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Month: December 2020

All Things Oregon

Published December 19, 2020 by h. renell

When I moved here in 2013, many others were moving to Oregon too. It was the number one state to move to and I was proud to be one of the statistics. I came from Missouri, and for the most part followed the Oregon Trail all the way here.

My father passed here, so I decided to “go west, young man (older woman in my case)” and start a new life. And I have.

I have grown to love Oregon much more than Missouri: mild weather, beautiful shorelines, quiet community for the most part, the arts, the wide open spaces further east. No more tornado alley, however, I lived near the New Madrid fault line so that did not change here.

Many writing ideas came walking the beach with my portable radio and headphones on. Most of them haikus.

Politically, Oregon is not as liberal as many think. It is the same in most other states, the metropolitan areas are largely liberal and the rural areas are largely conservative. But I see much potential here in the days ahead. Dreams can come true here.

Writing

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Changes

Published December 15, 2020 by h. renell

I have been posting recently about changes coming, shocking changes. Even though I did all my research and physical training before Marine Corps boot camp, I did not realize until I started training how hard it would be. And today in all this political turmoil, I am feeling it. Still keeping my faith high, but feeling low.

And in the midst of all of this, I am planning to make changes to my blog. So I am asking for feedback on any improvements that you would like to see. (I have my list made.) Check my contact page for my email, contact form, or leave a comment on this post. Any constructive criticism goes, or any pat on the back regarding things you like here.

When the Israelites were faced with no way out – the Red Sea parted. Can you imagine how much faith that would take to cross over, feeling like the walls of water could crush you at any moment? But they did, and so shall we.

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

Exodus 14:13-14 NKJV

Faith

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What Is Grit?

Published December 12, 2020 by h. renell

Grit. Dictionary.com defines it as “firmness of character; indomitable spirit; pluck” along with “abrasive.”

Movies have been made about grit – I think of John Wayne and Kim Darby playing gritty characters in True Grit.1

Flannery O’Connor viewed sentimental Christian writing as “… a distortion that overemphasized innocence.”…“And innocence, when exaggerated in a fallen world, not only mocked the true state of man and society, but the price that was paid for their redemption.”2

In these examples, grit includes telling it like it is and still forging ahead.

The Bible says of suffering, “perseverance, character; and character, hope.”3

1https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065126/
2https://www1.cbn.com/biblestudy/the-calling-of-christian-writers
3Romans 5:4 NIV

Faith

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Grieving Enemies

Published December 8, 2020 by h. renell

For upwards of 20 years, I had a dream to leave the Midwest and start a new life.

My dream became a nightmare. And the death of my dream entails grief. Because of the ongoing nature of my nightmare, I don’t get healing or closure.

Last night, I was listening to my usual line-up of sermons. And I was about to fall asleep when I was awakened, and knew this time it was the Lord wanting me to hear this particular sermon. It was on handling grief. At the end, he said we need time to process grief of the people who are our enemies – people who abuse us. That got my attention.

As I was mulling this over, it came to me that the nation is going to face grief in the death of what we perceived as the American Dream.

Tidal waves of exposures are hitting our shores, sending many who have not been reading outside of the main stream media into denial, anger, bargaining, and depression – what some would call the first four grief stages of five. Some will feel guilt at being happy that enemies are gone. Some will feel regret that we could not unify and bring closure. Some will be angry that anyone will even be grieving.

Just as I yearn for healing and closure in my personal life, I yearn for the same for America. There will be a need to process grief once this scourge is over. America will not heal if we do not process the what and why of this loss. However, I believe God has better plans for us. Plans that are above and beyond our wildest imaginations, if we chose to accept it.

Faith

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Orwell’s Writing Advice

Published December 5, 2020 by h. renell

References to 1984 abound on the Internet today, with political and cultural turmoil and our surveillance society. I admit I have not read it, but it is on my classical novels to be read bucket list.

Popular writing advice includes to write what you do not know. To just start writing and you will find how you believe or feel about a topic while you writing. That writing what you really believe can lead to propaganda or didactic writing. Sometimes this can be helpful or even desired.

However, this advice has always made me chafe. A pencil, pen, or keyboard in the hands of an experienced writer can write the novel or short story subtly, co-creating with the reader’s own thoughts. But the the bigger issue to me is if, as a writer, you have something to say from the beginning.

As a writer, you need a secure foundation from which to write.

When I sit down to write a book, I do not say to myself, ‘I am going to produce a work of art.’ I write it because there is some lie that I want to expose, some fact to which I want to draw attention, and my initial concern is to get a hearing.

George Orwell

I believe Mr. Orwell has succeeded.

Writing

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