Superpowers and Dr. Seuss by Sharon Heagy

 

photo by Sharon Heagy

Once upon a time in a land called radiology, I was injected with some spectacularly blue radioactive dye so a surgeon could find what she was seeking. It worked too, because when I woke up parts of me were missing! But the most disappointing thing was I neither glowed in the dark nor had superpowers. How I had looked forward to buying fabric and designing a cape and mask for my alter ego. (I once tried to convince my grands that I was Batman, but that's a story for another time)

My superpower expectations were awakened once again this fall when three wasps injected me with their venom on three separate occasions. The toxic combination of their venom, which contains a variety of chemical components, should have succeeded in producing at least a little zap of something to fight evil in the world. But alas, none has been forthcoming. I live in hope that something will eventually show up. However, having had this experience three times, I would strongly advise against getting stung by a wasp as it is incredibly unpleasant and hurts more than you might think.

There is some benefit that comes from these two tales of my lack of extraordinary powers. Both provide fodder for some fanciful or inspirational writing. Perhaps I could encourage those who are facing the same surgery I had. Maybe I could calm the fears of those who encounter wasps and inadvertently get stung, including the difference between a regular reaction and one where it would be advisable to carry proper medication. Or, I could write a tale of a Super Granny who gets miraculous powers to fight bad guys or who uses her power gift to provide for those in need. The possibilities are endless.

These everyday occurrences can be reused and recycled many times over into wondrous tales that lead the reader into an extravaganza of adventure, or into calm waters in the midst of a raging river of fear, or something in between.

Once upon a time I was recycled. I truly was injected with superpower. It brought me to my knees and keeps me there because it is a dynamic and powerful force. Words fall short to describe this Infinite power infused with infinite love, grace and mercy. And just like the wasps, it came in three parts; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are my superpower and the guiding beacon for my life. I don't need a cape or mask because as I spend time with them, focus upon them and surrender to them, I will glow in the darkness with their light, fight evil with their weapons and bring comfort to the lost with their compassion. They will infuse my writing in the same way.

As we pray before we write, God takes what we may consider the mundane everyday things of our life and transforms them into brilliant pieces of writing. He is the key that unlocks the doors to worlds we never considered, stories beyond our ken and phrases beyond the thesaurus. Oh, the thoughts that will be awakened in the depths of our soul and the words we will pen for His glory.

Sometimes we think like the writer of Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, 'Look! This is something new?' It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time."

We have this inkling in our mind that it's all been done before, and it has, but never from your perspective in God's hands. Like Dr. Seuss says, "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You!" God created us, each one of us, as an individual. It's spectacular to fathom. The world is currently filled with over 8 billion individuals created by God. Just pause and think about that. Awesome.

It is absolutely in the realm of possibility for God to use our words in a new way to reach those of His choosing. "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:19 NIV)

Let Him take your ideas and inject them with His supernatural power. Let Him amaze and astound you. Let Him tickle the musings flowing through your brain, adding depth and dimension as only He can. Then write. Write and write and write. You have His superpower to do it

 

Sharon Heagy writes from the small but vibrant town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan, nestled in the valley near the Burning Hills. She writes to inspire and give hope with a chuckle or two along the way.

The Writers' Three Rs by Steph Beth Nickel

Laptop Computer Keyboard - Free photo on Pixabay

Are you sitting in front of your keyboard (or writing notebook) wondering if you have anything more to write? Anything to say that hasn't been said countless times before . . . by you and others? Anything that will truly encourage, entertain, or educate your readers?

Most of us have been there. Possibly, multiple times.

But as this month's theme indicates, there are three Rs that can help us address these issues: reuse, rethink, and recycle.

Our own words can serve as a springboard for new ideas. 

And those new ideas?

A new platform on which to republish our work with little to no changes. And don't be afraid to repost the same piece weeks, months, or years later on the same platform. The algorithms are always changing, and you never know who may be seeing it for the first time or who may need to read it again.

An expanded work with updated info.

A social media post or blog post that inspires a short story, a novella, even a full-length manuscript.

An old manuscript we've tucked away that we might want to revisit. You know the ones, those sitting in a drawer or on our computers gathering dust.

Our Discarded Sentences, Paragraphs, and More file. (You do have one of these, don't you? Sometimes, a line or paragraph doesn't work in our WIP, but that doesn't mean it won't find a home in a future work.)

And speaking of deleting our work . . .

Instead of deleting an old post, why not compare and contrast our thoughts from days gone by with those we have now?

And what about those journals we've squirreled away? Those words that were for no one's eyes but our own? Maybe it's time to pick up one of those journals and see if one or more of the entries inspires a new piece that you do want to share with the world?

There are several R words that apply to our writing: reuse, rethink, recycle, revisit, revise, reshare, etc., etc., etc. Let's give it a try today!

