Words in print can captivate, propel, impede, inform, deceive, inspire, mock, connect, isolate… inarguably written words contain powerful potential.

Unlike spoken words, where auditory tone influences meaning (as well as body language if the words are being spoken in front of those that are listening), writers have a responsibility to assure the words written convey the meaning the writer intended. In a sense, what it requires is tenacity on the part of the writer to shape his/her words into a form which best portrays what the writer set out to pen. In my opinion, when a writer has done this well, it is artistry and it is amazing.

Admittedly, not all written works meet the criteria of ‘best portraying what the writer intended’. I suspect there are a number of factors &/or reasons for this. In my own writing, I’ve found the two biggest culprits when my writing falls short are time & carelessness. Often a little proofreading would have saved a whole lot of grief.

I received an email yesterday containing a variety of headlines that highlights the importance of proofreading:

• Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter
• Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
  
• Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
  
• Miners Refuse to Work after Death
  
• Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
  
• War Dims Hope for Peace
  
• If Strike Isn’t Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
  
• Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
  
• Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
  
• Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
  
• Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge
  
• New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
  
• Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
  
• Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
  
• Local  High School Dropouts Cut in Half
  
• Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
  
• Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead

Whatever your reaction is to those headlines, may it serve as a reminder to all of us to be a little more careful in the use of our words – or at least take time to proofread what we’ve written/typed before we send it on in an email, tweet or post.

While traveling a few months ago, Jocelyn asked me what my favorite season was. I told her. A few minutes later she handed me a small piece of paper. On it she had written a poem. I’ve been waiting to share it . . .

Autumn

written by Jocelyn Berry

The cool mountain breeze rustles the colorful leaves on the ground

A soft sound echoes through the night

Whoo-Whoo

Whoo-Whoo

The sound of the stream trickling over dark rocks completes this autumn scene

The leaves stops rustling

The owl stops hooting

All is quiet

A full moon lights the night sky

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicmcphee/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

Three months with no writing on my blog. To say I’ve missed a bit is a severe understatement!

What’s happened in all that time? The whirlwind of activities that encompass my life which if I listed them probably have similarities to yours as well as differences. Our girls started back to school, several birthday celebrations, get togethers with friends, visiting family and so on.

Life is so much more than the activities we involve ourselves in – although it can be easy to lose sight of that in the midst of the activities. So as I sit back and look at the past three months, these are some of the questions I find myself asking:

• Am I closer with God that I was three months ago or am I farther away?
• Am I more dependent on God or more reliant on myself?
• Am I closer with Kevin or farther away?
• Am I more loving with my kids?
• Am I more selfish or selfless?

The answers to those questions (and others like them) show me when I’ve missed a bit or I’ve missed a whole bunch. In any case,  I’m loved by a God who knows my shortcomings and when I come to Him, extends His grace and mercy.