It’s Here and It’s Free, just like God’s Mercy!
It’s Here! “It’s Three O’clock Somewhere, How You Can Live the Divine Mercy Devotion, Any Time of Day, ” at https://thinkingfromhope.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=846&action=edit
Why Modern Writer’s Need A Commonplace Book for Sure-Fire Writing Inspiration
Elevate Your Content Writing by Jennifer Lindberg
If you could have a word file that translates into inspiration and iron-clad copy would you try it?
I’ve found the answer in a commonplace book—a book where I hand-write inspiration from speeches, articles, retreats, sermons, the Bible and more. It inspires me in ways that Pinterest, Swipe Files, and Word Banks do not. It is my personal compilation of ideas in categories I find important and translates to great content ideas for me.
Is there something to hand-written note-taking in the modern age of laptops and note taking apps?
“What the hand does, the mind remembers” –Maria Montessori
A new study by Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer of Princeton University and UCLA Los Angeles sheds light on Montessori’s claim and about conceptual understanding between the hand and mind.
An article quoted Mueller stating taking notes by hand means having to process the information and write it down, “that initial selectivity leads to long-term comprehension,” she said.
COMMONPLACE BOOKS
Mueller doesn’t think more people will go back to notebooks, but as a writer this study is amazing because it fits in with my classical education training.
I was encouraged to keep notebooks about my ideas and inspirations and many classically trained famous people kept commonplace books.
Napoleon had one. Marcus Aurelius turned his into the famous book, “Meditations,” and Thomas Jefferson’s is on display. Milcah Marth Hill kept one that’s a gem of information about the thoughts of American Revolution women. For these great minds, a commonplace book was essential.
HELPING YOU THINK
“Your gifts lie in the place where your value, passions, and strengths meet. Discovering that place is the first step toward sculpting your masterpiece, your life. Michelangelo
Visualize it as a type of “thinker’s journal,” but it’s not a diary. It’s a place for inspiration. A place to note your values, passions and strengths, the bits of writing that not only catches your eyes, but your soul.
It’s not a scrapbook, you write out most of what you put into the commonplace book. It’s usually devoid of stickers and graphics, unless you free-hand draw them.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
All my professional swipe files of word banks for SEO content on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are on my laptop. I don’t want to give up my modern technology!
My golden nuggets that I sprinkle throughout my writing come from my Commonplace book that I write by hand. It’s my well of inspiration that I can draw deep from to write deep stories for others.
HOW TO START
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free,” Michelangelo
Whatever touches you as good writing, a good headline, a good anecdote, write it down.
You have a vision to set free in your writing. My commonplace books help me define my values and passions to be able to tell other people’s unique stories.
All you need is a notebook.
Here are my three tips to get started
- Read a lot. Write down any quotes or passages that speak to you or inspire you. Good writers read other good writers.
- Don’t treat it like a factoid research project. I’m seeking wisdom. The things I write down are more for pondering and peering into my soul to make me a better writer.
- Have fun with it. It’s a great stress-relief and keepsake for yourself and your family.
ONE BOOK DOESN’T RULE THEM ALL
I have different commonplace books for different categories I find important.
- The virtue of hope. Any quote I find on hope from talks, podcasts, the Bible, books, go in this Commonplace book. It’s a personal passion and I try to infuse my writing with hope and rest.
- General commonplace book—all kinds of golden nuggets of inspiration that doesn’t fall in a specific category, such as hope or gratitude. It’s for my personal growth as a writer.
- This one is filled with quotes from great writers about how to write great stories or sentences. It’s about overcoming writing obstacles and I drink deep of it when I need encouragement in my writing life. Hint: A lot of Madelaine L’Engle quotes on writing are in this commonplace book! I love her tips about writing. It translates to all types of content.
- I love famous art. I like quotes about famous art to help me understand it better
- My travel commonplace: Tidbits of wisdom about pilgrimage destinations, cities, famous quotes about pilgrimage or travel. I write for a pilgrimage company so this is a real tool for me to use for blog and article ideas.
