I found an old post from last spring that I thought rather fitting, if you twist the daily prompt’s meaning just a smidge…
This was one of my ‘Investigating Truths’ episodes, but it seemed fitting, somehow.
For as long as I can remember, I have made sense of myself and this world in two realms of thought. One realm of thought is in the actual and physical sense. What we see, do, talk about, eat and feel are things in the here and now. The second realm of thought is what I think of as my storybook, or cartoon version, if you will. Let’s call this part the “Behind the Scenes of My Truths,” the adventure version.
What follows is written in storybook version…….
I am wild from the top of my head all the way down to my toes! It is all that I can seem to remember of myself. My journeying, or running if I am being truthful, has always found me far out in the desert. For as long as I can remember, there has been a path worn, from one hidden oasis to another, by my very own feet. I have hidden them well, though, so most that wander by are unaware of my presence.
As the years of my life rolled forward, I found that there was One who had been following my footprints, always leaving little packages of love for me. On one of my journeys along the outskirts of the Cities of Souls, I came to realize that the One whom I had sensed, was in fact my True Father! It was both joyful and difficult to become aware of Him.
I stayed…
Before I knew it, time seemed to have sped forward in my journey, by a great many years! I discovered that I had settled down right inside the walls … building relationships with others, and trying to live and do things the way all of the others thought was right.
My Father showed me the gifts given to me, but instead of being at peace, I became fearful…
I believed that I was losing myself, and would simply become a nothing, moving along by habit!
So this wild child ran!!!
I fled into the desert with as much speed as possible, for my feet had become softened over the years spent within the walls built by man. Many times I fell, stumbling over rocks and debris that had been left on my paths. Had it really been that long? I was not sure if the way had become obstructed or if I had simply forgotten my exact path. Many seasons were spent wandering, clearing out my old and unused paths.
Time rolled on…
Oh, I would come near the outskirts, just close enough to remember what I left behind. The intensity of my pain and fear, along with the guilt over my failure, drove me away again and again…
My last act of running into the desert, or defiance as I see it, nearly cost me my very life, but that is for another time. For now, I leave you with this thought…I am still that wild child inside, but my Father has been revealing to me the graceful Phoenix that He is rising up from the ashes of her truths…
You didn’t think I would forget your cookies, did you?
From the time I was very small, I loved to write. I was reading Louis Lamour books when I was roughly eight years old. No, my childhood wasn’t an easy one, so reading and writing were my sustenance! I could lose myself in worlds far better than the one I was enduring. I was reading adult books before I’d ever learned the meaning of all the words. The funny thing is that the books made sense, somehow.
Here I sit, nearly fifty years later, still learning. When I began this blog some eight years ago, the memories slowly began to resurface, giving rise to many wonderful, and some not-so-wonderful stories, poems, anecdotes, journal entries… and eventually, stories began arriving. Big ones, small ones, funny ones, sad ones… and some that made readers say, Huh?
When I really began writing heavily, it was in early 2023. Back in those initial days, weeks, and months, my writing was more a therapy session than anything more. I looked toward WordPress subscribers as a silent audience, or a studio sounding board, if you will.
But then, over time, something began to change. My subscribers, or readers if you will, began to comment, share and respond. Not like fans, though, but rather my friends. I might even be so bold as to say that many have become like family to me… like a village, really! You have all watched me suffer, struggle, cry, rage, and lament my journey. But, you have also been with me through blessings, joys, and countless literary adventures!
You have encouraged me to keep going, supported and loved me through some of the worst of times, some of the hardest life lessons, and some of the deepest joys of my journey! For this reason, I want to share something with you that while being rather small, brings me a great amount of joy in sharing with you, my most treasured family.
I know it’s only an e-book, but it’s got to start somewhere, right?
God Bless my husband’s abilities, for without his hard work and skills, it would have been impossible for me to navigate all this publishing stuff. I’ve a mountain of manuscripts just sitting, collecting dust, which is the opposite of what I wish for them. This is certainly worthy of at least a peek, if not a full read. Oh, and since it’s published on Amazon Kindle, members can read it for free! Don’t worry though, I still receive royalties, even if you don’t purchase it.
For now, I’ve simply included a link to the book, which is below, but you can also just look it up on Amazon.
Faith without action is rather empty, so here is an action…
I don’t think I could have done any of this without you, my WordPress family. So, I offer my most sincere thank you from the bottom of my heart, for all of your love, support, and encouragement… Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!