I'd love to know how you've reused, rethought, and recycled your writing. Feel free to leave a comment below or email me at stephbethnickel@gmail.com

Steph Beth Nickel is the former Editor of FellowScript and the current InScribe Contest Coordinator. Steph is an editor and author and plans to relocate to Saskatchewan from Ontario to be close to family in 2026. (Headshot Photo Credit: Jaime Mellor Photography)

Grandpa and Joseph's Blanket by Sandra Rafuse

The prompt for the month of October reminded me of a children's book called Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman. It's a lovely story about a Jewish family who welcome a new baby boy into their home. They name him Joseph. The grandfather in the family makes a wonderful blanket "to keep him warm and cozy and to chase away bad dreams". Over time Joseph grows older and the blanket becomes worn out. When his mother insists it be thrown out, Joseph, who loves his unattractive, torn blanket, takes it to Grandpa because "Grandpa can fix it'. And Grandpa does. The blanket becomes a wonderful jacket.

The story goes on and we see how Grandpa reuses the material from the blanket he made in the beginning. Joseph keeps growing so eventually the jacket shrinks and is too small. His mother insists it be thrown out. But not to worry; "Grandpa can fix it". Every time Joseph takes the most recently worn out item to his Grandfather, Grandfather figures out what he can make with the material that is still good to use, until, with the last piece of material Joseph brings to him, Grandpa makes him a button, a wonderful button. One day the button is lost! The last bit of material is gone. There is nothing left to use. Even Grandpa admits, "you can't make something from nothing." The reader might think the story ends here, but it doesn't. Joseph goes to school the next day, and, sitting down at a table with a pen and a piece of paper, he realizes he has "enough material to write . . . a wonderful story!"

Besides reminding me of Gilman's book, the prompt also stopped me in my tracks. Why? Because I do not have a collection of writing on hand to reuse, recycle, or reduce. Oh yes. . .I wrote interesting letters to friends, and I completed short essays on university exams and I penned brief accounts of events that took place during the previous year on my out going Christmas cards, but I never saved any of them. It never occurred to me to do that. And it wasn't the kind of writing I would have needed to be doing to use now anyway.

I feel my true to life writing journey started with joining the InScribe Writers Online Blog. I am so pleased to be a member. I can see so many opportunities that await me in the future. Just the suggestions that have been published so far this month could keep me busy for weeks, if not months. And I have so many experiences to draw on. I love what Lorrie Orr said in her recent blog; "God often takes messy life experiences and transforms them into good and beautiful things that reflect his light and love. Then we, in turn, can share about them in our writing". And, of course, there are all of our other experiences to share to bring glory to God.

I am not discouraged that I am a beginning writer. I am full of hope and anticipation and determination to increase my writing skills. I am a writer. I'm retired. I have all the time I need.

Sandra Rafuse lives in the small town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan, with her husband Bob, a Gordon Setter named Sadie, and a Peregrine falcon named Peet. She is a retired teacher, an amateur writer and is enjoying having the opportunity to share what God has been teaching her through her life experiences.

P.S. Our very old cat named Kitty is no longer with us. We are sure he is running and playing and eating and sleeping with the dogs he knew when he was with us here. He is missed.

 

Some Things Never Get Old by Bob Jones

I wrote this post four years ago. It generated high engagement on my blogsite. Re-posting the content here is my way of showing not telling, about rethinking not reinventing. I trust it encourages you.

Fear, procrastination, setbacks or discouragement will drain the life out of you if you let them. What's your plan of counteraction? Exercise? Reading? Prayer? Meditation?

The healthiest people replace depletion with inspiration on a daily basis.

Words have real power. (Proverbs 12:6).

Here are 21 pragmatic one-line insights to defeat your fears, break free of procrastination, act now and be fruitful.

21 Quotes

#1. Dream Big. Start small. Act now.
#2. Eat a "frog" first thing in the morning.
#3. Victims make excuses. Leaders deliver results.
#4. Your daily behaviour reveals your deepest beliefs.
#5. Worry about nothing. Pray about everything. You'll get through this.

#6. A problem is only a problem when viewed as a problem.
#7. Change your thinking and change your life.
#8. Excuses are nothing more than the lies your fears have sold you.
#9. Where victims see adversity, overcomers see opportunity.
#10. Success is when opportunity meets preparation.

#11. Small daily improvements over time lead to stunning results.
#12. Criticism is the price of ambition.
#13. Seven days without prayer makes one weak.
#14. Ordinary people love entertainment. Extraordinary people love education.
#15. Clarity breeds mastery.

#16. The only failure is not trying.
#17. Focus is more valuable than IQ.
#18. God doesn't call the qualified. God qualifies the called.
#19. The things that are hardest to do are often the things that are the best to do.
#20. An addiction to distraction is the end of your creative production.

#21. Life is short. Be of use.

Which is your favourite one-liner above? What is one-liner #22 for you?

(Credit the Bible, Mark Twain, Christine Caine and fellow Canadian, Robin Sharma, for the quotes.)

Thank you for reading and commenting. All the best to your rethinking and recycling endeavours.