Do I wander aimlessly through the motions of my life? Dirty dishes, dirty laundry, stumbling over discarded socks and shoes, shelving books, grading papers. The never ending tasks that belong to this mother. Sometimes, yes. Julia Cameron states:
“We do not see our size. We do not view ourselves with accuracy. …We do not credit ourselves with what it is we can – and often do – accomplish. We are blind to our gifts; we are deaf to our voice.”
What do I accomplish with my life? How can I view myself with accuracy? Are my eyes open to the gifts I possess, ears listening to the life-giving voice?
Pulling books from bag I sit under a sturdy pine tree. Settling glasses across the bridge of my nose in order to focus on the Word and then her words in The Right to Write.
“Valuing our experience is not narcissism…It is, rather, the act of paying active witness to ourselves and our world. Such witness is an act of dignity, an act the recognizes that life is essentially a sacred transaction of which we know only the shadow…As we attune ourselves more and more closely to the value of passing moments, we learn that we are something of moment ourselves.” Julia Cameron
Then taking pencil and notebook in hand I number from one to fifty. I write across the lines…
Choosing to open my eyes and view life as a sacred transaction I see I owe a debt to the One who placed me here. The only payment He requires is a heart yielded in love and adoration. Life is sacred so more and more I want to be attuned to the value of the passing moments.
In those transcendent moments I hear the voice of the Lord speak deeply in my soul, You are created for this time, for this place, for these people.. Just as they are my gift to you, child, you are a gift for them.
I see that everything of value I have ever accomplished in my life and the things I value most have been because of His power at work in me. They are not really my accomplishments at all – they are His alone. My parents, my husband, our children, friends, abilities – all these are God’s gifts.
What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God. ~Eleanor Powell
“Writing is about seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, touching.” Julia Cameron
I stand and open my arms wide, hands lifted to infinite blue sky embracing with wonder this gift of life God has given. Brown eyes wide open I choose write about these sacred moments of value.
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Related post:
HCB Book Club: Going Deeper
Glynn’s Writing and Reading as Private Acts
Melo’s Day Nine
Michelle’s The Writing Life
Marilyn’s Bad Day of Writing?
Lyla’s A Spider In My Shower
Cassandra’s Where Words Meet Bone
Erin’s Cherish the Commonplace Holy Moments
L.L.’s Writing for the Lint Pickers
Monica’s Details, Details
3 comments:
Funny, we readily see the gifts God gives us in those He's placed in our lives -- family, friends. Yet we don't so easily see that, perhaps, He's given us as gift to another.
A gift indeed, you are, Nancy.
Hope you see that today.
Oh, Nancy, I love picturing you this way...under the pine, listening. It is true what she says--at least for me--writing helps me feel that truth that I am part of His story.
Thank you for your prayers. we had a lovely trip and I am exhausted! Ten hours on a bus can get a bit constricting! But it was very fun, and your prayers helped.
Thank you.
That particular quote from the book struck me, too. It spoke to my heart. How many times have I done that -- disregarded, minimized, what God was doing in my small life?
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