Dear ,
One of the participants in the spring writing retreat sent me this beautiful meditation from the Henri Nouwen Society recently, noting that it "reflected what you teach us."
Really, I learn far
more from my seasonal retreat participants than I could ever teach -- to use Nouwen's words, "Writing .. can open in us deep wells of hidden treasures that are beautiful for us as well as for others to see."
And that is what always happens at these special opportunities to write and reflect and
celebrate each new season in its turn -- everyone present opens deep wells of treasure that we all enjoy and benefit from. If it's been too long since you experienced this joy, I would love to have you join us on Saturday, June 20th for a day of reconnecting with the gifts writing brings! More details below, or click here.
And whether or not you can come, I hope you'll enjoy Nouwen's meditation, and allow yourself the gift of "simply sit[ting] down in front of a sheet of paper" and seeing what emerges.
Love and light,
Maureen
| Writing, Opening a Deep Well - from Henri Nouwen's Bread for the Journey
Writing is not just jotting down ideas. Often we say: "I don't know what to write. I have no thoughts worth writing down." But much good writing emerges from the process of writing itself. As we simply sit down in front of a
sheet of paper and start to express in words what is on our minds or in our hearts, new ideas emerge, ideas that can surprise us and lead us to inner places we hardly knew were there.
One of the most satisfying aspects of writing is that it can open in us deep wells of hidden treasures that are beautiful for us
as well as for others to see.
For further reflection ...
"Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the
things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you were taught." - Luke 1: 1-4 (NIV)
Comment on this Daily Meditation. Visit our website for inspiration, resources, news, events, community. |
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Upcoming WordPlay
SUMMER WRITING RETREAT (Writing as Renewal / Creating New Writing /
Tools for a Writing
Life) Renew and delight yourself. The Summer Writing Retreat is an opportunity to
create new pieces of writing and/or new possibilities for our lives. Enjoy various seasonal prompts; they elicit beautiful material that can be shaped into essays, poems, stories, or articles. After a communal lunch, you’ll have private time which can be used to collage, work with a piece of writing from the morning, or play with a number of other writing prompts and methods. You’ll take home new ideas, new drafts, and new possibilities. $97 includes lunch and
supplies. WHERE: South Charlotte area. Details will be provided upon registration.
WHEN: Saturday, June 20th, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
TO REGISTER: To register securely online with your credit card, click here. To pay with a check via mail, email info@wordplaynow.com for instructions.
More WordPlay opportunities here.
MAUREEN RYAN GRIFFIN, an award-winning poetry and nonfiction writer, is the author of Spinning Words into Gold, a Hands-On Guide to the Craft of Writing, a grief workbook entitled I Will Never Forget You, and two collections of poetry, This Scatter of Blossoms and When the Leaves Are in the Water. She believes, as author Julia Cameron says, "We are meant to midwife dreams for one another."
Maureen also believes that serious "word
work" requires serious WordPlay, as play is how we humans best learn -- and perform. What she loves best is witnessing all the other dreams that come true for her clients along the way. Language, when used with intentionality and focus, is, after all, serious fuel for joy. Here's to yours!
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