Thursday, September 18, 2014
Grace: What does it look like through the eyes of a child?
Grace has been defined as:" Unmerited favor." It's been described as a free gift. The Scripture declares, "By grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of yourself, it is a free gift. Not of works lest anyone should boast..."
Ephesians 2:8 has become a foundational corner stone within the Christian Faith. Like John 3:16 it is one of those verses we followers of Christ cling to when everything else in our world is falling apart.
Theologically speaking, we understand grace is a property of God that goes before his judgment. It was by grace, that he offered up His Son on Calvary's Cross 2,000 years ago to receive the punishment for the sin of this fallen world.
Question: What does grace look like through the eyes of an eleven year old boy. How do you communicate in terms of experience the principal of grace. Is there a working platform, or model out there, that takes a subject so deeply grounded in Christian principal and breaks it down to a level children easily understand.
When I was eleven years old and in the fifth grade at Sumner Elementary School, I experienced grace and have never recovered. I've published the story with Amazon and call it, The Note.
It is being offered for free all day tomorrow, Sept. 19th. I am in the process of changing the cover. If you have already red the story, you will notice the cover has changed. It is a work in progress and until we find one that fits.
You can find the story at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Note-Graceful-Reflection-Cameron-Dockery-ebook/dp/B00KPCJ87O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411074065&sr=8-1&keywords=cameron+Dockery
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
More on the End.
In preparation for my next short story I've been blogging about Apocalyptic/Dystopian literature. As Previously stated, I've never been into the genre, but Hugh Howey's success and current world events have got me to thinking. And with that, I have tried to envision what the sum total and grand daddy of all apocalyptic scenarios would look like.
Being an American, I thought in terms of local context, in light of a world event. In short, if America goes down due to a catastrophic event, what will be the resolve of those who survive, and how will the world respond?
American influence and position in global markets suggest, that if we go down, there will be a ripple effect. I'm no economist, and am not versed in international studies, or social sciences, but it would appear, that if we as a nation go down, or should be taken out, the stability of the world, as we know it, will be seriously compromised.
For example, if America defaulted on her debt, to the point of NEVER being in a position of repaying her obligations, what would that mean for China. One would think it to be an almost insurmountable blow, but according to Harvard economics professor, Dale Jorgenson, maybe not. For he recently said:
“The United States will need to come to terms with the fact that its prevalence in the world is fated to come to an end....This will be difficult for many Americans to swallow and the United States should brace for social unrest amid blame over who was responsible for squandering global primacy...” MIT's Simon Johnson has recently suggested, “The damage from the financial crisis and its aftermath have dealt U.S. prominence a permanent blow." He went on to say, “The age of American predominance is over,“The (Chinese) Yuan will be the world’s reserve currency within two decades”
The impetus for my up and coming Short Story is based solely on a Doomsday Apocalypse, but those in the know are suggesting, an unavoidable financial apocalypse is already underway.
And while it's obvious that America has propped Herself up by selling out to the Chinese, it is also true that the holders of our debt are left venerable.
I 'm curious, where such a scenario leaves The Middle East? Namely, OPEC. China, is home to a population of 1 billion people, who are becoming more and more oil dependent. They have also had the foresight to recently purchase huge sums of gold. That alone leaves me wondering if the U.S. Dollar, for what ever reason, is no longer the standard currency, and for some unforeseen reason, the Yuan does not become the reserve currency, then the Chinese are positioning themselves with the oldest Measure in the history of trade.
If predictions from Harvard and MIT scholars prove true, in twenty years I will be 72 and living in a world where America is no longer the leading influencer at the table of international policy. It's hard to imagine, even a little scary. It may be wishful thinking, but something in me finds it hard to believe. Is it possible for the largest economy and strongest military on the globe to falter and fail into insignificance?
When 9/11 came down, the Chairman of The Federal Reserve, was aboard a flight from Switzerland to D.C. While on that flight he received a phone call from President Bush and was informed of the attack. He was then asked, "What is our worst case scenario, as far as the economy goes?" Greenspan responded, "A complete collapse of our financial infrastructure." He went on to explain, "All that's necessary for our economy to fail is for people to stop spending money."
At the height of her power, Rome had conquered most of the known world. Left in her wake, were no serious contenders. Yet, as Daniel predicted, She fell...and The Dark Ages ensued.
