If you look for it, there is texture and design to be found everywhere in nature.
In our gardens, repetition is a part of good design, ensuring a flow from one area to another by repeating colours and shapes. Varying plant heights, providing contrasts of leaf texture, and planning a winterscape are also recommended for a garden with good rhythm in all seasons. When I’m creating a new bed, or refreshing an old one with new plantings, I try to incorporate these principles as much as possible. It isn’t easy, especially when I’m let loose in a nursery and am faced with the temptation to buy one of everything I like!
What I struggle to achieve in my small garden beds God does naturally and on a grand scale. He is the consummate landscape designer. There are lessons I can learn from his examples spread so liberally around my world.
- Most things flourish when allowed to grow in conditions that best suit them.
- Weeds blooming naturally en masse are every bit as beautiful as any pampered cultivar.
- Keeping plants constrained in rigid formations requires constant attention and will still be an exercise in futility.
These are not only gardening truths but also life truths. I tend to forget I am not the one in control. God designed, created and sustains. It’s important to confer with him and take some initiative, but I need to trust he has a plan and accept that he’s not obliged to share it with me.
Now that this New Year is underway I want to pursue my writing as the joy it is, and leave how it blossoms up to God. I’ll do my part, of course, but I’m trusting that whatever his plan is, it will be in my best interest and ultimately to his glory. There is nothing more awe-inspiring and peace-inducing than knowing God, the great Designer, is in charge.
Are you making any changes in how you approach your writing goals this year?
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Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
1 Chronicles 29:11 – RSV
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MUSINGS 
I wish I could lasso the days and slow them down a bit. But I suspect I’d be treading on God’s territory. Like He’d let me anyway! Haha. Okay, back to the question at hand. No, I’m not making any goals. I’m goal-less vs brainless. I like it! I’m also suffering from lack of sugar. Can you tell? Combine that with hockey-withdrawals and I’m a mess!
Lack of sugar AND hockey? For goodness sakes, don’t swear off coffee! Sometimes goals can be limiting, or just too daunting to tackle. Either way, I think as we get older we learn how to best tackle the tasks we want most to accomplish, so goals become less necessary.
“Most things flourish when allowed to grow in conditions that best suit them.”
I’m hoping that as I’ve cleaned out a bunch of external clutter (not that I’m done), I’ve helped create conditions that will nourish my creativity.
I’m hoping to get back to my fiction book this year–but honestly wondering if that’s what best suits me. 🙂
I don’t function well in a cluttered work environment (which is why I often avoid my office in favour of working in the family room), so decluttering would be beneficial for me, too. LOL.
I hope you soon discover the writing you’re meant to be doing and can pursue it with passion.
“Most things flourish when allowed to grow in conditions that best suit them.” — I love that! I think that belongs on a sticky note on my desk. 🙂 It seems to be a truth that applies to so much: gardening, sure, and I should keep it in mind come spring & planting time, LOL; but also life–I will flourish when I live as my true self, when I live honestly, when I take the advice my wise mom gave me when I was a kid (“be yourself”); and it very much applies to writing, too–a great reminder to write from the heart, to write the stories we were meant to tell rather than trying to shape them to what we think the market demands.
Thanks for this!
It’s easier to follow internal promptings and “write from the heart” when we relinquish control. It also helps to remember that respecting ourselves as a creation of God means when we’re “being ourselves” we’re honouring his work within us. At least that’s what I’ve been thinking lately.
A lovely post, Carol. Pictures are superb – and ideas are important. Thank you.
Thanks, Diana. 🙂
I sat thinking about a few of my manuscripts the other day. I think I was feeling a little overwhelmed. I reminded myself I need to pull them out of the box, dust them off and get to work. I also reminded myself that when you fall off a horse, you don’t leave the horse in the barn……you get right back on it. I’ve only failed if I stopped trying.
Your pictures are absolutely beautiful and resonate your words. Keep writing my friend…….
If you have several waiting for your attention… to finish writing, revising or polishing… it can definitely be overwhelming. Pick just one of those manuscripts that beckons to you, Katt… the one that most appeals to your heart… and finish working on it. Then send it off to beta readers/critiquers, or get out a bunch of queries for it and start working on the next one while you wait for responses. Tackling one project at a time is less daunting (and yes, it’s only failure if you quit trying).
Sending a virtual hug your way! 🙂