Spring Blooms

So, spring is over. These three months have gone by faster than I like to think. They’ve been busy and full, and yet there’s still been quiet moments, and slow days, and a sense of contentment. I’ve finished a creative writing course, done a piano exam, played violin in several concerts, got more experience in writing, felt the urge to go deeper and to do, been away and seen familiar places and new places, received many blessings, got to spend time with friends, realized how important sleep is for literally everything, read far fewer books that I would’ve liked to, welcomed my younger sister into her fifteenth year of life, and everything in between. Although there are many other things I could have done, and should have done, I feel like’s it’s been a real spring for me; a time of personal thought. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, or processing, as I’ve come to call it.  

I’ve found so many amazing Bible verses recently. Some really spoke to me, and I think this one was my favourite:

“Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31 

November was National Novel Writing Month, and while I’ve never seriously considered participating in NaNoWriMo, I had an idea after I read a comment about someone who was planning to write five hundred words a day during November. This sounded far more achievable that writing 50,000 words in November, so I decided to do it too. In my head, I called it November500. So I wrote at least five hundred words a day (not including personal correspondence), any words; I wasn’t working on any particular project or book. There were days when I didn’t want to, when I felt like I had no words, and there was the fatal 25^th, when I clean forgot, and I didn’t write a single word that day. But it was a good experience, and I’m glad I did it. I’d like to do it again sometime. 

And on the topic of writing, there’s this writing contest I came across, and I’ve decided to enter it. I’ve written up a little story, and I just have to edit it a bit. I’m kind of nervous because I know my writing is very unpracticed, but it’s also exciting because I’ve never entered a writing contest before. The contest doesn’t close until December 12^th though, so you can still enter too! Read the details here. 

And, I did a guest post for The Three Musketeers here. It’s five facts about you. :) (You can read my interview with them here too.)

In my thinking recently, I came upon why. I’ve come to think that “why?” is the most powerful question. Think of the places it can lead your thought, imagination, knowledge, and understanding. I think we’ve become a world of dumb humans who just ride the tide, and we need to stop and ask why? Why are we just following everyone else? Why do we believe what we do? Why do we do what we do, and don’t do what we don’t do? Why? When you know why, you’ve got something to stand behind and fight for. 

God has given me so much this spring: opportunities, the encouragement of friends (including blog readers!), help in exams and performances. I’m not wishing spring away, but I’m looking forward to all He’s got in store for summer. 

“For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” Psalm 48:14

But! I want to hear about your spring (or autumn if you’re on the other side of the world). What did you learn? What’s been your recent favourite Bible verse, or song, or book? Have you been writing anything lately? What do you think of the idea of November500? Are you looking forward to summer?