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 |  Gratitude breaks the spell of Writers Block |
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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"  . On Tuesday, October 29, 2013 I began keeping track of may accomplished goals in this journal."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. |
Jamál (Beauty) 2 Sharaf (Honor) 174 B.E. - Sunday, December 31, 2017 The Gregorian Year Ends The Gregorian year is drawing to an end, with the same sad, bloody headlines that cursed it path down the highway of history. I could cry, but that wouldn't help. Instead the best thing for me to do is say a prayer for the departed, a prayer for all the souls that came to a tragic end this year. I suspect this trail of blood will go on for another year, I pray it doesn't; however, until people begin to see the unity of humanity and the basic unity of religion, this blood letting will continue. The only thing I can do is pray, and do my best to stay positive by focusing on the scriptures revealed by Baha'u'llah. Contemplating 2018 The Feast of Sharaf (Honor) was held at the Las Vegas Baha'i Center on December 30 at 7:30 P.M. Pacific Time. I was unable to attend the Feast, however, I received a flyer about it in my Cox.net inbox. The flyer contained information about the Feast, which was a collective Feast for the Las Veags Baha'is. The flyer contained two verses of scripture, one from 'Abdu'l-Baha and the other from the Holy Bible. The one from the Christian Bible was Hebrews 3:13: "Encourage one another daily!" This is good advice, and a good goal for 2018, because I suspect it will be a year the whole world needs positive encouragement. The quote from 'Abdu'l-Baha read: “Man is he who forgets his own interests for the sake of others. His own comfort he forfeits for the well-being of all. Nay, rather, his own life must he be willing to forfeit for the life of mankind. Such a man is the honor of the world of humanity. Such a man is the glory of the world of mankind.” Twenty-Eighteen will be a stressful year, which will present new opportunities to humanity to over come the prejudices and superstitions of the past. The present condition of the world will eventually come to an end, and humanity will enter an age of peace and unity. World peace will eventually arrive, the problem now is getting through the present storm. The only way to get through another year of stress and world upheaval is to place my entire trust in God, and focus on the vision of the future presented in the scriptures revealed by Baha'u'llah. |
Istijlál (Majesty ), 17 Masá’il (Questions) 174 B.E. - Thursday, December 28, 2017 There are only three days left in 2017, and there are eighty-three days left in 174 B.E. I have listed eighteen goals (resolutions) to work on in the coming year. Between January 1 and March 20, 2018, I will work on and evaluate those goals to see which ones are feasible for 175 B.E. In the week before Naw-Ruz (Wednesday, Mrach 21) I will decided which goals to keep for 175 B.E. and which to replace. After that I need to review the goals and decide if I need to replace any for the New Year of 175 B.E. On the last Thankful Thursday in 2017, I contemplate this awesome bicentennial year, and am awestruck by the joyful and wonderful events. As 2017 draws to an end, I consider everything I have to be thankful for. If I were to list each item my gratitude list would fill an 50,000+ word book. As I wrote in "2017: An Awesome Year" , it has been an astounding year. True there have been stressful moments and events occurring through out the past twelve months, but most of those have not remained in my memory. Those moments and events no longer cause stress because I have placed them in Baha'u'llah's hands. Whatever is occurring in the world today is God's will and intended to lead humanity into a new age of peace, unity, and security.On On the last Thankful Thursday in 2017, I am grateful for the transformation of my attitude, over the last twelve months it has changed from negative to positive. |
Kamál (Perfection). 14 Masá’il (Questions) 174 B.E. - Monday, December 25, 2017 On the last motivational Monday in 2017 On the last motivational Monday in 2017, I contemplate 'Abdu'l-Baha's answer when he was ask about the way the teachings of Baha'u'llah differed from those of Christ. It is Christmas day, traditionally considered the birth day of His Holiness Jesus Christ. I am letting the argument of whether or not Christ was truly born in late December slide, because it doesn't matter when Christ was born. The important thing, which seems to be forgotten in this material age, is why He was born. "The teachings are the same. It is the same foundation and the same temple. Truth is one, and without division. The teachings of Jesus are in a concentrated