Writing to Inspire

Insight does not come through striving or stress, grasping for answers or polling others for advice. I need only become quiet and still, and look to the kingdom within. ~ Excerpt from the Daily Word, A Unity Publication

In the 90’s, I went through a period of deep spiritual seeking. I was having some difficult life experiences, and I wanted answers. 

So, I began doing research on the history of Christianity, in addition to reading other religious texts. For help with my faith and mental state, I read spiritual books, the Bible, and self-help books.

The history books taught me facts about early times, original languages and so forth. I became knowledgeable about how Christianity evolved into what it is today. 

The spiritual and self-help books gave me step by step instructions on how to gain confidence, hope, and strength.

In more recent times, I’m finding that I don’t want to be given instructions by other people about my life anymore, nor do I want someone else (authors, clergy, spiritual teachers) to tell me how to be spiritual.

If I’m being honest, it seems as though our media/society is always telling us how we must think or feel. If we follow a particular faith, we’re racist or bigoted. If we don’t follow any particular faith, we’re heathens. It seems to me to be the time to stop seeking outside of  for answers.

When I was seeking, I balanced my approach between research, prayer and listening. When I say listening, I mean keeping my mind open to God’s guidance in and around me.

Here’s my point … I’d like to share inspirational messages through storytelling instead of instructions. Years ago when I was in al-anon, they stressed that we don’t tell someone else how to handle their life. All we need do is share our own experiences, strength and hope.

I’ve shared such experiences in story form already. Two have been short stories published in the magazine Angels on Earth. One was published in the book anthology Dogs and the Women Who Love Them. Four of them are published in my memoir anthology, Home Avenue. These were all true stories. You can also find links to some of my free short stories at the bottom of my memoirs and fiction page. 

My two fiction novels are allegorical tales of people facing adversity and how they handled it (books are on right side bar).

Perhaps one of my writings will touch someone out there who will find it inspirational enough to seek inside for themselves. No instructions with rules 1 to 10. No step by step guide to find your inner Kermit because you find it not easy being green. Just simple stories about average, every day people that might inspire anyone to face themselves and listen to their own heart.