February 2021 Writing Prompts – All Inclusive

Little by little, I had to recover

From misshapen realities that hit me like feverish fiascos

Little by little, I am building up what was lost

Like the egg nest, I strived to have

Survive and Thrive: The New Resolve…

Happy New Year to you wherever you are!

I know many of us entered this year with tentative hope that there will be a break from last year’s happenings. As we try not to think that the other shoe might drop.

Ironic how many are just grateful they made it. So grateful in fact, that I haven’t heard the popular narratives of “New Year Resolutions”.

Maybe because, people just want a break. And you don’t need a special list for that.

I think people have also come to learn the hard way, that plans can fail, in the most unexpected way anyone can imagine.

I guess, it’s safe to assume that the plan for this year is one word : Survive.

I feel, should anyone mention New Year Resolution, people might actually recoil in angry fear.

This wasn’t the case, for many years until last year’s events reset everything.

It was fashionable to talk about Resolutions as one year closes and another begins.

Now, New Year Resolution is the new elephant in the room, threatening the tentative peace of many. How times have changed!

I will like to say, for many, we have learnt…well, re-learnt honesty, empathy, careful living — rather than the carefree exuberance that has plagued humanity for so long.

I suspect, that we are in some sort of purgatory, naughty corner and whatever it is called in High School.

And until, we get our acts together and acknowledge God as our God and seek righteousness, many will stay in that naughty corner.

The earlier you are repentant the sooner you are released from the naughty corner, leaving behind those who stubbornly want to hold on to there selfish careless inclination to life.

Just in case you’re wondering what the naughty corner is; it’s the virus with it’s different strains and no globally acceptable cure in sight. Rather, vaccines whose side effects make you wonder if there’s any difference between the virus and the vaccine.

If I were you, I would just healthily eat my way into an immune system boost. Further research, in this way of thought will show you what I believe are preventive measures to take.

However, if you trust what organisations of the world are saying than what is right in front of you, then once again, you won’t see nutrition as the way out. Because, it’s not globally recognised.

Well, pray without ceasing. Seek God’s presence and live according to God’s standard. If you still think you don’t have to do that, you have no idea how alone you are.

If you really want to survive and thrive, the Living God through Jesus Christ is the Answer for you and the world today.

Once again, Happy New Year!

January 2021 Writing Prompts

Entanglements

 Hello, Wonderfully made! I hope we are staying safe and healthy.

From the topic, some of us may already guess what this is about. But just in case you don’t, I will brief you.

Jada Smith suggested that she got “entangled” with another man while she was on a marriage hiatus.

She said this to her husband on her show, where it’s just two people at a table. This time it was her husband and her.

Very interesting.

I don’t like to talk about people especially when they have done what’s wrong — in my view.

However, I want to address the issues surrounding this saga and there are many angles to this story.

In this post, I want to talk about the other man. 

It seems it was the other man who first mentioned the entanglement.

He talked about how it affected him and it turns out he’s releasing a song titled “Entanglement”.

I think he feels rejected. Or dumped. And perhaps used. Whichever it was, I’m sure it doesn’t feel good.

I have yet to watch the interview, August (one of his names) gave. The little I have heard especially from Jada, turned my stomach. As I type this I feel slightly nauseous.

I think he should have expected this though, but for reasons, best known to him and Jada, he’s traumatised by the entanglement. Coupled with the fact that he was going through some issues that may need a psychologist to fix. Apparently, he and she chose to handle it in-house since rumour has it he’s somewhat a family friend. They got closer and the rest is still unfolding.

Again I believe part of what ails the man is The sting of rejection. 

Apparently, he assumed they would become a couple. That, or he later realised he had become too emotionally attached to her and whatever did happen between them, that he is now suffering withdrawal syndrome or is it symptoms?

Either or, he’s so pained or miffed about it, that could no longer keep it to himself: that something happened between him and a married woman during her marital break time. 

