Author Speak, Pray Like a Woman
We went in to dinner. Moving from one room to the next … I inhaled in passing that incence of an old library which is worth all the perfumes of the world. —Sign in Martha’s Vineyard bookstore Authors Speak This Succeed and Soar series invites writers to answer questions about their artforms and special inspirations. Welcome Polly Alice McCann Photo [c] 2014, Sandra Gould Ford Visit Sandra’s Fine Art America Collections Polly, what phrase inspires your writing and life? In prayer, as in poetry we turn to words, not to use them as signs for things, but to see the things in the light of the words. . . . In poetry, in prayer, the words speak. . . . In our own civilization, in which so much is being done for the cause of the liquidation of language, the realm of prayer is like an arsenal for the spirit, where words are kept clean, holy, full of power to inspire and to keep us spiritually alive. Out of that arsenal we get the strength to save our faith, our appreciation of things eternal, from vanishing away. ~ Rabbi Abraham Heschel How have Herschel’s words helped your writing, your life? When I found Man’s Quest for God in my college library, I realized it was okay to be a poet and an artist. I understood creative work could be both useful and spiritual. Creative work, especially with words, could be building blocks for so many good things. I began by writing poetry, then books. Each creative work opening doors until I could face my own story and share my own testimony with words How these words inspired Pray Like a Woman. When Polly Alice McCann found her hope, faith, and creativity near death’s door, she was blown away by the Biblical story of Tabitha, an artist who made beautiful clothing for the “marginalized .” McCann is the granddaughter of a Midwest Minister and several generations of Heartland prayer warriors, In this book, Polly, shares simple, time-tested methods of prayer and a few new ones. She turns myths about prayer on their heads, proving that prayer isn’t selfish or magical, but can be a journey sometimes like “lightening,” sometimes like walking in “new shoes.” Devoid of “Christianese” or hard-to-get religious concepts, Polly shares twelve types of prayer with fresh and easy-to-remember imagery like “basket prayer” “patchwork prayer” and “flag prayer.” Sample Text Dear Father of all children of every kind, You’re the one who causes everything to grow. Save me from sorrow. I’m in a hard place where nothing is as easy as I expected. People look down on me and I don’t have any kindness left, not even for myself. Some people doubt me and my good intentions; they don’t care for who I am, or the choices I’ve made with my family. They don’t understand my calling or the place you’ve brought me from. They don’t see the good future I know you promised to me and to my family. Help me remember your word. Remind me what is true. GoodReads Reviews Purchase Pray Like a Woman About Polly Alice McCann Polly Alice, McCann is a Kansas City artist, book designer, and poet with her MFA in Writing for children and young adults from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. Her art has been published in US newspapers and magazines, most recently Rattle Magazine, and has shown internationally from Santa Monica to the Netherlands. Sally’s art has been collected on four continents. McCann has edited three international poetry anthologies and over twenty-five other titles. A professor of poetry and art, she is the managing editor of Flying Ketchup Press. There, Polly “curates” galleries of talent. She says her favorite thing is to tell stories, maybe yours. Learn more at www.pollymccann.com Stories of wonder, fear, doubt, redemption. Summer, 2020, McCann”s Flying Ketchup Press included my short story, “Wishes” in Tales from the Dream Zone. The charming, must-read story is about a woman who finds a coin that gives her anything she wishes for. The story starts, On October 31, 1958, moonbeams lit the stardust that sprinkled Crescent Avenue’s sycamore and hawthorn trees. On that clear, bright evening, candles dimmed inside jack-o-lanterns as Estelle Ringgold Pearson said, “We shouldn’t see any more spooky movies.” Parnell held her hand as they strolled from the Roland Theater. He chuckled. “Did The Queen of Outer Space really scare you?” “When that mask came off, her face was horrifying.” Purchase Tales from the Dream Zone. Thanks for shopping, Sandra
Farewells & Circles
The world offer lots of ways to part ways, like, Adios in Spanish, Auf Widersehen in German, Bless in Icelandic and Sayonara in Japanese. In some languages, ‘Good bye’’ is also a welcome or greeting, like: In French: Salut In Hawaiian: Aloha In Hebrew: Shalom In Hindi: Nameste In Thai: Sawasdee While studying ‘farewells,’ I learned that saying, ‘Ciao’ should be avoided. The Venetian source means, ‘I am your slave.’ Ah well. And did you know ‘fizzle’ originally meant:. To break wind without noise? Meanings change. And life can circle. As Ivy Baker Priest wrote, “The world is round and the place which may seem like the end, may also be the beginning.” Speaking of going round, hope you enjoy these refreshing, invigorating 11 seconds of our group called the Polar Bears. [I’m bouncing and splashing farthest to the right.] Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. Succeed & Soar Art The inspiring and beautiful work in these Fine Art America collections is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here Thanks!
