Silence

I don't generally post poetry here, but I thought you might like another sneak peek into the next book.  I'm waiting still for a couple of editors' thoughts, but I still plan to have something available for purchase by November 1, 2011.  Still can't quite believe it.  What a year it's been!  Hope you like the bit below and hope it makes you wonder at what else is in store. 

Thanks for sharing the journey with me!


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When one’s world is

Silent

The weight of words

Is skewed

Enhanced

Magnified.

They shout

Suddenly

“hey!”

“I love you”

“where were you?”

“see you!”

And you wonder at

Your value to the

Speaker

And your value

To the world

Because

In the absence of sound

No one greets

tells

asks.

There is only

Quiet.

Loud, astoundingly thick, heavy, suffocating

Silence.

And then you realize the

Void of sound

Is greatly noticed.

Unless

You listen.

If you are listening

To the sound of silence

With an open heart

And a clear mind

You may hear in your heart and mind

The Shepherd’s voice.

He says

His sheep know His voice.

He calls them

by name.

Ears of faith

Tuned to past words

Spoken, read, remembered.

I answer again and again

“Here am I, Lord.”

Wrapping me in grace

He speaks.

Shrouding me with peace

He speaks.

Filling the quiet with abundance

He shouts!

1 Kings 19:12  Amplified Bible (AMP)

^“12And after the earthquake a fire,

but the Lord was not in the fire;

and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice.”

Now that the earthquake and fire

Have shaken and burned

All that was,

Teach me, Lord.

Help me hear.

Don’t let me despise

This season.

And the Award for Versatile Blogger Goes to.....

.... ME!  *smile*

One of the advantages of the Platform Builder Campaign is meeting so many, many new writers.  Another is the awards we share.  Through a Writer's Eyes has just received a Versatile Blogger Award. 

Thanks to Elizabeth Anne at http://elizabethannewrites.com/2011/09/13/im-a-versatile-blogger/ for expanding my borders.  She is a successful author of children's books who shares her experiences through her blog.  These are the kind of connections I treasure.

The rules for accepting the award are as follows:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass this Award along to 15 recently discovered blogs and let them know about it.

Since I just did a list about me, I'm going to limit the 7 things to 7 types of books/writing that I like the best.  

1.     All time favorite book is The Outsiders.  Still cry when Dally is shot....

2.     One of my favorite authors is Tolstoy - and I have been to his house in Moscow!

3.     I love to read biographies.  Nicolas Sparks, Tolstoy, and James Dean all live in my memories because of their biographies.

4.    Poetry makes me introspective.  I have been lost in Thoreau for days. I don't memorize it, so don't ask for a quote.  I just dawdle over the phrases and luxuriate in their turns.

5.     Light fiction and romance novels are not my favorite types of reading.  They bore me and make me think, "someone got paid to write that....."

6.     The Bible is the richest piece of literature I have ever explored and I never tire of it.

7.      I collect old books and have found them to be the best forms of mental escape.

Now, passing the award along to 15 recently discovered blogs.  I have included some who I regularly follow to open up their readership and some I have recently discovered.  There are some greater writers out there of so many different genres.  Stop around their pages and let me know if you find a new one to follow.

 

1.            Mark Showalter’s Blog – Always Seeking to Know God More – Life lessons and perspectives taught in a transparent, simple way.  My favorite “teaching” blog.  You can find it here:  http://mshowalter.wordpress.com

 

2.            Ninetyandnine.com – The first writing gig, the first blog invite, the place to connect with other readers and writers:  http://ninetyandnineword.blogspot.com/

3.            Seth Boyte – One of my favorite musicians is also one of my favorite writers.  His blog is here:  http://sethboyte.blogspot.com/2011/08/piano-student-christians.html

4.            Rachel is a writer who connects writers.  She is a great example of all that’s right in the writer community.  Her blog is here:  http://rachaelharrie.blogspot.com/

5.            Courtney Pearson writes when not parenting, although I’m guessing a lot of her writing comes from her parenting. She is in the process of publication.  You would enjoy her stuff.  Here is where to find her:  http://cortneypearson.blogspot.com

6.            K.T. Hanna writes about writing, freestyling the process to share the hows and dos and pains and glories of writing.  It’s a great connection that makes you feel like you (and she) know what you’re doing and it’s going to be great!  She is found here:  http://www.kthanna.com

 

