Writing Therapy(TM)

Here is an example of Narrative writing. These words are in Writing Therapy(TM):

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Cor. 15:58)

Thus begins my first dialogue with Jesus Christ, our Lord and King. In the fall of 2001, I received a telephone call from the receptionist at our HMO, Group Health Cooperative, who said to me, "There are abnormal findings on your MRI and you have to be seen this afternoon or tomorrow." So, I called Dick and told him, and then called back the receptionist and made the appointment. And then I started to cry.

"O God, I have a brain tumor. There's something horribly wrong with me and I'm going to die!" (sob, sob). Lying on my side in bed, with my knees scrunched up on my chest, I then felt a hand at the base of my spine. The hand stayed there and a voice spoke to me, "This will be very hard for you, but you can do this." I felt the hand's comforting reassurance for about twenty minutes and then it left.

The base of the human spine is a very interesting place for this presence (the Lord) to touch me. Here is the base of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), which houses the nerves of the body in the spine. The ANS is the base part of the CNS or Central Nervous System that houses the main nerves of the body in the cranium. So, the ANS and CNS report all things to the individual. The Lord chose this place to hold me and for me to report His first verbal presence in my life.

The next day I received the M.S. diagnosis from my Neurologist, Dr. Wambaugh (now retired) who said that based on my MRI, I had lived with M.S. since 1991, and that his diagnosis of 1991 was confirmed by other M.D.'s. So, that was "...all she wrote."

The voice of the Lord didn't tell me what the problem was. It was just a voice of comfort offering me words of consolation, which I have always remembered. This presence has returned a few times reminding me what my purpose is (sometimes, due to the M.S., I forget what my purpose is, but then I remember). He knows that I will remember, for it is His will that I do.

And He knows that my heart is with Him and that I will never speak His words for fame and fortune, but simply to speak for myself and to help others. And if my words are misconstrued and I'm thought of as just plain nuts, then I need to work that out. And He knows that I will, for I abide with Him. He knows that I have something to say to you, which are His words, for I am one of His spokespersons. Writing Therapy(TM), which this passage is a part, is His will.

And He has not solved my problems or taken away my illnesses. This is not His will or my purpose. He has given me my purpose and He has given this to me because He knows that I will speak His words no matter what happens to me. And my stating what has happened to me (His presence in my life, His touching me, His Summons and our daily dialogue) is only thought of by others in ways that others can try to understand, which is not His way, but humanity's way trying to understand what is unbelievable. Can His words that I speak seem credible to you?

This is my ministry: stating what the Lord has truly given me to state; seeing that everybody wants a piece of this kind of action and my stating that they cannot have it from me; then their saying that I cannot be believed because only one who makes money is truly believable (is that a crock or what?) My literary ministry encompasses my own movement past humanity's view of what seems credible. Humanity's view of credibility is not the Lord's view of credibility and this is where I live. Let the trumpet sound! That sound is truly credible as it is heard!

Looking at what He has given me and what I need to do alone: seeing other peoples' repeated disbelief and my own holding back the truth that I need to speak until I get is just right, I say to you now that what I am stating to you is true. I speak His word and I have been summoned to do so.

This true story reminds me of the life of Charles Ives, who was a great 20^th Century composer and whose music is now studied in music school (I studied Ives's music). Charles Ives was a full-time insurance agent, who worked during the day, but at night wrote music. His music was so new and how Ives wrote what he knew to be true seemed so unbelievable at the time that Ives hid his scores in a shoe box that was found when he died.

That's like hiding my light under a bushel—hiding what I have to say to keep the wolves away because I don't believe myself and don't want to appear to be blasphemous because others won't believe me. Hiding my light shows me that I don't believe that the Lord has summoned me to speak His word. These words to you now show you that I'm not hiding my light anymore and neither should you! If my action shows you anything, let it show you what shining the light does!

Cue ~ Write a few pages in your journal [the Writing Therapy(TM) Journal] to inspire belief in yourself. Think: What does my expression tell me about myself? What do I hear? Rest in the assurance that what you hear now will undoubtedly change and grow! Don't let another's words make you hide your head in the sand. Abide with the Lord. Read what you wrote, return to this cue later and repeat when you wish.

Do not look for peace and freedom in the outside world.

Real freedom and real happiness are inner states

which are yours when you are in harmony with the divine.

Ramdas

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Here are some additional thoughts about this journey I am on:

Writing Therapy(TM) was first only a faith increase writing style that I trademarked and

developed to allow me personal faith increase in the Almighty. It was a form of therapeutic

writing that stayed specific to itself as it guided me to believe further in the Lord. Then, I

saw that this journey had the potential to also offer others faith increase, for here was a

treasure mine of personal reflection and writing "Cues" based on my illness expression that

inspired faith. I had only to believe in myself.

Writing Therapy(TM) appeared in my mind and heart during a mysterious snail-mail, email

and psychic correspondence I shared with James W. Pennebaker, PhD, which he ended and I

finally heard (the Lord moves in mysterious ways!). Jamie researched therapeutic writing and

found that "free-write" was the most therapeutc style to do. So, I moved my learning from

this mysterious correspondence into many different kinds of genre writings, still writing via the

free-write method that offered me further exploration. Then, I saw that my discovery was useful

for others to share, as it contained a host of God-given writing genres, from which to choose that

inspired personal reflection: non-fiction narrative, fiction story-time, poetry, memoir,

conversation, etc. Here was personal belief in the Lord all written down that I offer you to do

now. And I hope other authors take this quest on, to offer what they know that all may also offer

to themselves and others.

Writing Therapy(TM) is a dream come true. In its final form, it is a trademarked free

service that is offered only on donation, one-on-one and in group form. Here is a book that is

available for you to download freely from this site.

Writing Therapy(TM) speaks of personal belief. As the bible tells us, "But lay up for

yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do

not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt.

6:20-21)

I've learned these last 2.5 years that I either do it or I don't! Doing it, I write well each day

and feel very proud that I've done what I set out to do. Maybe you also need some personal

boosting to set you on the way. I've found that being with Him shows me the way! Here is the

beginning of my trademark service for Writing Therapy(TM) that has been built on a

goldmine of personal patience, trust, forgiveness and peace.

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Next comes about ten pages on the Writing Therapy(TM) Method, which is on the link below this

one. Blessings!