12 A Comma or a Full Stop.

A Comma or a Full Stop.

How simple it is to become fully engrossed in what it is we are doing, to the exclusion of everything else. When I am painting, everything I see, is a possible painting or an abstract. When I am writing I frequently lie awake thinking words.

I recently wrote a book reflecting on my time as a minister of religion.  I did paint in those days but not nearly as often as now. I did a great deal of writing in those days. Notes for sermons. Talks to be given in prisons and various other places. At one time I even produced the manuscript of a book which I sent off to publishers. One suggested some changes and they would publish it. I never did get around to making the changes and the script has lain on the back shelf of my bookcase for all the later years spent teaching.

I then dragged it out and returned to it and once again my head was full of words and thoughts. I never seem to be able to take time off. I am either actually writing or I am thinking about what I will be writing. I am even, with some help learning about the marvel of the question mark and the comma, something I never concerned myself with when making notes for sermons or talks. If I saw the words,” Let’s eat Grandma."  I knew that when I spoke the words I would say, "Let us eat, Grandma." What a difference a little comma can make.

So, the Comma says let us slow down and the full stop says let us stop for a bit.  We might not need those little things when we are talking to our friends but on paper, they are needed.

In life, we also need to have some commas and some full stops. It is the wise person who takes a little comma to have a breather and to collect one's thoughts and energies. Even more important now and again to put in a full stop and take a rest.