Friday, March 21, 2014

Sermons in Stones: Theme Reveal for A to Z April Challenge 2014


A to Challenge Theme reveal blogfest
Image by Samantha Redstreake Geary

A Zen proverb says, “When the student is ready, the Master will come.”

So true, and yet ever so often, it is equally true that the masters sit around twiddling their thumbs waiting to catch our attention, while we, the students, dawdle. These masters don’t always wear halos around their heads, and they don’t always sermonise.

What’s more, a good many of them aren’t even wise. They have erred. Badly.

They have fallen flat on their faces and got goo all over it.

It is precisely that inexperience, that failure, that can teach us important lessons in the bargain.

If only we would learn from other people’s stories!

If only we paid attention to the things other people say.

Or didn’t.

It might expand our world view, don't you think?

What was that Shakespeare said about finding tongues in trees, books in running brooks, and sermons in stones?

                                  

                                        *   *   *

I took part in last year’s A to Z April Challenge with lessons for my two children, known on my blog as La 
Niña and El Niño. The challenge was a very special one for me. It brought me face to face with a whole host of bloggers. It was also my first experience of daily blogging, at least for 26 out of 30 days, which was a huge jump over my previous once-a-month posting habits.

Time to jump into the fray again. And see what this year’s challenge teaches me.

                                      *   *   *

All through April, I shall attempt to bring to you, 
arranged in order of the English alphabet, certain voices and perspectives:

a) That we know of but still bear repetition

b) That we take for granted and scarcely think about

c) That we’ve never thought about

Some of the voices I will present in these pages over the next month are those of humans. But there are many that are non-living, and quite a few that are completely intangible, and yet, in some strange, inexplicable way, totally real.

Hope you’ll join me as I journey from A through Z all through April.


While you wait for April 1st to dawn, you could pass the time in reading the posts I wrote as part of A to Z April Challenge 2013. You'll find them in the top navigation bar. For best results, I'd recommend starting from A is for Awe.

As Julie Andrews said, Let's start at the very beginning. It's a very good place to start.




I just hope this pans out as good as it sounds right now inside my head.






39 comments:

  1. Loved every word. And laughed at "often the masters sit around twiddling their thumbs!" Hilarious :D Will be following your blog :)

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  2. It certainly will. I for one am waiting with bated breath :)

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  3. Sounds really interesting, Cynthia! Looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us!

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  4. interesting ....looking forward to read ur posts :)

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  5. Looking forward to it Cynthia :)

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  6. Thank you, Gauri (MindBrewBlog), And I shall be following yours.

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  7. You are always sweet and gracious and encouraging. Thank you, Shail. I had better come up with decent stuff then.

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  8. Roshni, Am waiting to see myself how it is going to pan out. Other than the theme, nothing much is clear yet.

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  9. Hi, Sfurti (JuztaMom), love the name of your blog, by the way/

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  10. A most intriguing theme - I look forward to seeing what you have come up with, especially the 'completely intangible' ones.
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings

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  11. I look forward to reading your posts. With a new grandchild on the way, I have suggested to my children that they read your posts from last year. They were wonderful.

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  12. Hi. Your theme sounds interesting. Will be dropping by in April to see what you have for us. :)

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  13. Really Looking forward to this one :)

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  14. I am sure it will be as good- if not better- that it is in your head! Yay!!

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  15. Voices - I like it! We have so much to learn from others and the world around us, if only we'd still our hearts long enough to listen.

    MJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
    Writing Tips
    Effectively Human
    Lots of Crochet Stitches


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  16. Thank you for saying that, Natasha, I just hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew, particularly with the non-tangible ones.

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  17. Wow! Denise, I shall pray that your little grandchild arrives safe and well and brings you and your family much joy. I am honoured to know that you would ask your kids to read my posts.

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  18. Hi, SD Neeve, I look forward to seeing you around and catching up with you on your blog too.

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  19. Thanks, Kate, Good luck with the challenge. Let's pray we make it.

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  20. Thank you, Jaibala, so sweet of you to say so. Am looking forward to your theme too.

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  21. With encouragement like this, Dagny, I am better prepared to kick the critics in my head goodbye. Thank you so much for boosting my spirits. Am waiting to step out with you too.

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  22. Thanks, MJ Joachim, That's the tough part. In writing these posts, I am learning just how much the simplest object around us could teach us, if only we made up our minds to learn from it.

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  23. I look forward to reading your posts.. Stopping by after long, Happy Blogging

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  24. Look forward to your voices. Loved your last AtoZ. All the best.

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  25. I am curious now. This looks challenging. But, I am sure it will be interesting. :)

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  26. I loved your take on A to Z last year...so looking forward to this one. Arre, trailer itna accha hoga toh...picture toh super hit hai. :)

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  27. This is my first A-Z challenge and I am already floored. Love your theme and would be lookng to see what all you have in store for us.. Happy April Blogging.. and many more to come :D

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  28. Hi, Nischala, Good to see you. I hope we all ace this challenge.

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  29. Thanks, Suzy, I'm looking forward to your life series too.

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  30. HI, Pooja, I hope my readers find it interesting.

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  31. Thanks, Janu, Arre, trailer kaisa bhi ho, Wednesday aane par, har koi darta hai, bade se bada superstar bhi. Looking forward to catching up with you all through the challenge.

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  32. Hi, Rubina, welcome to my blog. I hope we all enjoy this experience of daily blogging.

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  33. I look forward to your voices as we all sometimes get lost and take things for granted that we forget. Great reminder. :)

    Jamie Dement (LadyJai)
    My A to Z Challenge
    Caring for My Veteran

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  34. A for Awesome!
    I will surely come by again for those pearls of wisdom

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  35. oh now this just sounds marvie! You sound as though you have some great words of wisdom to spill, and I shall eagerly lap them up.

    I'm participating in AtoZ, as well. My topic is writing in general + my current work-in-progress in particular.

    See you around!
    ~Andi-Roo @TheWorld4Realz

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  36. You have an interesting theme!

    My theme, ‘26 Positive Takes on Life’ will generally focus on positive, truly heart-warming, real-life incidents involving ordinary persons whom we can all emulate.

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  37. Zen, Shakespeare...You've got me hooked. I'll be back! Gail at Making Life An Art

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