Not all writing is equal

I recently headed back to college on my way to a master's degree and a nurse practitioner's license. The next couple of years will consist mostly of nursing theory. Fascinating to learn, extremely boring to write about.

Creative writing is a pleasure and a delightful journey, even when it's grueling. Designing a finely tuned phrase, building a new world and questing towards a great ending with your characters make me happy.

Technical writing is the very opposite, at least with one of the classes I had this semester. Read a few research papers and write up my own, not too hard. Excitement abounded, at first, I have read many research papers and technical books that are not boring. Many of them take creative ways of writing and apply them as far as they can to their technical writing. Upon reading through the directions for the papers in this class I found that not only was I to write concisely, but creative phrases were frowned upon. This is not a work of fiction, but non-fiction and styles of fiction would not be tolerated.

Writing became a chore. Just another task to check off my list before fun times could commence. No wonder no one wants to voluntarily read technical material. Yes it needs to be informative in a short period of time, but it can be creative and interesting. Now that spring break is approaching I'm looking forward to more time for creative writing, and being able to use contractions again. On the other side of spring break looms another technical theory course: "Nursing Research."

I would sigh, but I've fooled them. I did use creative techniques in my technical writing. Just a little sprinkled here and there. Wonder if they'll notice?

My Heavenly Bucket List

My heavenly bucket list, those things I want to do when I leave this world to spend eternity with God, my Abba Father. Not a very long list (yet), but I think I’ve covered about a million years. Some items on the list are down right silly and ostentatious, while others are of a more serious nature. While talking with others about this list I’ve been met with both amusement and horror. Inevitably the comment is made, “God doesn’t need you to tell him what you want to do or what you’d like him to do.” Almost as if I was stepping out of line asking God for seemingly frivolous things. Come on, this is Heaven, “won’t it just be one long worship service of songs and sermons?”

I believe God does want us to request things from him, from the frivolous to the humungous. I’m not sure of who told me, but this image has always stuck with me: God waiting expectantly in front of a huge warehouse of magnificent gifts for each of his children. All they have to do is to ask for something so he can bestow gifts upon those he loves. God also commands us to talk to him; we call it prayer here on planet Earth. Besides, what would be the point to creating human beings to interact with if we didn’t communicate back? God wants, craves our attention, and not just about the horrible, big things.

You can agree that when things are horrible or spectacularly good God wants to know about them. Do you believe he also wants to hear the little things, the silly and frivolous things (sometimes they turn out not so small and silly.)? How wonderful it will be to spend eternity with God. I can’t wait to explore everything, met everyone (including all the angels!) and spend my time doing whatever God asks of me.

What’s on My Heavenly Bucket List?

1. Forget flying, I want to instantaneously transport myself everywhere. (I never got the idea of the journey being the fun part.)

2. I want my house to change daily based on my needs of the day. If I’m having a ton of people over – give me a huge ballroom, if I’m entertaining a few people – a cozy tea room, if I’m reading or writing – a quiet library, and if I’m having a backyard BBQ – the biggest backyard ever!

3. I also want to change location often (how else will I meet everyone if I stay in one place!).

4. I’d like to be able to breath underwater and withstand great pressure so I can dive with the wales.

5. I want to sing in the heavenly choir.

6. I want to learn to do and know everything possible (this might take a few million years!).

7. I want to talk with John and understand his special relationship with Jesus.

8. I want to have a time each day to sit and talk with Jesus and God.

9. I’d like to be able to SEE the Holy Spirit.

And the list goes on and on…Forever is a lot of time to fill up.

I don’t know if God will ever fulfill any of these requests. He might ignore each and everyone. That’s ok. He knows me better than I know myself and whatever he chooses will be breathtaking and extravagant! But, some how I think he will.

What’s on your Heavenly Bucket List?