form. Men do not agree to this day as to the meaning of many of His sayings. His teachings are as a flower in the bud. Today, the bud is unfolding into flower! Baha’u’llah has expanded and fulfilled the teachings, and has applied them in detail to the whole world." Abdu’l-Baha1 His Holiness Christ, like all the messengers sent for the Almighty, was born upon Earth to assist humanity in both its spiritual (the most important reason) and material development or advancement. Today, on December 25, 2017, I consider the reason for Christ's birth, and remember the Christmas celebrations of my childhood. Celebrations that were much less materialistic than those I witness today. As I ponder this day, I wonder, like Ms Palmer in her article what Jesus would think of the way His birthday is celebrated. Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 12 Masá’il (Questions) 174 B.E. - Saturday, December 23, 2017 Contemplating 2018 What are my plan, goals, or resolutions for 2018? Between January 1 and March 20, I plan to evaluate my accomplishments and plan my goals for 175 B.E. Right now I have about three or four writing goals planned. I have not considered my review goals yet. I volunteered a package to "Invalid Item" The “primary purpose underlying the whole of creation”2 "Having created the world and all that liveth and moveth therein, He, [God] through the direct operation of His unconstrained and sovereign Will, chose to confer upon man the unique distinction and capacity to know Him and to love Him - a capacity that must needs be regarded as the generating impulse and the primary purpose underlying the whole of creation..." Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah To know God, can only be accomplished through His Manifestation, and to love God is accomplished through loving His Manifestation. In this age, the Manifestation of God, the reflection of divine attributes to humanity, is Baha'u'llah, the Glory of God. To love and obey Baha'u'llah is equivalent of loving and obeying all the Divine Manifestations who the Almighty has sent to Earth in the past. I think this has to be the focus of my prayers for the calendar year of 2018 C.E., as well as that of 175 B.E. Survey Groups I Participate In I have slowed down my survey group participation because most of the survey are no fun any more. I dropped one survey group this year, and I am think about dropping another one in 2018. The groups I have not dropped are sending me survey e-mails, which is filling up my Cox and G-mail inboxes. I did a few surveys sent to my g-mail inbox without qualifying. I suspect the problem or part of the problem may be my age, I will be 71 tomorrow. I have to find another way to make extra money, and publishing my stories and poems could be my only option. At least it is the best looking option at this time. Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 11 Masá’il (Questions) 174 B.E. - Friday, December 22, 2017 This is the fourth Friday in 2017, in two days I will be 71 years young, and there are nine days left in the year. As of last night, I have given a total of 15,439 reviews since joining writing.com on October 31, 2002. As of this morning, I have 1,923,326 GPs in my Gift Points account. My premium plus membership expires on May 15, 2018, a 12-month membership costs 4,199,500 GPs, to purchase another 12-month membership I need 2,276,174 GPs. I can, if I so chose, extend that membership by either 3 or 6 months. A six month membership cost 2,349,500 GPs and a 3-month membership is 1,399,500 GPs. For a 6-month membership I need 426,154 GPs, and for a 3-month membership I need 76,174 GPs. "My God, my Adored One, my King, my Desire! What tongue can voice my thanks to Thee? I was heedless, Thou didst awaken me. I had turned back from Thee, Thou didst graciously aid me to turn towards Thee. I was as one dead, Thou didst quicken me with the water of life. I was withered, Thou didst revive me with the heavenly stream of Thine utterance which hath flowed forth from the Pen of the All-Merciful." I am thankful that I discovered and accepted Baha'u'llah in the late twentieth century. I have been a Baha'i for over thirty years, and, in those years, I have changed a great deal. My soul, my spirit, is still being transformed by Baha'u'llah. I still encounter test, some of them I fail and some I pass, and I know I will continue to encounter tests and difficulties until the day my soul transcends into the Abha paradise. I also know that the tests I fail, I will encounter again because they are intended to polish the mirror of my soul so that I can reflect the light of Baha'u'llah.  