{Thoughtful Thursday} The End of the World

What would you do if you were informed that your terminal illness would only grant you a week longer to live? How about if there was only one day left before the world simply collapsed? Well, tonight is supposedly the night before my last day on Earth, and I'm afraid I have nothing to show. I also hold the firm belief that no man knows the date of the Second Coming of Christ (or, essentially, the end of the world), and therefore I see no reason in getting caught up in worry or fear. I am nowhere near perfection, but I am beyond willing to work hard in the hope of achieving it somewhere down the road and I feel safe in knowing my life is [mostly] in order.

Now, I've been asked a few times what I'm going to do before tomorrow's evident apocalypse. I've decided to humor those who are so eager to know. Whether I actually do these things will remain a mystery to those concerned.

1. Converse with as many random strangers as possible within three hours' time.

2. Tell my mother what I did in the summer of 2010.

3. Go skydiving. For real.

4. Get all my money exchanged for one-dollar bills and make it rain.

5. Write an email of sincere apology to a missionary.

6. Take the Elizabethan collar off my poor neutered puppy.

7. KARAOKE

8. Write a will. Just in case someone kills me because they think it really is the end of the world.

9. Wish all my family members and friends a Merry Christmas and tell each one how much I love them.

10. Paint a gigantic picture on a brick building.

11. Explain to my manager how to successfully treat people with genuine kindness.

12. Set up two of my friends. It just needs to happen.

13. Forgive.

14. Forget.

15. Go to the temple, hoping I can get a seat before the crowds pour in.

Dear friends, the world is not going to end tomorrow. While I appreciate your enthusiasm and persistence, I am simply not convinced. Therefore, I'll wake up at 5:30, get ready, work from 6:00 to 11:00, eat lunch, finish up my Christmas shopping, and drive to Granny's to be with my loved ones. I will keep my emotions in check and my lungs intact. Solemnly I pray that you'll live your December 21st to the fullest and not regret a moment of it. When you realize how great this can be, maybe you'll continue to act upon the same principle day by day and year by year. I've wasted too many mornings sleeping in, too many afternoons doing unnecessary things, and too many nights wishing I had used my time more wisely. Here's my wake up call. Whether you're king of the hill or you're at the lowest point of your life, there is always more to be said and more to be done. It's time to shape up! The best of luck from a fellow human.

{Literary Thursday} Closer to Home

       The other day I was flipping through a two-year old copy of my high school's literary magazine and I found some pretty great words! I'm constantly amazed by the talents of so many good friends. Today, I'd like to highlight a few of my favorite homespun pieces composed by pals. If it isn't too dreadfully imposing, I also thought I'd throw in lyrics from Alarmingly Charming's oldest (Relentless) and most recent (Cascade) songs, courtesy of myself and my musical other half.

        I can't say I've always been excellent at writing, but the act of doing so can prove astoundingly tranquilizing. Whether that is positive or negative is up to you. For those who don't believe me, try it! Go write a poem or a short story or a song or a haiku or a journal entry. And if you're already used to consistently writing the same types of literature, experiment with something new. Write for at least half an hour a day, spanning a week. See what you come up with! After this, you're more than welcome to send your work to me at my Gmail account. I'm interested to find out who might accept and excel at this challenge.

{ODE TO THE LADY}

Amid gloomy demeanors of comrades, we

marched

Through villages - not understanding

Or wanting to attack this place

Just as we rounded the corner - 

I saw her.

The epitome of beauty, dark hair shone golden

in the sunset

Oh, to the lady! When she glanced my

way,

As I continued past her with my army,

Eyes beautiful crescent moons, like

broken glass.

She will be mine. I think

grinning -

Until her eyes turn to fire,

Piercing my heart,

Before turning on her heel,

And walking away.

 - Rachael Knudsen

{HEART OF GOLD}

Nine o'clock on a Saturday

The world outside is covered in rain

I think of her, but hesitate

I don't want my heart to beat at that rate

When she's around I gravitate

She's the only one who can levitate

My heart, for a little while

My heart jumps out to greet her

Before I get the chance to smile

You've got a heart of gold,

I'll be real careful

But won't let you go.

Priceless possession in my hands of stone

You've got a heart, a heart of gold

Nine o'clock on a Saturday

The world outside is covered in rain

I think of her, but hesitate

I don't want my heart to beat at that rate

- Thomas Koch

{SHELTER}

As the snow cascades in waves

Above the home I knew before

It's getting hard for me to stay

But worse if you open the door

And I've run out of things to say

A flaw that I've grown to abhor

As everything we've made

Becomes too important to ignore

So I'll keep dreaming

Of back when it was warm

And it was you and me and no one else

As we pulled our pages off the shelf

Desperate for a shelter from the storm

The midnight bell has rung

A tirade of her late nights left alone

Like the songs we never sung

Reflected on the life we just let go

It's easy to be young

To stare with awe into the great unknown

But after everything you've done

How could you expect to come back home?

I'll keep dreaming

Of back when it was warm

And it was you and me and no one else

As we pulled our pages off the shelf

Desperate for a shelter from the storm

It's becoming too important to ignore.

-James Robert Shepard III

{RELENTLESS}

A handful of songbirds bleeding out my memories
A throatful of your words never really aimed to please
And battlefield broken relentlessly put me at ease
A fistful of angels whispering on the breeze

Call in your troops and summon the guards
The war isn't won until you've dealt all your cards
Numberless men have encountered the shame
That inevitably joins the thrill-seeker's game

An earful of anger serenades me while I wait
A mouthful of ashes greets me when I reach the gate
And time hasn't stopped since the enemy asked me to stay
A heart full of danger discourages me as I pray

Pull out your weapons, forget all the rules
This time I play the unfortunate fool
Concourses weaken, but try to be strong
What would they do if they knew you were wrong?

A world full of people who think they have what it takes
A song full of verses that counteract what it fakes
And I'm just a kid who's about to run out of her faith
A cup full of water that characterizes your strength

A handful of bluebirds hanging on a melody
A throatful of harsh words never really seemed to be
What battlefields conquered relentlessly beg you to see:
That a fistful of angels was never quite harmony.

- Andrea Alexis Hewitt

Happy writing!