Day 1 - Things that enter by way of silence

Day 1

The first day to start writing practice was difficult. I found everything else I would rather be doing. My kids are home for vacation and my husband wants attention. So where do share my love for writing and my family. I love writing by hand and the feel of the pencil disintegrate on the paper.  Yet, my aching hand and tendonitis in my thumb made the experience uncomfortable. With a numb thumb and tense fingers I finished the 5 minutes.

These five minutes felt much longer than I thought it would. It could have been the topic, or the first time syndrome, or the anticipation of 365 entries into my composition book. I have not been known to finish much of what I start.

The first entry is “Things that enter by way of silence” after Mark Strand. I started out pencil strokes with the chill of a ghostly silence that creeps up your spine, from memories created in books and
movies.  This flipped quickly to the silence of positive and good influence of our Lord. The words jumped on to the page about goods deeds and His silence guidance we have been given. The silent
chill then does not creep slowly, tentacle after tentacle up your spine, but encompasses your whole body in a blanket of electricity and good feelings.

After, almost 6 minutes, 115 words written in pencil and a completely different direction than I thought I would go, I feel this practice is successful. I learned to not use pencil; it breaks in the passion of the words. To set the timer up to an exact time (I went over), or decide if I want
it timed or just write until I am done with the thought. This is intimidating to me, I tend to get lost and can sit and write and neglect my house, family and responsibilities of the day.