Love Poems from God

Today I would like to share one of my all time favorite books: Love Poems from God edited and translated by Daniel Ladinsky. This collection of spiritual poetry by medieval writers centers around one of my favorite subjects: intimacy with God.

Now I realize not many people read poetry these days, but the medieval style is very straightforward and approachable, and the spiritual insights in this book leave you amazed. Here are is an example:

*Love is
the perfect stillness
and the greatest excitement, and most profound act,
and the word almost as complete
as His name.

Go ahead, read it again, two or three times, perhaps even out loud. All poems should be read several times to digest meaning on various levels. Think of the words, the sounds, the images, even the look on the page.

I should explain that only about half of the poets in this book are Christians. The Christian authors offer especially exquisite portraits of God, portraits that will be familiar yet leave you more passionately in love with God than ever before. Most of these poets are nuns and monks who were at some point tried for heresy but were later recognized as Catholic saints. It seems their seclusion and celibacy gave them special understanding into the true nature of intimacy with God. Take a moment to ponder these lines by St. Thomas Aquinas.

*God then opened up and I entered Myself.
I entered Myself when I entered
Christ.

And having learned compassion I
allowed my soul
to stay.

Often we think of the medieval period as the “Dark Ages” and assume that Christianity was dead from the fall of the Roman Empire until the Reformation. This is far from true. Yes, there was much corruption in the church, but there were also amazing Christians who kept God’s Word alive for us in the convents and monasteries of Europe.

The poems by the Eastern authors are fascinating in their own way. I believe that our Father God graciously reveals Himself to all who seek Him, and you will find many fervent seekers among the poets in this book. The first poem above was written by Rabia of Basri, a Sufi Muslim.

When I read this book, I did it as a detective, searching for little clues that the true God, maker of heaven and earth, had revealed Himself to these people. For some authors I found none at all, for others I found excellent evidence. Rabia shares in one of her poems that she wept for years because God “did not enter my arms,” until one night He revealed that she had been calling Him by the wrong name. Although she kept His true name a secret, she ended the poem with the line, “All I can say is—it works.”

The authors and poems in this book provided much inspiration for my novel, Dance of the Dandelion, which is set in the medieval period. I wrote my own medieval mystic style poetry for the book. I was particularly influenced by the writings of St. Catherine of Sienna, so I leave you with a thought from her today.

*“I won’t take no for an answer,”
God began to say
to me

when He opened His arms each night
wanting us to
dance.

*Poetry Translations by Daniel Ladinsky

ACFW Fun On the Way!!!

This week is the American Christian Fiction Writers yearly conference, and I’m so excited. I attended in 2010 and 2011, and both times it was a high point of my year. Most of my closest relationships these days are online friends I’ve met through ACFW. This is my yearly reunion with those close friends. 

This week's home away from home

At this point in my career, the potentially overwhelming writers craft classes are optional. My plan is to hit a few I really want or that my friends are attending, and skip about an equal number to hang out and play :) And at my agent’s most excellent advice, I don’t have to face any nail-biting editor appointments this year. Although I’m always looking for casual ways to network with industry professionals.

Here are some things I’m looking forward to seeing and doing this week.

1)      The ladies from my group blog Inkwell Inspirations. I’ll be rooming with one of them and plan to have meals with them throughout the conference, but Friday will be our main hang out day since one of our members is coming in for Friday only.

2)      A close friend from my local ACFW group who I will also be rooming with.

3)      My critique partners. I’ll be meeting one of these awesome ladies for the first time! I’ll be looking for her early in the conference to make sure we get plenty of time together.

4)      My new Zondervan editors and other Zondervan writers. Friday night is set aside for the official dinner.

5)      The ladies of my Hiswriters European historical fiction group. We’re planning a late night coffee run that could just turn into a regular old slumber party.

6)      My WhiteFire Publishing family. As many of you know, I serve as an acquisitions editor for WhiteFire. Saturday afternoon will be the time I reconnect with several and meet a few in person.

7)      I’ll also be keeping an eye out for my buddies from the Blue Ridge and Philly conferences.

8)      I always end up meeting a few Facebook friends live and in the flesh.

9)      And this year I’ll be spending time with my college roommate who lives in Dallas. That’s an added bonus, but part of the fun of visiting different cities every year for the conference.

10)  Finally, I get to dress up in a gown Saturday night for the Awards Gala.

So that’s just some of the fun in store for me at this years ACFW conference. Have you been to a writers conference? What did you enjoy? If not, what’s a special yearly event you look forward to?

