“Is He not the archetype for all creatives? The One who created with a Word, a voice in the silence of space? Who hovered and brooded over the formless deep until Something was made? Are we not all teeny-tiny mirrors of that same behavior, like little chicks who copy their mother hen’s scratching in the dust whether or not they understand its meaning?”
S.E., this is one of, if not the best essay I have read by you so far. Wonderful in it's simplicity, while describing such a complex concept of success via the magic of writing! This of course must be deeply personal, so I feel so privileged to have listened while you answered, 'how does SHE do that?' ... Thank you!
Just lovely. I can feel that peek behind the curtain in your words. And I agree that writing feels like descent. There’s a depth that isn’t captured by the idea of ascent. Also, I love etymology, so thank you for that 😊
As an artist, I resonate with that you said about going into the holy place. ❤️ I feel God so CLOSE when I am drawing, it hardly feels like work. I, too, hope the journey never ends.
Wonderful! I immediately thought of the masterpiece The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd when you wrote about your writing not being about or compared to climbing a mountain. Nan had many adventures in the Cairngorm mountains of Scotland, discovering all the rivers and intimate details of the mountain. She was uninterested, like the many who wanted to hike to the summit.
I've learned to see a difference between searching and seeking. Searching is looking for something specific, whether it's one's car keys or a cure for some disease. Success can be defined and, presumably, achieved. Seeking, however, does not have a definable goal in mind. Or, if it does, that goal is necessarily amorphous. Enlightenment, for example, cannot be achieved; it happens, or it doesn't; it's not hiding behind a bush or a person waiting for us to find it. To seek is to remain open to what is as well as what can be, to look not for something but more for the sake of looking. I, too, think of writing in this way.
I suspect most 4th graders exposed to J.R.R. Tolkien would have said, “What an exciting story.” Young writer S.E. Reid asked, “How does he DO that?” Even then you were clearly drawn to the magic and power and beauty and depth of words on a page. Those seeds planted then continue to bear marvelous fruit, and we are the beneficiaries. 😊
Wow. Coincidence and connection. And serendipity. *brrrr!* This reminded me of many comforting things. Thank you.
I’ve also recently been pondering JRRT and family…how a small, seemingly random and insignificant, suggestion from someone, or the commitment to sharing a deep joy, can result in us taking that first step onto the path from our front door that we need access to in order to learn.
Those gentle nudges that keep us exploring.
It can be so many different things can’t it? An escape route, a way to connect with our inner self, a place to glimpse the divine, a road to nowhere the following of which will reveal many treasures if we’re willing to keep exploring.
Thanks for the reminder S.E.
I keep forgetting how time spent there mindfully can heal and connect. This is two reminders in less than 24 hours, so I’d better pay attention and make the time to do some more travelling…👌
"But sometimes…sometimes you’re allowed to twitch aside one tiny corner of the curtain that separates you from the face of God. " This is such a beautiful read. Thank you, S.E. I really do believe that what we share here on Substack is such a wonderful thing because we all write, we all create, which is so humanly close to divine.
“Is He not the archetype for all creatives? The One who created with a Word, a voice in the silence of space? Who hovered and brooded over the formless deep until Something was made? Are we not all teeny-tiny mirrors of that same behavior, like little chicks who copy their mother hen’s scratching in the dust whether or not they understand its meaning?”
How PERFECTLY AND BEAUTIFULLY PUT.
S.E., this is one of, if not the best essay I have read by you so far. Wonderful in it's simplicity, while describing such a complex concept of success via the magic of writing! This of course must be deeply personal, so I feel so privileged to have listened while you answered, 'how does SHE do that?' ... Thank you!
Despite being a writer, I feel like words fail me about this piece. Thank you. It was a balm to my soul.
Just lovely. I can feel that peek behind the curtain in your words. And I agree that writing feels like descent. There’s a depth that isn’t captured by the idea of ascent. Also, I love etymology, so thank you for that 😊
Stellar.
As an artist, I resonate with that you said about going into the holy place. ❤️ I feel God so CLOSE when I am drawing, it hardly feels like work. I, too, hope the journey never ends.
Wonderful! I immediately thought of the masterpiece The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd when you wrote about your writing not being about or compared to climbing a mountain. Nan had many adventures in the Cairngorm mountains of Scotland, discovering all the rivers and intimate details of the mountain. She was uninterested, like the many who wanted to hike to the summit.
I've learned to see a difference between searching and seeking. Searching is looking for something specific, whether it's one's car keys or a cure for some disease. Success can be defined and, presumably, achieved. Seeking, however, does not have a definable goal in mind. Or, if it does, that goal is necessarily amorphous. Enlightenment, for example, cannot be achieved; it happens, or it doesn't; it's not hiding behind a bush or a person waiting for us to find it. To seek is to remain open to what is as well as what can be, to look not for something but more for the sake of looking. I, too, think of writing in this way.
It's a fearsome thing to be walking, and find a pen.
I suspect most 4th graders exposed to J.R.R. Tolkien would have said, “What an exciting story.” Young writer S.E. Reid asked, “How does he DO that?” Even then you were clearly drawn to the magic and power and beauty and depth of words on a page. Those seeds planted then continue to bear marvelous fruit, and we are the beneficiaries. 😊
Thank you!!!
Wow. Coincidence and connection. And serendipity. *brrrr!* This reminded me of many comforting things. Thank you.
I’ve also recently been pondering JRRT and family…how a small, seemingly random and insignificant, suggestion from someone, or the commitment to sharing a deep joy, can result in us taking that first step onto the path from our front door that we need access to in order to learn.
Those gentle nudges that keep us exploring.
It can be so many different things can’t it? An escape route, a way to connect with our inner self, a place to glimpse the divine, a road to nowhere the following of which will reveal many treasures if we’re willing to keep exploring.
Thanks for the reminder S.E.
I keep forgetting how time spent there mindfully can heal and connect. This is two reminders in less than 24 hours, so I’d better pay attention and make the time to do some more travelling…👌
"But sometimes…sometimes you’re allowed to twitch aside one tiny corner of the curtain that separates you from the face of God. " This is such a beautiful read. Thank you, S.E. I really do believe that what we share here on Substack is such a wonderful thing because we all write, we all create, which is so humanly close to divine.
👌🏻
This was a stunningly beautiful piece. Thank you for this.
Just beautiful ♥️