In the midst of the tumult and numbness of the past week, month, year, life, it has occurred to me that life goes on whether I want it to or not. A significant part of life going on for me (assuming I want to participate in the going on and not simply sit here and mope in sackcloth and ashes) is writing…and so I write. I don’t claim any talent, simply passion. I love to write and while I may be somewhat stoic in person or perhaps goofy at times or simply there one can never assume that is necessarily what is going on within me. In my writing however you get close to the core of who I am and so you may trust it (at least a little more than you might trust me).

 

So here I am sitting and wondering what’s next? I have had a few "life transitions" as have most of my Gen X partners and so fear is not really the dominant feeling right now. Really the dominant feeling is one of having come untethered from a safe harbour and thrust into the admittedly exciting storm of an unknown future. Of course I hold to the hope I have always held to in Christ and the promises he has for me and the rest of us. I know these things. Still I feel unsettled.

 

The point of this is to warn you that the seas ahead may be somewhat similar to where I am – unsettled. You will see it primarily in my writing. I send this note out particularly to my silent watchers in wings. I want you to know that sometimes I will write things that you might find unsettling (perhaps even offensive). And while I will letyou know in advance I offer no apologies, I do this not to be provocative but simply because I believe things need to be said. You may be concerned with words I choose to use, or titles  come up with. You might be worried that I am not writing in a suitably depressed and sad tone more appropriate to my new station (or perhaps the reverse). All I can say is such is life or in the latin words of a favorite journal of mine "quod libet". I have never been fond of censorship most especially self-censorship as it seems to me to be a form of self-denial and certainly at the end of the day dishonesty.

 

So then what am I encouraging. My friends I am simply encouraging dialogue. Dialogue is, by, nature, two-way. I seek dialogue everywhere. I seek it with God and I seek it with you. Let us converse together about things. If you find something I have written to be dubious or offensive by all means I give you permission to be courageous and speak to me or write to me at cantelon@gmail.com . Tell me what you are thinking. At the end of the day it may not change anything but I commit to hearing you and engaging you in meaningful dialogue.

 

I would also encourage you to have meaningful dialogue about my writings amongst yourselves. But when I say meaningful I mean dialogue that discusses the merits (or faults) of the writing and its content. I do not mean (and quite strongly discourage) communication with others if it is primarily meant to be a roundabout way of communicating with me…this is not dialogue it is really fear and fear is usually fairly destructive. As an example I mean communicating either an approval or disproval of something I have written to someone else in hopes they have the courage to communicate that to me…I usually hear about it this way…

 

 

While I appreciate such sentiments I would much prefer you speak to me directly and hence allow us to enter into courageous dialogue. You should also note that as much as I appreciate happy positive comments I doubly appreciate constructive criticism. The positive comment is helpful because it makes me feel good and gives me a sense I am on the right track. Constructive criticism however gives me something to grasp and work with. It can move creativity further along than the still much desired positive comment.

 

So there it is…stay tuned for further writing in the form of poetry, reviews, rants, commentary, facebook updates, etc. and by all means remember I give you permission to be courageous. 🙂