January 29, 2010
By C. J. Stegall-Evans
This morning I was in bed praying for the right words to use in my post today. I began concentrating on the word “word.” Words are so powerful we really have to be careful how we use them. After all God spoke and the world came into existence. When we speak we may not create a world but we do evoke emotions. While it is true we are not responsible for the actions of others we can speak in a manner that triggers a reaction in others that may be positive or negative. Therefore we have to be responsible for the words we put forth in this world.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Words are so important that in Christianity Jesus is referred to as the Word. Maybe you do not consider your words sacred but you indeed create your environment with your words. When you speak hostile words you create a hostile environment. When you speak peaceful words you create a peaceful environment. While we are not responsible for how others react to our words we must realize most people are asleep at the wheel. In general people spend so much time thinking about their future or their past that they are not present for their life.
It is up to each of us to create the kind of world in which we want to live. According to Gandhi we should “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Changing our home life, work place, and any other environment we wish to change starts from within. Today I plan to choose my words wisely it is my hope you do the same. Have a blessed and peaceful day.
© 2010 by C. J. Stegall-Evans (All Rights Reserved)
Designed by Tim Sainburg from Brambling Design
Categories: Life.
January 28, 2010
Ty C. J. Stegall-Evans
I awake to the sound of a train barreling down the tracks. I close my eyes and feel the quivers of disturbance as the train makes it way to unknown places. The sound of the train is like music to my ears. Other than the island of Guam, I have always lived within hearing distance of a train route. I am prior military and have moved more than the average person but trains always remind me I am home.
By home I don’t mean an actual location but a feeling of familiarity, or security in a world in which I sometimes feel wholly inadequate as a person. My feeling of inadequatecy is not a bad thing; I just don’t fit, which is the price one pays for being one’s self. Trains are a simple constant in an uncertain world.
I luxuriate in simple pleasures and try not to take them for granted. I am grateful that I get to hear trains every day. Actually, I am grateful for everyday. What makes you grateful?
© 2010 by C. J. Stegall-Evans (All Rights Reserved)
Designed by Tim Sainburg from Brambling Design
Categories: Life.
January 27, 2010
By C. J. Stegall-Evans
Writing seems difficult because sometimes when you sit down to write the words just seem to dissipate. The only remedy for that is to sit down to write anyway; this is also a challenge because the thing you love to do becomes a chore. So rather than agonize, before you begin writing take the time to sit down, relax, and meditate on whatever makes you feel good. While you are still relaxed just write; it does not matter what you write, just write. It does not have to be good, don’t worry about your grammar or spelling just write.
Writing does not just come from the mind, but rather from that secret place within that wants to be free to express itself. Writing is letting go and allowing words to just spring forth. Writing allows time and space to disappear and there is only this flow that seems to be coming from nowhere, allow the writing to happen through you.
The primary thing you have to consider when writing is to step back and take yourself out of the way. You can always use you head or whatever else you want to put into your writing during revisions, but for first drafts and daily practice just write. Remember, writing is a practice the more we do it the better we get. When sitting to write we are not always going to feel that inspiration that keeps us writing, this is where discipline comes in.
Discipline is not easy for writers, we are quite the procrastinating bunch; but if we stay the course we are greatly rewarded. Seeing your words on paper or on screen at the end of the day is a major accomplishment that should be celebrated.
© 2010 C. J. Stegall-Evans
Designed by Tim Sainburg from Brambling Design
Categories: Writing.
January 25, 2010
Welcome to the January 25, 2010 edition of Lovely Words. After the tragic consequences of the earthquake in Haiti the world is feeling quite unstable right now so as you peruse the articles below I hope you take comfort in hearing the lovely words of my fellow bloggers. Remember don’t just read the articles on these sites take a few minutes to look over each site to see what they have to offer.
© 2010 C. J. Stegall-Evans
Designed by Tim Sainburg from Brambling Design
Categories: Blog Carnival.
January 19, 2010
By C. J. Stegall-Evans
Along with most everyone else in the world my heart is breaking for the people of Haiti. I have had to take a step back from technology for a few days to reflect on what I can do to help. A few dollars and a few words just don’t seem to be enough. I guess when you add my dollars with your dollars and your neighbor’s dollars we began to pick up steam. But the faces of the children are haunting because they are not just on TV but are real people with real lives that crying out for help; Words just seem so insignificant.
Although words seem insignificant, there is a pseudo-religious leader and a radio talk show host saying all the wrong words. There are so many in need, how could we ever condemn them or ask people not to send aid. When we help others we elevate our humanity; when we neglect to help others we diminish our humanity. We are all connected when we help the Haitian people we help ourselves. The United States is such a blessed country how could we not be of service to others. There are so many third world countries that seem to be the Jobs of the world. Let us pray that like Job from the Bible God gives the Haitians what they need to survive yet another calamity.
A collect is a short Christian prayer that makes a request of God. The following is a collect I wrote for the people of Haiti. Like I said previously words seem so insignificant right now but maybe the prayers and positive words will add up and the Haitians will feel all the love and support they are receiving from around the word. Remember “Where two or more are gathered in my name I shall be there also” (Matthew 18:20).
Heavenly Father,
Who saw Job through his trials and tribulation
Please lift up your Haitian children and cradle them in your arms
So they may be feel the comfort of your love, and know there is power in your name
In the name of your son, Jesus Christ
Amen
© 2010 by C. J. Stegall-Evans
Designed by Tim Sainburg from Brambling Design
Categories: Blogging, Life.
