Random Acts of Writing Kindness

George Bailey Goes to Oregon

He lived His Wonderful Life

now in Stumptown free of Bailey Bank strife

He lives a coffee snob.

He and

Clarence hob nob.

Sip, sip, ring, ring, another angel earns wings.

Your persevered balusters loose wanting to fling.

Tonight you and Mary will Willamette walk

and of your Wonderful Eternal Life talk.

I wrote this poem some months ago in a coffee shop which featured Wonderful Life paraphernalia. When doing my laundry, I usually slip over to this kava shop to write. I like the atmosphere and the folks who work the counter (excuse me Barista...what's a female Barista?)

I could leave a tip like normal folks, and I do. However, I like to utilize the personal touch occassionally. And so, I'll write a

poem for a shopkeeper or a brief note to someone who looks down. Words have great power.

Recently, I came across an old friend through Facebook. We worked "together" for a curricula publisher. I laugh when I read that last sentence. I never met my boss nor did I meet this friend. I worked as a freelance writer in Oregon for the company based in Texas. Anyway, the company went under and put the employees through some rough stuff. In the middle of it all, I wrote my friend a note.

Some fifteen years later I learned that she has kept that note. I love that about writing. Had I just spoken a word of encouragement, it would have encouraged for the moment. Writing has an eternal quality. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God."

Last summer I got a job helping paint a house. The crew usually retired to a coffee shop in the locale for lunch. The Black Cat has a unique atmosphere. We have a large lesbian population in Oregon and seemingly many of the shops cater to and/or have that population as proprietors. Did I say that delicately or what? As a side note they had a sign in the restroom which read, "The hardest thing about explaining my move to Oregon was convincing my mother that I wasn't a lesbian."

Anyway, I liked this little shop and it's folks (Baritas again). One day I got to talking with the baritas about writing--imagine that. I asked her about her writing life. I felt connected and wrote her a poem. I don't think I save that poem which strikes me as odd. I gave it to her and left. Let me put your mind at ease. The poem encouraged her as a writer. I kept the love part to myself; although, as a fellow writer I did feel a good measure of "love" toward her.

I love to see my work published. I like money and acclaim, but I live for these little moments writing where I can touch another's life with encouragement or comfort. Use your creativity to enrich the world. I have this theory. If I learn with my writing to enrich my world with the little "w," quite possibly God will use me to enrich the World.

As always I end by encouraging my fellow travelers toward creating. Create people! Create in love. Create to enrich the lives of others and in the process find your own enriched.