Open Spaces
Open Spaces
Vol.: 23.11
By John W. Vander Velden
November 20, 2023
Dear friends,
First off. I must apologize for not providing a newsletter last month. I was under the weather as October wound down and set the task aside, and by the time my strength and motivation rose sufficiently, it was November. In any case my second bout with COVID is now behind me…mostly, and I find myself at the keyboard thinking about you. So today I assemble a few words about a recent adventure Jackie and I shared in October.
We set our sights on the trails of Turkey Run and Shades State parks. Leaving on the 18th we arrived at Turkey Run on a bright and sunny Wednesday afternoon. Jackie and I have always felt trail 3 the most challenging, and so it was that trail we boldly challenged. With our hiking poles and in our boots, observers would know it was not our first rodeo. As we wandered through the canyons, up and down stairs and trails, I captured many images of the valleys and cliffs of the park.
But the weather on Thursday was not favorable for the hiking part of our adventure to continue, so we looked for other entertainment. It so happened that Park County had their annual Covered Bridge Festival that week. So, donning our rain gear we entered the fray of the thousands that gathered in the 10 locations for that event. Not that we went to all 10, 3 was quite sufficient to get a feel of the festival, a festival that locals take extremely seriously.
The following day we headed south stopping at one of our favorite places, Cataract Falls, and then off to Nashville, Indiana, in Brown County. The light misty day couldn’t dampen our spirits and two stops made for a delightful time.
Friday broke clear and bright, and Brown County State Park was that day’s adventure. The actual park was a place we had not entered before. Several times we had skirted the park itself as we enjoyed the scenery of Brown County, Indiana, so we were excited to see the park itself. The leaves showed color but had not yet reached their peak. We were not the only folks that chose that particular day to visit that particular park. Fortunately, we arrived early and saw some of the amazing wonders, such as the mist on Ogle Lake and some of the grand vistas from the hill tops. Jackie and I were even so bold as to climb the 90-foot fire tower. Later we took another hike through the woods and down into a valley at the edge of Ogle Lake. It made for a day neither Jackie or I will ever forget.
But alas, somewhere I picked up the adversary that made me ill less than 18 hours after our return. But as I mentioned at the opening of this letter, I have overcome the disease…once more, and hope never to meet that enemy again.
Now for a bit of writing news:
It has been a busy two months for this guy. An Author’s Event in early October at the Walkerton Public Library finished three Saturdays in a row of events. Then I made a two-day appearance at the La D’zert’s Café’s Christmas Open House and a fun meeting with the Argos (Indiana) Page Turners in mid-November. I especially enjoy meeting with book clubs, and those folks were indeed a delight.
As my writing goes, I am working on the first editorial revision of When Light Comes Unexpected. I am sorry to say I have been put behind on that project, but I have managed to reach quarter way through this revision. Much work lies ahead of me, but I am determined. And determination provides motivation, and motivation makes the task possible. I have no idea of when you will see this finished project, but rest assured when you do, it will be the best I can do. For my readers deserve the best I can give them.
It seems I’ve run long so I will only add these words:
Life has its challenges, and among them is our health. So, my friends take care of yourselves. It is my hope and prayer that you are able to avoid this illness I have once again defeated. But like all of life’s challenges we face, remember we do not face them alone. For we have friends, and family, but most of all, the God that loves us. And with their help and God’s aid we face each day’s difficulties. It is in that knowledge we can be confident to do more than endure whatever we must face.
With God’s blessing and Christ’s love,
John
Open Spaces
Vol.:22.11
By John W. Vander Velden
November 25, 2022
Yesterday was Thanksgiving, a day set aside for more than overeating, naps and football. Oh, those things are ingrained into our culture, and there is nothing wrong with spending time with family and friends and a bit of gorging on our favorite foods. But Thanksgiving should also involve being thankful. To me, that attitude should not be reserved to a single day.
Each day I do my best to be thankful for something. And making that a conscious action, I find that each day it is easier to locate something I am grateful for. Once again it is about attitude. Attitude is half the battle. Many times it is a great deal more than half.
For surely each of us has a multitude of things that can lead us down the dark rabbit hole of sad feelings. And a positive attitude does not eliminate the terrible things life tosses our way. It is impossible to cheerful all the time. And it is not healthy for us to ignore, completely, the trials and tribulations of our lives.
Yet even in the darkest of my days I try to stop, take a breath, and search for at least one thing to be thankful for.
It’s easy for me, because I need to look no further than my soul mate that shares this home with me. No matter what difficulties I face, I know I do not face them alone. I am also grateful that my God is always near as well, and I lean on Him and His promises continually.
Gratitude.
The morning’s sunrise. The frost that sparkles on the grass. The smell of autumn on the breeze. The stars that fill the night sky. My sweet dog that comes to lay near my feet. A warm home.
They seem simple things, easily taken for granted. But not everyone is as blessed as I, and it is up to me to do two things. 1. Notice the needy. 2. Do something that might help someone. I can’t, on my own, solve a single crisis, but I can contribute in a small way knowing that even my small thing is part of the solution.
So as we race along toward Christmas, and all the craziness that can bring, let us all be grateful. Thankful for our lives, our loved ones, our friends. And let us open our hearts to the needs of others.
A bit of witting news:
I told you last month that With the Sun’s Rising was at the publisher. The book has been formatted and is now print ready. Wow!!! But sorry friends the release date has been set for March 7th 2023. It would have been my father’s 98th birthday. But being the author has its perks. Wednesday the first box of pre-release copies of With the Sun’s Rising arrived at our doorstep. The first 12 copies of the book, and I must say I am thrilled. To see, to hold, to smell, the book…my book… for the first time is an emotion I cannot adequately describe.
My book is born!
All the hours. All the work. All the concerns. The effort manifested in 678 pages wrapped in a beautiful glossy cover, proves it was a task worthwhile. It is my hope that the readers of With the Sun’s Rising will agree.
But a writer’s gotta write, and so I do. I am more than 360 pages into a draft of When Light Comes Unexpected, and hope to finish the draft by Christmas. I won’t give any details about the project at this time, but am overall pleased with my progress.
So let me close with these few words.
It is so easy during this time of year to lose ourselves. To lose ourselves in the rush to accomplish the thousands of tasks the holiday’s brings. But that kinda’ defeats the purpose of these special celebrations, doesn’t it? So take a breath and consider the reason for the season. For in the end it should be about that reason, shouldn’t it? For God so loved the world…that includes you and me…that he sent His Son…born as a baby in the humblest of ways…to save us.
That should be our focus as we move day by day closer to December 25th…Christmas.
The world was changed by that event. It is my hope that the event changes you as well.
God bless you all,
John
A Journey Through Words 