Siggy’s Blurbs

When I read a poem of mine in public, I have the audience for the first ten seconds.  If I don’t capture their attention right away, I lose them so the beginnings of my poems have to be interesting and are important.  I do not read a poem in public if there is any part of it I am not satisfied with.  I can’t read the poem confidently and with the right inflections and feelings if I have any doubts concerning the poem.  I have to believe in the whole package, that the poem was put together well.  So with any piece of writing:  you can’t have any major doubts of it, if you want to submit it for publication.  It has to be as good as you can get it.

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Sometimes I do not see the birds.  I wonder where they went, whether I am just missing them.  A steady stream of titmouse, downy woodpecker and flocks of slate covered junco come to my feed I put out for them.

Presently there is not one bird out there.  The dogs were out and just charged in.  Now I am waiting for my visitors.  I do not remember exactly where I read it in the bible but it says if God can feed the sparrow how can we possibly doubt God won’t take care of us.

I think it uses the word lowly to describe the sparrow.  I put out birdseed on the ground and keep three feeders full.  The birds do not, I am sure, spend one second worrying where their next meal comes from.  Even in winter.

If God takes can take care of the lowly sparrow how can we possibly doubt He will not take care of us?  Of ye humans of bad faith!

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Posted in God, animals, balance, beauty, death, knowledge&learning, life, local, nature, seasons, time, wisdom | No Comments »

I am not afraid of death.  Not as much any more.  I have to live my life.  No one know when that appointed hour will come for sure.  What is worse is not living your life to the fullest.  That is worse than death.

The prospect of my demise became closer.  I had to look at it and face my fears.  There is always the fear of suffering and becoming helpless.  All I could do was grab the control that was in my reach and leave the rest to the Almighty.

Maybe it would be more accurate to say that I feared the grim reaper less.  I wanted my wife to be in the best situation financially as she could be:  wills in place, etc.  She also trusts the Lord.

That really is your only source of comfort:  God is in control and you can rely on Him.  When you realize that, death is less threatening and you can put down your guard.  Every one faces death.  You are not alone.

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Posted in God, balance, death, health, knowledge&learning, life, love, marriage, money, relationships, seasons, time, wisdom, writing, your job/mission/profession | 5 Comments »

You can’t follow trends concerning the subject matter you write about.  You can’t possibly remain genuine.  You have to write about what is deepest in your soul, that which is begging to get out.

There was a popular book out a while ago, “Do What You Love The Money Will Follow.”  Maybe someone should write a book titled, “Write About What You Love Money Will Follow.”  There are no guarantees you will become rich but someone out there will want to read it and buy your book.

I like the famous quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson in his essay of Self-Reliance:  ‘There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction: that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better for worse as his portion;…’  You have to mine the field that is only given to you.  We are all wired differently and have different concerns.  That is all you can explore as a writer.  The better you do it and the more genuine, the more people will want to read it.  No one said you will necessarily become rich in the process but at least some people will care about what you write for it was you, you expressed.

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Posted in art, knowledge&learning, life, mental health, money, time, wisdom, writing, your job/mission/profession | 1 Comment »