The muse or false prophet?
Whether we speak of the lion in sheep’s clothing or of the false prophet, early writings tell us that humans have struggled to discern the difference between the wisdom of the muse to whom one must pay homage and the false prophet who often arrives dressed to the nines and speaking with a certain eloquence.
I was thinking of the above after listening to a February 26, 2016 re-broadcast of an interview Kristin Tippett with Joe Henry the award-winning producer and singer-songwriter.
I was surprised when my reverie was interrupted by the chiming of the phone. Picking up I was greeted by my 12-year-old adopted nephew, Paul. Paul has been enrolled this summer in a creative writing camp for young people.
Paul: Uncle Jim, I need your help with an assignment in the creative writing camp. Mom and dad told me to call you. Can you help?
Me: Of course, I would be happy to help Paul. Do you want to come over now?
Paul: Is this an okay time, Uncle Jim?
Me: It is a perfect time, Paul. Have you had breakfast?
Paul: Yes, Uncle Jim. Sam and I made the funny pancakes for the entire family. They loved them. We even made an Uncle Jim pancake face!
Me: That is great. I hope I tasted good!
Paul: (snickers). You did Uncle Jim. I am on my way.
Me: Great. See you in a few Paul.
It did not take Paul long to cross the yard from his house to mine. Soon there was a knock on the door.
Me: Come in Paul. Door is unlocked.
Paul: Hi Uncle Jim (give me a hug and kiss on the cheek).
Me: Hi Paul. What is this assignment?
Paul: Here it is Uncle Jim.
Assignment for creating writing camp: We have been talking about the muse and the fact that the muse often reveals opinions, feelings or truths to us that we did not know we had. We know this because often we are surprised when we read something we have written or listen back to something we have said. We may have written or said something that we did not know that we knew. Sometimes, however, we mistake the muse for what we will call the false prophet. We may say or write words which were unkind or not well thought out. All of us have said things that later we wished we had not said. If we are writing we can set it aside and later reread it and/or share it with a trusted friend who will help us decide if the muse was speaking or whether we were just saying something because we were hurt, angry or just trying to sound important. Pretend that you are running for class president and need to be very careful about only allowing the muse to talk or write. Write a paragraph or two - no more than 200 words – about how you will conduct your presidential campaign with the muse in charge of what you say or write.
Me: Wow! That is quite an assignment. What does it mean to you Paul?
Paul: We talked about it in camp class Uncle Jim. We have been keeping a journal of everything we think or want to say. For example, when I got angry at Sam (his six-year-old sister) the other day, I felt like saying she was stupid. I know she is not stupid and that she is only six. I just get impatient with her at times. The muse does not think that she is stupid.
Me: That is a really good example. So, when you write something down and then think about it, you can frequently tell if it is the muse. Any other examples Paul?
Paul: This is embarrassing. I was thinking I should be class president because that would impress the girls. The muse knows that is not a good reason to be class president.
Me: Another very good example. Any others Paul?
Paul: I wrote down in my journal that if I ran for class president I could start some rumors or say some means things about my opponent. Maybe some people would believe me and not vote for that person. Then I thought if someone did that to me I would hate it. Also, I thought what it would be like to admit to mom, dad and you what I was doing.
Me: You are really thinking about this a lot. That is great. I am very proud of you Paul.
Paul: Thanks Uncle Jim. Mom suggested that I watch one of the news channels which has constant news about the presidential race. The candidates are often on these programs. They say really mean things about each other They do not sound very wise. They say if their opponent gets elected terrible things will happen.
Me: It sounds as if you think that you do not think the muse is very active with the candidates Paul.
Paul: I do not think so Uncle Jim.
Me: So the question was if you are running for class president how will you differentiate the muse from the false prophet. Should we start writing down some of the factors you have been identifying?
Paul: That would be good Uncle Jim. So far we said that:
· The muse is not mean.
· The muse is not dishonest.
· The muse says something for the right reason.
What else Uncle Jim?
Me: I was listening to an interview between the singer and song writer, Joe Henry and Krista Tippett the other day. Mr. Henry quoted the poet, Jane Hirshfield who said that “the poem has an intelligence that the poet does not have.” My experience is that when I start writing it seems as if the writing takes on a life of its own. I sometimes, or even often. am surprised by what I am writing. It is a very strange process. It seems as if what I think I will write or should say often is not what appears on the paper. It is as if I am two people. I am the person who decides to write and I am the person who writes something wiser than I am. It is as if there are two of me. When I try to stick to what I thought I should write it is not very helpful or interesting. It is not automatic writing as if some ghost is taking over but it the best part of me. If you would decide to write a speech about why you would be the best class president you might be surprised by what you write. If, however, you decided to write about why Jack would be a terrible class president you would be focusing on writing down what you wanted others to believe whether you believed it or not.
Paul: Are you saying that we have to be willing to be surprised by what we write?
Me: Exactly. I cannot decide beforehand what is going to come out, but I can decide if I am open to being positive or mean.
Paul: Uncle Jim, do you think that the presidential candidates are false prophets or that the muse is speaking through them?
Me: Good try Paul. You are going to have to decide that. Why don’t you watch the news tonight and copy down just a couple of things each one says. Then write about what you wrote down and see what comes up. I bet the muse will take over your pen or keyboard and have something to say about what you wrote down. If you want, we can get together again this weekend to go over what you have learned and what you want to write to turn in next week.
Paul: Okay uncle Jim.
Me: You are doing really well with this writing camp. I am so happy you are doing it.
Paul: Me too, Uncle Jim.
