Beauty of the Written Word

The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought,

this in turn makes us think more deeply about life,

which helps us regain our equilibrium. ~ Norbet Platt

Handwritten letters . . . ideas turned into reality . . . imagination recorded.  If our world were devoid of the written world, how would we function?  If there were no means of promulgating the creativity and wonder of our human intellect, how would we discover all the world can offer?  It is the combination of language and writing that allows the human race to communicate effectively with one another, even across vast distances.  It is this same combination that allows us to record our thoughts and ideas for posterity and to create a world where we can live together.

For me, there is nothing quite like picking up a book off the shelf and skimming through the pages, drawing in the knowledge contained therein just waiting for me to discover it.  Maybe that's why I love working in a library so much -- I get to work with books and to extend my love of the written word to others around me.  Granted, by and large my work revolves around the legal system and finding the correct case law or statutes, but even there I appreciate the beauty of the written word because it enables us to begin with a common ground when addressing a problem.  There is such depth and richness to the written word, so much so that we often need assistance in truly understanding the meaning behind what the black letters say.  Yet this is only another reason to appreciate the written word because it guides us along a path of bettering our own intellect as we search for truth and understanding of the world around us. 

While I understand that not everyone shares my passion for the written word, I challenge you to consider what our world would be like without it.  What would you do if suddenly all our laws were merely promulgated by word-of-mouth?  Or if your favorite restaurant only provided a menu from their server?  Or if the street signs disappeared, and you had to make your way through town based on landmarks?  And what about if all those stories you heard as children suddenly disappeared because nobody remembered them since they were never written down?  It's a sobering thought.  The written word allows us to express our human intellect and to share it with those around us.  Keep that in mind the next time you read the signs on the subway or flip through the pages of your newspaper.  The written word keeps us connected.

Giving It Up

I've been struggling with trusting God and His plan for my life, and I finally found some true peace about all of it.  I know there's a plan, and I know that it's fabulous.  And I can hardly wait to turn the page and see what happens next.


I gave it all to God tonight
Offered up all control
Chose Him as my guiding light
To solve my rigmarole.


My dreams and visions set aside
And sole trust placed with Him
I sit and wonder
Watching them grow dim.


Slipping slowly through my hands
All human plans begin to dwindle
And yet unfettered springs to life
A hope begins to kindle.


I haven't met my soulmate yet
Perhaps I never will
But there's this sense I can't forget
A peaceful, happy thrill.


My trust stays strong
And my thoughts remain
With God they belong
And the sense comes again.


A sense of security
Of hope and of love
Filled with all purity
And sent from above.


And deep down inside
My vocation rings true
With God as my guide
I'm heading to you.


And just as our love
For God must shine bright,
Such love will reflect
In our own loving light.


In God is my trust
Never to falter
Whatever He plans
As my Heavenly Father.


Whether wedded to Him
Or a white blushing bride
I've offered my everything
In His heart I reside.


I pray, God, for grace
To pursue You farther
To deepen my trust
As Your loving daughter.


Grant me, I pray
Your eyes of true clarity
To follow Your path
With unwavering certainty.


Till death do us part
My heart will be yours
Once our Father reveals
The keys to the door.

Looking for a Fairytale

Flipping through the faded pages
Fading into a fantasy
Fighting demons and slaying dragons
Escaping to the realm of imagination


We're all looking for a fairytale
Sword of justice; shield of truth
Seeking our happily ever after
Beneath the ashes, beauty blooms


Day in, day out, trudging through reality
Toils and struggles rising everywhere
Mankind's despair ever mounting
Why can't we live in our storybooks


We're all looking for a fairytale
Sword of justice; shield of truth
Seeking our happily ever after
Beneath the ashes, beauty blooms


Yet isn't this what the heroes battle
Constantly facing thorny barriers
A closer look, a keener eye
Reveals a parallel design.


We're all looking for a fairytale
Sword of justice; shield of truth
Seeking our happily ever after
Beneath the ashes, beauty blooms


Life is a gift, a fantastical adventure
Watch me seize the opportunity with both hands
The more you seek, the clearer you'll find
All fantasy finds its root in reality


We're all looking for a fairytale
Sword of justice; shield of truth
Seeking our happily ever after
Beneath the ashes, beauty blooms

Giving It All Up to God

I've been learning a lot lately, and not just about the law.  I'm daily discovering how much easier and freer my life is when I turn all my worries and stress over to God.  He has a wonderful plan for my life, even if I don't really understand what it is exactly.  I find that every time I try to take control, things tend to get difficult and hard to understand.  But when I let my own control go and trust in Him instead, my soul is at peace––even with all the stress surrounding me.  I know that I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.  I just have to let Him in to do just that.

Needless to say, all of this musing led to a new set of song lyrics.  I don't have a tune for them yet (too many other songs floating around in my head), but here are the lyrics for your enjoyment.

Total freedom comes from complete surrender

Through saving grace my heart is saved.

The plan of life isn't mine to create.

I simply need to trust.

(REFRAIN)  I'm letting it all go,

Throwing my hands up in the air.

To gain control of my own life,

I must give it all to You.

I don't always understand Your plan,

And my human nature falls at times.

I want to know where my life is going,

But the misty future confuses me.

REFRAIN

The future whirls before me

Muddling my present state of mind.

I cannot tell where my path is leading,

But I'm trying to let it all go.

REFRAIN

I cannot succeed on my own.

My human will is too weak.

But as I daily offer my life to You,

My trust in Your plan grows.

REFRAIN

You daily increase my faith in Your plan,

And I know You will not let me fall.

As I surrender my will into Your hands,

I gain freedom in my life.

1000 Words

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words.  As I browse through the thousands of photos I have taken, I am continually amazed at the wonders of technology that can capture beautiful moments in time.  Now they are preserved forever more in both my memory and in the images before me.  I'd like to share just a few that I have taken in the last few months.  All are the same, insofar as they are all sunsets; however, each shot captures a different angle of the beauty of creation.  Every time I see a sunset, I revel in the glory of God's creation.  I bask in the warmth and beauty of His love as seen through the natural world that is the handiwork of His eternal paintbrush.