Lessons from the Raft

As promised...

Lessons from a Raft of Sea Lions

• We all need a haven from the world, a place we can float and rest and lean on each other.
• Everyone needs people they can be just a little crazy with.
• Let someone lean on you when they're weary. Odds are good you'll have someone to lean on when you need it!
• Floating in the world by yourself is risky and lonely. We're bigger and stronger and happier together.
• Go ahead and bark! Those who care about you won't mind--and they may even join in.
• The ride seems shorter when you share it with someone.
  
• Even the coldest times in life are made warmer when we let those who care about us stay close.
• Relax! You've got friends and family to hold you up. Just rest in God and know He's in control.
  

So now that you've heard the lessons and seen the pictures, here's a final treat: a video of the raft! You'll hear how windy the day was, but you can also hear the sea lions barking from time to time.

Enjoy!

Karen

A Raft of Sea Lions

While I was in California a few weeks ago for the Mount Hermon writers' conference, I took a side trip to Santa Cruz. I've loved going there since I was a kid to watch the sea lions around and beneath the pier. What I saw this year, though, was completely new.

Rather than floating about around and beneath the pier, the sea lions were gathered in huddles, floating together, some resting their heads on the others as they snoozed, some holding up one flipper. And as they floated there, they were barking and calling and having all kinds of fun. I found out later that what they're doing is called "rafting." Appropriate term, huh? They look like a big raft.

It was so neat to watch, to see these animals I've loved watching all my life in a new way. And as I watched, as I studied their peaceful demeanor and relaxed manners, as I saw how they held each other up, I started realizing a few things.

Which I'll share in the next post. So stay tuned!

Peace--

Karen

Journal of a Writers' Conference

I've been over at my friend, Lori Benton's, blog, Kindred. I read her blog often, as I love the way she writes. But it's been especially fun because she journaled during her first time at the Mount Hermon Writers' Conference a few weeks ago! I've been going so long, and always as a teacher/editor, it was great to read about it from a newbie writer's POV. Lori's a marvelous writer and you feel as though you're right there with her. So go check it out. (One warning, the days are out of sequence for some reason, but it's not hard to figure it out. So give it a try!)

Her conference journal begins on April 10, so you'll need to start on that entry.

Bonus: great pix of the Mount Hermon grounds--especially the flowering cherry!

Have a great weekend.

Karen

Mount Hermon Delights

If you're a writer, there's nothing more fun and uplifting than a writers' conference. Being surrounded by people of like minds (and insanity) is such a delight! So nice to not have to explain yourself when you say things like, "My hero won't get out of my head!" or "My antagonist just won't shut up this morning." Or to have people's eyes widen when you ask, "Are tarantulas poisonous? I'd like to kill a guy with one, but not quite sure if that will work."

My all-time fav writers conference is Mount Hermon Christian Writers' Conference. Happens every year, Thurs. to Tues., the week of Palm Sunday. Wonderful writers come, from attendees to faculty and staff. The setting--in the midst of the California Redwoods--is stunning. The spirit is powerful--so steeped in honoring God and each other. And the training that's available is unmatched. Plus it's the only conference (as far as I know) where there's a conference within the conference--the Career Track for published writers.

But most of all, I love the fellowship. So thought I'd share some pix to give you a taste. And if you're thinking about attending a writers' conference next year, make it Mount Hermon. You won't be sorry!

One more thing: why not make today Pray for Christian Camps day? It's been a tough year on them, too. Maybe tougher than a lot of us realize. Too many camps are closing down due to financial issues. So as God brings it to your mind, please offer a prayer that He will be with those camps still making it and help them to endure. Especially places like Mount Hermon, that have been around for so long, blessing people in His name!

Peace all!

Karen

Lori Benton and Marion Stroud, two dear friends


A panel of publishing pros fielding questions

The majestic Redwoods

Writers in the Career Track

Listening and learning!