Review at least 24 items during with at least 5 by newbies. Submit at least one poem and one story to a contest. Read two or three more part of God Speaks Again by Kenneth E. Bower. Begin straightening Computer desk. Post at least two or three times to my offsite blog.Since I appear to have survived 2017, I need to begin considering my tentative goals for 2018. I say tentative because I normally don't make my definite goals until Naw-Ruz, which is Wednesday, March 21, 2018. I have signed up for the following challenges in the coming year "Project Write World" and "I Write in 2018" . I have to decide if I am going to continue "Invalid Item" in 2018. I had problems participating this year, when my computer went down. I discovered it is difficult to post anything from a smartphone. I will give this some thoughts and prayers over the next nine days, and make my final decision on "Invalid Item" by January 1, 2018.Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection), 7 Masá’il (Questions) 174 B.E. - Monday, December 18, 2017 What is my motivation for the Week of December 18-22? There are six more days until my 71 birthday. There thirteen days left in 2017. This week I have to list the books I want to finish reading, followed by the books I want to start reading. I have to review, at least, twenty-four items between today and Friday. I need to post this week's writing goals on "Weekly Goals"  Review at least 24 items during with at least 5 by newbies. Submit at least one poem and one story to a contest. Read two or three more part of God Speaks Again by Kenneth E. Bower. Begin straightening Computer desk. Post at least two or three times to my offsite blog.I posted the "Blogging Circle of Friends " prompt for today, when I returned for the Devotional Services yesterday. "DAY 1859: December 18, 2017 Prompt: Here are seven words that the CDC has been told avoid using. Use these seven words in you blog entry. The words are vulnerable, entitlement, diversity, transgender, fetus, evidence-based, and science-based." I wrote and posted my response "Words" this morning."O my Lord, my Hope!5 Praise be unto Thee, for Thou hast sent down unto us this spiritual table, supreme benefit and heavenly blessing. O our Lord! Strengthen us to partake of this heavenly food, so that its fine essence may run through the pillars of our spiritual being and that we may thereby obtain a celestial power for serving Thy Cause, promulgating Thy signs and adorning Thy vineyard with lofty trees, the fruits whereof shall be near (to gather) and of perfuming fragrances. Verily Thou art the Possessor of great bounty! Verily Thou are the Clement, the Merciful!" 'Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1'6 I now have two prayers to say before of after a meal. The first one I posted in "Motivation Monday: December 11, 2017" , and this one I posted today. After I found the other entry, I got to thinking about the subject. I knew that 'Abdu'l-Baha must have given a prayer to say before the meal, so I checked earlier entries on that blog.Looking Ahead to 2018 I joined the "I Write in 2018" challenge because it encourages me to enter a different contests each week. I am considering joining "CLOSED!The Monthly Reading Challenge" in 2018, this challenge will encourage me to read. It could mean starting over on two books I have begun, but that's alright because I have started over on these books before. If I do join this challenge, I will have to put aside some time either in the morning or the evening to read. The reading challenge sounds like fun. I need to make a list of books I want to read, and figure out how many I can read each month. Perhaps stat with two and build up from there.I filled "Flashes of Lightning" with the last two stories for the 100 in that collection. Now all I need to do is write an introduction to the group of stories. I can write either a dear reader introduction or put a poem in the introduction about the stories.Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 5 Masá’il (Questions) 174 B.E. - Saturday, December 16, 2017 I am going to attempt to plan my writing and other activities on a weekly basis. I know that all sorts of issues could raise their heads above the fog of the future, and cause interruptions or delays. If they do, I will deal with them as they come up. I just need to place my trust in God, and accept any delay or interruption in my weekly goal-plan as God's will. I know that, with prayer, everything will work out. I encountered a number of unexpected issues in the past twelve months that, with patience and the assistance of the Almighty, worked out for the best.  