To all and sundry, let’s take these lessons:

• Do not get entangled — at all. If you do, you will feel trapped. Actually, you will be trapped. So if you cherish your freedom, anything that isn’t clear and concise, just steer clear. 
• Steer clear of a romantic interest who is married! Really, you can’t win. Rather, it will do you in. You will be sucked into all their issues that extends to their children and spouse. Besides, karma is not extinct. Do to others what you want to be done to you and this warning wouldn’t be necessary. 
• Respect other people’s feelings and relationships. I’m talking of those “they” are in relationships with or married to and the children.
• Respect yourself. If you have a proper value structure. There are troubles that you skip by because you refuse to demean yourself in any way.
• Seek help in the appropriate places from trained professionals. It is way too easy to become infatuated to the person who is trying to help you. And next thing you know, you have built a castle or city in the sky featuring that person as your partner. By the time you realise they either see you as a sibling or their child, you are already emotionally entangled, if not mentally also. A professional knows how to assist you, without leaving you worse than they met you. 
• Maintain emotional distance. You don’t want to get entangled? Don’t get emotionally involved. This pandemic has reinforced some traditions that kept people from starting something they should not have began, to start with. There are cultures that had what I will call gender segregation. Women had their quarters, so did men. They only mixed in supervised circumstances. Even at social gatherings, women sat on one side while men sat at the other. In such arrangements, temptations are minimal with little or no opportunity to yield. Keep physical and emotional distance from the opposite gender, that isn’t in your nuclear family.

The ripple effect of this entanglement saga is far-reaching. Like an octopus with many tentacles.

I will be back to post my perspective on the other angles.

Stay safe, stay healthy in your body, soul and spirit.

Shalom!

https://puttingmyfeetinthedirt.com/2020/07/01/july-writing-prompts-2/ 2. City in the Sky, 5. The Sting of Rejection

Untwist the Truth

What do we do about people who twist the truth and insult those who point it out?

As a Christian a lot is expected of you in God’s Kingdom and in relating with others for the development of all.

Some people who I’m beginning to think are trying to create hype, are always verbally attacking anyone whose expression and interpretation contradicts their own.

Hard as I try understanding people whose lives aren’t that sterling, but think it’s their duty to impose corrections filled with faults on everybody else, sounds hilarious, except I’m not laughing. 

Reading the Bible is a study in mystery that I think someone should write a book on.

The Word of God is a living breathing Word, powerful enough to make flesh. 

It’s a cleanser, purifier, transformer, healer, comforter, shelter, edifier and so much more.

It is also a double edged sword and a mirror.

And if you think too highly of yourself, you are likely to see only what you want to see in the mirror-like sword and then point it against others.

Your reason or should I say motive for reading the Bible is more important than the reading itself — God forgive me if saying that is a sin.

Because you read your motives into what you are reading. Therefore if you are looking to justify yourself in what is wrong, you will likely find an example that may seem to agree with you.

The right way to read God’s Word is to have the motive to right your ways to God’s satisfaction. Anything less than that is no different from reading history or the law. 

God’s Word is HIStory. If we want something different from that then we should write our own story.

Plagiarism is still a crime, I believe.

Reading into God’s Word what isn’t there is no different from plagiarism.

The last statement of the Bible in the Book of Revelations is clear on how God feels about twisting HIS Truth.

It’s save and wise even, not to get it twisted.

Shalom!

https://wp.me/p9YJOH-v7 
https://hopeandstay.com/2019/09/05/breaking-spells-and-shedding-dragon-skins-when-narcissus-refuses-the-mirror/

The Encounter

“Sherie? Is that you?” Sheryl removed her limited edition sun glasses to be sure she wasn’t seeing things.

Sherie had been her friend and business partner. Until Sherie disappeared with her investment and Sheryl’s fiance.

That was two years ago. And she couldn’t believe she was seeing her again.

“Hello Sheryl. Long time.” Sherie looked around nervously as if seeking for an escape.

Sheryl snorted a laugh, “Yeah. Long time indeed.”

As Sherie made to dash away, Sheryl blocked her with an, “Oh no you don’t Cherie. You owe me an explanation, Mademoiselle. Or is it ‘Madam’ now?”

“Look Sheryl I don’t want trouble —”

“Really? Your actions in times past contradicts that. Where is my money?”

“I don’t have it.”

“What?!”

“You know what? Lawyer up, Sherie. Because you going to hear from me soon”, Sheryl said as she wore her sunglasses again.

Sheryl walked to her husband’s limousine as the suited guard opened the door for her to climb in.

“Hello Beautiful”, her husband said with a loving smile.

His smile helped calm her upset feeling a bit.

“Hello Dear”, She replied with a small smile.

“What’s wrong?” Her husband, Christian asked with concern.

“I stumbled into someone from my past who betrayed my trust”

“I’m sorry, dear”, Christian was sympathetic, as he rubbed her back to calm and comfort her.

“You know, I don’t think I will ever ask her. But what will be her excuse for robbing me?”