I am convinced the possibility of a fallen America is no far fetched idea. Should it happen, this world would be a very different place. Those we support, in terms of aid would be cut off. Those who depend on Federal and State assistance, would be left without. Martial Law would be declared and congress would no longer hold the power. The military would take over the responsibilities of governing the nation
Their chief Modus Operandi would be two fold. First, they would preserve and protect the constitution, while defending our boarders. Everything else would be secondary. Under Martial Law the "New Government," would have the authority to make unilateral decisions, that could not be challenged. This alone would change DNA of the country. For example, in the name of national security, the military could, and probably would, authorize the drilling for oil, in places that have previously been shut down and declared off limits. In such a doomsday scenario we would have to rely on our own natural resources.
Since the dollar would no longer be the standard currency, it would be greatly devalued, ensuring a complete collapse of our financial infrastructure. 9/11 derailed us, but the doomsday scenario takes us out. The economy would be so hyper inflated due to the over printing of money we would resemble Germany following WWI when people went to the market with wheel barrows filled with devalued money.
Chaos will break out and the military will be forced to squash it with an iron fist. Those who plotted our demise will find the reciprocating consequences hard to bear. Not necessarily because of our response, but due to the shake up and ripple effect of a planet falling apart.
The world will become more primitive. While 9/11 is reduced to a warning shot, as compared. So The Great Depression would look more like a hick up as compared to the fall out of the Doomsday Scenario. A study of history reveals WWI was followed by the Roaring Twenties. Then the Great Depression, opened the door for the second World War.
That being the case, can you imagine how an apocalypse like I've just described, would play out here at home and abroad.
Until we meet again,
Cameron
Being an American, I thought in terms of local context, in light of a world event. In short, if America goes down due to a catastrophic event, what will be the resolve of those who survive, and how will the world respond?
American influence and position in global markets suggest, that if we go down, there will be a ripple effect. I'm no economist, and am not versed in international studies, or social sciences, but it would appear, that if we as a nation go down, or should be taken out, the stability of the world, as we know it, will be seriously compromised.
For example, if America defaulted on her debt, to the point of NEVER being in a position of repaying her obligations, what would that mean for China. One would think it to be an almost insurmountable blow, but according to Harvard economics professor, Dale Jorgenson, maybe not. For he recently said:
“The United States will need to come to terms with the fact that its prevalence in the world is fated to come to an end....This will be difficult for many Americans to swallow and the United States should brace for social unrest amid blame over who was responsible for squandering global primacy...” MIT's Simon Johnson has recently suggested, “The damage from the financial crisis and its aftermath have dealt U.S. prominence a permanent blow." He went on to say, “The age of American predominance is over,“The (Chinese) Yuan will be the world’s reserve currency within two decades”
The impetus for my up and coming Short Story is based solely on a Doomsday Apocalypse, but those in the know are suggesting, an unavoidable financial apocalypse is already underway.
And while it's obvious that America has propped Herself up by selling out to the Chinese, it is also true that the holders of our debt are left venerable.
I 'm curious, where such a scenario leaves The Middle East? Namely, OPEC. China, is home to a population of 1 billion people, who are becoming more and more oil dependent. They have also had the foresight to recently purchase huge sums of gold. That alone leaves me wondering if the U.S. Dollar, for what ever reason, is no longer the standard currency, and for some unforeseen reason, the Yuan does not become the reserve currency, then the Chinese are positioning themselves with the oldest Measure in the history of trade.
If predictions from Harvard and MIT scholars prove true, in twenty years I will be 72 and living in a world where America is no longer the leading influencer at the table of international policy. It's hard to imagine, even a little scary. It may be wishful thinking, but something in me finds it hard to believe. Is it possible for the largest economy and strongest military on the globe to falter and fail into insignificance?
When 9/11 came down, the Chairman of The Federal Reserve, was aboard a flight from Switzerland to D.C. While on that flight he received a phone call from President Bush and was informed of the attack. He was then asked, "What is our worst case scenario, as far as the economy goes?" Greenspan responded, "A complete collapse of our financial infrastructure." He went on to explain, "All that's necessary for our economy to fail is for people to stop spending money."
At the height of her power, Rome had conquered most of the known world. Left in her wake, were no serious contenders. Yet, as Daniel predicted, She fell...and The Dark Ages ensued.
