Show, Not Tell | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Show, Not Tell | Previous Challenge Entry
By Constance Gilbert
01/24/07
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

Flying from Portland to Central Oregon, the lush green of the coast faded into the mountains. They looked more like stepping stones heading north than a chain of mountains over 3,000 feet high. On the other side of the Cascade mountain range, everything turned brown; looking like a faded, old tweed coat. The subtle variations of brown were dotted with deep, forest green patches where evergreens stood. On the surface it appeared to be a drab scene that was to be my home.

But thanks to my son’s education in illustration and computer designing, I have learned a lot about colors.

During his four years of college, he seemed to need new colored pencils or paint every week. I remember asking how could he possibly need another color when he had a desk full already.

That began my education about the color wheel and the various hues of each primary, secondary and tertiary color. Then there were neutral, warm, rich, deep, vivid, intense, prismatic, fugitive, pastel and chromatic colors and hues. Shades of color, tone, stippling, hatching and blending were explained. Much more information than I ever wanted, and yet, I have never seen a rainbow the same since.

On this, my homeward flight, I saw wonders not visible from high in the sky- a beautiful land of contrasts, gorgeous wildflowers of every hue, neutral tones of desert sand, black lava rocks, forests of deep green mixed with the brown of dried out branches, red dirt, shades of black and gray topped with the pure white snow of the mountains, magnificent waterfalls, and the red trunks of junipers with their grayish-green berries. My new home was teeming with color; even the faded browns, I saw from the air, were in various hues and shades.

Now, as I write word pictures, I am reminded of those lessons; and I attempt to visualize scenes with an artist's perception. My son's creativity, as he designs Christian book covers, inspires me to express God’s truth via pen and paper. I hope that I do as well in words as he does through his designs. I think he has an advantage though. While I can write only in English, his designs can be "read" in all languages.

What a privilege God has given us “to show, not tell” through written words and through our lives.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.