Wednesday, December 7, 2011

pure beauty.

i have been watching this scene over and over... and over again.

the story, the music, and the images are all so... so beautiful. sometimes, i cry.

but only sometimes.

it's breathtaking, really. i find myself drawn, in appreciation, by the beauty and emotion it conveys. for all my reservations about technology, media, and the likes, i cannot help but swoon over such things when i see a film like this.



p.s. i should note - beethoven's 7th is probably one of my favorite pieces of music.

ever.

Friday, December 2, 2011

generations upon generations.

my grandma introduced me to this hymn a few years back as one of her favorites. it has been meaningful to our family for generations, playing in weddings and funeral; in many ways, i have grown up with it. but it wasn't until i matured that i really begun to love it as my own, it's words so often providing a soothing balm to my aching fears and struggles. i have found it's truth so encouraging these last few months and have been hoping to obtaining the sense of peace it proclaims.

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.


Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.


Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
Ever to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
 

Thursday, December 1, 2011

experiencing love and shakespeare

i look a creative writing class my last semester of college and absolutely loved it. i have always been timid when it came to my writing. something has always held me back from fully exploring my passion for it.... perhaps it was the fear of creating duty out of something that i loved. but, if i am being honest, it was probably more due to my deep and intense fear of lack - lack of potential, lack of skill, lack of growth.

so taking a writing class was a big step* and while i am still not sure i am good enough to pursue writing, i appreciated the challenge and encouragement i found.

during the poetry unit, we had to write a sonnet and my professor encouraged us to play with a sonnet that we found accessible, try to mimic its flow, wording, and style. i chose shakespeare's sonnet 18 and while i didn't stick with the theme whatsoever, i forced myself to keep some of his original wording; i made sure to keep the last words of each line the same. it proved to be rather difficult, maintaining the sonnet's form while respecting shakespeares brilliancy, but it was fun.

here is the result (i am cringing right now... i am quite pathetic at sharing, must have been sick the day they taught that in preschool):

Can love be lost if birds invite the day?
If new spring grows beneath the temperate
Breeze and we, with ease, believe even’tual May,
Then surely love can free its heart from grate.
Yet when the birds do sing to dewy shine,
We still know that morn drags on to dark dimmed
Night; and by noon we see our hopes decline
Like warmth that’s withered raw by chill untrimmed.
But though the dark abounds ‘round that which fades,
Still grief withdraws to mend. For winter owes
To spring a hope refreshed, restored while shades
Of cold do fade and careful flowers grow.
    So long as spring returns and birds I see
    So long as hope renews will I leave thee.

*sharing my writing with others proved to be a much bigger step. consequently, i am still not sure i am going to post this...