In December of 2015, I participated in a Free Write session with a former writing group. I had forgotten about that piece of writing until I came across it recently. It expressed some of my desires about life.
Live Fully Aware
I am alive
Here and now
Thankful
Excited about life
I want to really live
Learn contentment
Experience wonder
Sunrise and sunset
When always striving
Much is missed
Beautiful things
Hidden in ordinary
I want to be fully alive
Enjoy simple things
Feel the wind in my hair
Make people happy
~gsw~
The Editing Process
As I read over it, I decided to edit it a bit and make each of the stanzas more uniform. It began to fill out and take shape. I added words and took some away.
While editing, I thought it best to flip the first and last stanzas. At the time I wasn’t quite sure why I thought that. But when my friend, Bettie, read it, she put into words what I had not realized earlier:
I really liked the way you turned the poem “upside down” in your editing. In the 1st, you expressed your state of being, and then poured out your unfulfilled longings. But in the 2nd you poured out your longings first, and came to see how life is a gift right here. So many of the Psalms express that same kind of longing and realization.
I must add, too, that just before editing my husband and I had watched the movie About Time. It’s a romance/comedy/sci-fi, but one thing that stands out is a beautiful father/son relationship. You come away from the movie realizing the importance of your one ordinary life.
Adding to that thought is the realization that when I live my life in the light of God’s love, it is not so ordinary after all.
Experiencing Fullness of Life
I want to live
A vibrant life
Enjoying simple things like
Wind blown hair and raindrops
I want to live
Fully content
Experiencing wonder of
Sunrises and sunsets
I pause, hopeful
Eyes open wide
Looking for hidden beauty in
My ordinary days
I am alive
Right here and now
Finding joy and gratitude for
Life in all its fullness
~gsw~
A Prayer for Life
Father, may we experience the fullness of life, not just in the happy moments, but also in the struggles. May we see the beauty hidden in plain sight.
Help us to see You in our ordinary, everyday lives. May we learn to be content, knowing You are always with us.
As we grow in our relationship with You, may we see with new eyes. May we appreciate each member of our families and each of our friends. Give us a heart of love that reaches above all our petty arguments and disagreements.
Here and now may we find joy and express gratitude. Help us to be aware of Your Presence in our longings. May we rejoice and see by faith as You open our eyes.
We are Your beloved children and that will never change.
In the precious name of Jesus I pray,
Amen
God’s great love gives us joy in life. I love these lines from Michael Card’s song Chorus of Faith:
He loves us with passion without regret; He cannot love more and will not love less.
As Michael Card sings, may we use our voices and our lives to join in with the Chorus of Faith.
Psalm 36:7-9 (CSB)
How priceless your faithful love is, God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They are filled from the abundance of your house.
You let them drink from your refreshing stream.
For the wellspring of life is with you.
By means of your light we see light.
I’m linking up with: #TuneInThursday, #HeartEncouragement, #InspireMeMonday
Dear Gayl,
I am so very grateful for the ways that God has allowed us to share our hearts together! What a precious gift in these everyday moments of our lives here! Your words and prayer and Scripture touched my heart so much. Yes, may I also let Him help me see with new eyes, to “Help us to be aware of Your Presence in our longings.” And thank you for sharing that song that I had not heard in years. Blessings, love, and hugs to you! xoxo
Dear Bettie,
I, too, am grateful for the ways we can encourage each other and give help with writing and pray for each other. I am so blessed to have you as a dear friend. I’m am glad you were blessed through reading here. Blessings, love and hugs to you, my dear friend! xoxo
What a beautiful post. I love how you changed the poem. And I love the prayer at the end of your post. Thank you so much for sharing this. I am going to use that prayer for my own life. Sweet blessings to you! What a treat to hear Michael Card again! Thank you!
Thank you so much, Cheryl. I’m glad you were encouraged by this post, and yes, please feel free to use the prayer. I’m glad you enjoyed Michael Card. His music is so uplifting. And God’s love is unchanging. Blessings to you, dear Cheryl!
Gayl, this is just beautiful. You’re so gifted, both as writer and artist.
Thanks so much, dear Shelby. I appreciate your sweet encouragement. Blessings and love to you, dear sister! xoxo