 | To my inner self be true, I’m writing poems anew; unless a publisher’s view tells me other things to do and offers lots of money, my sixth book will be what I have chosen to do: poetry book number two. |
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 The blog entries on my five different book websites are often connected to each other, so I'll be posting this blog entry on all five of my book websites to illustrate one example of the many connections that I often see between my books and their content.
 I love the creative freedom of writing novels, poems, academic papers, website content, blog content, and other forms of communication. I also love to create, design, and structure other items, such as this example photo shows. The photo is an image of a part of my living room's wall, which I mostly sponge-painted by myself, but a few family members also helped. I really love the design of the mixed colors on this wall and may someday--when I have enough extra time--do similar paint jobs on all of the walls in my home.
 On this freedom blog and in my novels, I completely love being able to say what I want to say. I also love being able to censor myself, rather than to have someone else censor my writing. Freedom of speech and freedom of censorship are both wonderful freedoms.
Another great part of being a writer is to have my ideas published. Here is an excerpt from page x of the "Preface" of my newly-released novel Unhidden Pilgrims: "People in the twenty-first century exercise freedom and censorship through such mediums as printed writing, the internet, social media, dialogue, body language, home decoration, clothing, possessions, codes, abbreviations, computer software, images, and symbols. These methods of speaking to others are visible in many sections of Unhidden Pilgrims. Both hidden and unhidden elements of modern and historic communication are displayed by the characters in this novel" (Petit x).  Last night, I had a wonderfully positive dream: I drove my car around the inside of an office building. I went up and down stairs, around desks, avoided electrical cords, and actually had a lot of fun. All of my colleagues at work were really nice. I also had the freedom to drive without stop signs, speed limits, and dead ends. While there were streetlights, they were all green. Even with all of this freedom, though, I behaved myself. I slowed down when necessary and speeded up when some people wanted me to drive more quickly to help them with a project.
 While researching the life and legacy of Roger Williams, Karen Petit has increased her knowledge about the grace of God. In December 2015 and January 2016, she wrote this poem:
Freedom to Worship God Our Lord’s so strong, he really could Just pick us up and make us act Like perfect people being good In settings broken or intact. Instead, we’re free to choose our acts And free to run on different tracks. At times, our choices may be wrong, But prayerful hearts will help us learn The better paths, both short and long. Our Lord and Savior’s loving grace Erases sin and helps us turn Our feet to run a peaceful track. If souls and love to Jesus race, Our ties to Him will stay intact.  Political freedom (or a lack of freedom) is a part of every community. In Roger Williams in an Elevator, the protagonist, Kate Odyssey, is often trying to help other people. She is not always perceived in a positive way, though, as this scene from the novel illustrates: Freeborn looked up at the ceiling. “So, Kate, does your setting above everyone else, up there on the top of the elevator, make you act like a king when you tell people what to do?” Kate’s face looked shocked. “I hope not. I think I’m acting more like a member of congress or parliament than like a king.” (Source: Karen Petit’s Roger Williams in an Elevator, page 188) More debate about Kate’s role can be found in multiple places in Roger Williams in an Elevator, including on pages 188 through 194.  This photo of the Roger Williams statue in Roger Williams Park, Providence, Rhode Island, was taken by Dr. Karen Petit at the beginning of a New England snowstorm. This illustration appears on page 14 of ROGER WILLIAMS IN AN ELEVATOR. In October 1635, Roger Williams was banished. Then in January 1636, to avoid being arrested, he had to run from his home during a blizzard and had to leave his family behind. “Williams then said that he called his colony by the name of Providence because of ‘God’s merciful providence until me in my distress.’” (Source: quoted from Roger Williams’s “Liberty for the Soul” and included on page 44 of Karen Petit’s book Roger Williams in an Elevator).
Roger Williams’ reaction to his banishment is inspirational, especially during a New England winter. Whenever Karen Petit looks out the window at quickly accumulating snow, she is thankful to be living in a warm home. Whenever she has to shovel snow, she is even more thankful to be able to walk back and forth between the outdoors and her house, where she can enjoy a hot cup of coffee. |
AuthorDr. Karen Petit is the author of Banking on Dreams, Mayflower Dreams, Roger Williams in an Elevator, Unhidden Pilgrims, Amazing Holiday Paws, and Holidays Amaze. She is thankful for having the freedom to worship a wonderful, caring God. Archives
April 2020
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