All posts by Wonder in Wanderland

Wonder in Wanderland

My Short Story: Perspectives

Perspectives

Here’s a fun writing exercise: Write a short story from three different perspectives

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I had been camped out, waiting patiently for 5 hours. I was smelly, grumpy, cold and exhausted. So I asked him how much longer I had to stay here, because I was just too jet-lagged to stay awake. But instead of responding he ignored me. And that was the last straw. I couldn’t take this anymore. I snapped.

“Why do you always ignore me!? It’s like you purposely tune me out or something! I can’t take it anymore! You are driving me crazy!! You never listen to me!! Here I am helping and waiting patiently with you. Because I’ve come all this way to the the other side of the world to go searching for the Loc Ness Monster with you. And you won’t even acknowledge me?! Why the hell do I even bother trying to help you?! This is so stupid.” I stood up from my crouched position, where we were having our stake out. “I’m not doing this anymore! I wanna go home!” And without waiting for a reply, I spun a round and stomped off. Desperate to get away from the lake and towards my sweet escape, the fluffy bed at the hotel. “I’ll be at the hotel!” I called over my shoulder. “Have fun searching for Nessie alone, with out my help!” I took the car keys and jammed them into the ignition, preparing to drive off in a fury, when my phone rang and I got a text.

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I had been watching for 5 hours waiting, searching, hoping vainly that I might catch a glimpse of her. The famous Nessie. You see I had been studying her all year and had convinced my girlfriend to come along with me. We were both tired and and sleepy, but pure fascination held me in place. I had to see her, I just had to! I had come all this way and was determined to be the one to get Nessie on camera. I strained my eyes staring at the lake for so long, that everything was starting to blur. But I was lost in the mission. Nothing else mattered. I thought I heard a voice from far away, but It wasn’t close enough to distract me from this moment. And at this precise moment, my jaw gaped wide open. This was it. She had come! Everything else faded away. I stared on in disbelief. Could my tired eyes be fooling me? Suddenly the other she started yelling at me “Why the hell do I even bother trying to help you?! This is so stupid.” She ranted on as she stood up. But I couldn’t turn away, I was transfixed. In awe, the moment I had been waiting for. “I’ll be at the hotel” I heard her voice calling to me. That brought me back to myself. Suddenly it hit me, like a ton of bricks.”Oh no, I forgot to turn my camera on!” I fumbled with my camera and started videotaping what I was watching. “Wait, did she say something about leaving?” I wondered to myself. I grabbed my phone out of my pocket with my free hand, and quickly sent her a text.  “Come now. It’s here.”

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It had been a long day. A perfect day really. I had just finished napping at home. My stomach growled with ferocity and I decided it was time to have dinner. “What to eat? What to eat” I pondered to myself. “Duck sounds good. Hmm, yes I think duck would be just right.” I decided to first go for a swim, after all the lake was quiet and still and perfect. I leisurely swam up and down the lake, until I saw some lovely little ducks. “How delightful”, I thought to myself. I breached the surface aiming for the ducks. And in one swift motion, I gulped them down. “How perfectly delicious!!” But my satisfaction did not last. Suddenly I felt uneasy, as if someone was watching me. Then I heard a shrill, angry sounding voice. “I’m not doing this anymore! I wanna go home!” The strangers voice cried. I turned and looked in the direction of the voice. It was that moment, that I realized my folly. “Oh how stupid I have been!!” I thrashed my tail in fury against the waves and then quickly dove down back into the water. Today had started out so perfect and so right, that it had lulled me into carlesness. “How could I have let myself be seen?! And by a boy with a camera no less! Oh, I am in so much trouble! Mom will be furious when she finds out!!”

 

Things we never say, but should

How often are things left unsaid?
We just go about our normal lives in our routines and just get used to how things are and the people in our lives.
As if our family and friends will live forever.
But anything can happen,  and there is no guarantee that we will all be alive tomorrow.
So I for one, do not want to lose someone and then have to live with the regret of what I didn’t say.
I don’t want mourn over the words left unsaid, when it is too late to say them.
So, I’ve come up with a list to remind myself of things to say more often.
These phrases should be common things we say to our family and friends.
Because you never know what words might be your last.
So go ahead and play the music, as you read and feel free to comment with anything that I may have missed.