Write Down the Revelation

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.”
Habakuk 2:1-2

Every writer has something deep down that motivates and informs each story they pen. My heart’s cry is that my readers would fall passionately in love with God, learn to know His voice, and become addicted to His presence. Along with worship, prayer, and reading God’s word, one of the most effective ways to do this is through journaling, so I want to spend a little time sharing about that subject today. As the scripture above indicates, when God speaks to us, it is important that we put ink to paper and write down these words.

But how can I hear God’s voice? I’m not sure if He’s ever spoken directly to me.
Well, first you must be still and know that He is God as Psalms 46:10 teaches. It is important to pause from the madness of your busy day, to quiet your spinning mind, and to give God your full attention. Take some slow deep breaths, perhaps listen to worship music, read or quote some encouraging scriptures, spend a few moments out in nature. Once you feel calm, focus your thoughts upon God, praise and thank Him, tell Him how much you love Him, meditate upon Him.

I realize the word “meditate” has taken a bad rap in some Christian circles, and not without good reason, but repeatedly throughout scripture we are instructed to meditate upon God and upon His word. Christian meditation should not focus upon self, and it should not be an emptying of self in order to invite some unknown entity into our beings. The point of meditating is to ponder God, to seek His face, to mull over His attributes, His wonder and beauty.

Keep in mind the Hebrew word for “meditate,” which is “hagah,” can also be translated as “imagine.” Somehow that fact escaped me for nearly thirty years. In my husband’s Arabic translation of the Bible the word “imagine” is almost always used in place of “meditate.” Readers and writers have great imaginations, so engage yours in your relationship with God. Picture yourself meeting with Jesus in a favorite place. Walk together hand in hand with your Savior. Cuddle up in the lap of your Heavenly Daddy. Look deep into His loving eyes.

Next, take time to listen. God most often speaks to us in a still small voice that comes to our hearts through a spontaneous flow of thoughts, visions, and impressions. John 7:38 refers to streams of living water flowing out of us. As you meet with God allow Him to speak to you, ask Him questions, wait and listen for His answers. Don’t be afraid. Let it flow. God loves you. He desires an intimate personal relationship with you. He longs to talk with you.

Our natural tendency is to stop the flow of God’s voice by questioning, doubting, and analyzing. That’s where journaling comes into play. By writing down our conversations with God, we can allow those thoughts, visions, and impressions to flow freely onto the paper. Through the journaling process we can choose to believe we are receiving from God with a simple childlike faith.

Then, at a later time we can go back and test what we have written. All words from God should line up with God’s holy word, the Bible. If we have a spiritual advisor or mentor, we can take our journals to them for further counsel and discernment as well. By recording the words God speaks to us, we can share them with others and reflect upon them for years to come. We can go back at a later date and see that God has indeed accomplished His word in our lives.

God has many ways of speaking to us, but journaling is one very effective method to learn to hear God’s still small voice. There is nothing that ministers, brings healing, joy, peace, and true faith like receiving a personal and specific word from our creator Himself. And for those of us who are writers, just imagine the impact this practice could have upon our craft.

How do you hear from God?

A Cover and A Release Date!

I'll keep today's post short and sweet. I now have a cover and a release date for Love in Three-Quarter Time! Look for it in print and in ebook on October 23rd through a variety of online and ebook retailers.

Wondering what the back cover says?

The Last Best Dance

Explore the world of 1817 Virginia and follow in the footsteps of Constance Cavendish, the former belle of the ball, who must now teach the dances she once loved and risk her heart in order to restore her family and her faith.

As the fiery Constance falls into genteel poverty, the opportunity of a lifetime may await her in the frontier town of Charlottesville. But the position will require her to instruct the sisters of Robert Montgomery—the plantation owner who jilted her when she needed him most.

As Robert and Constance make new discoveries about one another, can they face their past and the guilt that threatens to destroy them in time to waltz to a fresh start? Or will the curtain close on Constance for good this time?

Bio

Dina Sleiman writes lyrical stories that dance with light. Most of the time you will find this Virginia Beach resident reading, biking, dancing, or hanging out with her husband and three children, preferably at the oceanfront. Since finishing her Professional Writing MA in 1994, she has enjoyed many opportunities to teach literature, writing, and the arts. She was the Overall Winner in the 2009 Touched by Love contest for unpublished authors. Her debut novel, Dance of the Dandelion released with WhiteFire Publishing in 2011. Join her as she discovers the unforced rhythms of grace. www.dinasleiman.com