The stumbler doesn’t aim for joy. Joy is a byproduct experienced by people who are aiming for something else. But it comes. — David Brooks, The Road to Character
21 Stories You Should Never, Ever Read before Bed
I like creepy stories, so when Casper asked if I could share any you should never, ever read before bed as part of a Halloween motif, I had to create a list. Some of the stories are the usual suspects, by the usual authors. Others are going to be a surprise, but I find that “creepy” is not a quality confined to sci fi, fantasy, and horror.
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Running with Scissors
It’s a bad idea to run with scissors, but it’s more or less what a writer does whenever she edits her work. Oh, sure, she may have her red pens. Blood may spill across the page. What’s the intent of it? It surely isn’t to watch a river of red unfurl. (Okay, maybe it sometimes is. Editing can be viciously enjoyable.)
I Want to Help People
“Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, ‘How can I help?’” – Romans 15:2, The Message
Writing as an Act of Community
“Writing is an act of community. It is a letter, it is comforting, consoling, helping, advising on our part as well as asking for it on yours. It is part of our human association with each other. It is an expression of our love and concern for each other.” — Dorothy Day
Flying Solo
It’s easy to forget I’m not flying solo. I get so busy moving forward that I forget all the people around me, the ones who support me. The same goes for God. When I start a new project or have a new direction to head, I can get caught up in it. God? Who’s that? My prayer life and Bible reading dwindle away to nothingness.