The Dance

Your Spirit is the wind moving from man, woman, child.
Entering mouths that breathe you in.
How you speak gently in my anxiety,
yet shake my idle, stone walls.

How I long to hear you as Philip did
on that dusty road to Gaza.
You spoke boldly in his quiet heart,
as his feet moved to Your song
God, you sang him a story of glory.
And he listened.
And another believed.

Then you swept him away in a frenzied embrace.
Blinding lights, rushing air
moving and dancing his body-his heart.
to a new place
where he could obey Your words again.

Your power still speaks this day.
To this girl's inadequate mouth,
and my human heart that beats for more.

Spirit, you move in the deepest pits of my fears,
places no human light can touch.
Your Word pierces and calls me forward,
the Wind beckoning me come and listen.
I breathe You in.
The dance begins.


[inspiration from Acts 8:26-40]

Truth-filled Fiction

“A genuine work of art must mean many things; the truer its art, the more things it will mean. If my drawing, on the other hand, is so far from being a work of art that it needs THIS IS A HORSE written under it, what can it matter that neither you nor your child should know what it means? It is there not so much to convey a meaning as to wake a meaning. If it does not even wake an interest, throw it aside. A meaning may be there, but it is not for you. If, again, you do not know a horse when you see it, the name written under it will not serve you much. At all events, the business of the painter is not to teach zoology.” --George MacDonald

I am so excited that I have found this other realm of christian writers! I do enjoy a good theology book, don't get me wrong...  But there is something about fairy tales/folk tales that inspire me both mentally and spiritually.  Mentally, because I can think for myself and uncover what the author is trying to speak through his or her story. (I love the quote above!)  Spiritually, because it awakens another side of my brain/heart that obvious facts only dully poke at.  I am so wrapped up and enticed by the story, that once a lesson is to be had, I am all in.  Instead of being told what to believe, I can be participating in a story that inspires me to actively believe.  It excites me to find more writers that have been given that call to encourage others in this fictional, yet truth-filled, way. I have recently finished two books that are worthy of recognition!

That's right.. there are 4 more in this series! (think, Narnia)

A whimsical reminder that pain is a part of life that we must all feel at times, to grow in our walks with Jesus. This came with great timing.  (fun fact: this is the copy I have- and Maurice Sendak illustrated this edition, who also did "Where the Wild Things Are")

I can't wait to dive in even more with these authors and any others of the same genre! Any on your radar? Let me know what I should check out.. (I am already looking into Redwall as a possibility after Mistmantle).

Get inspired!

Photoshoot Sneak Peak

The Dark Knight's Secret Story

I've come to realize finding spiritual revelation in stories that are not based on theology is one of my top joys.  There is something beautiful and poetic about our Creator peeling back the pages of a story to reveal the deep truth embedded in the ink.  This applies to any form of story telling, whether it is book, movie, music, fine arts, etc.  Isn't it like God to show up in the stories that shake up our world.
 
How many great movies have you seen lately where the end goal is to rise out of darkness and fight the evils of this world. 

When I saw The Dark Knight Rises, I matter of factly told my husband that I was pretty sure Christopher Nolan loves Jesus.  I mean, batman is a savior figure that saves this chaotic city by sacrificing himself...oh, and somehow lives.  I want to believe that the "sustainable life" that was meant to be used for good for the world is a parallel to the immortality in the garden of Eden. And evil changed this gift into that of a weapon.  Whether a slow death that is introduced to Adam and Eve and the rest of mankind, or a quick death like the bomb in gotham city.  Both were once good and warped by the enemy.  I want to believe this was Nolan's thought process.

But, in all reality... probably not.  Its just a simple story of a man with lots of resources and combat training who saves his city.  Or is it?

So, what, in the human nature compels us to goodness then?  If we are only here by accident, or by an explosion in the sky that started the creation process, or any other means, how would we know to search for the light?  If Darwin was correct in his survival of the fittest, why do we try to maintain friendships and open doors for others?  Why do we get sick when we see children being gunned down?  Shouldn't we only be striving for surviving and ruling our own little worlds?  Why do others matter?

Its hard to see God.  Our world is polluted with crime and trash and cities and noise.  But its when I hear stories of love and sacrifice that reminds me that God has never left us.  He is behind the story of a superhero who is good, because he has put that desire in us.  We get goosebumps when the hero sacrifices himself (or herself) for a noble cause, because deep down our spirit knows it has already happened.  He has already came and saved humanity by an ultimate sacrifice.

Also, like Batman, we unfortunately can be given the wrong message about Jesus.  We can turn against Him and blame Him for all the wrongs that have happened.  We turn against the very Creator who made this world for good and as a blessing to us.  And we repay him by allowing evil to slip into our cities, our homes, our lives and throw him into the dark pit of our hearts. 

I think of all the characters in The Dark Knight Rises, I found myself relating most to Officer Blake, (Joseph Gordon Levitt's character).  In the midst of the cities' unbelief and anger towards batman, he never stopped searching for the truth.  That's the hope I want to have no matter how angry or cynical our world becomes.

I know this post may seem silly and get a few eye rolls, but I hope something resonates deep down within you.  Story is powerful and is told for a reason- in any form.  And even when these stories aren't written for a Sunday morning service or backed by a church, I hope we can still see God's hand in them.

Now its your turn, are there any stories recently that have spoken to you?

The Author (preview)

"She wanted something unique, something hopeful.  And as she searched section by section in the stuffy town library her thoughts kept coming back to the first book she had laid eyes on that day.  The rough, maroon novel.  The ending had been planted into her brain like a flourishing oak, twisting and entwining into her very existence.  She couldn’t shake the possibility of its truth.  The words as delicate as the paper it had been written upon yet as powerful as the tree that had birthed the paper itself.  Every other book seemed bland, and she knew if she were to open their thick spines she would not taste the spice in the air..."

There have been some big changes in our small family lately...
little Luna Sundance joined our family June 13

The Sculptor (preview)

We had become experts at remaining still and quiet.  Outside the shop window cars hurried by in their race against time while pedestrians scrambled to late appointments.  A sweet bird’s song shifted my eye ever so slightly.

 I had been here for 46 years, biding my time till the great awakening.  Some years I would contemplate flexing my cold, stone fingers, but a sharp brainwave from my neighbor Harold would steady my hand.

        I was the last to be created before our Sculptor left us.  He had told us his time had come and that we should be vigilant and watchful.  His shoes had echoed across the floor without a single backwards glance.  In fact, he had been in such a hurry he forgot to lock the front door behind him...