Gracious God,
thank you for the smell of pencil shavings,
the tactile elegance of a good fountain pen,
and the click-clack of ancient typewriter keys…
for the intoxication of creative juices,
the sweetness of a well-turned phrase…
for the creak of the office chair,
and the surprise of a catch in the throat
and the salty track of a tear on the cheek…
for the hum of a computer,
the thrum of a printer,
the agony of the blank page,
the ecstasy of the last line,
the terror of hitting “send,”
and the fragrance of fresh ink on crisp new pages.
Thank you, Lord, for these gifts and graces,
and for the many others I am too dull to sense,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
Being a person who LOVES and uses pencils every day, I appreciated these thoughts this morning. No matter how we do it, may we keep on writing. May you and yours have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Just so lovely, Bob. Right this minute, I’m thanking God for the agony of my blank page. As I trust Him to help me fill it, I will better know the Source.
Thanksgiving! A reminder that life is lived in the little things–thank you for turning that light back on.
Beautiful!
Oh, Amen!
God, thank you for Your servant, Bob,
whose mien is one of gentle care
in reminding that the writer’s job
is one of faith, and constant prayer.
God, thank you for the team of agents
who work with the august Steve Laube,
pointing out with skill and patience
that writing’s calling, not a hobby.
God, thanks for this community
of which I am a humble part;
they mean so very much to me
in strengthening my frightened heart.
God, thank you for each soul and face
in which lives Your reflected Grace.
Love your poem, Bob! Happy Thanksgiving!
the stretch when my word count is met
the ding of an acceptance email
the sting of the editor’s red pen
the shine of a five-star review
the embrace with a reader who relates
the joy when my tongue becomes Your skillful pen
and my pounding heart as I recite my verses to my King.
Love your words Bob !
Thank you, Bob.
Thank you, Bob. This prayer is just what I and my story needed today.
Blessings!
Thank you for that, Bob. That should be framed. I love pencils, fountain pens (I have about 20 of them), typewriters (I have over 50 of them—yes, I need help) and all the other things you mentioned. Again, thank you.
Amen and Happy thanksgiving, Bob!
Amen 🙏😃… The little things… so many of them.. and yes things we are still to dull to know…thank you for sharing.
Amen. I am thankful for your prayers. As I read this one, I considered how many senses I could write about in my own office. I hear the hum of my space heater and feel the warmth it sends my way. And I LOVE these lines of your prayer:
the agony of the blank page,
the ecstasy of the last line,
the terror of hitting “send,”
My writer’s life is encapsulated in these words.
All the good things! I’ll add one. Thank you for a new battery for my laptop … so that it does not crash every 15 minutes taking so many of my words with it!
Wow, that’s a great piece of poetry. I love it.
Amen!
Thank you, Bob, that was awesome!
Office supplies and my electronics are my favorite things in the world! You covered all the basics!
Amen.
Meaningful prayer. Thank you.