Review a total of 28 items a week. If I have a minimum amount each week, it is easier to keep track because I can just check the e-mail about the number of reviews I did each day. Also, I don't have to keep tack, in my mind or writing them down, as I do them. All I have to do is make a note of the day's total, and add each day's total to that of the day before. Submit to a contest each week. I signed up for "I Write in 2018" , which begins on Monday, January 1, and ends on Sunday, December 30. That is 52 weeks of writing and submitting to one contest a week, and reviewing an item written by another "I Write in 2018" participant. The word count has to be 2000 words or less and the rating 18+ or less. Finish reading the series God Speaks Again7 by Kenneth E. Bowers. Once I have finished that series read the series The Purpose of Physical Reality8 by John Hatcher. Attempt to find a poem idea in each article that I can use to write a poetic entry in "My Life Is A Poem" . Clean off my computer desk and begin going through the storage boxes I have in my bedroom. I am not sure what is in those boxes, since I have not looked in them for the past two or three years. I do not want to have to lug them with me when I move again, or leave them for someone else to go through when I transcend into the next world. Work on the stories, novels, and poems I need to rewrite or edit that are in my port.  Purchase a year's premium plus writing.com membership and create a website. Finish books I have begun reading.Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 4 Masá’il (Questions) 174 B.E. - Friday, December 15, 2017 It is the third Friday of December 2017, with two more Friday's left in the month and the year. I purchase a $150.00 leg brace from the vein specialist because it is supposed to keep alleviate the swelling in my left leg. The brace works similar to compression stockings, and it lasts longer. I put it on yesterday when I returned home from seeing Dr. Reese. When I took it off, before going to bed, there was no swelling in that leg. I did find out that it is easier to put on sitting in the recliner than if I am setting in my walker. "O maid-servant of God! Verily, all existence is [a book of] pages and tablets which utter the glad-tidings of the appearance of the Kingdom of thy Lord, the Supreme, the Great. Observe the pages of the universe and discover the traces which appeared! Hast thou seen or heard in any of the previous centuries or generations that which is manifested in this Glorious Age? If the writings of the previous centuries, the middle centuries and the later centuries, be compared with that which is manifested in this single century, they will not weigh against it! nay, rather, they are as drops of water in comparison with the ocean. Magnified is He, who hath crowned this century with the appearance of His Kingdom!" ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 19 We are living in a glorious, a wonderful age, the likes of which has never been witnessed before. This is the age when Baha'u'llah, the Promised One of God, has appeared and revealed an ocean of knowledge. I like the metaphor, 'Abdu'l-Baha uses in this quote, about existence, the universe, as a book revealing the good news of God's Kingdom. Review a minimum of 4 items per day with one written by a newbie. Complete poem for "Invalid Item" . Finish latest poem/prose entry in "My Life Is A Poem" . Submit an entry, either poem or story, to at least one contest. Do a bit either port housekeeping and/or computer desk housekeeping this week.It is Friday morning in Las Vegas, and I need to consider the goals I accomplished this week. I did a good job on all five goals, however, I could have done a better job on goal number five "Do a bit either port housekeeping and/or computer desk housekeeping this week." I need to do more than just a "bit" of desk and/or port housekeeping. Perhaps, instead of having two items, I need to make that one item so I can focus on either the computer desk or my wdc port. I think I need to focus on the computer desk this coming week. Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection ), 19 Qawl (Speech)174 B.E. - Monday, December 11, 2017 It's Monday, December 11, there are twenty more days left in the Gregorian year. There are thirteen more days until my birthday. This year I will turn 71, an auspicious age because I have never turned 71 before. I don't know what the next year of my life will hold, and I don't want to know. Life is more fun when surprises are included (more stressful as well). "O my Lord, my Hope!10 Thanks be unto Thee for these foods and benefits. O Lord! Suffer us to ascend to Thy Kingdom and to sit at the tables of thy divine world. Nourish us with the food of Thy meeting and cause us to attain to the sweetness of beholding Thy beauty, forasmuch as this is the utmost wish, the mightiest gift and the greatest bestowal. O Lord, O Lord! Make this feasible unto us. Verily Thou art the Beneficent, the Giver! Verily Thou art the Bestower, the Mighty, the Merciful." Only yesterday, I was thinking about a prayer for meals, and, this morning, when I checked the blog "Counsels and Explanations by 'Abdu'l-Baha -- daily readings" I found a prayer by 'Abdu'l-Baha for this purpose. I