I am convinced the possibility of a fallen America is no far fetched idea. Should it happen, this world would be a very different place. Those we support, in terms of aid would be cut off. Those who depend on Federal and State assistance, would be left without. Martial Law would be declared and congress would no longer hold the power. The military would take over the responsibilities of governing the nation
Their chief Modus Operandi would be two fold. First, they would preserve and protect the constitution, while defending our boarders. Everything else would be secondary. Under Martial Law the "New Government," would have the authority to make unilateral decisions, that could not be challenged. This alone would change DNA of the country. For example, in the name of national security, the military could, and probably would, authorize the drilling for oil, in places that have previously been shut down and declared off limits. In such a doomsday scenario we would have to rely on our own natural resources.
Since the dollar would no longer be the standard currency, it would be greatly devalued, ensuring a complete collapse of our financial infrastructure. 9/11 derailed us, but the doomsday scenario takes us out. The economy would be so hyper inflated due to the over printing of money we would resemble Germany following WWI when people went to the market with wheel barrows filled with devalued money.
Chaos will break out and the military will be forced to squash it with an iron fist. Those who plotted our demise will find the reciprocating consequences hard to bear. Not necessarily because of our response, but due to the shake up and ripple effect of a planet falling apart.
The world will become more primitive. While 9/11 is reduced to a warning shot, as compared. So The Great Depression would look more like a hick up as compared to the fall out of the Doomsday Scenario. A study of history reveals WWI was followed by the Roaring Twenties. Then the Great Depression, opened the door for the second World War.
That being the case, can you imagine how an apocalypse like I've just described, would play out here at home and abroad.
Until we meet again,
Cameron
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
The Beginning of The End.
If you read my previous post: The Day America Died, you may recall these words:
" When the dark side of human nature is left unchecked, chaos will always encroach. For even in the Garden of Paradise the Prince of Darkness raised his ugly head and questioned the authority of God. Since that time the personification of evil has never been more than a whisper away."
As a reader, I've never been into the post apocalyptic dystopian genre. However, Hugh Howey caught my attention a couple of years ago when I stumbled upon the first installment of his Silo Series, WOOL. I quickly learned there are tons of people into the genre. So many, in fact, that Hugh became somewhat of an over night success, and was catapulted to the top, securing a place among Amazons best sellers. It has given him a platform from which he continues to write, and has also become somewhat of a voice crying in the publishing wilderness, championing the cause of fellow Indie's,
Realizing there is an ocean of readers thirsty for more apocalyptic/dystopian literature, and scanning the horizon of current events, both abroad and here in the U.S. has piqued my interest inspiring something dystopian in my own pursuit.
And with that, comes a whole litany of questions. Like: What is it about an end of the world scenario that grabs people? Why, at times, does it become an obsession? When it finally does happen, what will it look like, and how bad can it get?
If you're familiar with dystopian literature, you already know the preceding questions have been incorporated into multiple storylines a thousand time over. That being the case, I would like to pose a much lager question that has less to do with the end, and more to do with the beginning.
And its not the beginning, or end of the world to which I speak, but rather the ontology of the idea. To be more specific, I want to know who, or what, planted the first seeds of a DOOMSDAY APOCILYPS into the human psyche? It appears the concept has been around for a very long time.
For example, Old Testament prophets spoke to the impending destruction of Jerusalem over three thousand years ago. The prophet Jeremiah not only saw judgment coming, but also endured the siege and lived to record it. You can read about the mayhem in his Book of Lamentations. When Nebuchadnezzar invaded, and then departed with slaves and spoils the prophet wept, "How empty sits the city, that was once filled with people."
The same prophets who predicted the fall of Jerusalem also foresaw the coming of The Messiah, and seven hundred years later, He was born in the City of Bethlehem. It has since become the most celebrated birth place on the planet. He was eventually rejected by the masses, but followed by a few, who became the foundational world changers called The Church.
He did not fit the description for which the establishment had been looking, but rather celebrated a Kingdom that is not of this world. And, as far this world goes, He had a few things to say about that also. Among them being.... it's going to end.
For those who's soul purpose is to live for the beauty and bounty of this world, His words will be a little unsettling. For He spoke of global conflict in the midst of famine and pestilence. Depending on your theology, many believe the Scripture forewarns of an ultimate battle between good and evil, to be played out in the valley of Megiddo.
Many of my friends in the Arts community will perceive me as preaching to the choir, but that is not my purpose. So, to make that point please allow me to Segway into the scientific, for a brief moment. Astrophysics informs us of the fact that the universe is expanding. We now understand the earth is not at it's center. When the Archbishop of Canterbury read Einstein's theory of relativity he asked the renowned scientist, "What will this mean for the church and the Christian Faith." Einstein, who believed in a creator, responded, "Nothing."