“There’s will never be a good enough reason or excuse for betrayal such as that. She did what she did based on who she was. That has little or nothing to do with you, Baby. So don’t take it personal.”

“Thanks Love. I’m not taking it personal. Which is why I’m suing her.”

“Good”

“So what’s for dinner?” Sheryl asked her besotted husband.

“Well, that depends on you, my love. Goodness forbid I order the chefs to prepare something that isn’t your current craving.” He said with a twinkle in his eyes as her cradled her slight baby bump.

“Oh you!”, She said as they both laughed.

via Your Daily Word Prompt – Trust – June 11, 2019

Crown of Thorns

Hello WonderBeau People.🤗

I’m thrilled to be here. Especially soon after the last post. That is exciting!

I guess I’m beginning to develop a good habit. Keep it up, Girl! I believe high-fiving meself is in order.🙌

The day before, I was musing about how all women are queens, whether they are coronated or not.

However, at different stages in a woman’s life, she wears different types of 👑 crowns.

In case we are not aware, life is beautiful only when we realize life is a battle.

Therefore we must develop a fighting spirit that will enable us to demand our fair share from life because life isn’t fair.

Back to crowns.

When a woman is going through deep-seated pain, that seems too deep to be reached or expressed — not unlike a persistent under skin itch, feeling it but unable to reach it — it affects every area of her life.

Emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, there might be instability or restlessness and it’s likely she develops a bad habit in the midst of all that helpless pain.

A bad habit as a coping mechanism, like temporarily inflicting pain to distract from the existing pain — more like digging underneath one’s feet.

Rumour has it that crowns have some point like teeth in them, that pricks the head of the wearer, so as to remind the crowned of their responsibilities.

That may have something to do with the saying:

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

Of course, if it was smooth on the inside, the crown is likely to slip off at every slight movement.

So I’m also assuming that the teeth in the crown anchor it to the head more firmly.

Apparently, there’s always a discomfort to wearing a crown, no matter how rare, expensive or beautiful it is.

The teeth in a beautiful crown may not be that different from wearing a crown of thorns.

Makes me wonder if there’s a difference between a crown of thorns and a crown with thorns.

Adversity leads to advancement, more often than not.

Jesus Christ was and still is the Word. According to John chapter 1:

1. In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God

2. The same was at the beginning with God

2. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

Had all that prestige, but for him to be the Messiah king he had to live, feel and die like a common man.

For you to lead, you need to feel and live like those you plan to lead. That’s primarily training for leadership.

Jesus Christ became the name above all other names that at the name of Jesus every knee must bow. Of things in heaven, on things in earth and underneath the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Because Jesus lived among men, he understood what we need to survive in the battlefield of life.

Therefore according to Luke 10:19, Jesus gave us power that nothing shall by any means hurt us.

Everything he suffered was so that through his suffering we might have life abundantly.

The crown of thorns comes before the crown of glory. Otherwise, we are most likely to abuse the power and authority that comes with the crown of glory.

I think the reason great empires fell, was because those at the helm of affairs ruled rather than lead. Therefore they refused to give power to the people. As soon as they fell the power of the empire fell with them.

However, if they had worn the crown of thorns before wearing the crown of glory, they would have understood that the people are the true custodians of power.

There family businesses — especially the ones who are past their 100th birthday– who would name the new CEO or chairperson only after the candidate has successfully worked his/her way up starting from the gate-person, through all the various departments and sections of the company. And maybe that’s why such businesses have not only outlived their founders, they have become greater with each generation.

Some of these companies also have employees whose grandparents had not only worked in the same company but also own shares in the company.

Now if the kings and emperors of times past, had understood, that to live forever, long after they are gone, they had to hand power to the people. And that power will have multiplied in different forms among all the people, then they would have had a history, rather than becoming history — lost in the sands of time

Because Jesus Christ gave us power, now he lives and reigns forever on earth and in our hearts.

Maybe attempts had been made in times past to wipe out Christiandom. But all they succeeded in doing was to make the Gospel of Jesus spread faster.

Now we have the centuries counted as B.C. {Before Christ} and A.D. (After the death of Christ, who is now risen in glory).

There’s a lot to be learnt from Jesus Christ, only if we can open our hearts to him.

Shalom.💚

Note: I wrote this in instalments on different days.

Courage for Today.

Hi Beautiful People.

I feel tired and overwhelmed and restless.

I feel tired of being too tired to be who I wanted to be — who I want to be.

Having plans sometimes is like setting oneself up to fail.

