If you have been reading my blog for a little while, you might have read several chapters in a little story I have been writing called Selador. But what I posted on here is only a part of the story. It continues onward and I am so excited to say that I have finished the story, at least for now (I have so many ideas).
Things have been a bit more quiet on here lately because most of my spare time has been dedicated to editing/tweaking this little book. In addition, I have been working on formatting it for publication, which I am doing through Amazon (self-publishing).
This is thrilling, and also terrifying. To see my story in print is a joy. It's every writer's dream. But it is also scary to share a story that comes from the depths of my heart and imagination, for the world might judge it, criticize it, and think it not good enough.
But I have learned that God has given each of us gifts, and those gifts do no good staying hidden away. Instead, we are meant to share our gifts, and let God do the work from there. We are to let our lights shine for His glory. I am putting my trust that this little story may reach a few people, and the Lord will take it from there.
Details:
The book is called: Selador: The Book of Time
Available: On Amazon - Click HERE
About 138 pages
A small book you can tuck into your pocket. Take it with you to the coffee shop, the pool, on the train, waiting in a queue, waiting for your haircut appointment, and dive into Selador whenever you have some time. This is my first dabbling in writing a story. In fact, I have never finished any story I have started! I have found that is is not easy to write good stories, but I have felt such joy in writing this little tale, I hope to write more.
Check out my book if it seems to strike your fancy, and my prayer is that you enjoy it, and love getting swept through a mysterious door to another realm, which much to learn and explore.
If you buy the book, take a photo of how you read it, wherever you are, and send it to me, or tag me on Instagram (@muddymusings).Use the hashtag #readingselador
I would love to see how you are enjoying the realm of Selador, and I hope to share some favourites here on the blog!
Step out, take a deep breath, and take a little walk down into the ravine to approach the powerful waterfall. The sound will greet you before you can see it. The thrill of that first glimpse of the water fills you each step down the sloping walkway. And at last curving around one bend, you see the waterfall in its stunning normalcy. The water never takes a break, but is continuously flowing down the mountain, coming to this break in the landscape, providing a spectacular rush of nature, and continuing onward, downward.
This is a favourite waterfall for us to visit every time we come up here, Dry Falls. This time it was with mum, my brother, and my niece. I remember coming here as a kid, and loving the mystical, magical wonder of the place. This is where you get to walk underneath and behind the wall of water, which amazes me. It's loud, misty, cool, and slippery going behind the fall, but so worth it. It's like stepping through a doorway to a magical woodland realm lined with mosses, lichen, ferns, and all kinds of mountain greenery.
This kind of landscape is nourishment to my imagination. These dense woodland trees and plants all hold secrets and hidden passages. The rocks hold ages of history as they slowly erode and are shaped and forms by weather and water.
When I am walking along these paths (or any paths through the mountain forests) I see a worn away path that the elves use just over there. I look for the notches in the rocks that are the doorways into the mountains for the dwarves. My imagination watches for these myths to come to life. It makes the walk even more enjoyable. As my mind seeks out the stories, I am fed just by observing and paying attention. It's a beautiful world that we get to explore. What a gift it is to be able to take a little time to appreciate it.
Come, occupy my silent place
and make thy dwelling there.
More grace is wrought in quietness
than any is aware.
- John Oxenham
Forest Tales
Morning light filtered through green leaves
To the mossy ground, chilled and calm.
White blooms of rhododendron burst
and speckle the forest, single flowers
drop down to the soft, gurgling creek
and take a swim down the hill.
A tucked away retreat, deep in the
forest perched on the mountain.
A safe place to restore your soul.
Just listen to the stream, or chirping birds
so cheerful. The green glow of mossy rocks
makes me imagine it is the pathway
for the elves who pass this way,
to their dwelling even deeper in the forest.
I rest here on the outside of their realm, but
the pathway into their woodland is
just there, where that mossy rock
carpeted in green and lichen meets
the small stream over the
smooth black rocks.
The morning is cool, calm, lovely -
Deep in the woods, away from all -
The mossy green grows abundantly
In these shaded woods and waterfall.
My soul is soothed by forest sounds
Birdsong, stream gliding over smooth river rock,
sing-song chirps bring life to the calm,
Clear, cold, crisp runs smooth without block
As it freely flows down the mountain
Flowing by the trees, a joyful sound
of spirited waters nourishing the trees, lichen,
greeny mosses, mushrooms, as they grow.
Written in Scaly Mountain, NC at our little log cabin retreat.
Let every living thing
sing of the mercies of our God.
Let us exalt Him whenever we live
with thanksgiving and joy
in our hearts
If we don't praise Him
the mountains will.
If we don't exalt Him,
the rocks will cry out.
- Lawrence Chewning
It is a blissful 58 degrees F. I want to soak it all in as much as possible. My heart feels these woods like a home. I sit in the log cabin, at the back table with the door open. The sounds of the outside enter in, as well as the chilly air, fresh like a mountain spring. The sound of the small creek keeping rhythm with the chirping birds that go on all day. The forest is the happy place for them all, and the early morning is the best. They are at their most sing-song melody.
The chill is rustling, the air is still, the water gurgles over the rocks, and the white rhododendron speckle all the scenes with pretty blooms. Clusters of these flowers pop up everywhere in the summer.
I could sit here all day listening to the forest sounds. It is by far one of the most soothing sounds to me. I have my cup of coffee next to me, and my journal. I am good for a long while. I could honestly spend a good few days just listening here, and writing about it.
Sitting outside, writing under the canopy of tall green-leafed trees as tall as the sky. The rocks grow moss and the creek grows sound. The beauties of a place so full of peace and quiet. If the bears have a home close by, they keep quiet and stay in their forest depths, though that is where we are. In the depths of the forest. No large roads, no traffic, dirt and gravel one-track roads, 4,000 feet up in the mountains.
What is it about the most simple of things that make it the most soothing and restorative? The simple and yet complex pieces of God's creation is what I love. Just nature doing what nature was created to do. Grow, flourish, change with the seasons, soothe the soul.
Surely God created the beauty of the mountains like this with the idea that it would draw us closer to Him. That these tall, elegant trees, blooming flowers, and soothing streams would make us feel closer to His wisdom and creativity. In many ways, these natural elements were all created, and are pieces of God's imagination, which means we are getting a glimpse of the heavenly realm. A tiny insight into God's mind.
I forget how much I need this peacefulness of nature until I am here, one with the trees, with a mind on the rocks with moss, and a soul babbling down the creek. Happy and quiet. Soothed and restored.
The glory of God's creation can be huge and awe-inspiring, or soft and quiet. and each can draw us closer to our Creator.
