The Journey

Standing by the lake I am ready to walk. I’m hesitant, full of anxieties, but ready to go. The lake is not the beautiful place I had imagined, it is dark, flat and lifeless. Like a limp cloth, waiting for the wind to blow and bring it life. I feel a little shudder as a sudden breeze carried a light spray of rain, with a jolt I start walking.

The children chatter, running and laughing – tinkling wind chimes dancing in the breezy sunshine. It makes the walk easier, but still the lake seems dark. No memories of sights, sounds or smells, just the need to keep going.

Then the lake is gone and instead the tumbling of water over rocks and stones and through trees; echoing like the beating of a large empty drum, hollow, heavy and slow. The gradient immediately sharpens and sitting waiting in the path are the bags for the day, heavy with the things I think I need to carry. One sack I but on my back the other on my front – I’m looking for balance. I start to climb, but not alone. Its good to have someone to walk with, it makes it easier to keep going and carry the weight.

We all move forward heading for a peak we must get to, but do not know and cannot see yet. Then a sack is gone, taken by another who is willing to share the load. Although the path is steep the climb is easier now, I look back at the lake.

The perspective of distance has softened it and the occassional glint of sunshine brings light to it’s dark surface. I press on.

A sigh releases something inside and the second sack is lifted away. The climb tests my strength and endurance, but I am not alone and the struggle does not consume every sense. I have time to admire the beauty of the alpine flowers, so easily ignored and crushed underfoot – unoticed. I feel the gentle warm breeze hugging at the ground and taking the essence of this place over the crest of the mountain – life for where ever it blows.

We have climbed so high we are nearly at the peak. When I look back to the lake, it is full of the reflections of the mountains all around, and light bounces off its’ surface in all directions. I can see not just my mountain, my climb, but many others and the lake that was full of forboding, draining and lifeless - is beautiful.

Look at me - I'm the 'first follower'! I guess that means the rest of you had something better to do on a Sunday afternoon!! Still haven't done my 'assignment' yet, but am looking forward to a quieter week this week so I can fit it in. I enjoyed the extra word association that Jacqui sent, and I was a bit more imaginative this time. All good stuff, all making me think creatively again.

January: Our first gathering

A small group of us met, all a bit nervous about who would come and what we would be undertaking. I started by sharing my vision that this would be a group of people where we could:

•Find our voice
•Support and take an interest in each other's work
•Pray for and speak prophetically to each other
•Try something new
•Expect to change lives through the words we write and others read
•Grow in gifting and anointing
•Consider our audience and the different opportunities publish and share writing
•Welcome others to the group

We had a prompt sheet to find out where and what and how we write and to explore possible types and genres of writing we are interested in pursuing. We talked through what we had each recorded and as we reflected this gave a sense of some of the longer term projects that individuals could begin.

Next we played a word game intended to oil our vocabulary, and get our brains to work and with much hilarity began to see the unique take that we have on word associations.

Finally we were given two tasks to carry us through the next month. One was to make a start on our personal project and the other was to write a short cameo description of a stranger who we sit an observe in a public place for five minutes, so if you feel the gaze of observant eyes when you are packing your shopping or queing up to buy a stamp, be warned-you may be the subject of a piece of prose.

We closed our two hours together by writing and then reading a prayer for a member of the group, and in that short time together we already felt that we had connected and mutually encouraged each other to stretch and grow and expand our horizons.

This group is already growing as word gets out so if you think it may be for you then come along and give it a go. See you soon. Jacqui