Zestful Blog Post #190
The photo for this post is the same as on Marcia’s and my
Holiday/Christmas card this year. She thought of the concept, and I executed
it. All the writing implements are mine, from my various stashes. After
crafting the display on our dining-room table (the tablecloth, linen—Ikea—and I
never iron), I realized just how rich I am in stuff that makes words. And
that’s not even all! More pens, pencils, inks, and sharpeners lay neatly in my
Bisleys and office cupboard. (Art supply buffs will know Bisleys.) I even have
a Caran d’Ache rotary sharpener, though not the eye-popping Matterhorn edition.
Perhaps next year you could all chip in and get me one.
[Can you find the humblest of these items: the Detroit
Public Schools pencil I picked up from the floor of the orchestra room at Cass
Technical High School on a visit this year?]
But seriously, I’ve been thinking about how rich I am in so
many things, the best of them not for sale: health, family, friends, faithful
readers. Often, when I get down about something or other I’ll give thanks for
stuff I don’t have, like a prison sentence
for killing somebody in a car accident that’s my fault.
Also, because it’s the Christmas season—going ahead
with “Christmas” here, because I do celebrate it, more or less—I’ve been thinking, “What
would Jesus Write?” And I realize the real question is: “How Would Jesus Write?”
The answer is clear and simple, when you think how tuned in that guy was: With
faith. Meaning without anxiety! Meaning with trusting generosity! Meaning with
belief in what one little person can accomplish!
Thank you for being my friend. I love you and wish you a
wonderful, happy weekend.
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in.
Clever and charming! Happy Christmas to you all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping in, Lillian!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and honest, as usual. Merry Christmas, friend.
ReplyDeleteXXOO, Liz.
ReplyDeleteI love the design you guys came up with! So appropriate and very pretty.
ReplyDeleteI agree - writing without fear and with faith that what you write is worth someone's time to read. Also, with faith that you will always get better. Every novelist I have talked to (and I've talked to a LOT) has said they cringe looking back at the first book they wrote, but those same authors went on to win major awards for their work.
I wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas season, however you celebrate it.
Great to see you here as always, BJ. I definitely feel HOLY HELL is the least strong of all my novels, and I've improved from there. Definitely if you keep at anything mindfully, you'll improve. I guess mindful is another way of saying faithful...
ReplyDeleteYes, a thought I've had, "I’ll give thanks for stuff I don’t have, like a prison sentence for killing somebody in a car accident that’s my fault." We writers are often off into other worlds and that's not good when you're driving. I hope to see a flashing sign on the highway that says, "Concentrate, no novel plotting." Also, the design was clever!
ReplyDeletePatricia, that's a good idea... and thanks for checking in!
ReplyDelete