have a blank book I used to copy prayers by Baha'u'llah, The Bab, and 'Abdu'l-Baha that I don't have in my prayer book or on the Baha'i Prayers app. Review a minimum of 4 items per day with one written by a newbie. Complete poem for "Invalid Item" . Finish latest poem/prose entry in "My Life Is A Poem" . Submit an entry, either poem or story, to at least one contest. Do a bit either port housekeeping and/or computer desk housekeeping this week.It's been a busy, inspiring, and successful Monday. This morning, I was notified that my poem "Snow Days" was the winner for "The Daily Poem" earlier this month. I completed "Comfort" to that contest, reviewed four items, and finished "2017: An Awesome Year" , which I submitted to "Invalid Item" . In addition, I responded to blog prompts for "Blogging Circle of Friends " and "Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise" , posted an entry in my Poet 999 blog, and submitted this week's goals to "Weekly Goals" .Footnotes |
Jamál (Beauty), 18 Qawl (Speech) 174 B.E. - Sunday, December 10, 2017 On December 2, 2017, the International Seerat Conference took place in Pakistan. According to an article on the Baha'i News Service13, titled "Faith and peace explored in Pakistan"14, over 1,000 individuals from four faiths attended. At this conference, which was organized by "the Pakistan Government's Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony"15, were people from Hindu, Christian, Muslim, and Baha'i communities. Today, across the world all faith communities have to deal with prejudice and intolerance. It is conferences that this one that helps these communities confront these challenges. Those of us, at the grass roots level, working for tolerance and understanding have to emphasize the fact that "The violence being perpetrated in the world in the name of religion has nothing to do with true religion."16 Intolerance and prejudice, a cancer eating at society, has nothing to do with religion. Footnotes |
‘Idál (Justice), 14 Qawl (Speech) 147 B.E. - Wednesday, December 6, 2017 It is the first Wednesday in December 2017, there are three more Wednesdays and three more weeks in the Gregorian year. This was an exciting year because, in August, we (the Baha'is across the world) celebrated the 200th Anniversary of Baha'u'llah. I wrote 200 poems dedicated to the Blessed Beauty, and posted them in "Bicentenary Poems and Prose" "O Son of Man! The temple of being is My throne; cleanse it of all things, that there I may be established and there I may abide." Baha’u’llah, The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah17 In this quote, I think (at least at this time) that the "temple of being" refers to the human mind, which, I believe, is the connection between the body and the soul. The soul is eternal, but the body is ephemeral. The quote could, also, refer to the human body because it houses the brain, the mind, and the soul. I have to meditate on this quote some more. Comment submitted to "Spiritual Newsletter (December 6, 2017)" : "I have written poems about the faith based holidays I celebrate today or have celebrated in the past. I have included faith based holidays in some of my short stories or flash fiction. I think I need to increase my use of the holidays I celebrate today rather then those I celebrated in the past."Footnotes |
Jamál (Beauty ), 11 Qawl (Speech) 174 B.E. - Sunday, December 3, 2017 Twenty-one days and counting, not to Christmas but, to my birthday. I will be 71 years young at 11:44 PM on the evening of December 24 (15 Masa'il 174 B.E.). I was a bit depressed earlier, however, that is passing. I think the brown study (I like this word better than blues). Two of my items, "Hidden Meanings on an Autumn Morning" "I hope that the people of the West may be illumined by the light of God; that the Kingdom may come to them, that they may find eternal Life, that the Spirit of God may spread like a fire among them, that they may be baptized with the Water of Life and may find a new birth. This is my desire; I hope by the will of God, He will cause you to receive it, and will make you happy." ‘Abdu’l-Baha18 Day by day the light of God is illuminating the citizens of the West. There are some, who may not believe this is true because of the hate, disunity, and other disasters that are occurring on Earth. However, these ar just signs of the change that is taking place. The denizens of chaos and darkness, seeing the rising light of a new day, rise up against the purifying light of dawn. Perhaps a better analog would be spring in the desert. When the spring sun begins to melt the snow on the mountains, the snow melt rushes down the mountain sides and fills dry creek or river beds. This causes a flood that carries away the debris of winter. This is the spring of a new age, when humanity matures and becomes united. DAY 