 


“I love you”
“You mean so much to me”
“How is your heart feeling today?”
“What are you thinking about?”
“I appreciate the little things you do”
“Thank you”
“You have a beautiful soul”
“You have the most amazing heart I have ever seen”
“I need you”
“You make me come alive”
“You make my heart smile”
“It’s been a pleasure knowing you”
“You have impacted my life in incredible ways”
“I’m with you, no matter what”
“I’m here for you, when you’re ready”
“Don’t give up”
“You are not a lost cause”
“I am so proud of you”
“There is no one like you, ever.”
“I love when you smile”
“It’s OK, everyone makes mistakes”
“I forgive you”
“You can never be replaced”
“Thank you for being who you are”
“Thank you for always sticking by me”
“You are good enough”
“You have purpose”
“You are worth fighting for”
“You mean the world to me”
“I’m so grateful to have you in my life”

 

Dreams Of Youth

My Dream:

Is for a faith that storms into hospitals healing the broken

With unwavering belief,

My Dream Is a  boldness so strong its clearly  not human

fearlessly setting the captives free!

MY Dream Is breaking  down the strongholds of the enemy

And overtaking all cities for Christ,

MY Dream Is Traveling to every city to share the gospel

Bringing a fire to those who’s lonely spirits have died.

MY Dream Is a hope to be content in little or excess

To depend on God to provide all the money,

MY Dream is to fund mission trips on my own

and give all  that I earn to the needy.

MY dream:

Is full of a longing to share my life with a husband

A man who’s passionately in love with Jesus Christ,

MY Dream Is a desire to start a family, but not in the expected way..

But by taking unwanted and orphaned children and calling them mine.

MY Dream Is the hope for a man who will go to the ends of the earth

And is willing to do anything for The LORD, just as I

MY Dream Is a dream of a man who finds humor anywhere

Living spontaneously, adventurously and never afraid to try.

MY Dream Is a hope for someone with deep thoughts, big dreams

and an even bigger heart ever growing kinder,

MY Dream Is a desire for him to love what I love

and be a listener, a best friend and fellow traveler.

MY dream:

Is full of appreciation for nature

dreaming to spend every moment I can taking it all in,

MY Dream Is a longing to see every culture, every shore

Simply discovering this beauty we’ve been given.

MY Dream Is to keep moving, keep changing

Change our society, change our laws,

MY Dream Is a hope to put a stop to the cruelty

Put an end to suffering from dictators cause.

MY Dream Is a desire to right the wrongs

Save the hurting and stop  injustice,

MY Dream Is a desire to influence government

Judge rightly and defend innocence.

MY Dream Is to use music to influence

the children without direction,

MY Dream Is A dream of feeding the hungry

living in compassion, and bringing correction.

MY dream:

Is to intercede for anyone and everyone

oh if only I knew how to pray,

MY Dream Is to see the King of Glory at long last

and look my lovely savior in the face.

MY Dream Is a willingness even a hope to be a martyr

Without hesitation to give my life for HIM,

MY Dream Is a desperation to press in and draw close

To the one whom I owe and  whom I give.

MY dream:

Is a continual floating of melodies

Engulfing every part of me in its song,

MY Dream Is a hope to play every instrument well

And create music all the day long.

MY Dream Is to join a symphony,

And compose a beautiful masterpiece,

MY Dream Is to find and catch the music in life

And put it on paper for others to see.

MY Dream Is to spend every waking moment

Wrapped in His arms during worship,

My Dream Is to always remain worshiping

Oh how my soul longs to be in His presence.

MY Dream Is to not be satisfied with anything ordinary

And never settle for complacency,

MY Dream IS to find out how hot I can burn for Him

And do whatever He has planned for me.

Rabbit hole

Here is a poem I wrote inspired by this amazing song!

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When you’ve gone down the rabbit hole,
And theres nothing left but to fall..
When your lost inside that tunnel,
Don’t you be afraid of it all.

When dirt fills your lungs,
there’s no more breath,
and you swear you hear the call of death.

You’ve fallen down the Rabbit hole, don’t know how you got there in the first place.

Wandering aimlessly, eyes wide shut, where can you go from here?

When you’re trapped inside the rabbit hole,
And there’s nothing left, but to crawl…
Death has followed you all the way down,
It calls out your name even now.

