This is Only a Test

I work at a university, and we’ve just had a test of our emergency alert system. Perhaps this should be a post about gun violence, mass killings, terror . . . but it’s not. It’s just me, writing a post about writing a post.

This is only a test. (Or perhaps the ravings of a mad writer. You decide.)

I know, I started this blog with the promise of regularly appearing words. I won’t make more promises, but I can tell you that I’ve been testing the waters of wordsmithery once again. I’ve just submitted my first actual piece in many months to my editor over at Revive Our Hearts.

Writing again was strange. Not writing has been stranger. The piece I just submitted was one I put off writing for at least a month. I felt paralyzed, you know? It was a story I had to tell, but not one I ever would have chosen. Who wants to write about a terminally ill child for Christmas?

Who???

Thankfully, the piece (I hope) is less about a terminally ill child and more about the only Truth that will get her friends and family through these days of darkness. One way or another, the post will appear in this space in due time, but for now, with no pomp and circumstance, you’re stuck with this lackluster post about writing a post.

This is only a test.

I’ll leave you with a limerick, because, why not?

In Silence Cell I’d lost my pen,

Now alas! I’ve found Home Keys again.

Writing’s joy is brought back,

Though cheery mirth hard Truth lacks,

Words in hand, Christ is King. Amen.

 

Grace and peace, friends.

-LJE

 

 

 

 

Your Weekly Newsrick is Back! (Bi-weekly. Fine.)

Whew! It’s been a busy couple of weeks! I’ve had more work to do at my “day job” so time to think about posting has been scarce. It’s been another tough news-week, but without further ado, here is my attempt at the week’s news in lilting limerick form:

 

As Harvey’s dark water subsides,

Common Grace–human kindness abides.

But still turmoil’s about,

Will Trump throw DACA out?

While in Asia, pompous Kim assails Japan’s skies.

Grace and Peace, friends . . . -LJE

Friday Feature! Your Weekly Newsrick

So, if you know me well, you know I have a fascination (obsession? fixation?) with politics, news, and current events. I know I love these things more than most of you, as I’ve noticed your blank stares when I launch into a tirade about the week’s top stories. You look at me as though I’ve just announced that my four-year-old has launched a bid to be the next President (seriously, though, could that be a thing? Rust or Bust 2020!), and I realize that you don’t have the tolerance to sift through dozens of news features a day like I do. For some of you, just the lingo of news is a hurdle that will not be overcome on this side of Glory.

Solution: I have a friend who loves limericks (Hey, Posey . . . ). She also happens to be the English teacher at my kids’ school. Last year, she inspired a limerick frenzy in my house which resulted in limerick challenges of all sorts. A couple of months ago, I had this thought: Could a limerick maybe, possibly, make the news more palatable, even fun, for those of you who have a low tolerance for actual “news” on your news feed?

That sealed the deal, so here it is, a Friday feature here on shimmersome.com: the week’s top news headlines in limerick form. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious, sometimes poignant, sometimes goofy–we report, you decide. (I feel like I stole that from somewhere. Oops.)

Of course, this is a particularly difficult week in which to begin. Last night, I caught a bit of SNL’s summer “Weekend Update” special and watched the nation’s top comedians struggle through birthing humor from news conceived in evil. I won’t get in to all of that now, because if you want good perspective on the events in Charlottesville you can find it here, here, here, here, here, here, or here.

Just perusing those articles again makes me want to spew out a couple thousand words, but for the sake of restraint (i.e. writing, not blurting, as Marvin Olasky noted via Twitter this week), here it is–your newsrick for this week:

Now Liberty bows low her head,

As “Supremacy’s” wheels leave one dead.

Just a statue, they say,

We’re protecting our “Way”!

Church, arise! For this Sickness Christ bled.

Grace and peace, friends. – LJE