January 14, 2010
By C. J. Stegall-Evans
Whenever I start a new screen play I print out a title page and attach it to 120 numbered pages of blank paper. In order to achieve ones goals one has to be able to see it. I place my future masterpiece on my coffee table so that I can see it every day. I don’t know why but my cat, Sketch, feels this is the perfect place to put her little cat butt. Those of you with cats know what I mean.
I have read several cat books, yes, I have to research everything, and not one of them says, “Your cat will put its butt on everything you own.” I just grateful she is trained to stay off the kitchen counters. I was mortified when she was new to our family that whenever I’m reading (I read every day) she will just come and sit in my book. I’m quite squeamish and thought it was the height of disgusting.
I’ve since learned to leave the faux screenplay on the table so I can see it and keep the actual screenplay put away. I’ve made peace with Sketch putting her cat butt wherever she pleases. I think this means my cat has trained me. I guess the joy she bring outweighs the fact that she likes to sit on screenplays, in books and all manner of academic material.
© 2010 by C. J. Stegall-Evans
Designed by Tim Sainburg from Brambling Design
Categories: Life.
January 12, 2010
By C. J. Stegall-Evans
It’s so cold outside. How cold is it? It’s so cold I can’t even think of anything witty to write because my brain is frozen. I don’t mean Florida cold, but rather a Hell freezing over kind of cold. Here in Florida temperatures in sixties are considered cold. When it gets any colder we are just beside ourselves. No one wants to catch the sunrise on the beach when its twenty-four degrees. I typically spend hours every day on my patio writing; now I’m stuck inside complaining and I typically don’t complain.
I did notice on the news today that it will be in the seventies by the end of the week in the mean-time I have to pace, drink hot tea and complain. I have never acquired an appreciation for cold weather. I imagine, at this point in my life, if I lived in a colder state I would sit in my house and cry. In the past when I lived in a colder state I felt as if something was missing as if my life were not my own.
I recently read an article about the Happiest States, of which Florida is number three. I want my happiness back. Florida is the Sunshine State and I feel cheated. I think there is some law that we should not more than three successive cold days. This just is not fair, there are few things that unnerve me, but Florida not holding up to its end of the bargain as the Sunshine State tops the list.
On these sequential cold days instead of practicing Writing as a Sacred Art I feel as if I am practicing Complaining as a Profane Sacrifice. I am a creature of habit I thrive on warm weather, beautiful sunrises, and frequent trips to the beach. I know I’m being a hysterical writer about this whole thing and I assure you, I don’t care. Dear Readers, please send me warm thoughts as I lament my fate of being in the frozen tundra that is Florida for a few more days. Okay, I got that out of my system I feel good once again; I think I will have a cup of tea.
© 2010 by C. J. Stegall-Evans
Designed by Tim Sainburg from Brambling Design
Categories: Blogging.
January 11, 2010
Happy New Year and welcome to the January 11, 2010 edition of Lovely Words. January typically starts the year off slow and methodical, you blink and before you know its December and we wonder where the has year gone. Please take the time to embrace life. We began the carnival with a bit of New Year’s humor:
Madeleine Begun Kane presents It Is Hereby Resolved (New Year?s Resolution Humor) posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog.
petervanray presents Romanian Girl posted at Who Knows Where I’m Off To?.
Inspiration
Suzanne Kingsbury presents Suzanne Kingsbury Pregnant with a Novel and Why Blogging Keeps Us From Committing Suicide posted at Suzanne Kingsbury, saying, “Love your idea of a carnival…”
Angela Martin presents 100 Incredibly Useful Links for Teaching and Studying Shakespeare posted at Online Colleges.org.
Lovely Words
Surbhi Bhatia presents If Only You Knew posted at The Viewspaper » The Viewspaper.
What Inspires You
Amanda CMJ presents Writing Well with George Orwell posted at Yield To Pedestrian: All the Cool, All the Time, saying, “Peace and fluency to all writers out there!”
Writing
Kaitlyn cole presents 10 Iconic Journalists Every JStudent Should Study posted at Online Colleges.net.
Missy Frye presents A Conversation with Tricia Goyer posted at Incurable Disease of Writing, saying, “An interview with author Tricia Goyer.”
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Lovely Words using our
carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our
blog carnival index page.
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lovely words, blog carnival.
© 2010 by C. J. Stegall-Evans
Designed by Tim Sainburg from Brambling Design
Categories: Blog Carnival.
January 6, 2010
By C. J. Stegall-Evans
Well it’s that time of year again when we make resolutions that we barely keep a week. Last year I decided to do something different, rather than resolutions I started setting goals. I mean clear concrete goals with a plan of action. My goals were simple: start a blog, write a screenplay, and loose a few pounds. To start a blog I read five books; I know that may be a bit much but I’m information junky. The screenplay was easy, I watched so many movies in 2008 I began to dream entire movies. I also purchased several books to learn structure and format. In losing weight action plan I extended working out with my Pilates DVDs to five or six day per week and trade off with Yoga DVDs every six weeks.
My goals for this year (2010) are to continue writing, loose a few more pounds, and become a minimalist. The last goal to become a minimalist was an unexpected, but as life has a way of steering us along the right course and it is very much in order with my vision for my life. It’s always good to listen to what your life is telling you. On some level I believe this journey is about more than being a minimalist but rather an opportunity to get my house in order: spiritually, physically, financially, and emotionally. I’m not really sure, I’m just going to be open and enjoy the journey.
That is my prayer for you this season of new beginnings that you are open to what life has to offer and don’t forget to enjoy the journey. Feel free to share your thoughts on the subject.
© 2010 C. J. Stegall-Evans
Designed by Tim Sainburg from Brambling Design
Categories: Blogging.
