jonathan livingston seagull by richard bach

Watercolors Friday – Celebrating 3 Books

/ inkspeare / 2 Comments

For today’s post, I want to celebrate three of my favorite books.  What is so special about them?  Well, they are my favorites, that is, if I had to pick three of all the ones that I love.  Why those three?  I asked myself the same question, and I was surprised by the answer.  These books have touched my soul in a different way, have made me ponder, think, dream, smile, doubt, question, and offered comfort besides entertainment.  It wasn’t until I questioned why the gap in years in between my three favorites that I understood the reason.  Those books found me at important stages of my life.  I wish I had my copies here to post pictures of them but they are packed in a trailer with all my moving stuff, so I will provide public domain pictures for the first two, instead.  Here they are,

THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE by C.S. Lewis

Roger Hane's cover for the 1970 Collier-Macmil...

This book came to my life when I was a kid and full of wonder, dreaming of worlds different from mine.  I lived this book through its pages.

JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL by Richard Bach

Cover of "Jonathan Livingston Seagull"

Cover of Jonathan Livingston Seagull

This book found me in my teenage years, when my mind was full of dreams, questioned everything around me, and wanted to break away from the pack.  I am lucky to own a signed copy.  I still love this book as much, if not more, than when I read it the first time, and I have read it several times.  I can picture myself in the golden years, savoring a cup of coffee, holding this book on my lap.  I still need to read it a few more times throughout my journey – every time I find something new.

THE GRIEVERS by Marc Schuster

Photo by Maria Diaz

Photo by Maria Diaz

This is actually a picture of my copy.  It is a recent book, and one that found me at another important stage of my life.  Just like the other two books, it made me ponder, question, think some more, question some more, doubt, smile, and dive deep inside myself, as I encountered twists and turns (my twists and turns) throughout its pages.

There you have it, three books that have been to me more than a casual read, and today I want to celebrate those.  I don’t know which will be the next book that will take me to the same level of introspection and delight, or when, but I am certainly excited about the possibility.

To C.S. Lewis, Richard Bach, and Marc Schuster – Happy Watercolors Friday!

Creating the Space that You and Only You Need

/ inkspeare / 4 Comments
English: Reminds me of the book & movie about ...

English: Reminds me of the book & movie about Jonathan Livingston Seagull. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You need space to breathe.  You need space to think clear.  You need space to fuel inspiration.  You need space to unfreeze the soul.  You need space away from the heavy load that your dreams may present at times.  You need space away from them (whomever that might be).  You need space to feel again.  You need space away from the person you have become (and whom you don’t seem to recognize).  You need space to come back.  You need space to exist.  You need space to be.

After reading a very inspiring book, I found myself searching for more.  I enjoyed this book immensely, and got from it much more than I was expecting; however, it puzzled me to the point of wanting to know why I was ready to slap some of these characters, when I could read between the lines of their soul, and all I saw was little bits and pieces of me.  That book touched my soul, deep enough to want to retreat for a few days, in the safe space I needed to create for me and only me – and so I did.  And so I searched.  And so I found.  And so I understood.

Sometimes, it is necessary to stop and look at your current space, abandon it for a while, create a new one where you feel safe enough to meet with yourself, so you can come back, and make the necessary changes – if needed.  The soul needs a nest from time to time, where it can renew, because the journey never ends.

I love books since  I can remember, but I can count with a single hand the books that have touch a chord in my soul throughout my life, and at different stages of it.  When I was a child, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis left a seed growing in my soul.  When I was a teenager, “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach gave me wings.  A few weeks ago, “The Grievers” by Marc Schuster gave a piercing jolt to my soul, which sent me back to visit the child and teenager long-lost forgotten.

I don’t know if any other books will talk to my soul as I continue in my journey, but I plan to read tons more, as I’ve always done.  And if there is a time when I need to create the secret space that me and only me needs, I will do so, and I will nest for a while, rest my wings, and let go, so I can come back to my Narnia.