If you follow the logic, and realize the earth is uniquely positioned in the galaxy to support life, then it is not a very far leap, to see with an expanding universe, there will come a time when the earth will no longer, be positioned to support life. Which, leads to a conclusion that, one day, our world is going to end.
If that's not enough to raise an eyebrow or two, consider our nearest star. It's called the sun and has maintained a controlled nuclear explosion every second of its powerful existence. That is mind blowing. However, like all stars, our sun has a life span, and there will come a time when it will eventually burn out and collapse upon itself. Those in the know predict when that happens, the rest of the planets in our galaxy will be sucked into a giant black hole left in its wake. If we can connect the dots, science is telling us something about the future of the planet earth. One day, it is going to end. It's not a matter of if, its a question of when. And, to some degree, how.
Those of you who read this blog know I'm no theologian. Astrophysics is a foreign language to this undereducated country boy, so I make no claims there. However, as stated above, if we but connect the dots, theology and science come to a similar conclusion, as far as the earth goes. At the the end of the day, Pun intended, "She's a ... going to end."
I am a Christian and believe there will be, as scripture declares, "A New Heaven and A New Earth." However, my delve into the dystopian genre and short story that's soon to be released on Amazon, will have several twist and turns that may leave my friends scratching their heads, and wondering if perhaps, I've jumped off the bus. The short answer to that question is, no I've not.
-- Until we meet here again,
Cam
" When the dark side of human nature is left unchecked, chaos will always encroach. For even in the Garden of Paradise the Prince of Darkness raised his ugly head and questioned the authority of God. Since that time the personification of evil has never been more than a whisper away."
As a reader, I've never been into the post apocalyptic dystopian genre. However, Hugh Howey caught my attention a couple of years ago when I stumbled upon the first installment of his Silo Series, WOOL. I quickly learned there are tons of people into the genre. So many, in fact, that Hugh became somewhat of an over night success, and was catapulted to the top, securing a place among Amazons best sellers. It has given him a platform from which he continues to write, and has also become somewhat of a voice crying in the publishing wilderness, championing the cause of fellow Indie's,
Realizing there is an ocean of readers thirsty for more apocalyptic/dystopian literature, and scanning the horizon of current events, both abroad and here in the U.S. has piqued my interest inspiring something dystopian in my own pursuit.
And with that, comes a whole litany of questions. Like: What is it about an end of the world scenario that grabs people? Why, at times, does it become an obsession? When it finally does happen, what will it look like, and how bad can it get?
If you're familiar with dystopian literature, you already know the preceding questions have been incorporated into multiple storylines a thousand time over. That being the case, I would like to pose a much lager question that has less to do with the end, and more to do with the beginning.
And its not the beginning, or end of the world to which I speak, but rather the ontology of the idea. To be more specific, I want to know who, or what, planted the first seeds of a DOOMSDAY APOCILYPS into the human psyche? It appears the concept has been around for a very long time.
For example, Old Testament prophets spoke to the impending destruction of Jerusalem over three thousand years ago. The prophet Jeremiah not only saw judgment coming, but also endured the siege and lived to record it. You can read about the mayhem in his Book of Lamentations. When Nebuchadnezzar invaded, and then departed with slaves and spoils the prophet wept, "How empty sits the city, that was once filled with people."
The same prophets who predicted the fall of Jerusalem also foresaw the coming of The Messiah, and seven hundred years later, He was born in the City of Bethlehem. It has since become the most celebrated birth place on the planet. He was eventually rejected by the masses, but followed by a few, who became the foundational world changers called The Church.
He did not fit the description for which the establishment had been looking, but rather celebrated a Kingdom that is not of this world. And, as far this world goes, He had a few things to say about that also. Among them being.... it's going to end.
For those who's soul purpose is to live for the beauty and bounty of this world, His words will be a little unsettling. For He spoke of global conflict in the midst of famine and pestilence. Depending on your theology, many believe the Scripture forewarns of an ultimate battle between good and evil, to be played out in the valley of Megiddo.
Many of my friends in the Arts community will perceive me as preaching to the choir, but that is not my purpose. So, to make that point please allow me to Segway into the scientific, for a brief moment. Astrophysics informs us of the fact that the universe is expanding. We now understand the earth is not at it's center. When the Archbishop of Canterbury read Einstein's theory of relativity he asked the renowned scientist, "What will this mean for the church and the Christian Faith." Einstein, who believed in a creator, responded, "Nothing."
