“Life is an intricate pattern of simple designs;
we see the intricacy,
but once awareness is raised,
we can then see simplicity in all things.
Start with nature – get outside and embrace it today.”
[Unknown]
.
For by him all things were created,
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—
all things were created through him and for him.
And he is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
[Colossians 1:16a]
~ ~ ~
It is a good idea to be alone in a garden
at dawn or dark
so that all its shy presences
may haunt you and possess you
in a reverie of suspended thought.
There is only one day left, always starting over:
it is given to us at dawn and taken away from us at dusk.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
Proverbs 4:18
~ ~ ~
Clematis ‘Arctic Queen’
“Flowers bring to a liberall and gentlemanly minde
the remembrance of honestie,
comelinesse and all kindes of virtues.”
John Gerard (1545 – 1611)
~ ~ ~
“You also, like living stones,
are being built up into a spiritual house…”
[1 Peter 2:5a]
.
Develop success from failures.
Discouragement and failure are two of the surest
stepping stones to success.
Keep your face always toward the sunshine -
and shadows will fall behind you.
Like a plant that starts up in showers and sunshine
and does not know which has best helped it to grow,
it is difficult to say whether
the hard things or the pleasant things
did me the most good.
The hot weather’s back and the timing is perfect for me to take a bit of a blogging break. I’m heading offline for a couple weeks, hoping to get a little extra writing done and maybe squeeze in some R & R.
I’ll be back in the traces and on schedule again by mid-August. Probably. Maybe. (But don’t count on it if this heat sticks around.) :|
~ ~ ~
On our recent oceanside holiday we had regular nightly visitors. Along with twilight came the geese, in several gaggles of varying numbers.
They didn’t come ashore, but found convenient logs on which they claimed a spot to settle for the night.
Their attitude toward one another was fascinating. In flight, it’s known that the lead bird of the typical V-formation will bear the brunt of the wind resistance, with all the others gaining benefit of the upwash from the bird ahead. The front position is rotated periodically to share the flight fatigue among the others in the flock. It’s an aerodynamic thing.
But when it came to sharing a resting spot on that log, some of the more dominant members weren’t as cooperative.
This one, for instance. I don’t know what the criteria was for a comfortable nighttime perch — most of the others spaced themselves out — but he challenged any bird that approached the log he had claimed. He wanted it all for himself. His attitude eventually was his undoing, when his antics started the log rolling. It became a birling competition… goose versus log. Guess who lost?
This is MY spot!
Shove off, bud!
Ackkk!
Oops!!! Can someone lend a hand… um, a wing, please?
Greed, selfishness and envy are very unpleasant emotions, often more so for the person experiencing them than the one to whom they might be directed. In the writer’s world there are many opportunities for the green-eyed monster to raise its nasty head. Between blog awards, contest wins, new contracts, best seller list placements, sales numbers and book awards, someone is always mounting a pinnacle of success ahead of others who look on, regretting that it isn’t them.
And yet… and yet, I’ve found there is very little jealousy evident. Oh, I don’t mean there’s no wishing, but at the same time most writers I’ve encountered seem genuinely happy about the successes of their peers. Any announcement of special achievement is met with collective happy dancing and abundant congratulations. Maybe it’s because we’re all well aware of the steep climb everyone has endured on the journey.
There is an expansive community within the writers’ circle, one enriched by camaraderie and support. That goose could learn a thing or two from them.
Have you had any experience with envy or jealousy during your pursuit of publication? How did you deal with it?
~
