I write, speak, invest, network, and question to stimulate fruitful conversation. Let's talk about human flourishing! It begins with freedom. Holy leisure is the key to human being, freedom and generativity. Please join me in the adventure of realizing Christ!
Play By the Rules!
Managers of several Catholic Linked In groups have started discussion threads with instructions to “explain what you do in exactly seven words”. I’m game!
- Poetess, weaving experience into wombs of words.
- Begging for help naming millions of babies!
- I create low-budget Catholic cultural initiatives.
This is fun, so why am I irritated??
Because so many people weighed in with 5, 9, and other distinctly-not-7 numbers of words. They don’t seem to understand the rules of the game are not there as suggestions; not there to cramp their style; not there to enslave them. The 7-word limit is a form, and, as we Catholics are supposed to know, form creates the space for freedom. If the first thing we do, when invited to enter into a form, is pooh-pooh it, trash it, make fun of the control freaks who designed it, or just ignore its parameters, then we miss out on the value of the form entirely while, and spoil the fun for everyone else.
I hope you’ll go have a little fun writing haiku, sonnet, villanelle, or other form-poem. I write non-formal poetry, too, but these forms are the best training- and play-grounds for exercising your word muscles.
Or, just tell me, in exactly 7 words, What do you dream of doing?. If you respond, I have a little surprise for you.
You must be logged in to post a comment.