Monday Morning Musings

I sit here at the computer, the ‘write new post’ window open on my Mac, look at a blank white page and think…

“What in the world am I going to write about today?”

“Should I mention that the new ideas are still rolling over me like ocean waves?

“Should I mention that the previous ideas fall out of favor as soon as the next new one appears?

“Should I mention a new web site design assignment (Yes, I do that, too) that may well result in a severe cutback in writing time because I can’t possibly cutback on painting time with a show coming up in April?

“Should I mention that just last night, I heard Stuart McAllister talk about how today’s western society abides the old traditions because they want the newest, latest and greatest thing; words I heard at the very moment I was once again considering giving up on an old, oft-finished story because the latest new idea looks so exciting?”

No, I think, I won’t mention that last thing. That hits a little bit too close to home.

Maybe I should dig into my Daily Writing Exercises and share one of those. There have been some interesting ones in the last couple of weeks and I see that it’s been almost three weeks since the last one (Fettuccini Alfredo).

But I quickly discard that idea, too.

If you get the notion that I’m a little bit discouraged at the moment, your notion is correct. The problem of too many ideas is just as bad (or maybe worse) than having no ideas at all. After all, how much time do you spend standing in a grocery store aisle looking at a dozen different types of canned green beans attempting to decide which one is best? If the store has no green beans, you head on to the next store, no deliberation necessary.

If you might be thinking I sound a shade depressed about the whole thing, I’ll admit there might be a grain of truth to that observation, too. This creative business can certainly be full of ups and downs and it can be as wild a ride as a roller coaster.

But I am attempting to remember the lessons I wrote about in our last visit on March 20. In that post, I mentioned the wonderful results of a morning prayer full of nothing but praises to God. I have offered praise again several times in the days since that day instead of wallowing in confusion, self-absorption and discouragement.

It hasn’t been an easy thing to deal with; these sorts of creative blocks when I know I’m supposed to do something but don’t know which way to do it are very discouraging.

On the other hand, nothing worth doing is ever easy. Even more importantly, if the struggle and indecision and bumbling around trying to find the right direction all lead me closer to God, then they are for the best.

Maybe, in the long run, that’s the thing I need to figure out right now.

So be it.

As always, thanks for stopping by and best wishes.