When your lost in the rabbits hole,
Just hold on longer still.
Just hold on a little longer still.

When air is gone,
you’ve taken your last breathe.
Wait for me,
coming from the other side of death.

When your body’s numbed itself to sleep,
Wait for me longer still.
When your hearts taken its last beating,
Wait, for me a little longer still.

I’m waiting for you on the other side of death,
Just wait for me a little longer still.

Little Firefly

Has anyone….
ever fallen in love?
Fallen in love
with falling in love?
Has anyone…
ever fallen for lOVE?
………… then this poem is for you 🙂

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Sometimes nothing could truly matter more, than love.
Somedays nothing measures up, quite like love does.
Somehow your dying to be in love with someone
Somewhere perhaps they are waiting for you to come.

I’m filled with sweet sorrow of longing for love,
Thinking of the love once known, now gone.
Oh Love you are a beautiful glow, like a firefly
Ive been searching the meadows, the city’s, the sidelines,
To find you, to catch you and watch you light up my fingers,
To feel your warmth fill me, as  soothing beauty lingers.
with your wings I’ll take flight and I’ll never leave the sky
Then I’ll keep you in a jar, to hold dear all my life.
To follow you, as you lead me to brighter places….
Where once was dark, becomes colorful amazement!

BUT Finding you little firefly, is the hardest part
I’m lost in my dreams and don’t know where to start!
Life without light and color is my meaningless,
How can i find you, I don’t want to settle for less.
I want what is right, but I’m lost in directions
Pointing one way or another for any affections.
Yet you feel so close, as if I could grab you
My expectations crash, for I know I don’t have you.
Oh Love, life without you feels worthless
This hope believes you will bring me a purpose.
Bring a reason to awake, a reason to live
A reason to speak and reason to exist.
Love you define me, who am I? What can I do?
When will we embrace? i wont live till I’ve met you.

Looking for the love to keep and to hold
Looking for love both gentle and bold
Looking for a love protectively jealous for me,
Needing to stay by my side most definitely.
Willing to risk his life for me, in a moment,
Gentle, thoughtful, and always hoping.
Love transcending fallouts and old hurts,
Love steadily growing louder and deeper
Than the monotonous noise of self serving world
True love, if there really ever is such a word…
I am looking for you, searching for love still true.
because they promised me that one day i may find you.

 

The Romantics

This is for all of the romantics out there,

Feel free to play the music while you read, its one of my favorite songs.

Enjoy!

I’m waiting for you my prince

until our day has come,

the day you’ll fight for me,

the day my heart is won….

I’m waiting for you

When will you find the way here?

I’m calling you, in the silence,

Pulling you, drawing you near….

Please make haste my prince

My faithful precious one,

Tho I do not know you,

Your somewhere and your someone…..

Tho content and patient, i wait

I so  long for your embrace,

To once and for all set my eyes,

Upon your beautiful face…..

Take your time if you must,

Surely timing is everything,

I must first live on my own,

To discover I can do anything…..

I’m waiting for you my prince

Tho you may have far to come,

Don’t let deserts, mountains keep you,

From the one you are meant to love…..

I long to look within your heart

To rest in trust and peace,

To have you by my side,

Loving me for me……

Please make haste my prince

Don’t lose hope along the way,

Of I, who loves you so,

And patiently awaits the day…..

For one day you’ll find me

You’ll catch me in your arms,

Take me wherever you go,

And keep me from any harm….

When we have and hold

Life will be too perfect for words,

I’ll spend my days with you,

And give all that you deserve…..

To wait for you I’m content

For your far worth the wait,

One day our lives will collide,

So darling…

don’t be late.

 

Letter To My future Self

This letter is for me to read when I grow up.

I say “when I grow up” because I don’t feel like a grown up, in less than 2 months I will be 25 and yet I still feel like a kid. I don’t consider myself as a grown up at all. Perhaps I never will.

But nevertheless this letter is for my future self 25 years from now.

My own personal time capsule

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Not to be read until my birthday, April 1 2040

If you are reading this, I think it is safe to assume that there have been no apocalypses, natural disasters, wars or other end of the world scenarios, that have wiped out the face of the earth.

