The Seeds We Sow
Every story has a message, and every message has a story. A story is never just a story, but sometimes its depth is only one layer, with one meaning. Sometimes a story has many layers and many meanings, filled with symbolism and metaphors. Confused yet?I've heard many authors say their stories are just stories, there's no hidden message, had no particular agenda, or that they've sewn any sort of seeds, either negative or positive. But that's a lie, even if they believe it to be the truth. Every story has a message. Every tale is filled with seeds of ideas and thoughts that one day will produce a harvest, whether or not intended by the writer.
This is the reason I call myself a scribe, more than a writer. A scribe is a recorder of what they've seen and heard. We can't write what we've never seen, even if we've only ever seen it in our imaginations. When I was younger, the seeds of ideas implanted in me from the stories I read, music I listened to, or the tales I heard from others (including education and instruction from parents, teachers and others in who I met throughout my life), took root and together helped formed my way of thinking about the world around me, and influenced my reactions to it. In the middle of turmoil, it was often a line from a book I read, or a verse from a song that helped inspire a feeling or a thought, which in turn became an action.
This happened in both positive and negative ways. I didn't choose which seed produced fruit at which time, but fruit was produced nonetheless. I'm more careful these days what I put in my super-computer called a brain, because I understand the concept of sowing and reaping seeds. I've learned that I may not be able to control which seeds produces which fruit at any particular time, but I can moderate the types of seeds that are sown. I think it's almost impossible to be able to keep all the seeds I want to avoid from being planted, but I can do my best to minimize my exposure.
For example: When I was younger, I was angry a lot! What teenager aren't these days? Having spent an afternoon judging entries from a high school writing competition lately, I'm reminded just how sensitive teenagers are. They're at the stage of metamorphosis between being a child and an adult – and change is always filled with chaos. I'm much more settled now that I'm forty and don't feel like I have to save the world anymore; that I've passed the mantle down to the younger generation – along with all that energy. I'm much more careful of what seeds I allow to be sewn in my life, opting for peace, happiness, inspiration, victory and joy. So, I'll pass up books, movies or music that is filled with anger, bitterness, blame or degradation – not because I don't think there's any merit to what the author has to say – but because I've already been there, already done that, already have the tee-shirt and all it ever got me was a few gray hairs and a lot of UN-necessary stress.
Do I still want to save the world? Yes, but I've chosen to do it one little positive seed of thought, idea or concept at a time; one idea of inspiration; one word of encouragement at a time. Will it lead to world peace? Who knows??? So, what seeds are you planting? Are they the seeds of a garden you'd like to live in?
Till next time,
~T.L. Gray
This is the reason I call myself a scribe, more than a writer. A scribe is a recorder of what they've seen and heard. We can't write what we've never seen, even if we've only ever seen it in our imaginations. When I was younger, the seeds of ideas implanted in me from the stories I read, music I listened to, or the tales I heard from others (including education and instruction from parents, teachers and others in who I met throughout my life), took root and together helped formed my way of thinking about the world around me, and influenced my reactions to it. In the middle of turmoil, it was often a line from a book I read, or a verse from a song that helped inspire a feeling or a thought, which in turn became an action.
This happened in both positive and negative ways. I didn't choose which seed produced fruit at which time, but fruit was produced nonetheless. I'm more careful these days what I put in my super-computer called a brain, because I understand the concept of sowing and reaping seeds. I've learned that I may not be able to control which seeds produces which fruit at any particular time, but I can moderate the types of seeds that are sown. I think it's almost impossible to be able to keep all the seeds I want to avoid from being planted, but I can do my best to minimize my exposure.
For example: When I was younger, I was angry a lot! What teenager aren't these days? Having spent an afternoon judging entries from a high school writing competition lately, I'm reminded just how sensitive teenagers are. They're at the stage of metamorphosis between being a child and an adult – and change is always filled with chaos. I'm much more settled now that I'm forty and don't feel like I have to save the world anymore; that I've passed the mantle down to the younger generation – along with all that energy. I'm much more careful of what seeds I allow to be sewn in my life, opting for peace, happiness, inspiration, victory and joy. So, I'll pass up books, movies or music that is filled with anger, bitterness, blame or degradation – not because I don't think there's any merit to what the author has to say – but because I've already been there, already done that, already have the tee-shirt and all it ever got me was a few gray hairs and a lot of UN-necessary stress.
Do I still want to save the world? Yes, but I've chosen to do it one little positive seed of thought, idea or concept at a time; one idea of inspiration; one word of encouragement at a time. Will it lead to world peace? Who knows??? So, what seeds are you planting? Are they the seeds of a garden you'd like to live in?
Till next time,
~T.L. Gray
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