“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you”. Matthew 17:20
To this day, everytime I remember back on this show, I can remember the lyrics to the insurance add that ran during the commercials… Mutual of Omaha… people… you can count on when the goings tough…
I would spend every Sunday evening watching this show, as it played right before the Wonderful World of Disney. My parents would finish watching their line up of the Lawrence Welk show, and Hee Haw… finally relinquishing the entertainment box to the small humans. Back in the day, most families only had one television in the house.
Marlin Perkins was such a wildlife superhero to this little girl! I wanted to grow up to be a National Geographic journalist. I would spend most of my free time pretending I was out on that African safari, making friends with the baby Giraffes I saw onscreen…
Or I pretended to find wild baby Cheetah cubs, carrying my poor cat around in a blanket in the middle of summer… til he got hot and escaped my clutches…
While I’d love to spend my morning filling you in on all the goings on around here, I’ve only enough time to say that we’re all back aboard The Torrent, safe, sound, and headed home. It’s sort of funny, if you think on it, because when I say that we’re headed for the barn… we are literally headed for our barn, lol!
There’s far too much to do around the ship, at the moment, so you’ll just have to wait til we get home for more information regarding our tiny troll’s decision about where to live. At least, for now, Peanut has a desire to visit our barn. I assured him that we would assist him in finding his way, and that he could stay as long as he wished to do so.
If the weather stays fair and the winds hold, we should make it home by Friday. As a pirate would say, keep a weather eye on the horizon… or as Gandalf told Aragorn, “Look to my coming on the first light of the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East.”
Ok, well maybe it won’t be quite as dramatic an entrance as that, but I think you’ll get the idea.
While I have no aspirations or dreams of designing anything for the future, in the real world that is, I do have a good bit of experience in building imaginary cities, animal houses, and really good armor.
It is Friday everyone, and it’s sprinkling outside… tap tap tapping on the roof of our RV. I think my boycott of the summer heat is working! The rains have finally blessed me with a cool early morning walk.
Even though I have no idea for a city of the future, at least not one that any of you want to hear me go on about, I can still be useful to you guys and WordPress. If you are ever in need of a Gorilla Habitat, an upgraded Concession stand, or maybe a specialist in breeding Great Dragons, I got you covered!
Before I take off on my rainy walk along the river, here is Brekkers for everybody… please remember to eat the blueberries, as they are full of antioxidants …
Thought #1 – It’s finally happened! Last night, I actually said out loud that I thought a vegan donut sounded good!
Thought #2 – If I’m eating oatmeal with oat milk, do I refer to it as oatmeal with milk, or Oat Oatmeal?
Thought #3 – How many puppies can I fit in a tiny home? Maybe some are built with a puppy pullout. Hey! I thought of it first, here! Maybe I should go on Shark Tank!
Thought #4 – Wouldn’t it be funny to see your local metro bus with flashy lights, loud music, and those suspension lifter’s on the tires? The kind they put on souped up tiny lawnmower cars? I know that we’ve all seen em bouncing through the intersection on a Friday night. If metro tried to do that, the passengers would all be car sick!
Thought #5 – I know babies only see in black and white, at first. But what about their dreams? If I read a story to my unborn granddaughter, will she dream in color?
Thought #6 – I want raisons in my oatmeal, today. Do I want them bad enough to get dressed and walk down to the store and back?
Thought #7 – That’s twice that I’ve ended up on a thought about oatmeal. It’s crazy how much of our brain is always focused on foods!
Thought #8 – My daughter is getting married tomorrow. I wasn’t invited.
Thought #9 – Forgiveness is eternal, but consequences… those are like ripples in a pond. They must play out until they reach the sandy shore’s of one’s life. I shall wear my choices with as much grace as I can. May God be with her and our son-in-law, as they begin their journey as one! I pray that God extend his umbrella of coverage over them and our soon to be born Sugar Plum… not my will, but thy will be done, father! Amen
Thought #10 – Man! I just realized that if I feel depressed… I can’t even binge eat Ice cream, anymore! Not Fair!
Thought #11 – I want to try dry brush painting, again.
Thought #12 – If I ever get a puppy again, I’m gonna take my new baby to one of those groomers that will color and cut the dog’s fur to look like Tigger, from Winnie The Pooh!
Thought #13 – Learning to forgive is a really good way to learn about being unforgiven by another. Walk a mile takes on a whole new meaning, when it comes to the act of forgiveness.
Thought #14 – God wants me… just the way I am, with all my hurts, scars, sins, mistakes, broken dreams, and bridges on fire!
Thought #15 – By the time I get to thought #15, my heart, mind, and spirit have all met upon shores of peace, resting beneath one so much greater than myself! He is the author of my faith, the healer of my heart, and the One who calls me His own! By the grace of God, I shall rise from the ashes of my own failures to walk beneath my king all the way Home, hand in hand!