Blogging and Bee Balm, Words and Wisteria...

— Blogging and Bee Balm, Words and Wisteria? —

Blogging and Bee Balm, words and wisteria, computers and coneflowers, editing and echinacea?

What exactly do writing and gardening have in common? Besides the fact that I find joy in both, the more I write and the more I garden, the more similarities I find.

Both creative outlets begin with a blank page. Writers subconsciously see an article in everyone they meet while gardeners intuitively envision newly designed gardens in areas where there is nothing but weeds. Like our Creator God, who created the heavens and the earth and everything in it ‘ex nihilo’ (from nothing,) we are created in His image and have an innate desire to create.

When given a blank page, whether in writing or gardening, a crucial commonality is the big “C.”

My friend Merriam Webster defines the word Cultivate:

1. to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops; also : to loosen or break up the soil about (growing plants)

2. a : to foster the growth of

c : to improve by labor, care, or study : refine

3. further, encourage

Cultivating

1) How do I cultivate the soil or prepare it for raising hostas? I till, then amend my clay soil with peat moss, add green sand, an organic fertilizer, and mulch around each plant — I nourish my plants with the nutrients and the water they need to flourish.

Similarly in writing another article, I sift my past experiences, add good books, go to yearly writer’s conferences for motivation, attend monthly writer’s group and keep deadlines to keep me encouraged and on schedule. — I nourish my mind with the stimulating nutrients (and mugs of tea) I need to flourish.

Fostering Growth

2) How do I foster the growth of my hostas? Sometimes fostering growth means protecting my plants from water-stealing weeds, slugs and insects that eat hosta leaves or even family dogs that enjoy sleeping on top of my new Empress Wu hosta plants.

Fostering growth in my writing also means protecting my mind from time-stealing electronic media and everyday choices that eat my time, consequently leaving holes in undone manuscripts.

Refining

How can I refine my gardens? We ‘refine’ something by polishing or pruning it — weeding, adding waves of color, removing a plant that no longer seems to fit, or adding hardscape to enhance a focal point in your garden.

Refining my writing also includes the laborious chore of weeding, which is similar to the seemingly never-ending task of editing, revising and editing once again. It is labor to cut out words we believe help tell the story, but refinement actually means perfecting by pruning.

Encouraging

As Meriam Webster defines the word cultivate, it also means to further or encourage. Furthering the arts of gardening or writing takes a concerted effort — the work and act of encouragement. Kipling explains it best whether one is speaking about the art of gardening or writing:

Our England is a garden, and such gardens are not made
 by singing: -"Oh, how beautiful!" and sitting in the shade.
~Rudyard Kipling, "The Glory of the Garden." Simply put, we need to "just do it."

And the act of gardening and writing in itself is self-encouragement: I cultivate my garden, and my garden cultivates me. ~Robert Brault.

Happy Writing and Gardening... Janet

A Love-Hate Relationship

Writers are like chemists. After we find the formula, the development becomes much easier. At least, that's how it works for me. I'm working on my second book, which has been a few years percolating. Its  pattern just recently emerged as its audience and purpose became more refined. Walk in Love, unlike Real Mothers, is written for those who are questioning their faith or are on the outside looking in. Getting to this defined point has been excruciating with lots of changed drafts and "rabbit trails."

As in all passions, writing carries this love-hate relationship. Sometimes we can't wait to express ourselves in the written word, discovering the heart of our message as the keyboard zings. Then other days, we simply sit and stare, pounding the delete key in frustration. Inspiration is a slippery noodle--difficult to fork and equally difficult to swallow sometimes. But when it's right, it goes down easily.

So we keep writing. Like the apostle Paul's theme in many of his letters, perseverance is key. As communicators of the greatest Truth of all time [the reality of Jesus Christ as God's one and only Son sent to save us from sin], let's not give up. The tools we have today are amazing--laptops, the internet, even social media. And let's not forget God's Holy Word in all its versions with all its various commentaries. Our tools are magnificent. Let's use them for His Glory.

"Then the Lord answered, 'Who then is the faithful and wise manager. . .From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:42a, 48b.

Once in Awhile. . .

Once in awhile we impress our children. Not very often, mind you. But most of us moms and dads will take whatever accolades our offspring give. This time it involved our soon-to-be 27-year-old daughter, who really does give both her dad and me more credit than we deserve.

Valerie and I were discussing priorities, which led us to Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Usually God has me park on the sin entanglement and perseverance, but this time, His Holy Spirit highlighted "throw off everything that hinders" and "the race marked out for us."

Even good deeds can hinder us. Yes, if they spread us too thin to do what God has called us to do. A wise person once said if we say "yes" to something, we say "no" to something else. That means saying "NO" to ministry that I could do, would enjoy doing, and have done in the past. I may or may not have 30 more years of living this side of heaven, so it's time I choose what only I can do, what God has gifted me to do, and what He's marked out for me to finish. At this point in time, only I can minister to my mother, write what God has put on my heart, encourage my husband, my son, and my daughter. I can supplement our income by tutoring students in reading and writing. I can serve my fellow Christian sisters by sharing meals and babysitting when needed. Beyond these commitments, I must draw the line until God redirects my route to the finish line. Once in awhile, saying "NO" is really saying "YES" to what matters.

Against the Enemy

Today Al, Valerie, and I walked the canal downtown after an enjoyable breakfast at LePeep's. I really enjoy their battered french toast so the 80-minute stroll in front of the NCAA Headquarters up to New York Street and back was very much needed. We only paused to study the Medal of Honor recipients. Curious, I wanted to know why they received it. According to Wikipedia, the Medal of Honor is awarded for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any enemy of the United States."

Since mankind's enemy is Satan, our battle requires a similar sacrifice, one that Jesus paid for dearly on the cross with his blood. Somehow I'm not seeing Jesus wearing a medal of honor, but I do see him someday wearing many crowns, eyes blazing with fire, seated on a valiant white horse leading the armies of heaven [Revelation 19:12-14]. Until then he's given us tools of defense against evil, against our spiritual enemy, the devil.

Paul, in his logical summary to the saints in Ephesus [Ephesians 6:10-18],  uses great transitional words and phrases like: finally, therefore, then, in addition to, and, with this in mind. But the power in his logic comes from its overall message. God has given us all the armor we need to defend ourselves: the belt of truth; the breastplate of righteousness; the gospel of peace; the shield of faith; and the helmet of salvation. Praise God we can outfit ourselves in full armor against the enemy.

The Medal of Honor