So congrats, You are still alive! You made it!! Pat yourself on the back!! You are still alive and kicking!  Also you and Giovanni have been married for 26 years!! Go out and celebrate. Right now! Seriously, I will wait…

Now I’m just going to assume you have traveled a lot of the world by now, if not, then stop wasting time and go see the world. Your kids should be old enough to get by without you. GO!! Sell what you can and spend some time traveling while you are still healthy!

Since that stuff is out of the way.

How are you? Still choosing to love above everything else? You haven’t let yourself grow cold and numb have you? I know it’s hard, life gets so painful, your tendencies are to push everyone away and build walls around your heart. Its so easy to hide out in your shell and let your heart grow hard in the name of self preservation

But DON’T!! Hold on to love, like it’s ALL you have! Because it is. Love is all that really matters in this life. I hope you haven’t let material things, career goals or anything else overshadow what is most important.

Love.

Loving yourself, loving your spouse, loving your children,  and loving your family and friends. They are the greatest treasures you can have on this earth. All the rest is just extra.

Don’t get so focused on other things that you let relationships slip away. I know you, relationships are vital, they are your life line. Without them  you simply wither away into isolation and resignation. DO NOT LET YOURSELF GO NUMB! Do not close yourself off from the world.  Keep forgiving and moving forward. Resist the urge to retreat inside your self. Continue to face the world head on, with open arms. Let Go of all the bitterness and hurt, let the past Go. Just let go. Trust that your scars will heal and that you will be OK.

So things didn’t work out the way you  wanted or planned them to. Life goes on. I promise you, if you do not give up, you WILL recover. If you refuse to give up, you open yourself up to tons of opportunities for life to get better. But if you give up mentally, emotionally or physically. Then its game over, there can be no more chances. There will be no more life.

Now if you keep holding on, things may get  worse, but then things may get better too. You still have so much time left, so many chances. So many opportunities for improvement. By not giving up, you are opening the door of possibilities. Endless possibilities for things to turn around.

Don’t give up on your dreams, even if society says your dreams are impossible and far fetched, give it your best shot.  Don’t be afraid. Challenge the status quo and follow your dreams. You were born to try.

Now tell me, what is technology like? Do we have flying cars yet? Can you teleport anywhere? Is the internet any less annoying? Are people still obsessed with selfies and taking pictures of there food and workout sessions? Is Facebook still full of ridiculous claims and advertisement overloads? Are people still obsessed with celebrities for no good reason?

Are politicians and CEO’s still grossly overpaid? Are people still obsessed with entertainment, while ignoring how people are suffering in third world countries? Are people still being  sold as sex slaves ? Are  children still going hungry on the other side of the world, or in your neighborhood?  Are countries still being oppressed?  And are religions or races still being persecuted? If so, what can you do to help stop it?

You have come so far, and you have been so blessed in life, go find some one less fortunate than you, who is in need and help them. With either your time, your resources, or your money.

How’s the environment? Are we taking care of the earth  our children will be inheriting? Have we moved to some amazing form of sustanaible energy? You  better have solar panels by now! Your car better not still run on gas and pollute the environment! Have we finally stood up to the food corporations and forced them to stop putting poisonous chemicals in our food?

I really, really hope so.

Now my guess is that in these 25 years you may have lost someone close to you. Instead of looking at what you lost, remember to treasure the time you did have with them. It was a gift. Thank God that you got to spend time with them and got to know there heart. Cherish all the moments that brought love and joy. Let those moments be a beacon for you, a bright light that will never stop shining.  Those memories can never be erased. And they have left in you such an impact, that will not go unnoticed. When someone in your life passes away, they will not be forgotten, they have left  their mark on you. They live on in you. So carry on their legacy with your head held high. You just might see them again someday.

Oh, and one more thing… Happy 50th birthday!!

 

 

Snowfall

Go ahead and play the song while you read 🙂

It’s been such a mild winter this year, and I am so happy about that!! I am not at all a fan of winter, and I am definitely not a fan of the snow.  When I lived in Pollock Pines (a town close to Lake Tahoe) we would get buried in the snow. We had the longest winters there, the snow would fall from October until March. I HATE being cold, and tromping through the snow to get to the school bus really sucked. I dreaded the coming of winter and always prayed that maybe this year it wouldn’t come. But of course it always came with a vengeance. One winter day, as per usual I sat  by the fireplace content to listen to the crackling of the fire. And as the warmth of the fire began to lull me to sleep, something unusual happened. I looked out the window and found myself admiring the snow for the first time. Instead of being irritated by it, I found myself falling in love with its beauty. It seemed unearthly and magical and perfect. So still, so lovely and so pure. I found myself wishing at that moment that the world could stay that way forever.

