Is everybody ready for Five Minute Friday?

It’s where our group of writers [okay most of them, often we have Saturday and Sunday stragglers, myself included] gather  to write unscripted for five minutes on a specific word prompt. Our prompt is diligently supplied by Kate Motaung. After we post, we link up on the community site at fiveminutefriday.com to share our pearls of wisdom or our pig’s ears and to just mix and mingle.

I’ve been sharing snippets taken from Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat compiled by Susan Shipe. They are a testament to the value of the exercise. This week, I’ll share some perspective from Rebekah. I hope she inspires you to check us out … and maybe join in?

“I discovered Five Minute Friday at a time when I was just discovering my voice. My friend Kelly sent me a link and I was immediately intrigued. Could I really put away my perfectionist tendencies long enough to write for five minutes and NOT edit it? I’m an editing machine! How can I not edit? It made me shiver just to  think about pressing “publish”. Turns out it was incredibly freeing and confidence building. I loved just getting the words out as they flowed, not having to worry about the final product. It was all about being in the moment. But even more than the freedom, I enjoyed the community! I connected with women [and a few men] all around the globe. Women who were like me. Women who were nothing like me — except — we all had a desire to write. And that connected us in a way that geography couldn’t. I treasure those connections, even if they were brief. They showed me I was far from being alone on this writing journey.”

Yes. It’s a great creative outlet. Not everything is perfect … but neither are we. It’s always eye-opening. You should check out the site and see for yourself … or better yet, try it yourself.

The prompt this week is YOUNG and the timer is set, so let’s GO…

When I was young, I played sunup to sundown, studied hard, and enjoyed myself. I learned there was a time for everything. Now that I am (considerably) older, I don’t play as in play time, but I keep myself busy — learning, marveling, and generally enjoying my more sedentary lifestyle.

When I was young, I had many friends, some of whom I still stay in touch with. Now that I am older, I have expanded my circle of friends, most of whom I stay in somewhat regular contact with. Some have been with me for a season, others for my lifetime.

When I was young, I had no real “ambitions” or career plans. Now that I am older, I discovered a career in publishing, one that has expanded my contacts and led to a fruitful fulfilling life.

When I was young, I discovered the value of family and family connections. Now that I am older, I have discovered the VALUE of family and family connections. I have had the time and opportunity to rekindle connections with cousins and friends. … STOP

… When I was young(er), I discovered love and life. I embraced a wanderlust spirit. As I got older, I learned how to appreciate love and life and remained committed to a wanderlust spirit.

When I was young, I learned about the fragility of life. As I got older, I felt that fragility up close and personal. It taught me how to appreciate the moment — not yesterday (although those are memories I cherish) and certainly not tomorrow. Right now. This day. This hour. This minute.

When I was young, I learned about God and His ever-present presence in my life. As I aged, I learned more about God and His mysteries, how He has been the rock that allowed me to step stone through life, how He was and is with me stride by stride.

When I was a child [younger], I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. — 1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV I would modify that slightly. As I got older, I never gave up my childish ways because Jesus said … “Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” — Luke 18:16 ESV

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. — Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. — Psalm 118:24 ESV

… let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. — Matthew 5:16 ESV

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere. — Frank Clark