Still here

 Andy has a line he likes to say on a regular basis...

"Never volunteer excuses or explain a shortcoming unless an explanation is required. More damage than good is done by proffering unsought excuses." 

 So, with that in mind I won't waste time excusing my absence from here.
 Just know that I didn't quit on purpose!


 School has carried on, obviously, as has work, and seasons continue to pass by. We have just been rolling along - learning.

 A few days ago I gave Canaan two lines, and asked him to write the rest of the story. He needed to fill at least 2/3 of the page, be creative, and use proper grammar. Correct spelling was definitely something to aim for, but, as I realistically prepared myself for, something we could fix later.

 Apparently Canaan was not inspired at that moment. He knew how far down the page he had to go, so he began to look for randomness with which to fill it. For instance, "The Easter Bunny slept and slept and slept and slept and slept." was spread across an entire line, plus some. Twice.
 That was a sleepy Easter story.

 I couldn't help but laugh at the comedy in the story, but the attitude in which it was given - the deliberate waste of space so that he didn't have to come up with something new to write... He knew he was wrong.

 Andy's comment, after sending Canaan to the other room, was "That little smart ..." Hilarious, but at the same time - unacceptable. (both Canaan's paper, and Andy's comment fit that criteria!)

 Canaan knew that he hadn't done his best. He knows that he is going to have to re-write the story with not only corrected spelling and capitalization, but with a new attitude.

 The question is, how often do we do that? We fill up our schedule with "good" things. Things that fit the criteria. But we know they aren't the right things.
 We read the right books and expand our minds.
 We add filler, so there aren't any empty spaces looking at us with accusation.

 But are those spaces perhaps meant to be empty?

 A good short story is far better then a long, rambling, pointless one. And sometimes filling the page just isn't an improvement.

 So, for tonight I am going to say "Don't be afraid of empty spaces." In conversation. In your schedule. In your relationships.

 Less of a good thing will win every time when compared to a surplus of unnecessary excess.

 Canaan will be writing tomorrow. I will post the new and improved story here, and we can talk about good words. Good use of time. Good listening to what God has for us.

 Until then...

Blessings,