1845: December 4, 2017 Prompt: "Write about something you don't know. And don't be scared, ever." - Toni Morrison. What are your thoughts on this quote? I finished the prose poem "Universal Peace" . I, also, finished reading "Our Human Dream of Peace and Purpose"19, which partial inspired the poem "Universal Peace" . The next article in the "God Speaks Again" series by Kenneth E. Bowers is "The Promised One of All Religions"20. My plan, when I started reading this series, was to write a poem inspired by the article or a quote in the article. The deadline to finish this series is March 21, 2018, which I may or may not meet depending on how long it takes me to write a prose poem or a line phased poem. It took me three days to write the first prose poem, that was when there were 86 articles in the series. As of today, there are 87 articles. Review a minimum of 4 items per day. Write at least one short story for a contest. Write at least one poem for a contest. Port Housekeeping. Computer desk housekeeping.Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty ), 18 ‘Ilm (Knowledge) 174 B.E. - Thursday, November 2, 2017 "Praise be to God, the hosts of the Supreme Concourse secure the victory and the power of the Kingdom is ready to assist and to support. Should ye at every instant unloosen the tongue in thanksgiving and gratitude, ye would not be able to discharge yourselves of the obligation of gratitude for these bestowals." ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, 68: “O ye who are firm in the Covenant and the Testament!…” This is the first Thankful Thursday in November 2017, it has been a while since I wrote a gratitude list in any journal or blog. I have said and read prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving, but I have not written down the things I am thankful for. ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá tells us we need to be thankful at all times, even though we can never discharge our obligations to give thanks to God for his blessing. I know that I am able to handle difficulties and tests easier when I both raise my voice in gratitude to the Almighty and list the things I am grateful to have. Gratitude list for Thursday, November 2, 2017 Today I am thankful... 01. ...that my story "Gertrude Plans Thanksgiving Dinner" was one of the Editor's Picks in "Comedy Newsletter (November 1, 2017)" - "Bingo, Flamingo, We All Fall Down!"02. ...for fresh brewed coffee in the morning. 03. ...that, on November 1, I was able to write 1,773 words in "Introduction and Invocation" for the first day of NaNoWriMo.04. ...for the cafe mocha form McDonald's I had for breakfast yesterday. 05. ...that I found several items in the boxes Faye brought last month that brought back memories, which I can write about in "The World According to Snow" 06. ...for the bottled water we have in the house because it tastes better then water out of the faucet. When the water taste good, I drink more. 07. ...that I have a working computer in the house. In October I went without a computer for fifteen days, I survived. 08. ...for the chocolate ice cream I had for a snack this evening. 09. ...that today I write 1,717 words in "Roses: Flowers of the Spirit" for the second day of NaNoWriMo.10. ...for the cool fall days we are experiencing here in Las Vegas. |
Kamál (Perfection ), 15 ‘Ilm (Knowledge) 174 B.E. - Monday, October 30, 2017 Do I or don't I, want to participate in NaNoWriMo this year? Today, the answer is no, but that may change before Wednesday, November 1. I have a novel, plot, and characters posted in "NaNoWriMo 2020" Review, at least, 4 items a day with, at least, 1 written by a newbie. Respond to, at least, 1 blog prompt each day. Complete story/poem/essay and/or activity for "Invalid Item" . Submit, at least, 1 item to a contest. Read 1 of the 4 books I have started:The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl’s Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá’í Revelation The Dragon Book The Summons of the Lord of Hosts The Fellowship of the Ring After writing the first paragraph and posting my goals on "Weekly Goals" , I decided that I would like to participate in NaNoWriMO. Therefore, I created the title "The World According to Snow", with the genre "Short Stories and Articles". Synopsis: "The World According to Snow is a combination of short stories and articles. Some of these items will be religious and spiritual, while others will be based on personal memories or responses to prompts." Excerpt: "I will post something here between November 1 and November 3." I'm still not enthused, but that could be because I'm depressed. I'm going to create the book anyway and see how November goes. I changed the genre to Personal, Women's, and Art. Maybe I should have put religious or spiritual, as one of those. |