7.            A fellow fan of Natasha Bedingfield, Amanda shares “twisted truth” which seems to me funner more than twisted.  Judge for yourself:   http://amandastwistedtruths.blogspot.com

8.            Gary Gauthier explores literature in a fascinating way.  Find out how here:  http://garygauthier.blogspot.com

9.            Kelly is my long lost friend who started the whole Writer Platform Builder Campaign stage of my life and so her blog must be included here.  Her work is full of real life and you will LOVE it.  Promise.  Find it here:  http://clickerbug.wordpress.com

10.            Diane lets us follow her through many of the places she has been.  He work is full of the patient dreaming of her heart.  Find it here:  http://thepatientdreamer.wordpress.com

11.         Sharon is a great friend who writes about the season of life she is in.  She transplanted to Florida to help her elderly parents and tells of their trials and smiles along the way.  Find her experiences here:  http://oldpeopleandme-sharon.blogspot.com

12.         Sometimes people need to speak their onions!  To get the courage to say what you’re thinking, check out Kristin’s blog here:  http://moosateleven.blogspot.com

Three more?  I think this is where I’m going to break the rules.  Not only am I not going to come up with three more (since there really are not three more I have found that I am ready to recommend - I don't take this lightly, you know), I’m also not going to require recipients to post the same.  If you have a list of blogs you read, please do share them.  If you prefer not to, that’s ok.  I will love you the same.  

I will ask you to do the list.  *smile*  AND I will ask you check out the blogs above.  I think you’ll like them.  A lot.  I do.  I love hearing what’s happening in other places and how people relate to the world.  My world is very small right now and so I love this avenue of learning and sharing.  

So that’s it.   A long, superfluous post!  Happy Thursday!

Unwritten

Below is a piece from my next book, expected to be published this fall.  It's fitting to let you peek at it now.  The book is divided into seasons.  This piece fits well in the autumn section, I think.  What do you think?

Enjoy!

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Thinking about unwritten books, unspoken words, unthought emotions.  They sit there, beneath the surface waiting for the right pen to come along and begin the sentence.  Or maybe it’s not even the pen, but the words that are unavailable.  These ideas that need something to give them life.  These emotions that need someone to give them purpose.  They sit there buried under reality and wish for someone to dig a little deeper, ask another question, see a little more clearly.

Instead.  They stay unwritten, unspoken, unthought.

But felt.  Clearly. 

I can’t help but wonder, where is God?  Has He left me after all this time? 

Now when my world is falling apart?  My paradigms are shifting?  My words are pushed back at me?

I keep wishing that the words under my skin would find some way to be released.  That they would find someone to hear them.  That someone would care enough to remove the wall, brick by brick, and allow the words to breathe.

I’m afraid of failure.  I’m afraid that if I open myself up, I’ll only find myself vulnerable and hurt.  I’m afraid that if I try to speak, I’ll not find an unresponsive listener, but I’ll find ridicule.  And so I swallow the words and put the pen away and close the book.

I’d rather keep them to myself than risk their exposure to taunting. 

But that Voice deep inside says to be open, to share these words, to be an open book.

I pray aloud, “Can you tell me, please, if anyone wants to hear, then?  Can you tell me, please, if I’m just to carry all of this emotion alone for all my life?  Would the words be shushed if they were shared?”

See?  That’s why I close the book, put the pen away and swallow the words.

But the words push themselves to the surface over and again.  Unwilling to remain unseen. 

If only I knew someone would listen.  I would share my words.  I would describe the cacophony of sound I see and sing the colors that dance around me.  I would write in great detail and wondrous prose the events and times and lives that shape my world.  I would leave a legacy.  A written record.  A history. 

But no one really seems to want to hear. 

Or perhaps, I am not looking far enough or deep enough or soft enough.

From a distance, I hear again, the Voice of my Lord, “Be still and know.  Give and it shall be given. “  And peace fills the void and silence is stilled.

The Door Swung Open.....

The first writer's challenge of the campaign asked for a 200 word story beginning with the words, "The door swung open" and ending with the words, "the door swung shut."   Below is my piece.  How long does it take for you to figure out who she is and what she is looking for?  

Enjoy!

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The door swung open, silently.  

She looked carefully at every inch before her.  Over the counter, around the cupboards, beside the appliances.  Nothing.

Instincts tightened, senses heightened, she took one step, then another.  She knew, she absolutely knew something was there. 

Perhaps what she heard was something else?  Someone instead of something? 

