The new issue of Catapult Magazine is out!
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The topic is "Teaching Well" and I wrote an article reflecting on a favorite professor, Prof. Coleman.
Enjoy some thought-provoking articles!

Late is the Hour

Late is the hour and busy are my thoughts

A myriad of ponderings have consumed my jots

And I wish I had hours to sift through them

As they dash to and fro on my pages

Blank no more, it is a result of scriblomania

A condition some have where compulsiveness to write

Is a necessity morning, noon, and night

Autumn

Yesterday I was asked what I like about Autumn, for an article someone was putting together. I said if I listed all the things I like about Autumn, it would be the article. There would be no room for anything else.
This is the time of year when I start to yearn for Autumn to arrive. Sometimes I have to head north to experience it because it takes centuries to reach Florida.

As I stated some of the obvious things, such as the cold air, wearing layers, scarves, mitts, boots, a mug of coffee warming my hands before I drink it, going inside to warm-up, making soup, baking, warm aromas of cinnamon, clove, all-spice, thyme, roasted pumpkin seeds, family gatherings, being outside a lot, going for a run and not melting, the lack of humidity, snuggling with a blanket on the sofa, seeing my breath outside, a fire in the fireplace, taking long walks, driving with the windows down, crisp air, leaves crunching under my feet.....I realized that there isn't anything I could think of about Autumn that I don't like.

And now, I just have to wait.....wait for Autumn to arrive....Unless I head north first.

Running Toward Truth

You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. -Galatians 5.7-8

We are made to ask tough questions of ourselves sometimes. When we have hit a snag in our lives and we know something is askew. When we have let ourselves give in to the persuasion of others. When we find ourselves feeling so distraught by the uncontrollable things of this world.

This is when we have to slow our running pace, and come to a halt to determine what it is that got us running toward something other than truth. Whatever that persuasion is, whether it is material, intangible, or a person, it has been leading us away from truth and our minds are accumulating the falsehoods. Test what you encounter against the Bible. Does it go against a Biblical truth? Run away from it.

We should be running toward the people, ideas, and pursuits that promote truth. The things that stir your soul and get you inspired to use everything you have for God's glory.

Never Forgotten

You're never forgotten wherever you are

You're a child of God, even if He seems far

When the doubts grow beyond your capacity to hold

When you discover every time you keep God in the cold

The plan breaks to pieces and you're on your knees

Gathering bruises and wishing someone would see

The pain that lingers which time cannot heal

Your whole world shivers on an evening so still

Yet this darkness is preparing you for the sun

Let love abide; His work has already begun

Printing Press

My Dad, working the printing presses for Sunshine Press, Venice

I have been thinking lately about my love for the written word. The written and printed word, in bound books. It's no wonder I love printed and bound books. My Dad worked the printing presses for years. First, at Sunshine Press, where my Mom worked as well. Then, at the hospital for something like 20 years until they closed the print shop. I remember visiting him many times at the hospital print shop. It was a separate building across the street. The machines were huge, and loud, and the doors were always wide open to the outside to keep some circulation through the rooms.

Dedication page from one story I wrote using a journal Dad made.
Looking at my handwriting, this is probably from 5th grade.

When I was in Elementary and Middle School, Dad would use leftover colored paper to bind some blank journals for me. He knew I loved to write stories, and I used several of them, filling them with my fictional tales. It just casts more light on the love Dad had for me, and I wish....oh I wish I could sit and talk with him.

Today marks 2 years since we lost him, but it is in the everyday reminders that I think of him and come up with even more examples of ways he showed his love for me. The missing him doesn't go away. Time doesn't change that. But I reflect on the love he showed throughout my life and give thanks to God for such a man to be my Dad.

Feather

A feather floating by my eyes

Wanders aimlessly with the wind

It can't see where its going

Or when it might come back again

While dancing in the breeze

It enjoys vistas from an elm

When at last resting on a limb

Somewhere outside its realm

No point to the ventures

Just riding along with no remorse

Are we sometimes like feathers

With no passion to stay the course?

Thoughts Drift Across the Sea

Tynemouth Castle and Priory Ruins on the North Sea, England

Ink touches down to the page

Bringing these thoughts around again

Jettisoning me out of this place

And using up this fine pen

Oft my thoughts drift across the sea

To rolling green hills and barren mounts

Dramatic cliffs, bluebells, and ruins

And more train lines than one can count

Mix ancient history with muted hues

And culture bright with stories and lore

Such age, deep tradition, keeps my attention

These intrigues leave me wanting more

Lamp of Light

Durham, England

And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts...

-2 Peter 1.19

No matter what dark place we are in, the Word of God is our lamp of hope. We can trust in everything we read because God orchestrated the writings across centuries creating one book of instruction, wisdom, poetry, warning, prophesy, and history. These words were all inspired by God and He made sure the content included provides us the nourishment we need. A timeless collection written from many different angles of time, location, and person. Yet the truth all remains consistent across these varied contributors.

We can be confident these words are all truly God's Word because if it was all just a passing craze like we are used to seeing these days, the book would have faded from humanity as the world changed. But the Bible has outlasted it all, and it will continue to do so.
G.K. Chesterton wrote, in Orthodoxy,  "If our faith had been a mere fad of the fading empire, fad would have followed fad in the twilight, and if the civilization ever re-emerged (and many such have never re-emerged) it would have been under some new barbaric flag."

Here, we can find truth, meaning, and understanding for our lives. We will see purpose and gifts that God had given others and reflect upon how God wants to use our own tiny lives in His plans.
We are meant to think, ponder, and reflect on these words and let them sink into our souls. Take little passages at a time and think about what God wants us to learn today from these words written on parchment centuries ago.

The Northernness

Magdalen College, Oxford- C.S. Lewis' rooms are marked by red flowers on the windowsill of 3 windows near the center. Can you spot them? (click on the the photo to enlarge)

The "northernness", as C.S. Lewis calls it, is that which he searched for during the many years he was an atheist. It was "joy". Something he longed for but couldn't find. The northernness was an "indescribable intensity of heart-breaking longing."

Then, in 1926, Lewis met J.R.R. Tolkien at Oxford University where they were both professors of English literature. Tolkien invited Lewis to join him in meeting with other friends, and soon Lewis was listening to Tolkien read his current story aloud so it could be critiqued. A group started doing this each week, they called themselves The Inklings. They met at The Eagle and Child Pub or in Lewis' rooms at Magdalen College. They would bring their writings and read it to the others, where encouragement and good-hearted conversation was ensued into the evening. Tolkien said later that if it wasn't for Lewis' encouragement, he would never have completed The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Lewis was surrounded by Christians, yet he had not put the puzzle pieces together in his own life. He was perplexed by the other men who all believed in the good and gracious God. After dinner on September 19, 1931, Tolkien, Lewis, and another friend walked around the college gardens until 4 AM talking, and Lewis finally realized and accepted that God was God, and thus began his new journey as a Christian. He had found joy.

This story is so inspiring to me, as a Christian, a writer, a lover of literature, lover of Oxford, a person interested in encouraging relationships, and good talks. The spirit of these men is contagious, even in today's modern approach to friendships. Today is the 80 year mark of when Lewis accepted God into his heart. Oh, how much has changed in the world in 80 years, but all our needs are still the same. We can attach ourselves to this modern age and all the ideals, false promises, lies, and tricks to lure us away, or we can choose to live a deeper, more meaningful life that is centered on God instead of this world. It is getting to be more and more difficult as everything around us tries to distract us, but we can avoid most of it, and embrace the northernness in our lives, with God. It is by God all things are created, and through God all things are held together.