Poetry and Me

Poetry and Me

At school poetry for me, was anathema. Keats, Pope, Wordsworth couldn’t capture my interest. Shakespeare was on another planet. (So called ‘poetic justice’ has fallen on me. Our son, Lance, is a Shakespearian actor, among other things).

What changed me? Many little things but major amongst them was, and remains, G.A. Studdert Kennedy’s book ‘The Unutterable Beauty’. He was a chaplain in the World War 1 and wrote with a soldier’s eye. In verses he wrestled with God’s grace and mercy in tragic circumstances.

Interest aroused I gave poetry a go on matters that interested me: Love, family, faith and the person and work of Jesus. Trial and error are strewn across my path as I look back. However with Mary’s assistance I have been able to write some things readable and publishable.

I leave you with a simple example. Thanks for the privilege of sharing.

Embraced.

Shivering within the darkness,

An ice cold heart

Numbed by despair

Made me tearful

Fearful

As I stood there

Confused,

And alone.

Piercing into my darkness

Love’s holy fire,

Melted my coldness

Made me fearful

Hopeful

As I stood there

Confused,

Not alone.

Yielding to Christ’s holiness

Brought me alive,

Flamed my heart

Made me hopeful

Grateful

As I stood there

Consoled,

Not alone!

Raymond N. Hawkins

Ray has just had his 31 Day devotional meditation ‘Captured by Calvary’ released by Even Before Publishing. It presents the cross as the central theme of Scripture which draws us to a deep understanding of God’s heart for us and the cost He was prepared to pay for our salvation. It is available in all Christian bookshops or direct from the author.

In a few months time ‘Bethlehem’s Warrior Baby’ will be released. This seeks to help us to appreciate Christmas is  a declaration of spiritual war. More details later

DON’T SETTLE IN HARAN!

The following was written years ago and stored as a reminder to persevere.
Ministry in its various forms can be infected with a weariness that makes the ‘Haran’ of Abraham's day desirable. Do you sometimes feel like I do about writing? There are so many out there competing for readers and modern technology produces more and more wordsmiths. What then can motivate us to break out of ‘Haran’ hit the keys again and complete the task? Simply the love of telling about God’s grace to the few or the many who may read our words!

I was day-dreaming as I gazed into the camp fire. I imagined Abraham being tempted to settle down at Haran and give the Promised Land a miss.

Perhaps he said,“I hope you understand God. ‘Haran’ is such a go ahead place. It offers trade and commercial opportunities and seems to be a great spot to raise a family. We could put aside the tent, sell the camels and settle down.

"I know it isn’t the land you promised. It may not have the ‘milk and honey’ factors but it is beautiful in its own way. Anyway, its half way to where you wanted us to be! My wife and I could set up a half-way house, be your information centre for other travellers.

"Why am I intent on storing the tent?

"To be honest I’m weary. Not being in control of my affairs, wrestling with doubts and putting up with ‘knowing’ looks has worn me down. No, you haven’t broken your word b-u-t the strain of expecting it to happen has got to me. Lord I’m getting on in years and this faith thing doesn’t get any easier. I fear that in my old age I’d be redundant to your plans. What would I have as back up then?

"What’s that? What would I like inscribed on my tombstone?

"Never thought about it! What would you write at this moment? Almost!"

The barking of a dog shattered my day-dreaming at that point.
Lord, did Abraham ever feel that way? I often wonder about things like that as I wrestle with persevering towards securing your promises. I don’t want to rot in ‘Haran’ no matter how comfortable it seems. Keep calling me to walk the way you’re pointing. You and you alone remain my goal, my joy and hope in this journey of faith.

I’m so thankful that you travel the way with me, even if you seem to be the silent superintendent. Amen.

Most of us will die un-famous but we can hold fast to 1 Corinthians 15:58 ‘Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.’

I’m also comforted by the fact that the written word lingers long after my computer is exchanged for a ‘harp.’ May my tombstone have on it ‘Escapee from Haran!’

Retired from the Chuches of Christ ministry after 40 years, Ray, with his wife Mary, moved to Beauty Point, Tasmania. One of their three children, Craig, had settled there with Rachelle. Now Ray and Mary are grand-parents to six children.

A small Christian Fellowship has commenced at Beauty Point under Ray's leadership. Since being there he has had three devotional meditations published by EBP (Rochelle Manners) the latest out this month 'Captured by Calvary.'

Ray was encouraged to write by Mary who is a multi-published author. He had previously seen some of his devotionals used by the Upper Room magazine and also some poems and prose in Debra White-Smith's books about husbands and wives.

In his leisure time Ray enjoys spoiling his grand-children, helping at Craig/Rachelle's Sea Horse World business and being the hero in Mary's books.

http://www.mary-hawkins.com/

Behind the Words on a Page

Would-be writers are told ‘write what you know. Write what you like to read the most!’
Great advice. As I reflected upon it however, I felt short-changed.

I know a lot of things to varying degrees. Life has given me some interesting experiences. When wrapped up in God’s grace and intervention there is some story telling merit to be found in them.

When I first began to write I had some hard lessons to learn! I liked to read westerns and war stories. Could I write them? No! I hadn’t experienced what I like to read. That was depressive.

Life took a dramatic turn when the Lord Jesus stepped on my toes and my heart opened to His presence. I loved His Word. Now, I’m far from being a scholar or theologian but I wanted to share my Lord and His teachings. But how? Not being a novelist and being ignorant of Point of View and unimaginative in dialogue there was no best seller poised on my fingertips. Various devotional books, such as ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers arrested my attention. ‘I’ll write one of those’, I said to myself. Ha!

