Creative Writing for the Creator

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...

“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 evident that 2020 has brought many changes and hardships to the whole world.  And it looks like 2021 may bring more uncertainty than hope. How can we navigate into the NEW YEAR? I am reminded of a phrase I learned in Literature class: INUTILIA TRUNCAT. Inutilia truncat (Latin) means "cut that which is useless," as in cutting off useless leaves and branches. But why should we do it, and how does that apply to our daily lives in the New Year?   Why? Because the essential is what brings and keeps life. And the unessential stands in the way of life. But first, we must determine what is 'useful' and what is 'useless'! (We must have the ability to discern one from the other). Thus, these questions remain:  What is essential? (And what is not?) I will illustrate my answer with two pictures of my "Euphorbia Pulcherrima," aka Poinsettia: Picture 1: Cutting off (pruning) the excessive branches and leaves that detract nourishment (sap) from the main stem...

Though I am not certain where to begin, I know I do have to start somewhere ... So I will write from a remembrance as it resurfaces: a situation, a feeling, a smell, a sight, a song ...   As we partake of this journey, you will be my companion, and I, yours. A journey of discovery, of startling insights, of unexpected awareness. But, most of all, a journey with a goal: ongoing rescue and deliverance from depression into a life lived to the fullest .  Together we will learn, cry, laugh, and discover some amazing truths that will be our compass on this trail toward HOPE and JOY. As you learn about me and my experiences, I encourage you to also think about yourself and your own journey. And you are welcome to share your heart with me and others if you so wish.  This will be a mother-blog with a fruitful offspring of little posts ...  So, here we go! ...   - L. E. Skelton