Clear writing is kind writing for your reader.
The kinder you can be to yourself with some sort of inspiration habit brings a lot of self-fulfillment and better writing for your clients. I find writing it down helps me visualize my content and goals better.
Do you have a system for writing down your inspirations and to nourish your personal development?
Jennifer Lindberg is an author and award-winning journalist. Find more of her work at www.tektonministries.org
A Model to Follow: A Mother Reflects on Holy Thursday
Whose feet will you wash this Holy Thursday?
This model of tenderness is an invitation to holiness on the deepest levels. As a mother, I feel this deep.
I ponder:
- All the times the Blessed Mother washed Jesus’ feet as a baby, stroking his feet, wiggling his toes, and caressing his face.
- All the times I washed my own baby’s feet, giggling and cooing with them.
- What Christ is saying to all of us, not just his priests and ministers.
The church teaches this is a model of humility and service. It is the day Christ instituted the holy priesthood and this foot washing was part of their ordination and transformation into being priests of Christ. It follows the priestly Day of Atonement ritual in Leviticus 16.
Thursday has always been the traditional devotional day of the Eucharist. We begin the Easter Triduum with remembering the Last Supper –The Institution of the Eucharist.
I am always struck by the tenderness of the act. Christ rolling up his sleeves, calming Peter down who couldn’t imagine Jesus picking up his adult foot to wash it. I can’t help but laugh at Peter wanting his whole body washed and Christ explaining the real reason.
How close Christ kneeled down, head bowed, cupping those feet. Their feet due to Jewish customs would have already been washed before the Last Supper, so this is more than that. It’s establishing love of ritual in our life. It’s another way to show Christ’s love of us and “setting the example for all of us,” John 13:15.
This washing of the feet we only do once a year, symbolizing what Christ did the night before he died.
As a mother, I think of Mary standing at the foot of the Cross the next day, Christ’s feet in her face now torn, bleeding, and wounded. Did she remember those tiny baby feet of His, knowing that birth was leading to this rebirth of all of us. I think she did. Even in her sorrow, she never despaired knowing those same feet would walk again in the Resurrection. As Christ’s head looked down from the Cross, did Mary kiss his feet hanging there on the cross, once again with tenderness and understanding? I think she did.
As a sign of devotion, I often kiss Christ’s feet on my rosary’s crucifix. My children often kiss his feet on the large crucifix that hangs in church. This tiny act of devotion fills the heart with awe.
This Holy Thursday, Christ is still washing our feet, to lead us to Him. This Holy Thursday, the washing of the feet takes on deep meaning for me as a mother. I am lead to ponder how I wash my family’s feet now. How I serve them, to serve Christ.
During this isolating times of COVID-19, leaving me away from church, I find that Holy Week can still be lived in sweet ponderings and deep thoughts. We are the domestic church wherever we are. Wash someone’s feet tonight. Even if it’s your own.
Artwork: Ford Maddox Brown, 1876. English
DIY: Easter Salt Dough Egg Ornaments
DIY Easy Easter Craft with these salt dough ornaments. It’s a hopeful thing to do right now and super fun. I only do easy recipes as I’m busy and the kitchen is not my greatest talent. I manage and I like to bake bread, but I’d rather be reading, writing, or outside! This salt dough is easy to knead and comes together super quick — making it a joy to be in my kitchen. Because kitchens are for dancing, fun, and togetherness not just standing over a stove waiting for water to boil.
We made the traditional red Easter egg that celebrates St. Mary Magdalene, crosses, flowers, and the Easter bunny. This easy recipe does need a long bake: 2 hours on low to set the salt dough, as hard as the rock that closed Jesus’ tomb, but the rest is super fun.
Recipe
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water
Mix and then knead by hand, with flour dusted on counter. Roll out into 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters for your shape. Punch a hole in the top of each ornament with a straw. Bake on p archment covered baking sheet at 250 degrees for 2 hours.
Paint with acrylic or paint markers.
I plan to hang mine on our apple trees for a special Easter. Other ideas: string together across a mantle or window frame.
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