If you follow the logic, and realize the earth is uniquely positioned in the galaxy to support life, then it is not a very far leap, to see with an expanding universe, there will come a time when the earth will no longer, be positioned to support life. Which, leads to a conclusion that, one day, our world is going to end.
If that's not enough to raise an eyebrow or two, consider our nearest star. It's called the sun and has maintained a controlled nuclear explosion every second of its powerful existence. That is mind blowing. However, like all stars, our sun has a life span, and there will come a time when it will eventually burn out and collapse upon itself. Those in the know predict when that happens, the rest of the planets in our galaxy will be sucked into a giant black hole left in its wake. If we can connect the dots, science is telling us something about the future of the planet earth. One day, it is going to end. It's not a matter of if, its a question of when. And, to some degree, how.
Those of you who read this blog know I'm no theologian. Astrophysics is a foreign language to this undereducated country boy, so I make no claims there. However, as stated above, if we but connect the dots, theology and science come to a similar conclusion, as far as the earth goes. At the the end of the day, Pun intended, "She's a ... going to end."
I am a Christian and believe there will be, as scripture declares, "A New Heaven and A New Earth." However, my delve into the dystopian genre and short story that's soon to be released on Amazon, will have several twist and turns that may leave my friends scratching their heads, and wondering if perhaps, I've jumped off the bus. The short answer to that question is, no I've not.
-- Until we meet here again,
Cam
Friday, August 22, 2014
The Day America Died.
This is the intro to a post apocalyptic dystopian short story. I've never written in this genre, but had a thought and put it to paper.
No one knows
how it happened, though most are convinced our own government kept us in the
dark, until it was too late. Then it no
longer mattered. On the day America fell, a desire for justice was quickly replaced
by the will to live. The all-important
question became, “How long can the world endure.”
There was a time in my life when I believed goodness would prevail. But, when nuclear weapons went off in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, only to be followed by three more the following day in Charlotte, Atlanta and Washington DC, I was left with serious questions.
Those who wished us harm finally succeeded. The one Homeland Security could not afford to miss, slipped through the cracks, and in just two days twenty percent of the nation’s population was annihilated. Since that time there’s been so much death, only twenty percent remain. Nine Eleven has been reduced to a warning shot.
The terrorist who plotted our demise were blinded by an extreme ideology which left them unable to foresee the results. But, when the strongest economy on the globe defaulted, the dominos started falling.
China found its self over extended and quickly spiraled into financial oblivion. Russia, went into a defense mode, as Putin understood the same thing could happen in Moscow and Saint Peters Square. England had been feeling the trimmers for quite some time, but turned a deaf ear in the name of tolerance and multiculturalism. When the world fell apart, the British were unable to help us for fear of retaliation.
Having lost their strongest ally left the Israelis alone and isolated. As radical Islam began closing in they took preemptive measures and launched their Nukes. Once Baghdad, Tehran and Cairo were obliterated, they took a ground assault into Palestine and in Syria.
Here at home, things we once took for granted, have become costly commodities. All entitlements have been absolved, because the government for all tents and purposes no longer exist. Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare are no longer available. This alone resulted in the death of millions. Those on critical life supporting systems, such as dialysis and other expensive medical regiments began dying off soon after the collapse.
People took to the streets in open rebellion when supplemental programs were suspended. The National Guard was called in, but as our government collapsed the troops returned home in defense of their own lives, homes and personal property.
Long ago and far away, the prophet Jerimiah looked over the destruction of Jerusalem and wept, “How empty sits the city that was once filled with people.” I have never been one who believed in the pagan principal of history repeating itself, but his words ring true for the destruction which has come upon what many once considered, the prize of the west.
When the dark side of human nature is left unchecked chaos will always encroach. For even in the Garden of Paradise the prince of darkness raised his ugly head and questioned the authority of God. Since that time the personification of evil has never been more than a whisper away.
There was a time in my life when I believed goodness would prevail. But, when nuclear weapons went off in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, only to be followed by three more the following day in Charlotte, Atlanta and Washington DC, I was left with serious questions.
Those who wished us harm finally succeeded. The one Homeland Security could not afford to miss, slipped through the cracks, and in just two days twenty percent of the nation’s population was annihilated. Since that time there’s been so much death, only twenty percent remain. Nine Eleven has been reduced to a warning shot.
