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Gratitude breaks the spell of Writers Block |
Staring at a blank page is like staring into a snowfield. The snow, untouched by civilization and unmarked by living creatures, blinds you for a few minutes, it glistens reflecting subtle shades of pure white and rainbows at odd angles. If you stare at the snow too long, you get lost in the interplay of light and shadow. As the day wears on, you become awestruck at the beauty of the snow's perfection. You marvel at the way an oak tree cast its ebony shadow across the pure white snow. You watch the tree's shadow change, grow and shrink, as Earth turns and the sun moves from morning to evening. If you stand out in the snow too long without moving, you risk snow bite or freezing. If you are fortunate, a red fox will walk across your line of sight. The fox will leave his footprints written in the snowfield. As you watch the fox move, the spell holding you in one spot staring at the snow is broken. You are free to go inside out of the cold and out of danger. I must say, writing 500 words a day isn't difficult, unless I'm attempting to write on a single subject. On Monday, October 28, 2013, I began posting my weekly goals at "Weekly Goals" ![]() "O SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt be called to give account for thy deeds." Bah'u'll'h The Hidden Words of Bah'u'll'h, Part I.'From the Arabic, #31, page 11 'Heinlein's Rules for Writers Rule One: You Must Write Rule Two: Finish What Your Start Rule Three: You Must Refrain From Rewriting, Except to Editorial Order Rule Four: You Must Put Your Story on the Market Rule Five: You Must Keep it on the Market until it has Sold' Robert A. Heinlein It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation, such as crafts, trades and the like. We have graciously exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One. Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and the blessings of God and render thanks unto Him at eventide and at dawn. Waste not your time in idleness and sloth. Occupy yourselves with that which profiteth yourselves and others. Thus hath it been decreed in this Tablet from whose horizon the day-star of wisdom and utterance shineth resplendent. Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah Revealed After the Kitab-i-Aqdas, Pages 21-29: gr 32 I changed the way I did entries in this book several times. Beginning on March 21, 2018 the entries will cover the topics of spiritual, inspirational, and religions. However, the genres it will be under are Women's, Inspirational, and Spiritual with a tag of Religious. |
Jalál (Glory), 2 Mulk (Dominion) 176 B.E. - Saturday, February 8, 2020 Humanity's Soteriology1 Humanity's soteriology depends upon its unity, upon the acceptance of the oneness of the human race. Gratitude List for 2 Mulk Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty), 19 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Thursday, February 6, 2020 Gratitude List for 19 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Istiqlál (Independence), 1 Mulk (Dominion) 176 B.E. - Friday, February 7, 2020 Gratitude List for 1 Mulk Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
ʻIdál (Justice), 18 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, February 5, 2020 Winter Clouds2 Winter clouds gather bringing back memories of snowy Oklahoma winters, when Grandma made hot chocolate and baked pumpkin pies. Gratitude List for 18 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection), 16 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Monday, February 3, 2020 Gratitude List for 15 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Fiḍál (Grace), 17 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, February 4, 2020 Gratitude List for 17 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Jamál (Beauty), 15 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Sunday, February 2, 2020 Food For My Soul3 Word by word, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph, and page by page I consume food of the spirit revealed by Baha'u'llah. The scripture of the Blessed Beauty feed my soul with the bread of life, and wine of immortality. Gratitude List for 15 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 14 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Saturday, February 1, 2020 Winter Days4 On beautiful winter days, when the sky is blue and the sun shines bright my muse takes flight when I hear a spiritual or a gospel song; it's at these moments that I write odes to the Glory of God. Gratitude List for 14 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 13 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Friday, January 31, 2020 Gratitude List for 13 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Istijlál (Majesty), 12 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Thursday, January 30, 2020 Winter5 On cold winter nights a chill penetrates my bones arousing thoughts of spring. In the sleepless cold snuggling under warm blankets I miss spring's pleasant embrace. Winter is lonely flowerless gardens, dead grass, and leafless trees. Gratitude List for 12 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
