet, beautiful hideaway, inviting you to work on your novel, poetry or another favorite piece—ahhhh.

But have you considered a day-retreat, or a mini-retreat, at home? It may sound a bit disappointing to hang around your own familiar digs, and call it a retreat. But when you custom-make the schedule and activities for your own priorities and enjoyment, you can have so much fun you can’t help but have a great day (and compose some great work)! I have found these little breaks to be refreshing and satisfying, putting the creativity back into my writing.

Below are outlines for two do-it-yourself writing retreats, based on a mini-retreat I did with a writer's group. One of the joys of a retreat is having someone else take care of your meal and snacks, so prepare drinks and a lunch in advance so you don’t have to “work” in the middle of your inspiring day.

Part of the enjoyment of the day is leisurely reading from some inspirational and educational articles or books, so gather some things the day before that you’ve been anxious to read. Find some quick, easy writing prompts or exercises that look like fun and have those handy as well.

Suggested schedule for a Mini Writing Retreat

10:00 – 10:05     Prayer, quiet your mind
10:05 – 10:15    Do a writing exercise
10:15 – 11:00    Read from articles or books that inspire and encourage
                          your writing
11:00 – 11:10    Coffee/tea break, move around, relax and clear your mind
11:10 – 12:00    Think about, then write your vision or goals as a writer
12:00 – 12:45    Lunch Break

12:45 – 1:00     Do a writing exercise
1:00 – 1:30       Read from articles or books about the craft of writing
1:30 – 2:30      Write a short story, poem or article related to one of your
                         writing exercises
2:30 – 2:45      Coffee/tea break, move around, relax and clear your mind
2:45 – 3:30      Write an article or scene of how you want your writing to
                         affect someone

“Kid Day” – A Mini Writing Retreat for Children’s Writers
Based on the above, but you’re focusing on being a kid today,
so keep it simple and fun!

10:00 – 10:05     Prayer, quiet your mind
10:05 – 10:30     Create a setting for a story from Play-Doh or modeling clay
10:30 – 11:00     Do a writing exercise from a writing book for children
11:00 – 11:10     Shake your sillies out, juice break
11:10 – 12:15     Using several colors of pencil crayons or markers,

                           write a poem in the shape of a rainbow

12:15 – 1:00      Lunch Break
1:00 – 1:15        Do a writing exercise from a writing book for children
1:15 – 2:00        Read a fairy tale, a picture book, or a short children’s book
2:00 – 3:00        Write your own short fairy tale, picture book, or children’s story
3:00 – 3:10        Shake your sillies out, milk and cookies break
3:10 – 4:00        Sing a children’s song and do all the actions,

                          then use it as the basis for a writing prompt

Try one of these, and have fun!


Posted by Ramona
www.happilywriting.com

A Closed Door - Natasha Erskine

There is something very disconcerting about a closed door.

Whatever climate surrounds me, whether the sun shines bright or the world rests in shadows, whether the stars illuminate the night sky or darkness pervades the atmosphere of life, a closed door is what it is.

A closed door.

This feeling of being shut out, coming up against a wall that won't budge, can be generated by a missed opportunity, a death of some kind, a lost relationship, or a terminated job. The feeling can be triggered by something as simple as a dying plant. A sickness. Running out of gas.

In all instances, there is something we hoped for, something alive, something moving forward, that has ended, terminated, come to a halt… A closed door.

As a writer who longs for expression, for a sense of flow and inspiration, a closed door in any area of life has the potential to breed a season of silence. It can bring one's creative flow to a halt. It can stall the inspirational happenings of a spirit. It can cause us to question what we once thought to be true. Who we really are. What we truly believe.

And as a writer, we must engage in that silence. Be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). Allow the Holy Spirit to reaffirm what we have known to be true as we are tried and tested in the fire.

One of the most important facets of being a writer is cultivating a listening spirit. And in the face of a closed door, deep calls unto deep (Psalm 42:7). Spirit engages with Spirit. Questions lead us down that blood stained path of righteousness and faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

If you are facing a closed door, beloved child of God, than close your eyes. Listen. Listen in the stillness. Be wooed in the wilderness (Hosea 2). Be quiet in His Presence. And soon, words will yet flow…

Natasha Erskine


Natasha Erskine graduated from Kingswood University, where she met and married her husband, and they followed a call into full-time ministry. They served in ministry together, had two beautiful daughters, and a few months before their 9th anniversary, Natasha's husband died suddenly of unknown cause. Natasha continues to pursue God's call into full-time ministry, while grieving and raising her two children. As a writer and a worship leader, she seeks to exalt the name of God and be a vessel of truth and healing, while her own journey of healing is still being fulfilled.