The terrorist who plotted our demise were blinded by an extreme ideology which left them unable to foresee the results. But, when the strongest economy on the globe defaulted, the dominos started falling.
China found its self over extended and quickly spiraled into financial oblivion. Russia, went into a defense mode, as Putin understood the same thing could happen in Moscow and Saint Peters Square. England had been feeling the trimmers for quite some time, but turned a deaf ear in the name of tolerance and multiculturalism. When the world fell apart, the British were unable to help us for fear of retaliation.
Having lost their strongest ally left the Israelis alone and isolated. As radical Islam began closing in they took preemptive measures and launched their Nukes. Once Baghdad, Tehran and Cairo were obliterated, they took a ground assault into Palestine and in Syria.
Here at home, things we once took for granted, have become costly commodities. All entitlements have been absolved, because the government for all tents and purposes no longer exist. Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare are no longer available. This alone resulted in the death of millions. Those on critical life supporting systems, such as dialysis and other expensive medical regiments began dying off soon after the collapse.
People took to the streets in open rebellion when supplemental programs were suspended. The National Guard was called in, but as our government collapsed the troops returned home in defense of their own lives, homes and personal property.
Long ago and far away, the prophet Jerimiah looked over the destruction of Jerusalem and wept, “How empty sits the city that was once filled with people.” I have never been one who believed in the pagan principal of history repeating itself, but his words ring true for the destruction which has come upon what many once considered, the prize of the west.
When the dark side of human nature is left unchecked chaos will always encroach. For even in the Garden of Paradise the prince of darkness raised his ugly head and questioned the authority of God. Since that time the personification of evil has never been more than a whisper away.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
And the Angles Wept.
The rains came, the flood rose and people fled to the high places seeking refuge. As the waters continued to rise, those who suddenly believed cried out, "Where is God?" The agnostics responded, "He has forsaken us!."
When the tallest mountains were finally immersed, the storm ceased and the clouds rolled back. Darkness fled form light and the earth was cleansed.
Technology was no more, and that was okay, because it was not longer needed. There were no birds and when the water receded, there was no one, nor anything left, to roam the earth. Only the fish remained.
And the Angels wept.
- Cameron Dockery
When the tallest mountains were finally immersed, the storm ceased and the clouds rolled back. Darkness fled form light and the earth was cleansed.
Technology was no more, and that was okay, because it was not longer needed. There were no birds and when the water receded, there was no one, nor anything left, to roam the earth. Only the fish remained.
And the Angels wept.
- Cameron Dockery
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
The Shoreline
When at night I walk the shoreline alone
and feel the wet sand yield, to the strength
of an out going tide, I'm reminded of the
familiar places I've never been.
Like the undertow of a child's imagination
whispering truths long forgotten, and calling
me away, from the chaos of a world gone mad.
- Cameron Dockery
I remember walking the North Carolina beaches as kid and feeling the wet sand giving away under my feet. It was tiring. AS the calf muscles in my legs grew tense, I would step up into the dry sand, where walking would be much easer.
However, before long I would find myself drawn back to the wet sand and feeling the water receding with every step. It was as if something was pulling me away.
This morning that memory from long ago represents the undertow of a world I once knew. A time when belief came easy and imagination was unlimited.
I want to go there again, if only for a while, to hopefully, recapture the wonder.
and feel the wet sand yield, to the strength
of an out going tide, I'm reminded of the
familiar places I've never been.
Like the undertow of a child's imagination
whispering truths long forgotten, and calling
me away, from the chaos of a world gone mad.
- Cameron Dockery
I remember walking the North Carolina beaches as kid and feeling the wet sand giving away under my feet. It was tiring. AS the calf muscles in my legs grew tense, I would step up into the dry sand, where walking would be much easer.
However, before long I would find myself drawn back to the wet sand and feeling the water receding with every step. It was as if something was pulling me away.
This morning that memory from long ago represents the undertow of a world I once knew. A time when belief came easy and imagination was unlimited.
I want to go there again, if only for a while, to hopefully, recapture the wonder.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Story:The Medium Morphs
I picked up
a copy of The Grimm’s Fairy Tales while in Barns and Noble Sunday afternoon, and
before leaving the bookstore read the first story, over a cup of coffee. It is called The Frog Prince, and was included
in the first collection over two hundred years ago.
