Greece: In the Footsteps of Paul the Apostle

Mykonos

I found this picture and decided to share it with my readers. Look at all the white buildings! Beautiful.

In the near future I will be traveling to Greece. Our main purpose is to see some of the places which are mentioned in the  Bible as places the Apostle Paul traveled. However, everything about Greece interests me, from the fascinating stories in mythology to the ancient philosophers. Athens represents culture and the wisdom of the ages. One of the places we will visit while on a cruise of the Greek Isles is Mykonos, the whitewashed jewel of the Cyclades Islands. This is the way the island is described: "This charming, mountainous island is known for the hundreds of tiny chapels, white-washed buildings and beautiful windmills that dot the island." Okay, I'm ready to go! I'm hoping to get some ideas for something to write about. 

It's interesting how writers find ideas. When I travel with groups I often see things that inspire me, but I also find that often it's not just the scenery but it may be a comment that some fellow traveler makes that gives me an idea for a poem or story. In the future I will be writing more about my writing process and how ideas come together to form a story.

Breaking out in Poetry

I have been struggling with the term marketing people call my "Personal Brand" lately. It's supposed to reflect who I am and what I can contribute to society. I've done all sorts of things to figure this out--like getting all my friends to give me six adjectives that describe me, answering all sorts of questions about what I've done, what I like, what I write about, where I've lived, etc., etc. I am still working on it, but I may eventually get it.

One of the things which I've thought about through all this is that I love words. I love a play on words; I love to try new ways of saying things; I like reading books that are structured in a way that I've not seen before. And when I get inspired to write a poem about something, it usually comes as a line or phrase that sticks in my brain. Last Sunday, for example, our Bible study teacher wrote a phrase from Tony Cartledge that I kept thinking about. We were studying Mark (Chapter 14) where Jesus asks the disciples to keep watch while he goes to pray. He comes back to find them asleep. Tony Cartledge  said, "He calls us to be faithful, but we just keep nodding off." It was funny to me. It also had a ring of truth to it, and the phrase kept running through my head. So by Monday morning I had a kind of plan for a poem. I am posting it below because it may help you to understand what I am talking about.

Trying to Stay Awake

“…Could you not keep watch for one hour?” Mark 14:37

At His darkest hour, Jesus told us to “Stay here and watch.”

But honestly, I am exhausted.

I really love Jesus, and I truly meant it when I pledged to follow.

But the day is long.

So many people have made demands before I get to the store.

I am in a hurry.

I lash out at the cashier before I see her tears.

I don’t know what to say.

But Jesus forgives me, and tomorrow is another day.

I’m early to work.

I am ready to follow Jesus anywhere he leads.

My boss is expecting more.

By five o’clock my head is pounding and I just want to get home.

I’m at the intersection.

What is that? A mother and three children stand with a sign.

“Need food for family.”

Well, that’s sad, but I just can’t do anything about that tonight.

I drive on by.

Jesus wants me to be faithful, but I just keep nodding off.

                                                            --Merrill J. Davies (2015)