Sally Stuart, Wendy Lawton, Yours Truly, & Janet Grant

Passion Nurturing Activities, Pt. 4

We've talked about words and how they can stir our passion, but how about time? How much time to you give to your passion? If you're not happy with your answer, here are some things to try:

Take a Time Out. Remember how that works? Time outs? When you were a kid and got a little out of control, Mom sent you to the Time Out chair to cool off. Well, this is a similar principle. Take time to play. Get out of the house, away from your everyday life. Get out in nature. The woods, the ocean, a local park. Go to the library. Go to a playground and watch the kids. Go to a museum and let the beauty of other people's passions wash over you. Go to the gun range and, as my hubby calls it, "plink." Watch cartoons. Take a break from being an adult. Getting away from "it all," at least once in a while, is restorative.

Spend time with people who are living their passion. You know who they are. You know the people in your life who are immersed in doing what they were made to do. Ask to spend a day with them, and watch their faces. Ask them how they stay focused. What they do to refill and rejuvenate. Let those who have gone before you help you on your journey.

Take a 15-minute vacation. Can't get away for a whole or even half day? No worries. Take 15 mintues. Close the door. Sit in a comfortable chair. Close your eyes. And let your imagination take you wherever you want to go.

Let yourself laugh! I've seen the restorative power of laughter over and over again, how it brings healing and even health. I have a whole shelf of videos and DVDs I watch to laugh. Doris Day movies. Red Skelton and Victor Borge comedy routines. The Dick Van Dyke show. And on and on. One of my all-time favs is a video of NFL snippets, set to ballet music. Hysterical! Laughter is a powerful force, friends. Give it full rein as often as you can.

Time. Words. Friends. Laughter. Or something completely different. Find whatever it is that works for you, and do it. Don't let your passion be consumed by day-to-day stresses. Don't let the fire God breathed into you be quenched.

Never forget, passion is a precious gift. One a loving Father has given to bless you and those around you. Cherish it. Express it. Let it bless your world.

Peace.

Karen

Passion Nurturing Activities, Pt. 3

Silence, music, counselors...these are all great helps for stirring creativity and passion. So, too, is the written word. May seem like a no-brainer to some; for others may seem impossible. But I'm not talking about being a writer. I'm talking about the power of writing down what you know. Think. Feel. And letting that action show you things about yourself. And God.

Here are some simple things you can do, even if you hate to write:

Keep an Evidence Journal. Write down your God Stories. The times you saw God act. The times you felt His touch and presence. Do it with story or just key words. But get it down on paper. When God moves in your day, write it down. When someone speaks truth to your heart, write it down. When you struggle, write it down. Remember the children of Israel were told to write these truths on the doorposts that they might not forget all God had done for them. Then, when you've done that for awhile, go back and read what you wrote. It's so easy to forget God’s faithfulness. What a blessing to have solid, firm evidence of His action, His presence in our lives, in our passion.

Read the Scriptures. Whether you believe in God or not, you'll find beautiful, powerful writing in the Bible. If you do believe in God, then I challenge you to spend as much time in the Word as you do in reference and research books. Don't leave God out of the equation when seeking to rejuvenate your passion, or you may not like the final product.

Share words with others. In other words, encourage! Being encouraging encourages us.

Read. Immerse yourself in words, gloriously written words. Think about it. If you were stranded on a desert island what 4 books would you want with you? Read them. Read kids books, too. (Anything by Dr. Seuss or Shel Silverstine is a joy.) Whatever books speak to your soul. Block out time each day to read. And do it someplace that you love. Your favorite chair, with the lights perfectly adjusted, the fire going in the fireplace, music floating around you…or not. Do it however you enjoy it most. Every day. It's important. If you want to find your passion.

Okay, almost done with activities. Last installment coming soon!

Karen

Passion Nurturing Activities, Pt. 2

Ready for more? Then here we go. But prepare yourselves. This next one is hard:

* Accept the delays. I know, I know, we want to keep going. Progress. Reach the goal. But here's what I've learned in the midst of my journey: the detours ARE the journey. All those things getting in your way, those obstacles keeping you from accomplishing your goals? Maybe they're God's way of putting the brakes on what you're focused on so He can get you refocused. On Him. And His plans for you.

