"God, keep me in reality!" My former Twelve-step sponsor used to pray these words every day. She knew her mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being depended upon staying "denial-free." Also married to a recovering sex addict at the time, I embraced her wisdom and chanted the same mantra in hopes I, too, would retain my …
The Answer
I'm signed up for a working writers' conference this weekend in which I'm suppose to bring a fresh idea for a book. The objective is to storyboard the concept and craft a book proposal. Days pass and here I sit with a bushel of half-finished projects. I cannot justify starting another one. My best friend insists …
Resisting Perfectionism: The Harsh Taskmaster of our Souls
"Progress not perfection"                                                   -AA Slogan Perfectionism is a harsh taskmaster of our souls. Perfectionism replays those child-like messages filled with shame, "If you don't do what he/she says, you're a failure. You'll never write good enough, blog good enough, teach good enough…" This endless list of lack haunts my mind when I submit …
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A Puppet and the Alabaster Jar
Today is fresh with possibilities. I want to learn more about the craft of writing so I can paint beautiful words upon the canvas of life. Yet more than this, I want to be become real because I know what God can do with real. He can take our humanity and mix in His Spirit and create healing oil. …
…those plastic smiles
"Her two worlds collided and there she was, enjoying them both." Last night in a dream, I saw my arm as if an outstretched branch of a tree with leaves. The color started going out of the picture moving from right to left leaving the right side a black and white image. I awoke and …
Being at Peace with your Purposes
We live in a culture driven by the desire for success as calculated by popularity and wealth. These messages form our value systems as they stream through television and computer screens. While some climb up to the top of the dog pile and wave the flag of success, most people labor in jobs they hate …
45 Let’s Get Real
Is there anyone out there who remembers that book Hinds' Feet on High Places? This is a metaphorical story about a character named "Little Miss Much Afraid" whose quest to overcome her fears results in her transformation. I used to read that book with hopes that one day I would experience the same metamorphosis. I longed to transform into a …
Day 28 “I Teach”
"A moment happens while living upon this earth when you realize it is not all about you…and then you teach!"  I need to refocus! Yesterday's session with my editor spun me out of optimism and into a depressive inertia. I spent my time designing the "Refrain from the Identical" creativity site because I had …
Day 20 In Search of my Blogging Identity “The Message”
"I have a gift hidden in heart for you. Fine words carefully selected and crafted into a message…that you might smile again!"         I don't know about you, but I often need a word of encouragement in order to smile again. Significant messages come in different ways, but there are those times when you know …
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JoDee Luna Art 