There are so many parallels between waiting for spiritual inspiration and waiting for writing inspiration. I am quite drawn to abandoning grand expectations in favour of wee noticings. I am learning to inch my way into writing as opposed to leaping in.
I think the tiniest sacred occurrences have the power to transform our lives. A touch stone moment for me was rescuing a hummingbird and having time slow down when it made eye contact before flying out of my hands, being seen in that way (which I experienced as the tiny bird’s gratitude) impacted me greatly.
I appreciate how your series draws attention to the grace of oft un-noticed moments.
I hadn't thought about those parallels, but you're so right. Even though most of the time I have the patience to wait, sometimes I forget and get anxious. But usually not for long. Something small, even a comment from a friend 😉 can settle me down once again to the sacred waiting.
I love your hummingbird story. It reminds me of the time I found the tiniest of hermit crabs in a half-inch long spiral shell. It's body was basically clear, but with two tiny black eyes that peered up at me with curiosity. I put it back gently into the tide pool and wished it a good life. I love having those little testimonies about the sacredness of creation.
One of my favorite chapters. Disarmingly mundane, on the one hand, until we hit those "little tokens of affection," and suddenly, the this-then-that rhythm of the piece opens up and shifts.
Our awareness shifts. Suddenly, there's the cup of coffee, tomatoes for a salad, and searing Southern heat. All these take on a whole new meaning in light of your own awareness shifting.
Reading this made think of Flannery O'Connor's eye for grace in ordinary moments.
Well, I have to give you the credit for showing me how to incorporate more grounding details into my narrative. And I'll take the comparison to Flannery O'Connor any day. 😊
There are so many parallels between waiting for spiritual inspiration and waiting for writing inspiration. I am quite drawn to abandoning grand expectations in favour of wee noticings. I am learning to inch my way into writing as opposed to leaping in.
I think the tiniest sacred occurrences have the power to transform our lives. A touch stone moment for me was rescuing a hummingbird and having time slow down when it made eye contact before flying out of my hands, being seen in that way (which I experienced as the tiny bird’s gratitude) impacted me greatly.
I appreciate how your series draws attention to the grace of oft un-noticed moments.
I hadn't thought about those parallels, but you're so right. Even though most of the time I have the patience to wait, sometimes I forget and get anxious. But usually not for long. Something small, even a comment from a friend 😉 can settle me down once again to the sacred waiting.
I love your hummingbird story. It reminds me of the time I found the tiniest of hermit crabs in a half-inch long spiral shell. It's body was basically clear, but with two tiny black eyes that peered up at me with curiosity. I put it back gently into the tide pool and wished it a good life. I love having those little testimonies about the sacredness of creation.
One of my favorite chapters. Disarmingly mundane, on the one hand, until we hit those "little tokens of affection," and suddenly, the this-then-that rhythm of the piece opens up and shifts.
Our awareness shifts. Suddenly, there's the cup of coffee, tomatoes for a salad, and searing Southern heat. All these take on a whole new meaning in light of your own awareness shifting.
Reading this made think of Flannery O'Connor's eye for grace in ordinary moments.
Well, I have to give you the credit for showing me how to incorporate more grounding details into my narrative. And I'll take the comparison to Flannery O'Connor any day. 😊