Light and Talent

The new year is right around the corner. Like most Americans ,thoughts enter my mind of the things I'd like to change, add or delete from my life beginning January 1st. Start running again, read more, spend more quality time with God, love on my family better, see my friends with regularity, develop my creative voice ...

In today's paper, which I never read, I saw this under the Letters section, Today's Thought: "Work while you have the light. You are responsible for the talent that has been entrusted to you." ~Henri-Frederic Amiel

On this particular day for the whole of my adult life, my mind automatically reviews the previous 364 days and how I've spent my time. Then, as always, three days later we enter the new year. How will I spend my time for the next 366 (it's a leap-year in 2008) days. Yes, we are given a gift of ONE MORE day in 2008. How will I embrace that gift?

If I take to heart the thought from Henri-Frederic, I should take serious advantage of the light I am given and take responsibility for the talent that has been entrusted to me.

What talent has been entrusted to you? Maybe, deep down, you believe it's the art of writing. Or the desire to sit before the canvas and paint the images that bubble up from your heart. It's possible that you are not sure what your talent is. But know without a shadow of doubt that you do have a talent and it's waiting to blossom from within you.

Two thousand eight is a few days away. It's my prayer that each of us treat the light we have with care and intentionally nurture the talent that has graciously and specifically been entrusted to us. Happy New Year!
~deAnn

What's Christmas All About?

Here's a little something to get you in the Christmas spirit...watch this little video: Christmas Rant on Grovefilms.com.

In all seriousness, Christmas is more than sending pretty cards, picking the perfect gift and baking a load of sweets. We've already been given the Perfect Gift. Remember? Take time this season to be still and fully aware of His presence. Jesus: He's what Christmas is really about...

May your Christmas be filled with His peace & His love and may 2008 be a year of discovering God in new, creative and soul transforming ways.

(the) Write to Know

A lot of my childhood is a mystery to me. My sister will say, "hey remember that time we..." and I have no idea what she's talking about. My memory is terrible.

Although, through writing about the few childhood memories I do have, other memories that were locked away in the depths of my mind spring to the surface as if being provoked. Before I know it the little unknown gaps in my history are discovered. Sometimes it's exciting and other times it's a bit frightening, as I recall a memory that is not the happiest. Nonetheless, I write to know (to know me more fully).

The beauty of writing such things of one's past gives others the a window into the life that made you who you now in the present. I had this experience just last week. I was writing a post on my personal blog when a past post caught my attention. My son, who's 15, was sitting near me and I asked him if he'd like to read this particular post. I left him with the laptop, reading a portion of my history and I went upstairs to check on my other son. When I returned to the living room, my son was sitting on the sofa with melon sized tears rolling over his cheeks. "Mom, I'm so sorry. I had no idea! I'm sorry..." were his words after having read about the day my step father passed away due to cancer.

My son learned something intimate about me in that moment. He had heard me talk of my step father and how cool he was and that he died of cancer. But in reading my account of that painful day, my son had a picture painted for him in his mind that brought that simple story to life, with skin and bone. He experienced, in a way, the sorrow I endured. Write so others will know.

I love the journey of writing about my past. I never know where it will take me. And I'm learning to share my writing (posts) with my boys and husband. They live with me, this woman that they "see" ~ but how well do they actually know me? Really know me, know the life that formed this me that they see.

Writing your life is recording history as you recall it. Go on a journey through your life and let writing be your vehicle. Then share the destination with those you love. Write to know. Write so others will know as well.

Enjoy the ride!