Creative Writing for the Creator

O que é a vida? De onde ela vem e para onde vai? O que é observável e evidente é que a vida começa e termina. As células se desenvolvem desde o momento da concepção. A partir de então, os seres humanos começam a ouvir, ver, tocar, cheirar e degustar. Sobrevivência é sua necessidade primordial, presente em seu DNA. Experienciar a vida e aprender com essas experiências acompanha os humanos entre o início e o fim da vida. Eles interagem com o ambiente externo e com os outros. Pensam, sentem e expressam seus pensamentos através de ações. Ações refletem escolhas. Escolhas trazem consequências. Percebem-se consequências como positivas ou negativas, dependendo das convicções e valores de cada um. E é aqui que a vida deixa de ser simplesmente biológica, e os pensamentos se tornam perguntas: O que nos leva a agir? Importa avaliar por que agimos da maneira como agimos? Como podemos determinar se nossas ações e suas consequências são boas ou más, sábias ou tolas? O que...

What is life? Whence does it come and where does it go? What is observable and evident is that life starts and ends. Cells develop from the moment of conception. From then on, human beings start hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, and tasting. Survival is their primal need. It is in their DNA. Experiencing life and learning from these experiences accompanies humans between life’s beginning and end. They interact with the external environment and others. They think, feel, and express their thoughts through actions. Actions reflect choices. Choices have consequences. Consequences are perceived as positive or negative, depending on each person’s convictions and values. And here is when life is no longer simply biological, but thoughts become questions: Does it matter how and why we act the way we do? How can we determine whether our actions and their consequences are good or evil, wise or foolish?   What is good? What is evil? What drives our actions? ...

Here I am, outdoors… soaking the warmth and the brightness of the descending sun and the soothing caress of this breeze… A gusty wind sweeps through the tree branches and bushes, like ocean waves crashing on sandy shores… till it all holds still for a few suspended moments… and the gentle breeze blows again… Golden strands of my hair shimmer and dance… Above, a canopy of white disheveled clouds, carried away against the blue canvas of the sky… The wind now seems to be the only sound I hear, brisk white noise that soothes and permeates all… God speaks with the voice of the wind, infusing His creation with His healing presence. Holy Creator, Supreme Inspirator of poets, painters, musicians, et al.! As for me, Thy writer-in-awe,  though these words I can’t contain now flow, oh, that I might remain forever here,  in mere contemplation,  delighting myself in Thee!   Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly se...

  O primeiro dia de 2026 esgueirou-se silenciosamente em nosso lar. A manhã soou sem despertadores: hora do café! O brilho do sol e o clima morno nos atraíram  para a varanda dos fundos.  Só o Keith e eu… Mas Deus, Sua criação e Sua paz permeavam tudo! Pássaros, esquilos, árvores, a brisa suave, (e até abelhas) neste  imprevisível  inverno texano! Fizemos uma oração de agradecimento… Neste Ano Novo, as estradas nem sempre  estão   desimpedidas, e não podemos ver além das curvas e colinas. Mas Ele pode! E é isso que confiar n’Ele significa em 2026: experimentar a Sua Paz. Então, aqui estamos, só o Keith e eu… em alegre comunhão com o nosso Senhor Jesus. Feliz Ano-Novo! 2 João 1:3 A graça, a misericórdia, a paz, da parte de Deus Pai e da do Senhor Jesus Cristo, o Filho do Pai, sejam convosco na verdade e amor. 1 Tessalonicenses 5:23 E o mesmo Deus de paz vos santifique em tudo; e todo o vosso ...

  The first day of 2026 slipped quietly  into our home.   Morning rang in without alarm clocks: c offee time!   Sunshine and warm weather pulled us out  to the back porch.   Just Keith and me...   But God, His creation, and His peace  permeated everything! Birds, squirrels, trees, the gentle breeze,  (and even bees) in this unpredictable Texas Winter!   We said a prayer of thanksgiving...   In this New Year, the roads are not  always clear, and we cannot see what lies ahead of the curves and hills.     But He can!   And this is what trusting in Him means  in 2026:  to experience His Peace.   So, here we are,  just Keith and me... joyfully abiding in our Lord Jesus.   Happy New Year!     2 John 1:3  (King James Version) Grace be with you, mercy, and  peace ,  from God the Father, ...

“She’ll end up giving up,” Keith predicted.  Through the glass of our double doors, we watched a female cardinal flying to and from our back porch. On each trip, she would bring in her beak a twig and drop it on the farthest corner ledge under the porch. We kept watching her ‘mission impossible’: flight after flight, the twigs would fall to the ground. “She can’t figure out that the ledge is too narrow!” I sighed. “What if we could put something there to make it wider?” Then Keith found a wooden stick and nailed it across the corner ledge. By the end of the third day, Mama Cardinal had built a nest! Yet, for a while, the nest remained empty. We were somewhat relieved to think we would not need to avoid getting out on the back porch and risk scaring Mama Cardinal… Until she returned. Night and day she lay there and rarely left, committed to her soon-to-hatch eggs… Today, Papa Cardinal flew in, bringing something in his beak. Three tiny heads wobbled up from the cup-sha...

  It is New Year’s Eve in Texas and simultaneously New Year on the globe, depending on where you are right now. Either way, I will start by wishing a global Happy New Year to all! But with the New Year here (or just about) comes the New Year’s Puzzle. And to present it and give you my view, I will need to tell you how it all came about with a true story: Nearly a week before Christmas, we were shopping and spotted a beautiful holiday winter scene on the lid of a square tin can: In the foreground, a red vintage truck, decorated with evergreen garlands, wreaths, pinecones, ornaments, berries, bells, and ribbons. On the truck bed, bound by festive red rope, leaned a Christmas tree, sharing the space with four adorable dogs and beautifully wrapped gift boxes amidst hay bales. On the driver’s window, another dog almost jumped out at the bright-white winter wonderland, seemingly sniffing and licking the falling snowflakes that dangled in their descent.   In the background was ...