Mary C. M. Phillips

“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being in love which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.”

From Corelli’s Mandolin

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While in my own transition, in terms of writing, I read something from Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.  It’s helping me — and I think — it can apply to all forms of writing; be it poetry or songwriting, but what do I know?  All I know is that I like this and it’s hitting a chord.

We write to expose the unexposed.  If there is one door in the castle you have been told not to go through, you must.  Otherwise, you’ll just be rearranging furniture in rooms you’ve already been in.  Most human beings are dedicated to keeping that one door shut.  But the writer’s job is to see what’s behind it, to see the bleak unspeakable stuff, and to turn the unspeakable into words–not just into any words but if we can, into rhythm and blues.

Oh boy, the entire chapter is worth copying and pasting, but I’ll leave it at that.

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We all need air.  We need a daily breath of encouragement.

Particularly when the news around us is so depressing and  sadly senseless.

I hope the stories in this book are a comfort; a breath. 

I wrote two stories in this book; one happens to be the lead story, Air in My Tires which you can actually link to via the wonderful Look inside this book feature through amazon.  Thank you Lord for technology!

(Jacques Ellul would not have agreed on that last statement, of course but…)

Amazon.com \”Cup of Comfort for Christian Women\”

God bless, spread love not hate,  and let’s all take a good deep breath.

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Christmas is right around the corner!

A Starbucks card is always a nice gift. Or, a box of Scotchmallows from See’s Candies.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the best gifts are consumable…at least for me.  Having too much “stuff” collecting dust throughout my house wears one down.  No, I do not like “stuff.”

Isn’t the first step to financial peace (according to financial guru Dave Ramsey), getting over the sickness of “stuff-itis?”

This year, it’s coffee, chocolate, candles and…a few good books for my mind’s consumption.

Speaking of good books, why not put this one ( \”A Cup of Comfort for Couples\” ) in that special someone’s stocking?  It’s full of  flirtatious, humorous, touching, and endearing stories of couples who have found true love in unexpected places.  In fact, I’m one of the contributing writers (Surprise, surprise.)

It truly is a wonderful collection of short stories by some of today’s best writers.

Who needs another sweater, really?!

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