But, no.  She knew exactly what it was.  It was hiding now, but she would find it.  She knew every nook and cranny of this room.  The precisely lined containers along the marble countertop would reveal, not conceal.  The mirror-like, spotless stainless steel refrigerator and stove reflected nothing.

Slinking, she moved again.  The Italian tiles were smooth, cool beneath her feet and absorbed her steps.  Carefully she peeked around the corner. 

There it was; clearly cloaked in fear, trembling. 

She strode across the floor, then, confidently swaggering.  With great disdain she looked down upon the mouse like a mighty hunter about to take its prey.  Eyes narrowed, she licked her lips, twitched her whiskers and tail in unison.   “Too small,” she thought.

Emboldened by fear, the mouse made one last ditch effort to escape.  It jumped into action, skidded gracelessly through the opening and the door swung shut.

Ten Things

Well, this whole campaign and reading what everyone else is writing has done wonders for my motivation.  That's a fact.  Those of you who know me will find this list redundant.  Those new friends I have connected with, may find it a bit eclectic.

But since Kelly lured me into this and Kelly has just posted ten things about her, I thought I'd see if I can find ten things about me to say.  Not sure how this will go....

1.  I was raised in foster care.  That's an important fact about me.  It says how I view relationships, money, time, responsibility and family.  Please don't assume any negatives from my experience.  There are so many more positives that they far outweigh what might have been.  I had amazingly good foster parents.  I hope my life honors their memory.

2.  I love to read.  All kinds of books.  Always have.  L'Amour to Paul to Tolstoy to Fitzgerald to Castle.  Biographies are my favorites, but I read all sorts of random things.

3.  I hate guns.  It's my right as a patriotic American to hate guns.  Think what you will.  Tell me again that guns don't kill people..... I hate guns.  Hunting rifles used to feed your family, that's different.  I mean handguns and machine guns.  The kind of weapons only used to take life.  They only brings sadness - whether they kill someone or not. 

4.  I love Jesus.  I am an outspoken born-again believer in the name of Jesus.  True story.  I try to follow His teachings and live to please Him.  I don't know if I'm a very good Christian, but I try. 

5.  I have four official angelbabies and many, many more extras.  Angelbabies are grandchildren.  They call me Bapka (Polish for Grandmother according to Google translations).  They make me smile constantly. 

6.  I love kids.  I have two sons and one daughter-in-law, but have been adopted by a wide range of kids - some barely younger enough to be my children.  They are all colors of the rainbow and come from many cultures.  I love them each individually and am proud to be owned by them.

7.  This is getting tougher....  Let's see.... I am a writer.  I suppose you already know that.  It took me a long time to believe my 7th grade English teacher who first labeled me.  I think I was 40 when I started to call myself a writer.  I was 44 when I published my first book.

8.  I am divorced.  That's hard for me to remember, too.  I know I'm not married, but it's hard to remember why sometimes.  Mental block, I suppose.  It's an important fact about me, but I don't always advertise it.

9.  My bucket list has a lot of traveling on it.  I love to go places and meet new people.  I like to see the world through their eyes and experience their lifestyle.  Such an amazing diversity in our world.

10.  My house decorating theme is "My Stuff."  Strewn about the walls and bookshelves and floor and cabinets are stories collected from people who have crossed my path.  Grandma's PianoOrgan, books from friends long gone, Angelbaby toys, gifts from my sons who were once little boys, pictures of my sister and I.  It's my stuff.  It's not much, but it tells the story of me. 

There!  I did it!  Ten things about me.  Well, if you are still reading, thanks!  Now.... tell me about you.  At least tell me where you are from and how you found this writer's words.

Writer's Platform Building Campaign

Just a quick note to let you know you may see some changes around here. 

No, nothing major.  I'm not moving to NYC and I haven't gotten the "call" from a publishing house.  Not yet today anyway....

But I have joined a campaign which will link me to many other writers.  I hope they leave comments and I hope you enjoy the new friendships we are about to make.  I know they will help me hone this skill God has given me. 

I have also added a couple of things to our main page.  If you scroll down the right a bit you'll see some of your favorite posts.  Well, they are someone's favorite.  They are the things that people have read the most.  I thought adding them there might make them easier to find if you suggest them to someone else to read.  I've also added a gadget which shows the all-time page hits to our page.  You will know you aren't alone in reading my ramblings. 

Drop me a note.  Let me know what you think.  After all, as a writer I must write, but as a blogger, it's good to know there are readers.

Happy Wednesday, Friends!  Carpe Diem!