To those of you who know me, it comes as no surprise, because you’re already aware that I’ve been fascinated with story for quite some time. In fact, I believe everyone has a story, and before you can truly know a person, it’s imperative that you know his, or her, story. The chapters of our lives play heavily into the people we’ve become.
Don’t be alarmed. I’m not making a case for developmental psychology, or behavioral therapy. This post is about story, plain and simple.
However, with that being said, it does seem as if story is written into the DNA of human personality. Almost like it’s hardwired into the Gnome and stamped on our collective imagination. Story has always been with us.
Primitive civilizations used story to preserve culture while teaching future generations. As long as man has been on the earth, story has had something to offer. The medium morphs, but the meat of what story is about holds a steady resolve.
There was a time when stories were the main event shared around the village campfire. Homer’s Epic’s, The Iliad and The Odyssey were oral traditions dating back 670 years before the birth of Christ. If you’re looking for older documents you have to go back another 1400 years to The Epic ofGilgamesh, which was written on 12 clay tablets about 4000 years ago.
Since that time the medium of story and the way it has been presented and preserved has continually changed. It’s ridden the waves of Papyrus in Egypt, and Parchment from Pergamum. From Chinese Block printing to Gutenberg’s press story continued to captivate the hearts and minds of every generation.
And now were living in a digital age where many people no longer purchase printed books. Their medium of choice are e-readers, such as Kindle and Nook.
It is reported that Amazon sells a million and a half e books a day.
Those in the know say the publishing world is in the midst of a revolution, much like the music world experienced over a decade ago. Self-Publishing was once considered a thing of vanity, but now has become a platform from which many are finding a pathway to success.
I was born in 1962 and grew up as a Baby Boomer watching stories through the medium of television and big screen movies. My father was born in 1941 and grew up listening to The Lone Ranger on the radio. Once again -- The medium was different, but the meat was the same. The common denominator being-- story.
Story has been around for a very long time and it will outlive everyone reading this blog post. Times may change, but people will always be hungry for another adventure, comedy, poem, or romantic interlude.
As long as there are readers, the world will need writers, and if before I make it, they lay me to rest, please grant this wannabe, one final request. Carve on my stone, “He Died Trying.”
To those of you who know me, it comes as no surprise, because you’re already aware that I’ve been fascinated with story for quite some time. In fact, I believe everyone has a story, and before you can truly know a person, it’s imperative that you know his, or her, story. The chapters of our lives play heavily into the people we’ve become.
Don’t be alarmed. I’m not making a case for developmental psychology, or behavioral therapy. This post is about story, plain and simple.
However, with that being said, it does seem as if story is written into the DNA of human personality. Almost like it’s hardwired into the Gnome and stamped on our collective imagination. Story has always been with us.
Primitive civilizations used story to preserve culture while teaching future generations. As long as man has been on the earth, story has had something to offer. The medium morphs, but the meat of what story is about holds a steady resolve.
There was a time when stories were the main event shared around the village campfire. Homer’s Epic’s, The Iliad and The Odyssey were oral traditions dating back 670 years before the birth of Christ. If you’re looking for older documents you have to go back another 1400 years to The Epic ofGilgamesh, which was written on 12 clay tablets about 4000 years ago.
Since that time the medium of story and the way it has been presented and preserved has continually changed. It’s ridden the waves of Papyrus in Egypt, and Parchment from Pergamum. From Chinese Block printing to Gutenberg’s press story continued to captivate the hearts and minds of every generation.
And now were living in a digital age where many people no longer purchase printed books. Their medium of choice are e-readers, such as Kindle and Nook.
It is reported that Amazon sells a million and a half e books a day.
Those in the know say the publishing world is in the midst of a revolution, much like the music world experienced over a decade ago. Self-Publishing was once considered a thing of vanity, but now has become a platform from which many are finding a pathway to success.
I was born in 1962 and grew up as a Baby Boomer watching stories through the medium of television and big screen movies. My father was born in 1941 and grew up listening to The Lone Ranger on the radio. Once again -- The medium was different, but the meat was the same. The common denominator being-- story.
Story has been around for a very long time and it will outlive everyone reading this blog post. Times may change, but people will always be hungry for another adventure, comedy, poem, or romantic interlude.
As long as there are readers, the world will need writers, and if before I make it, they lay me to rest, please grant this wannabe, one final request. Carve on my stone, “He Died Trying.”
Stay tuned for part two. Until then, read something.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)