I was going about it all wrong – not an unusual occurrence.
We recently completed phase two of a home window replacement. In phase
one we replaced the windows in the former master bedroom that became Ashley’s
room and then Lauren’s room. Two windows were replaced, one with a slightly
larger one and the widow facing the backyard was replaced with a large sliding
glass door. This room now serves as the sewing room equipped with a trundle bed
for guests. Wonderfully creative things are already taking shape there and we
have a fantastic memory for the room when it served as the Bridal Room for Ani
and Daniel’s backyard wedding.
Phase two encompassed a bathroom, the guestroom (formerly Ashley’s
and Lauren’s bedroom), and Daniel’s old room that will be “The Office” where
I’ll do the bulk of my writing and that will house the family computer. It will also
serve as a guestroom. There is now a six-foot, three-panel window in place of
two side-by-side 30 inch windows that overlook the front deck and yard. The
change is startling. There is a lot left to do in the room – fresh paint, floor
treatments, and furnishings. I hope that the room will lend itself to
enlightened creativity.
I had written those first two paragraphs in longhand while waiting
somewhere or while on the road someplace and taking a little break. My
intention had been to talk about all the work needed to change the point of
view of the room and getting a fresh perspective as a way to unlock the stories
loaded within me. While that may be true and the change in the surroundings in
the office might be effective for projects, I woke up this morning and realized
that this is all wrong for where I am right now.
Stephen King told me the office plan has holes it for a creative
writing space. I am reading his “On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft” and coincidently
enough I had just read his section on writing space. The quotes used here are
from chapter 3 in the On Writing section. Stephen supports the idea of the
office as my main personal writing space, “Until you get one, you’ll find your
new resolution to write a lot harder to take seriously.” We plan to make it
simple; a soothing place, pleasant for reading, writing, and contemplation.
Sure, it’s an office and work will be done there but still, why not make it a
nice and simple place to be? “The space can be humble (probably should be, as I think I have already
suggested), and it really needs only one thing: a door which you are willing to
shut.” And now here is where we are breaking with Mr. King’s suggestions
although there will be some sort of window shade should I find the need to
deploy it; we are talking about a multipurpose room after all. “If possible,
there should be no telephone in your writing room, certainly no TV or video games
for you to fool around with. If there’s a window, draw the curtains or pull
down the shades unless it looks out a blank wall.” As I write this post my desk
is in the living room facing a wall but the same view as where the desk will
look out on in the office is available to me by looking over my right shoulder.
Overcoming our breaks from those suggestions will take discipline, something
I’ve been struggling with since I discovered that I have a story to tell and
thoughts to write about that I hope others will find entertaining, uplifting,
or provocative.
All that being said about changing the room to change my
perspective is still not my biggest mistake. Those things I talked about above only address
the physical and emotional/mental side of things. For me to have success I must
be connected to Jesus and the Holy Spirit must have free reign to speak and
lead me. My point of view must be the foot of the cross; it is the only place
where I can be effective – Calvary’s Thread has to be a real place for me, one
that I can connect with wherever I am.
The scripture that jumps out at me when thinking along these lines
is John 5: 19 & 20, “19Jesus
said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but
only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does
likewise. 20The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he
himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you
will be astonished.”
The place where I have most easily connected to the cross is
during Mission Arizona, specifically during quiet time while I’m sitting in the
desert, under some mesquite bush praying and asking for coverage, asking Jesus
to lead me, to meet me. I know where this place is in my heart and when I have
trouble changing my point of view, I go there.
In His grip, jerry
