Writing with Creation Breaks
Our Writer’s Den stays busy nearly every day, but we are not the kinds of authors that write words like fields are doused with a summer thundershower. Writing takes time, stops and starts, creative periods interlaced with chugging through publishing tasks, and those wonderful creation breaks on the GateWay property. The breaks are what we speak about today, because without them we would surely stop writing.
With five acres of land within a few feet of the writer’s den, we purposefully head for the door many times a day. First, it might be just a breath of North Carolina sultry summer air. Second, we typically head for the path that meanders past the pond into the woods. It is not uncommon for us to head in opposite directions around the property, give a hearty hello or an embrace as we pass each other, and finally end up back at the house. Third, who can resist checking the garden spots for fresh beans, herbs, cucumbers, squash, and the vines that are seriously working on producing melons. Fourth, we can’t resist checking on the flowers, of which there are too many types to list. All in all, our feeble minds get refreshed, and we head inside to tackle another page or two.
The breaks are also a reminder that God lives, having graciously made the earth fruitful. That entirely created photosynthesis process, which turns sunlight into plant energy, is like no other. The efficiency of the process makes solar panel design seem like child’s play. It’s highly sophisticated microprocesses all had to be working at once from the beginning, which is what happened, as recorded on the third day of creation (Genesis 1). So, our walks take us past complex foliage that all demands the success of one process, or it would not be there. In short, we get refreshed by the time we get inside, even if we are pouring with sweat on hot summer days.
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From a bird’s eye view, the walkers disappear through the back door and go back to writing. We watch through the windows of the Writer’s Den. She continues refining the spreads and integrating the right words on each one that are part of the third children’s book. He gathers more biblical references to continue booklet two of nine for young believers and seekers who want to understand how to have a relationship with the Creator. We are not too worried, because the writers will be out again soon. They have to be, because we like the seed and sugar water treats. If they don’t take breaks often enough, we dive bomb the windows or look out-of-sorts at the base of the feeders. It helps to hop around aimlessly, as if something is missing. We know they are concerned about orphans, who are half-way around the world, and young people, who are trying to answer big questions. But surely, they will continue to have time for us, too.