I mean tell me:

What do I do when I make plans and things don’t fall into place because the obstacles were much?

Well, I reverted back to prayers.

Of course, I have always prayed. But there’s praying and there’s praying.

There’s praying in your head and there’s my-heart-is-bleeding-I-can’t-take-this-anymore praying.

Praying with a bleeding heart, is like trying to burst a boil at maturity. It’s painful to touch, much less squeeze and it throbs painfully without being touched.

To leave it on it’s own is not an option, because the pain increases to the point of insomnia.

So you have to clench your teeth against the pain and burst the boil. Once you do, you feel better and relieved.

Sometimes until the pain of where we are stuck in, is greater than the pain of breaking free, we might not pursue true liberty –Paraphrased from the novel “The Last Ten Percent” by Michelle McKinney Hammond

Breaking free can be a Herculean task, but it’s not impossible.

Speaking of Herculean tasks, I recall — not that I have been able to forget — the movie “Hercules” whose lead actor is Dwayne Johnson (I think I might watch it again).

I don’t know if I have written this before, but I believe Dwayne found his true calling in acting. He may have wanted to be a sports man, but his size and skills makes him a better actor as warrior in period/medieval movies.

Back to Hercules.

There are lots of lessons to glean from the movie, but the one that relates most to this particular “muse-ticle” on the issue of pain, is best described by my latest finding on this popular quote:

What doesn’t kill you……

Had. Better. Run!!!!

If you are going through pain I recommend Hercules the movie, featuring Dwayne Johnson — I had to add that, because I don’t know if there are other movie versions.

Hercules had lost enough to kill a man, but when he found the truth about his painful past under …less than congenial circumstances, the truth set him free. And in setting himself free others also gained their freedom right along with him.

No wonder, Jesus Christ said and I quote:

Ye shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.

End quote.

A pastor recently said the word make in that scripture is deliberate and has it’s meaning to the text, but we will talk about that in other muse-letters.

Hercules was legendary for his brute strength and his long strings of victory, but he was running away from a memory.

Which brings me to another point:

To be free from a pain you must gather the courage exclusive for it, because you can’t borrow courage from another experience or victory. You need to begin courage or encourage yourself all over again. Therefore, courage is exclusive.

That’s why we see that many of us are fearless in so many aspects, yet have deep seated phobias in one or more areas of our lives. Phobias we choose to ignore, but they are there waiting — waiting to spring unpleasant surprises on us in our most vulnerable moments.

I wish courage was all encompassing. I really do, because it makes the business of living much easier.

But unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you see it, courage or encouragement does not work that. And I’m learning that the hard way.

This reminds me of the prophet Elijah — the prophet who called down fire more than once in his day. The prophet who never tasted death. Went straight to heaven alive in heavenly escort of horses and chariots of fire.

I mean, that was some serious wonderment that amazes me every time I think about it.

Yet, the same man who stopped rain and called it down when it suited him. Who escaped arrest many times just by disappearing and appearing wherever and whenever he wanted;

Ran away….. ran away, when a witch threatened him!

Some say God had to call him home earlier than planned, because he allowed himself to be frightened by something less than what he had crushed in the past.

The explanation I have for that is: his courage failed him or he lost courage.

This leads me to believe that courage is food we need to injest daily, to be able to withstand unforseen threats that may distabilize us.

Courage is food we need to learn how to feed ourselves with i.e personal encouragement.

We can’t leave our encouragement in the hands of others. Because it’s not always, we can have someone around us to encourage us. Like Dwayne Johnson’s character in Hercules had.

When we depend on yesterday’s meal to sustain us, we would soon faint.

The same applies to courage.

Shalom🌿💚🌴

Interdependence

There’s an African proverb that says, “A lone 🌲 tree cannot make a forest.”

This talks about a unity of purpose, to make things happen.

It’s often said, that no one is an island. We are not created to stand alone in everything. We’re made to collaborate, to form relationships.

Life is about collaboration. You can buy, only because someone is selling. You have shelter because someone was willing to build. You have a business because someone needs your services and is willing to patronise you. You have a job because someone needs your skills and is willing to hire you. You need others and others need you as well. It is co-dependence and inter-dependence. No one can truly do anything, all by themselves. We’re not just built that way.

Life is meant to be shared, and there’s love in sharing.

Does that mean we should hitch our wagon to just anyone’s?

No, of course not.

But we should not make the mistake of going the high road of not needing anybody. We can choose who to associate with. We simply have to choose wisely. We need to choose people who can help us grow and who we can help grow. That’s how a forest works.