And that is what inspired me to write this poem.

SNOWFALL

Brilliant bright snow falls, engulfing all that lies before it,

Snow blankets all that’s beneath, as the world becomes still.

All else has faded away, taken the form of snow itself.

I have seen these roads and homes long before the snowflakes made this place their bed,

It was ugly, it was dull, it was dark and full of dirt…

But now snow has fallen on this old town and transformed it into purity.

The scene before me now stands purely white, in shocking beauty.

And in perfect silence, as if in reverence of its shield of snow,

The snow continues to pour as if in determined purpose.

As if determined to cover all that was naked.

Enveloping all things, as far as my eye can see,

It rains down, until nothing is left untouched by snow.

And even then, it continues on!

Embracing every roof, every tree, every car.. gently embracing everything in its path.

The snow continues to fall,

in excess it spills over,

It piles up round the base and sides of everything that is exposed.

Finally the whiteness has wrapped the world in a protecting and comforting blanket.

And even then, the snow continues to fall..

Snow so white and glorious, it blinds my transfixed eyes.

The snow falls on, abounding in excess

What a privilege to behold its beauty!!

As snowfalls, compensating for our weakness

And covers our nakedness..

It whispers to me..

“Am I not a perfect example of the Father who pours himself out unreservedly over His children?”

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(Image by Thomas Kinkade)

Love Denied

I wrote this after watching the English Patient one of my fave movies and after reading John Milton, one of my favorite writers. As I wrote this I sorta got lost in it, and at one point I didn’t even know what I was writing, the words just tumbled out. When it was finished I fell in love with what I had written.  Feel free to listen to the soundtrack music from the movie while you read!

https://youtu.be/mXQ9knDufK4

 

LOVE DENIED

Does not love denied move the heart?

Love discovered, in time is lost,

Love half grown, yet ripped away!

Love wandering  deserts desperate for rest,

Does not the heart morn in wake of love?

Weep, as love blossoms in potential?

As hope graces its wings to soar.

Does love without its home become satisfied?

Does not love denied move the heart?

Love fulfilling, love adored,

Love denied, tho both desire…

Love ill timed, passions consuming!

Does not the heart leap at love unmet?

Does not sorrowful love embrace the soul?

As sorrows love becomes thy hearts delight

For love unwavering is unrequited.

Alas, how my heart does move for love denied.

Enjoy ALL the things

It seems like our American society really values hard work. Now there is nothing wrong with pushing yourself to work hard. But what happens when our entire culture becomes obsessed with pushing ourselves and striving for more… I mean why does society expect us to work so hard just to buy everything that’s trending? We will end up working ourselves to death. Or we will feel guilty for taking breaks and wasting time. If you are like me, you expect yourself to always be productive, because that what our society seems to promote. But in other countries people do not live this way. In other counties they literally take the time to smell the roses. They take breaks and enjoy life, not because they’ve earned a break but because its a way of life. What if we made enjoying life our way of life? Does anyone on their death bed ever say they wish they worked more or had more stuff? No, they wish they spent it with their loved ones and followed their dreams. What if we changed our mindsets from always being productive, to taking the time to relax and enjoy life? Now I’m not saying quit your job, or encouraging laziness. I’m just saying don’t put off enjoying life until your old, because we are not guaranteed tomorrow, all we have for certain is now. Slow down, spend more time with loved ones and work less. Or try going without all of the must have gadgets and technologies and find different ways to relax and enjoy life. Try getting off the phone or computer, away from the TV and doing something that is completely unproductive, impractical and a waste of time. Simply because you enjoy it!

Because the one thing you can never get back is your time. Instead of letting time fly by, challenge yourself to take the time for the simple pleasures. Don’t worry about trying to keep up with the Jones’s. In the end you will be glad you set the time aside to enjoy not just the little things, but ALL the things.