Book Review: Blinded: The Story of Paul the Apostle

Having started out a zillion years ago as an aspiring illustrator (crow quill pen & ink!) you'd think I'd have paid more attention to the "graphic novels" trend. Up until now I haven't.

Artiste sour grapes? Writer why-can't-they-read-narrative-text hissy fit? Who knows? In any event, I've seen the light with a book titled, Blinded: The Story of Paul the Apostle.

Last night, my book signing seat was next to Steve Ross', author-illustrator of Blinded. What initially drew me to his table was a pile of sketches, work-in-progress work. One thing led to another and I ended up devouring Steve's book right then and there.

This was very Holy Spirit timing. In Blinded, Steve's compelling graphics and taut text make familiar stories come newly alive. I woke up this morning kicking myself (ouch) for not buying a pile of his books and getting them signed by him. I did, however, leave with a signed original pencil sketch that has already proven inspiring on a number of levels.

The book? A great gift, especially during this Vatican-proclaimed Year of St. Paul.

An Author's Life: The Slump (VI)

Maybe switching to Diet Coke and pretzels wasn't such a great idea. I could be making this up but writing was easier when Diet Cream soda, Cheez Doodles, and salami were involved. Now, not so much.

The work of moving heaps of words into sentences, maneuvering sentences into paragraphs, and piling paragraphs into text is exhausting. According to the blueprints, the structure should hold, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to ram a bulldozer into the whole thing.

This slump is predictable but that doesn't make it any easier. Nor does writing about the Jewish roots of Christianity at this point in time. Just my luck it's the Vatican-declared Year of St. Paul. Everyone around me is woo hoo St. Paul. I'm having a meltdown while reading Galatians and spending money in therapy talking about it to my Jewish Conservadox therapist.

To make matters worse, I discovered earlier this evening that the tiny white pellets on my couch were not pretzel salt but the innards of my lap desk cushion. I think I need to get back to the Doodles tomorrow.

Blog Action Day: Poverty 2008

These verses from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians have been on my mind and heart since hearing them during last Sunday's Mass, especially given what's been going on in the global economy:

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:12-13, NIV)

I'm not claiming that prayer will solve poverty or that anyone unfortunate enough to be hungry and homeless has time or energy for lectio divina. And maybe this is not what organizers of Blog Action Day had in mind for posts. Still, I have to say these words have served to sustain me through bleak financial times over the years, helping me to walk by faith and not by fright.

The Summer of Saintpaul Continued

Absolved

Condemned

The Summer of Saintpaul

"WASHINGTON--The Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is collaborating with public health officials in many states, the Indian Health Service, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate an on-going multi-state outbreak of human Salmonella serotype Saintpaul infections..."

Coincidence or correlation? Whatever. Deeply believing the tomato will be vindicated, I have been drinking buckets of gazpacho. Note: Moosewood Cookbook, p. 31.