‘Idál (Justice ), 8 Mashíyyat (Will) 174 B.E. - October 4, 2017 I listened to Hooper Dunbar's talk "Recognizing Baha'u'llah on the Bicentenary of His Birth" this afternoon. It talk was inspiring, and made me realize there are a few things I should be doing. One of those is reading The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl’s Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá’í Revelation. I found my copy of the book in my bedroom on the bed. I was lucky to get here with it because most of my books were put in storage, and I don't know if there still there or if the person who put them in storage got rid of them. It's too late to worry about that now, so I'll just leave that problem in Baha'u'llah's hands. It's good that I can access most of the sacred scriptures online or with an app on my smartphone. "The great and fundamental teachings of Baha’u’llah are the oneness of God and unity of mankind. This is the bond of union among Baha’is all over the world. They become united themselves, then unite others. It is impossible to unite unless united." ‘Abdu’l-Bahá21 I submitted the following comment to "Poetry Newsletter (October 4, 2017)" : "Thank you for the title of this newsletter. I am using the title as a working title for a poem I'm working on. I don't know yet what the final title will be because the poem is 196 in a series of 200 I am writing. The title will remain until after I finish the series, and begin the editing and rewriting phase. When I write a series of poems, I usually wait until the last one is finished before I do any editing."Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection), 6 Mashíyyat (Will) 174 B.E. - Monday, October 2, 2017 This afternoon I'm upset over a few things happening in the world. There isn't anything I can do, personally, about any of them other than prayer. I can say prayers for the departed, for those who died in the shooting on the strip. I can say a healing prayer for those who were wounded. I want to cry, but I don't think it would do any good. Prayer is much better than crying. The other thing I'm upset, or perhaps I should say nervous, about is the possibility that America will go to war. There isn't anything I can do about that, except fell helpless or pray. I chose prayer and placing everything in Baha'u'llah's hands. "Love and unity are the needs of the body politic today. Without these there can be no progress or prosperity attained. Therefore, the friends of God must adhere to the power which will create this love and unity in the hearts of the sons of men." ‘Abdu’l-Bahá22 Finish at least one poem dedicated to the Blessed Beauty and post it in "Bicentenary Poems and Prose" . Do Grammar Garden class work. Start an essay/poem/story for week 12 of "Invalid Item" . Review at least 4 items per day. Do class work for Exploratory Writing Workshop.Footnotes |
‘Idál (Justice), 1 Mashíyyat (Will) 174 BE - Wednesday, September 27, 2017 Feast of Mashíyyat (Will) It is the Feast Day of Mashíyyat, the air is crisp on this first feast after the Autumnal Equinox. The morning has been quiet and tranquil, but I just heard some neighbors talking loud. They aren't fighting, screaming, or shouting, so I suspect they are using their normal outdoor voices. The postal delivery person drove up and delivered some mail to the boxes outside. I need to open my box to see if we got anything important or unimportant, I don't like leaving letters or flies in the box overnight. "The time foreordained unto the peoples and kindreds of the earth is now come. The promises of God, as recorded in the holy Scriptures, have all been fulfilled." Bahá’u’lláh23 I'm feeling a bit melancholy this morning. It could be the results of autumn and the end of the year in about three months. Sometimes autumn produces sadness and nostalgia, perhaps I'm feeling nostalgic rather than melancholy. Autumn in Las Vegas, isn't like autumn in Oklahoma. The only hint of a seasonal change is the lower temperatures. Instead of triple digit, we're experiencing double digits in the medium to high 70s or low 80s. That's a lot better than temperatures in the 100s. I'll get over this feeling of nostalgia or melancholy quickly because of prayer, meditation, and writing. "O God, refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art My Guide and My Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved, I will be a happy and joyful being. O God, I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life. O God, Thou are more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord." 'Abdu'l-Baha, (Baha'i World, Volume 11, p. 726) I think I'm doing alright. I finished "Belva's First Crisis" , and decided on two forms from this week's poetry newsletter to use as poems dedicated to the Blessed Beauty. Sometimes form poems are difficult to write; however, they are rewarding because it makes me feel good after accomplishing them. The forms I'm using are Monotetra and Monchielle. I need to come up with the first line, once I have the first line then the rest will follow. It won't follow easily, but it will follow.Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection), 18 ‘Izzat (Might) 174 BE - Monday, September 25, 2017 Last week, I posted my goals for the week of September 18-22 in this journal. After posting them, I didn't go back to check on them, and by the time Friday arrived I forgot about posting them. I accomplished to goals, but I'm not happy about the way I went about it, so this week I'll have to check my goals everyday to see what I need to accomplish that day. If I do that then I won't be writing or posting stuff at the last minute. "I am but a poor creature, O my Lord; I have clung to the hem of Thy riches. I am sore sick; I have held fast the cord of Thy healing. Deliver me from the ills that have encircled me, and wash me thoroughly with the waters of Thy graciousness and mercy." Bahá’u’lláh24 This is an appropriate prayer for today, as well as this week. I'm not feeling well this morning, but then it's Monday, so the cause may be the one med I take only on Monday. I thought I drink plenty of water with it, but I obviously didn't because my stomach is upset. I'll have to increase the water to half a bottle next Monday. In the mean time, the upset will go away after I eat lunch or as the day wears on. Perhaps the problem is the breakfast I ate. Maybe I should eat more then just grits for breakfast on Monday. Review at least 4 items a day with 1 written by a newbie. Daily homework for The Grammar Garden. Daily homework for The Exploratory Writing Workshop. One Essay/story/poem and one activity about El Salvador for Week 11 of "Invalid Item" . Finish at least one poem dedicated to The Blessed Beauty and post in "Bicentenary Poems and Prose" .Footnotes |
I weep and I pray every day because... I live in a country where I am free to practice the Baha'i Faith without worrying about going to prison, but in Iran Baha'is are deprived of an education, work, and the ability to practice their faith because they are Baha'i. |
Kamál (Perfection), 112 ‘Izzat (Might) 174 Badi - Monay, September 18, 2017 CE I haven't written in this journal in 11 days, which may be causing part of the problems I'm having with scheduling. I appear to have fewer problems when I have a written list of my scheduled appointments. I have all my appointment on my phone, but a list that I can look at daily helps. Yesterday, I went to Spiritual Services at the Baha'i center. Suzie gave me a ticket for the bicentenary Celebration for the Birth of Baha'u'llah on Sunday, October 22. De will take me, but Suzie will bring me home. "This earthly life shall come to an end, and everyone shall expire and return unto my Lord God Who will reward with the choicest gifts the deeds of those who endure with patience." The Báb25 This is an inspiring (motivational) quotes because it encourages a person to keep working without complaining. I know I have problems with complaining, less today then I did several years ago, but I still have to deal with complaining on a personal level. Another thing I have improved on is placing my trust in Baha'u'llah. There was a time when I would pout all my problems in Baha'u'llah's hands and then attempt to take them back. I still have some issues with this; however, I am getting better at placing a problem in Baha'u'llah's hands and leaving it there. Review a minimum of 4 items each day with one written by a newbie. Work on homework for The Grammar Garden each day. Work on home work The Exploratory Writing Workshop each day. Create an activity and a written item for "Invalid Item" .I read "Operational Writing " and "Dramatic Premise and Themes" for The Exploratory Writing Workshop. I received a link for Show Not Tell http://www.foremostpress.com/authors/articles/show_not_tell.html in response to today's post in "Discussions At The Garden Bench" . I also begin poem 179 of the 200 poems dedicated to The Blessed Beauty, so I guess I'm doing alright with the writing this week. I did some survey on the My Survey website. I did increase the amount of points in that account, the problems is doing the surveys seemed to stress me. I think as soon as I get enough points in there to collect $10.00 I will withdraw. I'm not having fun doing the surveys any more, so I guess I should stop doing them. The final thing I accomplished today was beginning the essay about Brazil "Federative Republic of Brazil" .Footnotes |
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You kept hope, prayed, and that paid off.
Only bush honeysuckle in bloom. It's not very fragrant. The intoxicating vines bloom later. But we have lilacs... until this heat roasts them.
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