This lesson was especially hard for me to learn, but through it I discovered my life verse: Habakkuk 2:3—"Slowly, steadily, surely, the time is coming for the vision to be fulfilled. If it seems delayed, do not fret. It won’t be overdue even a single moment."

* Listen to the voice of the One who breathed your passion into you. Remember Elijah and his trip up the mountain? (If not, check out 1 Kings 19, 9-13). There was a mighty windstorm, and an earthquake, and a fire, but where was the voice of God? In “the sound of a gentle whisper.”

So how, you say, do I do that? How do I hear God's voice more clearly? Here are some suggestions to get you started:

Silence. Yeah, that's right. Silence. How much time do you spend in silence? Odds are good we all could use more. Try going on a silent retreat, either an organized one or one you set up yourself. Go away from everyday life, leave all the gadgets and technology at home, and spend time--real time--in silence. What's that? You'll fall asleep? Okay, so do so. Who knows? Maybe that's exactly what God is calling you to so He can speak to your heart while you're at rest.

Use Music. Find time to sit and just listen to music you love. Close your eyes and focus on the lyrics. Let music speak to you, draw you out of yourself and into God. (Want a suggestion for a great CD? Streams. Outstanding music, stirring lyrics.)

Next installment to come soon! Promise.

Karen

Passion Nurturing Activities

Great discussion, all, on nurturing passion. Here are some other things you can do to rejuvenate that creative, passion-filled part of your spirit:

1. Surround yourself with friends who encourage your passion. Remember, "a wise king is surrounded by wise counselors." Share your passion, what you think God's planted inside you, with those who love you, with those with whom you’re safe. With those who keep you accountable. Seek their guidance. And listen to them!

2. Disconnect from technology. Okay, don't hyperventilate. But think about it. We have to be the most connected, available, interruptable people ever! Give yourself a break--literally. Shut off the phone, the computer, and anything else with an on/off switch. Focus on the silence. And what God has to tell you in the midst of it.

3. Regain Perspective. Remember, it's not about you. Sure, it feels like it is, but it's really not. It's about what God wants to accomplish. So step away from yourself. Got mountains close by? The ocean? Anything bigger than you? Look at it. Let the sight of something truly huge and majestic remind you of your place in the world. Then look to Scripture. And let that remind you of your place in God's economy.

Okay, that's enough for today. More to come soon!

Karen

Nurture Your Passion

Bet you thought I wasn't going to finish this up, huh? Well, guess again.

So, we talked about what kills passion, but what can we do to nurture it? Before I give you my thoughts, I want to hear from you.

What to you do to stir that sense of creativity within yourself? To remind yourself what it is you're passionate about? To honor the passion God's planted deep within?

How do you create an passion-nurturing environment at home? At work?

Where do you go--or what do you do?--when you need your passion restored?

Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Karen

True Confessions

Okay, time to 'fess up.

I've been struggling with blogging. Yes, I know. You're stunned. Amazed. Shocked.

Okay, not really, seeing as I haven't blogged in what? A MONTH?? More? So I've been wrestling with myself over this whole thing. I mean, I hate quitting something I've started. Feels too much like failure. And really, I do enjoy it. But with all the travel and workload and yada yada, blah blah blah...

I just couldn't make myself take the time.

Enter the Mount Hermon Career Track. That's where I was last week, at the Mount Hermon Writers' Conference, helping lead the Career Track for published authors. One of the panels I was on was about social networking: Twitter, blogging, Facebook, et al. And the inimitable Camy Tang, who is the blogging queen, says this: "If you're not blogging at least three times a week you're not a blogger." Ouch. Three times a week? I'm lucky if I make it three times a month!

Happily, she didn't stop there. She went on to help us understand where most bloggers go wrong, and I was guilty of a number of the mistakes she mentioned.

Especially posts that are too long.

WAY too long.

So I decided to give blogging another try. But this time I'm going to take a page from Twitter and limit my word count. No, not to 120 words per blog (I mean, let's be real, folks!) But I'm going to try to stick to 250-300 words a blog entry. Which means this entry is about done!

Hey, that wasn't so hard.

Peace, all.

Karen