Guest Blogger ~ Carol Stratton @carolgstratton
with Marcie Bridges @Marcie_Bridges
I met Carol at Writer’s Advance Bootcamp! Back in February (yes, I met many fantastic, wonderful friends there!) and I’m so pleased to have her as my guest today. While you’re here, click on the link at the bottom of this post to check out her debut novel, Lake Surrender. Welcome to Heart Thoughts Carol!
Catch
us the foxes,
The little foxes that spoil the vines,
For our vines have tender grapes.
Song of Solomon 2:15
Worry and writing. Iโve learned the two donโt mix.
I have learned I canโt hold the two in my mind at the same
time. Itโs like water and oil.
time. Itโs like water and oil.
That niggling little thought grows from a random โWhat if?โ
question, to an expanding fear when I feed it a snack. Suddenly the negative
idea that flies through my mind, putting down roots like Kudzu in the south and
overwhelming my budding story, article or poem.
question, to an expanding fear when I feed it a snack. Suddenly the negative
idea that flies through my mind, putting down roots like Kudzu in the south and
overwhelming my budding story, article or poem.
I understand this verse all too well. How many times have I
used my creativity to pump up a fear, turning a troubling thought into a full
blown movie?
used my creativity to pump up a fear, turning a troubling thought into a full
blown movie?
Too many times to
mention. Often creativity and worry are two different sides of a coin.
mention. Often creativity and worry are two different sides of a coin.
Catch for us the
foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards… Solomon 2:15
foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards… Solomon 2:15
According to biblestudytools.com, the fox referred to in the
passage is:
passage is:
โThe
common jackal, which may be heard every night in the villages. It is
like a medium-sized dog, with a head like a wolf, and is of a
bright-yellow color. These beasts devour the bodies of the dead, and
even dig them up from their graves.โ
common jackal, which may be heard every night in the villages. It is
like a medium-sized dog, with a head like a wolf, and is of a
bright-yellow color. These beasts devour the bodies of the dead, and
even dig them up from their graves.โ
Your and my vineyard is our mind where wonderful ideasgrows. We can cultivate the fruit with good fertilizer, Godโs word, water it
with much prayer so that the grapes will flourish. But when the vines donโt
receive proper nourishment, they are useless. And, if we allow the burdens of
our life to absorb our thinking we wonโt be able to communicate Godโs message
to the world, either by writing or talking to people. Thatโs when our
creativity goes to the dogs.
Carol has been a freelance writer articles and is currently a reporter for theMooresville Weekly with over 400
articles under her belt. She has a
degree in Recreation Therapy and has worked with autistic children in a
classroom, an experience that inspired her to write about a woman with an
autistic son.
She speaks at national writing conferences as well as
MOPS and other womenโs groups about personality temperaments, friendship and
encouraging yourself.
MOPS and other womenโs groups about personality temperaments, friendship and
encouraging yourself.
Carol is married to her husband John who she
calls her โmuseโ and has four grown children and four grandchildren. Currently
she and her husband John, live in Mooresville, North Carolina where she loves
to hike and play guitar and mandolin while learning to love liver mush.
Carol has also published her first novel through Lighthouse Publisher’s of the Carolina’s titled Lake Surrender. You can find it at: Amazon.com, & Barnes & Noble
Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007N7NZ1O
So true, Carol. Great post! ๐
Thank you, it's a continual battle but recognizing how it steals my joy makes it worth fighting.
I needed that, Carol! Thanks!
Carol, I agree completely. Nothing stifles creativity like worry. Thanks for your thoughts.
Thank you dear friends for reading, sharing, and leaving comments for Carol. You are each a blessing to both of us. ๐