revision as spiritual practice

“If a teacher told me to revise,

I thought that meant my writing was a broken-down car

that needed to go to the repair shop. I felt insulted.

I didn't realize the teacher was saying,

'Make it shine. It's worth it.'

Now I see revision as a beautiful word of hope.

It's a new vision of something.

It means you don't have to be perfect the first time.

What a relief!” – Naomi Shihab Nye, writer

Today’s quote is from Wisdom Commons – a wonderful source.

What drew me to this photo (which is by Chris Goldberg on flickr)

is that it is of a classic car on the side of the road in Cuba.

This is a '58 Buick worth repairing –

and a good reminder that the creative process is worth the work that it elicits from us. 

For a first/second/third draft of a poem, story, or sermon is a jewel that is just waiting to be mined.

Revision is a great spiritual practice!