I had words and I had a pen. That’s a dangerous combination. However as I tried to bring construction out of chaos the finished work was lifeless. In the pleasure of God He had to take me from theory to knowing by experiencing what I would develop through words. Combined with experience, the Lord wove into my heart the missing ingredient called passion. Much to my frustration this took time. But it was essential if ever I was to have something worthwhile to say. Without passion any writing will not live, faith will remain a theory and love will be but an illusion.

I write what I know. It has taken years of being shaped, crushed, rebuilt, pruned and stored before finding expression in print. I’m not young anymore and how many words will flow only the Lord knows. Still, without His taking me through the school of life’s experience and teaching me from the wisdom of others how to write, my desire would have simply expired in the mire of incompetence.

Allow me to close with the following poem. I think it will clarify what I’m trying to say.

I Wanted to Write

I wanted to write
A poem on love
Burning with desire!
It was so calculated
With words evaluated
For rhythm and rhyme
But,
Something amiss
Romance asleep
It was simply still life.

Then,
You came into my life!

I now had to write
My poem of love
For my heart burned
With a love unearned!
Words glowed on pages
Blazed through the ages!
Now,
Writing on fire
Romance alive
It was passionate life!

For,
You are now in my life.

Raymond N. Hawkins 23/1/2012.

Ray is the author of ‘The Neurotic Rooster’ devotions from three short term mission trips to Africa. (Self published). Then through ‘Even Before Publishing’ he has had ‘Children – God’s Special Interest’ and ‘From Eden with Love’ (the Biblical teaching on Marriage) available in Christian bookshops and on ‘Kindle.’

Ray is married to Mary, a multi-published Inspirational Romance author.

Wise Words

Apparently Ecclesiastes is the flavour of the month. Nicole Watson stimulated my interest once again through her ‘nothing new under the sun.’ Then Carol Preston’s ‘A time for everything in Season’ got me swaying to its beat. I had chosen a section out of this Old Testament book for my blog and hope it has some morsel for your writer’s heart.

The preacher, as he is called, concluded his insights to life and his testimony with incisive words for all writers, especially Christian ones. ‘The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly imbedded nails — given by one Shepherd.’ Ecclesiastes 12:10-11.

Whether we write fiction or non-fiction in any genre may our words have in them some goads and nails. As the reader journeys with us through the story, let us hope and pray something written goads them. Such a reaction may well produce a quickened conscience, a u-turn in behaviour, an awakening to a greater understanding of our Lord and His call upon their lives.

Apparently in the days of the Preacher you needed to insert any nails where you wanted them as you built the wall. This was due to the fact that such structures were either too hard or fragile to have nails hammered in. Be that as it may, when applied to our writing the principle is correct. The penetrating force of our words is woven into the story, not something simply attached later.

Being bookish type people we know the quote, ‘Of making many books there is no end and much study wearies the body.’ Eccl.12:12b. Your shelves probably echo “Amen!” However if my understanding is correct this statement is actually a warning. For in the preceding verses he is highlighting the words, proverbs and sayings of the one Shepherd. By my understanding that is a significant term for our Lord.

Therefore as the writer of Ecclesiastes concludes his own insights, he calls for the recognition of priorities for writers and readers. There will always be new books and reprints on the market to capture our time, hearts and minds. Just make sure you do not neglect the most important, the most stimulating and the most spiritually enriching book for all time. That is, the book written by the Shepherd through the life experiences of His ‘pens’, the prophets, priests, apostles and faithful servants.

I tend to believe that when His book is our priority, then our writings will be upright and true, laced with goads and nails as well as food and drink for the soul.

Ray Hawkins.

A TOUCH OF INSANITY?

Sometimes I wonder what I’m doing on a Fiction Writers’ blog ‘cause I don’t write fiction. That’s my wife, Mary’s, expertise. But I don’t know of any other realm catering for the likes of (strange) me. And I do need the encouragement of others who tell stories and play with words.

So I hope you can endure this writer whose way might be a source of friction to writers of fiction. However I dare to say in each of us there is a strange streak, a madness only those similarly infected understand. Hence the following poem.

What Madness has Gripped Me?

What madness has gripped me?
This compulsion an insanity
Runs riot around my mind
Interest in others decline.
My heart trembles
My conscience crumbles
I’m bewitched
Surely!

What madness has come near?
Characters like ghosts appear
Yelling, begging for release
Unsettling inner peace.
My fingers twitch
My mind has an itch
I’m hypnotized
Surely!

What madness has driven me?
Away from friendly society
To a room, solitary
Outsiders find so scary.
My passions stirred
My emotions unfurled
I’m in a daze
Surely!

What madness has transfixed me?
Daring me to break free
Before giving humanity
To ghosts of my insanity!
My hands begin to write
My story comes to light
I’m amazed
Surely!

Will I ever escape those periods of madness?
I hope not!

Raymond Hawkins ©September 2011.

Am I correct in thinking you too are a little ‘strange’ from time to time when a story line is born?

Ray Hawkins is a retired Churches of Christ minister and married to Mary, a multi-published Romance author. Over the years his writing has developed from magazine articles and Bible studies to having two themed devotional meditation books published by EBP. They are ‘Children: God’s Special Interest and From Eden With love (About Marriage). He will be a presenter for the workshop on ‘Writing Devotionals’ at the http://www.thewordwriters.com/ Brisbane Word Writers’ Fair in November. Poetry also seems to creep into his heart from time to time.