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Day one on canoe

Here we are beginning our first day of canoeing.
The water was calm and it was very relaxing.
We had our old cooler with our lunch in it and I was just taking in the beauty of God’s creation.

The trees were majestic standing along the rivers edge.
The water was quiet.

All one could hear was the sounds of nature and the swishing of the paddles against the water.

Each turn of the river we saw different viewpoints and we were in awe of the beauty.
The clouds were dark moving above us changing with each passageway
It was still very peaceful.

{pictures taken by Sharon O scenes from Oregon}

  

Listen to the quiet

When we relax and let our spirits just listen to the quiet we learn many things about ourselves.
I learned I could be challenged and come out on the other side more resilient and with more strength.
                               Beautiful Lord we rejoice in you…
                               for you are majestic and full of all glory.

A canoe trip

We just got back from a four day camping and canoe trip.
It was quite the adventure.
I must say my late 50’s has changed my perspective on life.
Never would I have enjoyed this out door adventure if my choice was to stay home.

Will post more later.
One of the scenes from the water.
Central Oregon
photo by ‘me’.

Learning something new

The writers challenge has ended and I am few days late in sharing my thoughts.
The reason for the pause.
The 15th day challenge was harder for me to understand and grasp and if I can’t get wrapped around it how would I be able to share it with others?
His word for us was serve.
He said, “A great writer is a servant who doesn’t look to his own needs as a writer but to the needs of others who might be reading.”
“Write the first draft with the door closed and the second draft with the door open.”
Serving the audience of readers is learning to do things differently.
There are three ways of doing that according to the challenge.
Solve problems…answer questions…help people.
Each of these are new for me.
I don’t understand them.
He said to write to solve problems your audience might be having.
This might include telling a story about an experience of yours if it would help them to see the answer.
Answer questions basically means to write in such a way you would want if you were reading something.
Help people means do something for the audience of readers without them asking for it.
As I said before I don’t understand the meaning of this.
I realize the challenge is for us to step up and learn a new style or a skill but this last one confused me.
His challenge for us:
Do a give away. Find a product line or a special item to draw in more audience.
This is not my style.
Do a survey. Ask questions of your audience how you can do different.
This is not my style again.
Do an exchange if they subscribe you will give them something in return.
This is not my style again.
His next advise I can easily do.
Do not ignore your readers.
Answer all correspondence.
If someone takes the time to comment on your writing then you take the time to thank them.
He said we do this to be generous.
The art of writing is earned slowly and gradually.
The more known we become the more others will read what we have to say.
The more audience we receive we will begin to show growth.
To risk means to write the hard stuff along with the easy.
To risk is perhaps to move away from what is comfortable for us and challenge ourselves to do something different and new.
Are you comfortable when you do something out of ‘your box’ or way of thinking?
Have you been blessed when you have done it?
Shall we challenge each other to be open to a new process
even if that process for us doesn’t involve writing?
We always have opportunity to learn something new.
Instead of closing the door let’s open it and challenge ourselves to a new adventure.

  

Wait

Wait passionately for God, don’t leave the path.
He’ll give you your place in the sun while you watch the wicked lose it.

Psalm 37:34 msg

photo by Laurie H from Oregon

used by permission.

Joining Deidra on Sunday community Jumping tandem