Written July 2, 2016
Whether we speak of the lion in sheep’s clothing or of the false prophet, early writings tell us that humans have struggled to discern the difference between the wisdom of the muse to whom one must pay homage and the false prophet who often arrives dressed to the nines and speaking with a certain eloquence.
I was thinking of the above after listening to a February 26, 2016 re-broadcast of an interview Kristin Tippett with Joe Henry the award-winning producer and singer-songwriter.
I was surprised when my reverie was interrupted by the chiming of the phone. Picking up I was greeted by my 12-year-old adopted nephew, Paul. Paul has been enrolled this summer in a creative writing camp for young people.
Paul: Uncle Jim, I need your help with an assignment in the creative writing camp. Mom and dad told me to call you. Can you help?
Me: Of course, I would be happy to help Paul. Do you want to come over now?
Paul: Is this an okay time, Uncle Jim?
Me: It is a perfect time, Paul. Have you had breakfast?
Paul: Yes, Uncle Jim. Sam and I made the funny pancakes for the entire family. They loved them. We even made an Uncle Jim pancake face!
Me: That is great. I hope I tasted good!
Paul: (snickers). You did Uncle Jim. I am on my way.
Me: Great. See you in a few Paul.
It did not take Paul long to cross the yard from his house to mine. Soon there was a knock on the door.
Me: Come in Paul. Door is unlocked.
Paul: Hi Uncle Jim (give me a hug and kiss on the cheek).
Me: Hi Paul. What is this assignment?
Paul: Here it is Uncle Jim.
Assignment for creating writing camp: We have been talking about the muse and the fact that the muse often reveals opinions, feelings or truths to us that we did not know we had. We know this because often we are surprised when we read something we have written or listen back to something we have said. We may have written or said something that we did not know that we knew. Sometimes, however, we mistake the muse for what we will call the false prophet. We may say or write words which were unkind or not well thought out. All of us have said things that later we wished we had not said. If we are writing we can set it aside and later reread it and/or share it with a trusted friend who will help us decide if the muse was speaking or whether we were just saying something because we were hurt, angry or just trying to sound important. Pretend that you are running for class president and need to be very careful about only allowing the muse to talk or write. Write a paragraph or two - no more than 200 words – about how you will conduct your presidential campaign with the muse in charge of what you say or write.
Me: Wow! That is quite an assignment. What does it mean to you Paul?
Paul: We talked about it in camp class Uncle Jim. We have been keeping a journal of everything we think or want to say. For example, when I got angry at Sam (his six-year-old sister) the other day, I felt like saying she was stupid. I know she is not stupid and that she is only six. I just get impatient with her at times. The muse does not think that she is stupid.
Me: That is a really good example. So, when you write something down and then think about it, you can frequently tell if it is the muse. Any other examples Paul?
Paul: This is embarrassing. I was thinking I should be class president because that would impress the girls. The muse knows that is not a good reason to be class president.
Me: Another very good example. Any others Paul?
Paul: I wrote down in my journal that if I ran for class president I could start some rumors or say some means things about my opponent. Maybe some people would believe me and not vote for that person. Then I thought if someone did that to me I would hate it. Also, I thought what it would be like to admit to mom, dad and you what I was doing.
Me: You are really thinking about this a lot. That is great. I am very proud of you Paul.
Paul: Thanks Uncle Jim. Mom suggested that I watch one of the news channels which has constant news about the presidential race. The candidates are often on these programs. They say really mean things about each other They do not sound very wise. They say if their opponent gets elected terrible things will happen.
Me: It sounds as if you think that you do not think the muse is very active with the candidates Paul.
Paul: I do not think so Uncle Jim.
Me: So the question was if you are running for class president how will you differentiate the muse from the false prophet. Should we start writing down some of the factors you have been identifying?
Paul: That would be good Uncle Jim. So far we said that:
· The muse is not mean.
· The muse is not dishonest.
· The muse says something for the right reason.
What else Uncle Jim?
Me: I was listening to an interview between the singer and song writer, Joe Henry and Krista Tippett the other day. Mr. Henry quoted the poet, Jane Hirshfield who said that “the poem has an intelligence that the poet does not have.” My experience is that when I start writing it seems as if the writing takes on a life of its own. I sometimes, or even often. am surprised by what I am writing. It is a very strange process. It seems as if what I think I will write or should say often is not what appears on the paper. It is as if I am two people. I am the person who decides to write and I am the person who writes something wiser than I am. It is as if there are two of me. When I try to stick to what I thought I should write it is not very helpful or interesting. It is not automatic writing as if some ghost is taking over but it the best part of me. If you would decide to write a speech about why you would be the best class president you might be surprised by what you write. If, however, you decided to write about why Jack would be a terrible class president you would be focusing on writing down what you wanted others to believe whether you believed it or not.
Paul: Are you saying that we have to be willing to be surprised by what we write?
Me: Exactly. I cannot decide beforehand what is going to come out, but I can decide if I am open to being positive or mean.
Paul: Uncle Jim, do you think that the presidential candidates are false prophets or that the muse is speaking through them?
Me: Good try Paul. You are going to have to decide that. Why don’t you watch the news tonight and copy down just a couple of things each one says. Then write about what you wrote down and see what comes up. I bet the muse will take over your pen or keyboard and have something to say about what you wrote down. If you want, we can get together again this weekend to go over what you have learned and what you want to write to turn in next week.
Paul: Okay uncle Jim.
Me: You are doing really well with this writing camp. I am so happy you are doing it.
Paul: Me too, Uncle Jim.
Written July 2, 2016
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