The Inspiration of Melodious Words

 Writing has been a journey for me. When I was in grade school, I remember being encouraged with my writing. In 2nd and 3rd grade class we wrote and illustrated books. But I also remember the difficulty of getting past my mental block (and maybe the emotional one too) of writing well. I think I put too much pressure on myself (do you remember that, Jo?) I also journaled from a young age, and still do today, though I go in spurts sometimes. Over the past 6 years, I've experienced intermittent inspirations to write, including poems. Embarking on missions has brought more writing in the form of newsletters. This has been a chore at times, but also a wonderful process of sculpting my experiences and my heart so that you, the reader and friend, can maybe taste, see, and feel a bit of my journey. 

So for my study of the Bible I write everyday but mostly in formulaic form as in facts, and in observe, interpret, and apply. But the part my brain thrives on is the summaries, whether it is a theme summary or the final application for that book of the Bible. This is where my brain and emotions have the freedom to fly - to process down the winding paths of exploration, to paint the picture, and to describe the texture of the inner workings - of me. And with my weekly Psalms assignments I am able to creatively process, which is so life-giving. Even though this school is rigorous study (and I can't emphasize RIGOROUS enough), I believe God is opening up more of what I love, that is, expression through writing. Prose has been escaping from me more often than ever. I thank God for this privilege to play with wonderful words.

"Words are like a melody to me, like music, like good mouth-watering chocolate, like beauty, to name a few. Words crafted together are an attempt to describe sometimes the unexplainable like a breathtaking vista or the emotional depths of the soul." SM

Click below for a link to a Slate article about what I love - the sounds of words:

Keener Sounds How can poetry that doesn't rhyme be so pleasing to the ear? By Robert Pinsky 

A Nonsensical Poem About Words

Did I ever say I love my Psalms assignments? It's the one creative outlet I get each week. This is a poem inspired by Psalm 104. As God is glorified in the creation, I thank God for words, even ones strung together with no purpose and no need to make any sense.

A Celebration of Words

(2^nd title: An Ode to the Word-Maker)

The fabric of my being,

The melody of my soul,

Plucked, prodded, and pulled

By some unknown whole.

Unsure of who dictates

What – within.

Is the edge of reason the brink of the gale?

Or really just the prime place to begin?

Hackysacks, hamper knacks,

Timing, and shrew –

Gibberish to most

But delight to the few.

A novelty of percussion,

A story of rhyme,

Nonsense is not no sense –

But joy found sublime.

And fashioned after You,

I don’t know where to begin.

You’re the Word that created design

And invented the rhyme.

You captured imagination

On the voice of the wind.

You inspired communication

From Your deity of Three.

You imprinted meaning on words.

You breathed life that gave breath,

So that I might send out a tantalizing tale,

But not for my ears only,

But for others to share.

So gaming and flaming

To crisp for the taming

Is not just noise to You either

And gives no need to decipher.

But that is enough to trouble your mind

As you might consider,

“What’s wrong with this girl?

A poem that makes sense,

Can’t she just deliver?”

So I’ll let you alone

From my first attempts

At the profoundly un-profound world

Of nonsense poems.

This is where delight

Is given in the sheer presence,

The God-given gift –

Of words.