Making Our Lives Available to Others by Henri Nouwen
“One of the arguments we often use for not writing is this: “I have nothing original to say. Whatever I might say, someone else has already said it, and better than I will ever be able to.” This, however, is not a good argument for not writing. Each human person is unique and original, and nobody has lived what we have lived. Furthermore, what we have lived, we have lived not just for ourselves but for others as well. Writing can be a very creative and invigorating way to make our lives available to ourselves and to others.
We have to trust that our stories deserve to be told. We may discover that the better we tell our stories the better we will want to live them.”
Emphasis mine.
**
So “there’s nothing new under the sun.” Well, duh! And if we concentrate on message, we probably will be repeating something that already been said. But if we tell our unique story by formulating an image we have seen, we will be adding to what has been previously written.
One lesson I learned when I returned to school is that life is too important to begin with analysis. We must start with our stories. One might think I leaned this in a creative writing class. But no, it was a class in the sociology of religion. Our lives are our stories. From our stories come the lessons. (A big thank you to Alton B. Pollard III.)
**
Balcony Room
—for Alton B. Pollard III
Rustling leaves welcome the breezes,
but tree trunks remain silent.
I recognize the cry of an owl,
not the scuffling: that I cannot explain—
nor Jesus in Alton’s face.
Both. Shining. From the dark.
It is not the day that holds the fire—
nor is there consolation in moonlight,
but rather: where time and place
don’t seem to matter,
nor the colors of skin,
falsely bleached by the bright sun
into a feigned harmony,
’til I’ve forgotten if it is hue or tone
of which we vainly speak. Yes,
the night embellished as it deepened,
enhancing, as the night will do,
that which by day remains shadow.
I know what I saw in the upper room:
what cloaked me in gooseflesh—
and beckons gently now.
from Gathering the Broken Pieces, “Poets On Peace #5,” FootHills
Publishing.
8 comments
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April 29, 2008 at 12:07 pm
writeathome
I remember a few years ago reading a book on writing where the author said that “writing is a many slanted thing.” You may be saying things in your writing that other people have said before, but nobody can say it like you can, and the way you say it may jump out and speak to someone, even though they may have read writings on the same subject before. Wow! That was a long sentence. I hope it made sense.
Anyway, writing is fun, and I’m thankful for writers like you, Helen, that make me want to improve.
April 29, 2008 at 12:10 pm
helenl
You made sense, Carol. And I agree with you. Writing is fun in the same way as planting and tending a garden; both are work that results in reward.
April 29, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Karen Hopper
I would rather write than “weed” so the majority of the gardening is my husband’s. LOL Seriously – Helen, I love your bringing insight as to the purpose of writing. We must understand that Creation loves it when we create and add our own special “flower” to life’s garden. PS: Enjoyed your poem as it spoke your passion.
April 29, 2008 at 1:35 pm
helenl
Hi Karen, The poem is based on a vision that I had twice. During class ( a class in which ideas were presented that I was afraid to believe, because they were different from what I’d been taught previously), Alton’s face was illuminated. The first time I thought it was the way the sun, low in the sky, was falling on him. But when I saw it again, a different week, and he was sitting in a totally different place in the room, ruling out the sun theory, I knew the light was internal: that he was lighted with the light of God, and I could trust him to lead my thinking.
April 30, 2008 at 9:56 am
earthpal
I agree with the words of Henri Nouwen. When I blog I often feel that I am only repeating what many others have said but then, we all have a story to tell – our own story and we should feel free to express ourselves in whatever way is appropriate to us..
“We may discover that the better we tell our stories the better we will want to live them.””
This is just so true. My own blog is mostly about the environment and humanity and in my experience I am now definitely more aware of my own actions since I started writing. Blogging about the things I care about or feel deeply for has actually become my conscience in real life too.
April 30, 2008 at 10:58 am
helenl
Hi EarhPal, I love reading your blog. You make environmental issues seem important but not more important than other things, such as family.
May 1, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Faure
Will we recognize the world when
the wind stops blowing?
May 1, 2008 at 5:44 pm
helenl
Hi Faure, welcome to my blog.