MY MUSE IS FICKLE
After an all out manhunt – make that a woman, girl, or female hunt, I waved the metaphorical white flag. Then I put out a mental A.P.B., (All Points Bulletin), desperately trying to find her, but she was gone… again. It doesn’t matter how well I treat her or if I follow her every whim… my muse is fickle.
It’s been another long drought. I can’t remember the last time I worked on my latest manuscript. Usually if I can’t get to writing it’s due to the lack of time. This time was different. This time was lack of desire.
image courtesy of santefetonia.com
I’ve said it often; perseverance is queen, but desire is king. Each one is a key ingredient to achieve a favorable recipe for desired results. But sometimes it doesn’t matter how good the recipe is. Without the blasted ingredients there will be zero in the way of results.
Old Mother Hubbard might be the best cook in the county, but we’ll never know since she’s got an empty kitchen.
It’s possible that the greatest writing, outside of the Good Book, hasn’t made it in front of the eyes of the masses. I’m pretty sure it’s the same with music – and the ears of those same noggins.
Creating is one thing, folks appreciating it is a whole other story, but it starts with the innate need to create. And I think there are a whole lot more people out there wired like that than most of us realize.
If that’s true, then I know a lot of other hearts can relate to mine… and yours.
In the season of the creative drought, my muse is gone like the dinosaurs… but the music recorded in my mind is alive and well and bridging the gap.
The ancient song from childhood by Donovan titled “Season of the Witch” plays – even though I know the witch didn’t really kidnap my make believe muse. Then a line from the old Aerosmith tune, “Walk This Way”, takes the stage in my struggling mind and gets stuck like an old scratched album. It sticks conveniently where Steven Tyler sings, “My get up and go must’a got up and went, duh-duh-duh-dunt-duh-duh-duh-dunt-dunt-dunt.” I guess it’s a lucky break to have Joe Perry’s guitar lick not cut off…
We bide our time and struggle anyway we can to make it back into the light of creativity.
Creativity is a small part of being made in God’s image. The desire to create was knitted into us while we were still in our mother’s womb.
We find gratification in many ways in this flesh. One of them is creating, and it doesn’t matter if our creation finds its way into the senses of the masses or not. I think it was designed for His glory first then our gratification.
Being able to live in the season of producing is a gift all unto itself. I gotta learn to take advantage of it when I can, ’cause my muse is fickle.
Sunday, June 10, 2018 @ 8:57 pm
I couldn’t have said it better myself. This season sucks! But we will persevere!
Monday, June 11, 2018 @ 2:44 am
I have no reason not to agree with you Floyd. Even though I am not working on a manuscript of any kind, I find this true in writing blogs and (choke!) writing sermons. When the muse is not there no amount of conjuring will bring it back. I just pray it doesn’t stay too long. That sermon, unlike a manuscript, has to be ready to go in a few short weeks.
Monday, June 11, 2018 @ 9:44 am
Glad to see that your muse was working here, Floyd. 🙂 A lot to think about here: “I’ve said it often; perseverance is queen, but desire is king.”
Monday, June 11, 2018 @ 12:03 pm
Floyd! Love how the goal is not to have it seen or heard by the masses. Really sometimes maybe it’s just suppose to be between only a few or maybe just you and God.
Love, Lisa
Monday, June 11, 2018 @ 5:31 pm
Hey, Floyd, you’ve realized it, I’m certain, but your muse is back! And you are so right about our creativity mirroring the God in whose image we were created. We are intended to create, whether it be in writing, music, art, and even business ventures. We simply need to trust in the gifts God has given us, and wait during those dry spells without losing heart or direction. I’ve experienced dry wells, my friend, but I’ve found that when I stop trying, and just go about the tasks of the day, God will suddenly give me insight, and I’m off and running again.
Sorry this is so long, but I really, really enjoy your writing, and don’t want you to give up or give in – ever!!!
Blessings!
Monday, June 11, 2018 @ 5:40 pm
Hi, Floyd! If you get two comments from me here, look for the first and not this one per se. I don’t think it took, but can’t figure out why.
Basically, what I said is that I hear you about that elusive muse, but God will always return to us with inspiration when we trust in Him. He created us in His image, thus our longing to create, whether it reaches others or simply reaches His heart. Never give up, muse or not!
Blessings!
Monday, June 11, 2018 @ 7:32 pm
Perhaps your muse has moved to music instead. Wether it be music or blogs, poems, or manuscripts, your still writing and expressing yourself. She jus switched gears without you realizing it.
Tuesday, June 12, 2018 @ 2:07 am
Your writing never fails to both entertain and enlighten, Floyd. I loved “[creating] was designed for His glory first . . .” When I keep that in mind, it kind of relieves the need to please people, either with content or frequency, which in turn frees up ‘the writing muse” for me.
Tuesday, June 12, 2018 @ 8:48 am
I can surely relate to you, brother. God has given you an amazing gift, and I am so thankful you are faithful to share it with us here. Praying for you.
Tuesday, June 12, 2018 @ 9:50 pm
Always enjoy reading what you write, Floyd. You do it so well and w/ insight! I’ve not felt much motivation to do anything of late. But I’ve found a slightly different take on this: I think if we just sit in the chair and show up at the screen, whether our Muse bothers to or not, and pray and ask God to create through us, putting fingers to keyboard, I’m often amazed at what happens. Just anything happening, frankly, at that point is a miracle, since I don’t want to show up and would rather say the Muse has gone missing (thus giving me a reason not to be here). But more often that not, what emerges, surprises me. The inspiration comes *as* I write and hardly ever really before. It’s the act of showing up that God honors, because it’s His chance to prove to us that He can do it through us. But if we don’t show up, we don’t afford Him that opportunity. Often what I end up writing is not necessarily what I planned to, or what I felt inspired to. And it’s often the writing that I like the most. And somehow, when we give Him the loaves and fishes of our words and time, *He* multiplies them. He’s pretty great competition for that Muse anyway. So you needn’t worry about looking for her if she seems to have disappeared and gone packing. Just let her go. 🙂
Love you, and onward, fingers to keyboard, nose to grindstone, spirit to Spirit!’
Lynn
PS I literally have a mini picnic basket on top of my computer desk. If you look way down inside you can see a couple meager fish and bread slices.
Tuesday, June 12, 2018 @ 9:51 pm
PS Love the painting!
Wednesday, June 13, 2018 @ 9:48 am
I like the line about creativity being knitted in us while in our mother’s womb. I’m pausing on that one and making it a time of prayer today. I hope you are not so busy that you can’t pick up your pen again and write. I love to read your words–they’re right from the heart.