Writing as a Sacred Art

By C. J. Stegall-Evans 

I am in the process of becoming and I have horrible growing pains. We are always in the process of becoming but I feel now is one of those fork in the road moments in time that determines my destiny for years to come.

I can’t not explain how I know this except to say we intutitutively know when we are at a crossroads road in our life and we must either go straight, left or right. Needless to say I am spending a lot of time in deep thought and prayer. I am taking into consideration the consequences of all my actions.

I’m trying to figure out what will make me happy long-term rather than just addressing my present wants and needs. Growing up seems to be an ongoing process in which I am not always adequately equipped to participate at an optimum level.

I would love to be one of those people who get life served up on a silver platter. Instead I stumble through life getting bumps and bruises from the lessons learned along the way.  Anne Lamott says, “You have to make mistakes to find out who you aren’t.”

I guess I’m tired of finding out who I am not and want to get on to the business of who I am. It seems as if as soon as I get a handle on it I start to transition again. Every ten years a new person emerges; the only light at the end of this tunnel is that the new person is always a better person.

I know it seems I am lamenting my plight but in reality I am analyzing out loud in an effort to find understanding. Some people talk, or think things out but I prefer the written word. Everything becomes clearer after I write about it.

Okay, maybe everything does not become clearer but I do feel better after writing. Writing is one of the few things in life that speaks to my soul. I have made a lot of mistakes in life, of which I have no regrets, but becoming a writer is not one of them.

© 2010 C. J. Stegall-Evans (All Rights Reserved)  

Designed by Tim Sainburg from Brambling Design

C. J. Stegall-Evans

I spent the majority of last week without internet service. I found the experience to be both beneficial and mildly frustrating.  It was beneficial in that I was able to sit and watch the sunrise without out thinking of what else I could be doing. The days I did not to work outside the home felt slower and easier.

After a couple days I did not feel the need to check in with the outside world or read the news online. I took long rides on my bike through the city as if I were a tourist. I did not read any more than usual but I did feel less rushed.

Career wise I did not move mountains but I did step back and reflect on my wonderfully peaceful life. I am reminded of my technology-less week this morning as I stop working a couple times just to listen to the rain.

Although my week without technology was quite freeing it was also mildly frustrating when I could not post here on WAASA or check my email. I love getting up in the morning writing an imperfect article of whatever is in my head and posting it online.

I enjoy encouraging other to write and I hope those of you who checks in on me every morning were not too disappointed. I also missed checking my email. I have an enormous backlog of email of which I whittle away on a daily basis.

After a few days of missing email duty what was enormous has become insane. So, as I sit here writing, I am trying not to become overwhelmed at the thought of my bulging email box. All the work did not get around to last week is still waiting for me.

 I look at last week as a sort of mini-vacation. I am grateful for small miracles but I am also grateful to have my technology back.   

© 2010 C. J. Stegall-Evans (All Rights Reserved)

Designed by Tim Sainburg from Brambling Design

By C. J. Stegall-Evans 

I wanted to become a teacher because teachers do this amazing thing; you know the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, well, teachers just give it away. Teachers stand in their classrooms every day and dispense the keys to success. Teachers are not only responsible for what they do in their classroom they are also expected to lead impeccable lives outside their schools.

 In a society where good role models are few, unfortunately, it is incumbent upon the teachers to take up the slack. Teachers and the school system have a huge responsibility in that they are the foundation that holds civilization together.

I was recently gifted with a mug that says, “Teaching is the profession that creates all other.” Teaching is a profession of service to others that is bigger than any one individual. I believe it was Mr. Spock form Star Trek II who said it best, “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” Teaching is an honorable, yet, thankless, and low paying profession that requires high ethical standards, the patience of a saint, and a boat load of prayer.

** It’s Teacher Appreciation Week; take the time to let a teacher know he or she was/is important to you. **

© 2010 C. J. Stegall-Evans (All Rights Reserved)

Designed by Tim Sainburg from Brambling Design

By C. J. Stegall-Evans

Life has so many crossroads it seems we are always in need of someone to teach us or there is some life lesson to be learned. Life in itself is one huge lesson that we mere mortals must adapt ourselves to in order to flourish.   

Flourish is an interesting choice of words, in life it seems some of us learn life’s game plan while others fail to thrive. Where are the teachers or masters for those who fail to thrive; are those people not listening to heart beat of life? Or is it the age old question “why do bad things happen to good people?”        

I guess I am being a bit cynical lately because I have run into far too many people who are not ready to meet life head on. They are constantly beating their heads against a brick wall and wondering why it hurts.  I have encountered perfectly nice people who do not realize they are not living.

Living means learning and growing and accepting the teachers in our lives in whatever manner he/she or it appears. Some people are so busy knowing everything that they don’t take time to listen to what life is trying to teach.

Let us not forget at one time or another we are all students of life and we must slow down to listen to what life has to teach us. If we do not awaken that within us that seeks truth we miss out on so many life’s lessons. Remember, “When the student is ready the master appears” (Lao Tzu).

© 2010 C. J. Stegall-Evans (All rights Reserved)   

Designed by Tim Sainburg from Brambling Design