Choosing the wrong company or choosing to remain in wrong company is like, trying to grow under a huge tree. The huge tree might seem like a shield from the harsh realities of life, but in the real sense, its preventing the trees under it from getting adequate nutrition directly from the elements, for proper growth. Neither will they have deep roots, because the roots of the huge tree will not only absorb most of the earth’s nutrients, but it will not give space for any tree under it or it’s immediate environs to take root.

Have you ever seen a tree growing under a huge tree, become as big as that tree? Trees growing under huge trees are limited to living in the shadows of the huge tree.

There’s a time to “get thee out from among them”, so that you can grow to your highest potential. But you still need thr right people to make that happen.

However, don’t let the absence of help or assistance stop you from venturing out on your own. It only takes one step of faith at a time. It is well.

Shalom. 🌎

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/forest/

Mentor

Wow!

Mentor!

I find that word scary, actually. I mean, I understand it’s importance in life and development. But I will like to say, mentoring is not for everyone. Especially, if you are not confident enough to know your mind and do what you believe is right, when everyone — including your mentor — sees what you plan on doing as mission impossible.

I’m very touchy about someone telling me what I must do. I find the ‘must do’ vibe, a bit controlling and maybe manipulative.

Feel free to correct me, if you believe I don’t know what the heck I’m talking about.

I think a mentor should be like a psychologist. Listening, giving gentle prompts until you find the answer yourself. A guide, a friend.

Mentor sounds to me like lecturer, as opposed to compassionate teacher, who helps you understand and apply what you understand.

Interestingly, the dictionary meaning of mentor are: guide, advisor, teacher, counsellor. So why am I opposed to it?

Well, I think it’s probably because I haven’t met the right person or I’m not disciplined enough to handle the position of a mentee. I have had few admirable big-sister kind of women come into my life, but I end up pushing them away or avoiding them.

For one, they end up giving me assignments. Very good thing. But I don’t like assignments, because of the time limit attached to it. So I end up running away. I can’t help but feel bad about all the other reasons I don’t have a mentor or an active mentor. I prefer to use the word friend than mentor. The tone and vibe I get from the word mentor sounds like sitting in a stifling classroom, getting stiff instructions and ultimatums to either shape up or be punished.

What a mentor really means is part of my definition of friendship.

So I think I will settle with friendship.

With a wry smile on my face, it just occurred to me that maybe the reason, why I have had a hard time finding and keeping friends, is because I was seeking mentorship in friendship.

I’m beginning to understand why having a friend seemed like a tall order. But in my defence, I was mentoring those I thought were my friends; even if I didn’t know, that was what I was doing. I thought I was advising them. They probably ran away from me, because of my advice.

But is there something wrong with guiding, advising, counselling someone you care for and expecting the same in return?

Am I confused or expecting too much?

Shalom 🌿

via Mentor

Fiction as Real as Reality.

Hello wonderful people!💚 I hope we are doing good in our different corners of our global community. 

I’m a student of the Arts. I believe literature is the mirror of life. So if literature is the mirror of life, why are we always quick to dismiss stories and literary works as unreal?

For me every story is history or a prophecy come to life. Because we don’t know anyone personally whose life story is similar to fiction, doesn’t mean it isn’t other people’s untold story. Either in the present, past or the future, in any other part of the world. It may have been the author’s imagination, but it doesn’t make it any less real. Like a character in a Indian TV serial said, ‘The truth is sometimes more strange than fiction’. 

If stories are all fictitious, then why is it necessary to write before the story that, ‘…any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental’? Because it’s possible for someone’s imagination to be another’s reality!

As these thoughts were established in my mind, I set out to always draw lessons from every story I read and movies I watch. The best way to describe fiction for me is what they call Historia in Spanish. 

Most of what I have learnt in my life are from fiction. I suppose how one views something will determine what one gets out of it. A lot of people, simply digest fiction for fun or entertainment. But I study fiction like non-fiction material. I see the culture, the fashion in the costume, the beauty in the interior decoration, the themes of the story, the personality of the characters, the uniqueness of the story. That is why, I read the plot/summary of a novel/movie before I watch it.

I love historical, medieval movies a lot. So much infact, that a modern novel/movie has to be extremely unique and interesting, to get and keep my attention. 

Fiction is not that removed from reality. If it was, people won’t spend time and money reading or watching fiction. And people are into fiction because, it has life, which only something real can have. 

Shalom. 🦋💜