Life’s Great Wheel
This too shall pass. — Eleanor Roosevelt Earth spins at a thousand miles an hour. Our sun hauls its planets through space at 448,000 mph (720,000 km/h), taking 225 million years to circle its galaxy. Goodness knows what the Milky Way orbits and how long that takes. In time, the Atlantic will wear away the rocks in this post’s Featured Art. The setting sun will shine again. While Eleanor Roosevelt is credited with saying, “This too shall pass,” the phrase is three thousand years older. Legend says those words were offered to a Persian monarch who wanted wisdom that would be true in all situations. Abraham Lincoln told this story about joy and sadness, failure and achievement in 1859. So, how can life’s ups and downs be survived … more easily? Zig Ziglar suggested evenly distributing time given to jobs, spiritual and intellectual growth, friendships, family, financial planning and physical care using his Wheel of Life. Think of the circle below as a personal Wheel of Fortune rolling along life’s highways and byways. By staying centered, in the white hub, progress is possible without the ups and downs experienced on the rim. Eleanor’s Insights Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ These rocks featured in this post were photographed at Martha’s Vineyard. Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here
Peace
We will have to want peace, want it enough to pay for it, before it becomes an accepted rule. Eleanor Roosevelt Eleanor Roosevelt’s words really resonate on this anniversary of the World Trade Center attack, one of so many in human history. Think of Pearl Harbor. Think of Germany’s Gypsy, Homosexual, Jewish Holocaust. Think of the decimation of this hemisphere’s first people. A 100,000 year war waged by our species now leaves us without another. See How Neanderthals and Humans Battled. Also see The Neanderthals War. While wars between humans have been brief by comparison, the longest include: The 781-year-long Christian invasion of the Iberian Peninsula The 681-year-long Greco-Roman vs. Persian [Iran] battles The 675-year-long Byzantine-Bulgarian wars in the Balkans The 602 years, five months, one week and four days of the Christian Crusades Here’s More Whew! Mrs. Roosevelt believed, ”The basis of world peace is the teaching which runs through almost all the great religions of the world. Love thy neighbor as thyself.” And some have also, historically advocated the conquest and killing of those viewed as different. Eleanor Roosevelt asked, “When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?” Personal peace is a start. What if more and more: Resisted guilt. Didn’t compare themselves to others. Challenged their ‘musts’ and converted ‘shoulds’ to ‘coulds.’ Took breaks from the hustle-bustle and visited tranquil places. See More Ways to Find Peace of Mind and Inner Calm. Predator-Prey is Earth’s MO [Modus Operandi, Method of Operating]. All animals and some plants kill other living things to live. That said, here’s a thought [illustrated in part by playing the original Super Mario]: What if Earth’s kill-or-be-killed conditions are a kind of test, a puzzle? What if a blissful after life is the reward for figuring out how to create on Earth all that’s promised in heaven, Eden, Paradise? What if Earth is, as some suggest, Purgatory where failure-flunking requires a re-do? Here’s another question: What price would you pay for more peace? Succeed and Soar! Remember September 11 is also “Make Your Bed Day” September 12 is Grandparents Day September 15 is International Day of Democracy September 17 is National Constitution Day Image by pikepicture Eleanor’s Insights Collection Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here