"Beauty is there to be noticed. Too often it is taken for granted because we are moving too fast to let it in and allow it to deliver its message in us. We need to pay attention. To show indifference to beauty is an insult to its Creator." -Luci Shaw
It's amazing what we can learn if we stop and take a look around us. This past Sunday, I was on our enclosed sunroom/deck and from the window, I had a direct view of these wildflowers we planted next to our garden. There they were, dancing in the wind, bobbing their heads along to a melody only they could hear. Their beautiful faces were lifted toward the sunlight, drinking it in, and following its every move. Have you ever noticed how the flowers shift in direction, based on where the sunshine is? Several times over the weekend, I'd pass a window and gaze out at those wildflowers. Sure enough, in the evening, their faces were stretched toward the West. In the morning, they were turned to the East. And that got me thinking. . . We humans, with our different gifts and personalities, are a lot like those wildflowers. Unique and beautiful in our own ways. But we need to ask ourselves, what am I looking towards to help me live and grow and thrive in this rapidly changing environment? Are our faces lifted toward the Light? "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12) "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." (John 12:46) May our heads be lifted to the Light of the world, stretching in Jesus's direction.
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This song became the driving inspiration behind my story, "Where Life & Memories Bloom."
I had been listening to this and two other songs from the album multiple times throughout that fall/winter season. It didn't hit me until I was driving home from work one evening, when the words of the bridge made me pause. I wanna reach out to the left out and the lonely Find a way to touch their hurting heart Be the one to tell someone they matter Take a chance and show them who You are. . . They were the exact goals of my starring characters. Stacy wanted to show others how much they mattered to God, how He had created them with unique talents that she could help showcase. Nick was the lonely bachelor with a heart that wasn't in the right place. And Melissa thought she was a living, breathing mistake. I almost pictured Stacy writing this song, the lyrics the very anthem of her heart. Then it became a driving goal of my own. If ever my books make it out into the publishing world, I want the messages and spiritual threads woven into the stories to tell someone that they matter. You matter. How cool would that be, to know that through God's Spirit and the words He gave you, that someone learned that they mattered? That they had a purpose in this life, and a place in this world? So today, I'm here to remind you. Let this be the voice, the truth, that rings in your head when you're tempted to think the worst of yourself. You matter. You have a purpose here. You are not a mistake. Several months ago, my family and I were visiting my uncle and his family. The first night that we gathered for family devotions, my uncle asked us this question: What brings you joy? It's one of those question where you think, "Hey, this will be easy to answer!" And it's true. You can rattle off just about anything from the top of your head. But is a vague, surface-level answer the way to go? I'm not saying simple answers are bad. It's cute when the little ones in your life answer this question. You hear anything from "chocolate!" to "going to the park." What I'm saying is, is your answer just scratching the surface or are you digging deeper, aiming for the heart? Really, don't be afraid to be completely honest with yourself when answering this question. What is it, who is it that sparks something deep inside you, makes you happy, or gets you excited? I'd love to hear your answers, because they reveal so much about our unique personalities and give us a glimpse of your heart, a glimpse of you. I'll go first. 1. One-on-one time with Jesus. Here recently, I've been praying very specifically that He would make my heart sing with joy every time I cracked open His Word. Let me tell you, friends, He has done above and beyond that. It's truly a joy to open the Bible, and soak in the thoughts—the very heart—of God, and to see glimpses of Jesus sprinkled throughout the Old Testament, preparing the way for His coming to earth as our Savior. 2. Reading It's no secret that I love to read. Give me a good book, a cozy throw blanket (or a front porch, depending on the weather) and I'm set. There's just something about holding a physical book in your hands, inhaling the infamous "book" scent, and hurrying to turn the pages that makes my heart happy. And the best part about reading is that you can travel all over the world without ever leaving the comfort of home. ;) (That's my current read up there! Who doesn't love a book about letters? It makes me want to go back to letter-writing as a way to communicate.) 3. Listening to music
How many of you are fellow music-lovers out there? We all have different tastes in music but there's something deep, and thought-provoking about it. Oftentimes, if you listen closely, you'll hear the message woven through the lyrics. Whether I'm writing, exercising, lying in bed, or just popping the headphones on, music sparks embers of joy, comfort, and motivation in my heart. I'm a fan of movie soundtracks (even if I haven't seen the movie), Disney songs, and contemporary Christian music. There are so many great tunes out there! Some songs that have been on repeat lately: -Before I Knew Jesus by Leanna Crawford -Hymn of Heaven by Phil Wickham -Take My Breath Away (cover) by Tasha Layton -We Had Today by Rachel Portman -Proposal by Rachel Portman Tell me. . . what brings you joy? More Than A Tale (Prologue) by: Carolyn Baloga
Once upon a time. . . I sighed and crossed out the sentence. It was so clichéd yet, what phrase could begin to describe memories from a lifetime ago? Could mere words sweep me back to those days—without sounding like a washed-up fairytale? My story was anything but a fairytale. Somehow, I had to convince my pen of the same idea. I held my breath as a gust of wind rattled the windows, reminding me of the storm outside that resembled the one inside me. A glance toward the crib in the corner assured me that my sweet babe was still sleeping, and I turned back to the blank page before me. How could I capture every sparkling moment—the ones that stole my breath, and made my heart ache with longing? They still brought the familiar tingle to my lips. I also wanted to portray the bittersweet memories that came after that night, the incidents I wished he played a part in. I wielded my pen, poising it over the partially charred sheet in my leather-bound notebook. Yet another testament of what I once had before everything came crashing down. What would he think of me if he knew about the kind of life I led now? It would anger him, no doubt. But I had to protect him—even if that meant keeping the truth from him. At last, I dove into the heart of the story. The words that flowed from my pen—from my heart—didn't stop, as if I'd turned on a spigot, freeing the memories clogged in my soul. I wrote for three hours what it took half a year to work through. A major part of my life recorded in a matter of 180 minutes, here and gone. It wasn't perfect. Some of my memories from that time blended with those more recent, but it didn't matter. No one would ever read it anyway. No matter how much I dreamed of that summer, I couldn't go back. The truth speared me and threatened to blow away the last of the hope I harbored deep in my heart. The hope that I might see him again. . . someday. I hope you enjoyed this excerpt of my latest story, More Than A Tale! Let me know if you like it in the comments below! :) |
AuthorHi! I'm Carolyn, a writer seeking to glorify God with my words. Archives
February 2024
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