Forgiveness

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Why is it important for us to remember 9/11? 

Because it hurt us. 

It is important that we do not ignore the suffering that this act of terrorism and violence caused. Thousands of people lost their lives on 9/11/01, and we honor their memory by praying for them and praying for their friends and families.

I think there are a lot of people who cannot forgive what happened on 9/11. I was almost seven years old on September 11, 2001, and I remember my mom explaining to me that someone had flown a plane into a building. I didn't fully understand, and, to be honest, it didn't really effect me. I lived in Iowa and didn't even know what terrorism was.

Now that I'm older, looking back on 9/11 makes me very sad, because I think about how, for many people, today marks 12 years of remembering a horrific tragedy in their lives. It's easier for me to forgive, because I wasn't directly hurt by it.

We have been forgiven by God, and therefore, have the power to forgive everyone who hurts us. Even, and especially, terrorists. I pray for all the victims, and all the survivors. We learned so much from 9/11, and we won't forget. But we must forgive. 

!!SHORT PLAY UPDATE!!

I was at work today when I was told I had a phone call. I almost never get calls at work, so I was curious. It was my mother. She apologized for bothering me while I was working (Mom, you should know I am NEVER going to be annoyed at you for breaking up the monotony of my shifts, I promise!), but an e-mail had just come in from Words Players. 

My play, Favorite Color, has been selected for the One Act Play Festival, October 11th and 12th at 7pm. Out of many plays submitted from all over the United States, mine is one of SEVEN that was chosen.

If you think I'm freaking out, you are absolutely right.

I have never had anything I've written published before, and this totally counts as publication in my book. REAL LIVE PEOPLE are going to perform my play in front of a REAL LIVE AUDIENCE.

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I'm just so happy and honestly very SHOCKED that my play was chosen. I received some very negative feedback about it, but I made the choice to preserve it the way it was and trust that the beauty I saw in it would be evident to other people. 

Above all, I am so grateful to God for this immense blessing and honor, and I only hope that everyone who sees my play will be blessed by it. 

What a great way to start the week, right?

Praying for Peace

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I am often very preoccupied with my own very tiny portion in this world. So preoccupied, in fact, that I do not remember that there are people living every day in fear, not knowing if they will see tomorrow. The people in Syria and Egypt need God's saving power, not more violence from another source directed at another target.  

Pope Francis I has asked all the people of the world (not just Catholics, not just Christians, but any human person who desires peace on earth) to PRAY FOR PEACE.

We are a broken, fallen world. We need to beg our God, through the intercession of all the Angels and Saints, and Mary, Queen of Heaven, to rescue us. To show His faithfulness, mercy, and love yet again. He has never failed us. We need Him. 

"Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, "Peace to you," grant us peace. Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice and brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace. Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May all peoples on the earth become as brothers and sisters. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all."
(Blessed John XXIII)

External Processing

Flannery O'Connor must have processed everything externally, too. 

Happy Wednesday!

No NaNoWriMo 2013

Okay. I have opened myself up fully to the possibility of NOT doing NaNoWriMo a fourth time. And the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of not doing it.

Why?

Here is a list of just a few reasons:

1. I'm really just using NaNoWriMo as an excuse to be totally lazy, and to not write anything ever unless its NaNoWriMo.

2. I should be writing 1,000+ words EVERYDAY even when its NOT NaNoWriMo if I wish to continue calling myself an author.

3. I have 3 unfinished NaNo Novels pining for my attention already.

4. Everyone I talk to about this possibility thinks its a good idea.

5. I have already proved (three times over) that I can write a massive amount of words in 30 days, but I have yet to prove I can FINISH a book.

6. NaNoWriMo is stressful, and I don't need extra stress in my life, even though I enjoy the particular brand of stress NaNoWriMo possesses.

7. I have many much more important things to be doing in the time between now and November 1st, which I would probably otherwise spend 'prepping' for NaNoWriMo.

So. I believe it's safe to say that NaNoWriMo 2013 has been officially called off for me. I admit that I'm very disappointed by the thought of not doing it, but this list has me convinced that I am better off writing just for the sake of becoming a better writer, not for the fun/glory/rush of NaNo-Noveling.

I will still begin writing Flower and Thorn at my leisure now.

I would like to thank particularly Steve and Meg for their advice and input on this decision. I will finish something and let you read it as soon as possible, I promise.

Bring Me the Night

There isn't an excuse for this level of blog neglect. There just isn't. And unfortunately, the heat index in my area is over 100 degrees, so I'm not exactly full of energy and ideas for amazing blog posts. So I'll stick with something easy and entertaining: song post! 

Two weeks ago, I found this song on Youtube due to the fact that I frequently look at Kurt Hugo Schneider's page because he produces some fantastic music. I love Kina Grannis' voice, so I was delighted to see she is featured in Sam Tsui's newest single, Bring Me the Night. Aside from the fact that it is a beautiful song, it is very relevant to my life. When the person you love most is 1,000 miles away, this kind of thing can be very relatable. 

Measuring days in the spaces between our goodbyes
Learning to wait through the endless parade
Of our same old see-you-next-time's
But when I close my eyes, the miles melt away
Like you're here in my arms at the end of the day

So bring me the night, send out the stars
Cause when I'm dreaming we don't seem so far
Darken the sky, and light up the moon
So that somehow you'll be here with me soon
Bring me the night
Bring me the night
That brings me to you
You

Long-Overdue Updates

Shame on me: 2 whole weeks since I last posted!

I feel terrible for neglecting this blog the way I have. I was sitting here, trying to think of something worthwhile to post about, and I realized there are a couple things I should do some recap on.

So...

1. NaNoWriMo! I am so pumped for this year. I have officially decided that, since I have already done/won three years in a row, I am going to aim for between 70k and 80k as a personal goal. Crazy, I know, but I'm excited. Flower and Thorn has a lot of potential to be an excellent story. I have, as of right now, found 'models' for my three main characters, and finally named a very important character. Unfortunately, I realized that I have a character who I was planning on naming Todd and a character who MUST be named Tom. I have to decide whether or not I can handle having a Todd and a Tom in the same story. These kinds of things are trivial, though; what's important is that I have asked God for the grace to have this story give glory to Him.

2.  My short play! As some of you may recall, it was titled 'Favorite Color' and was about a girl trying to describe color to a blind boy. I finished it and was extremely proud of it, and sent it off to Words Players in Rochester, MN. However, the Northland Words Community Theater has been in some financial struggles for years now, and they were finally seriously considering closing the theater down entirely. This, obviously, meant my play might never even receive consideration. However, the theater has received quite a bit of financial support and enthusiastic aid to keep its doors open, and they have decided to continue, even if at a smaller scale. As of right now, the short plays festival (which my play would be part of if they chose it) has been postponed. I haven't heard anything from the theater, but I'm keeping my hopes up. I love Words Players, and it would be an honor to have them perform my play.

Thanks for coming back to my blog - I will post more updates more often now, I promise!

Hope you enjoy this new week.

God Bless.