ʻIdál (Justice), 11 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, January 29, 2020 There's something about the sunset that saddens me. It is time to face reality! Did I read from God's word today? Did I pray? Did I bring joy into someone's life? Or did I fall short of the mark by bringing pain to a human heart? Dis word and deed go hand-in-hand in my dealing with my fellowman? Or did my actions oppose my words proving me a hypocrite? Gratitude List for 11 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Fiḍál (Grace), 10 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, January 28, 2020 January7 January is the month of the mouse, two years in a row they have entered the apartment uninvited and unwanted. January is a stressful month without mice getting into the kitchen drawer and eating the small bags of rice. Gratitude List for 10 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection), 9 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Monday, January 27, 2020 Gratitude List for 9 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Jamál (Beauty), 8 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Sunday, January 26, 2020 Winter Afternoon8 A chilly breeze blows through the palm trees, clouds decorate the blue sky, and I pray giving thanks for another beautiful winter day. Gratitude List for 8 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 7 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Saturday, January 25, 2020 Walking Along the Edge9 I walk along the cliff of survival, a hair's breath from tumbling into the abyss, one misstep and I fall into the darkness. I cannot look into the chasm, because I will lose my footing and fall into the endless night of financial ruin. Gratitude List for 7 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 6 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Friday, January 24, 2020 Gratitude List for 6 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
ʻIdál (Justice), 4 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, January 22, 2020 Gratitude List for 4 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Istijlál (Majesty), 5 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Thursday, January 23, 2020 Facebook Status Update I'm beginning to dislike January; every Gregorian year-- for the past few years-- has been stress filled. I spend the first quarter getting everything unstressed, so that by the final quarter I have a restful night's sleep. A new Gregorian year begins by pushing my stress buttons; I pray, meditate, and work to get it together, only to have it come apart at the beginning of the next year. Gratitude List for 5 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Epiphany At Noon10 At 73 I don't deal well with maybes! When I ask a question that require either a yes or no, I expect a yes or a no. Don't say "Uh, well..," while you look for an excuse, just give me a straight forward no or yes. Footnotes |
Fiḍál (Grace), 3 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 Poem At the End of the Day11 The day draws slowly to an end, weariness sets in, and tears begin. I feel so alone-- isolated-- cut off from the rest of humanity. What causes this stress? Is it lack of financial success? Is the problem spiritual? I contemplate the reason, and reach for my prayer book knowing that the answer will come only through prayer. Gratitude List for 3 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection), 2 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Monday, January 20, 2020 January Poem12 The door to 2020 stands open giving a hopeful glimpse of a brand new year and a new decade. Inhale the breath of faith-- as it wafts through the door of January-- as it invites us to strive for world peace. Gratitude List for 2 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 19 Sharaf (Honor) 176 B.E. - Saturday, January 18, 2020 Gratitude List for 19 Sharaf Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Jamál (Beauty), 1 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Sunday, January 19, 2020 Gratitude List for 1 Sulṭán Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Istijlál (Majesty), 17 Sharaf (Honor) 176 B.E. - Thursday, January 16, 2020 Gratitude List for 17 Sharaf Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Istiqlál (Independence), 18 Sharaf (Honor) 176 B.E. - Friday, January 17, 2020 Universal Prayer13 O Thou Splendor of reality! Out of nonexistence You have called into being the universe. O Thou Glory of eternity! Your image Is reflected in the mirror of creation. O Thou Beauty of divinity! You have called in existence The Manifestations of Your attributes. Gratitude List for 18 Sharaf Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Footnotes |
Fiḍál (Grace), 15 Sharaf (Honor) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, January 14, 2020 Gratitude List for 15 Sharaf Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ʻIdál (Justice), 16 Sharaf (Honor) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, January 15, 2020 Gratitude List for 16 Sharaf Today I am thankful ... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |