Tag: Dreams

God, Life

A Wicked Question

Mark Wayne

We claim to love, we claim to care, and we claim to… well, whatever it is.

And if we are honest with ourselves how often do we fail?

I know in my case I find myself loving others how I think they should and need to be loved assuming it is all good and right. Do I ever ask them?

And what about God? I often run around trying to please him when maybe all he wants is for me to spend time with him?

Now go and learn what this means:

‘I desire compassion, rather than sacrifice,’

for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 9:13 NASB2020

#LoveLanguage #LiveYourDreams

Life, Stories

The DAY AFTER, and What Do You Do With That?

Mark Wayne

Every major life event, every holiday, every milestone, every anniversary, every accomplishment or disappointment is followed by the day after, and what do you do with that?

“So, this was it I thought, no trumpets, no angels singing hallelujah, no bright light, no  nothing,… she was just gone.”

One line, no explanation, no context from my upcoming memoir ‘Cowboys Are Not Supposed to Cry’

As this post goes live today, December 26, is the day after Christmas 2020 🎄and a week from now will the day after New Years Day 2021 🎉. Is it just me or do you experience pangs of melancholy during this supposed festive time of good will and frivolity?

So what can we do?

  • Pause – rest in the moments and let the world move on.
  • Anchor – revisit the memories and breathe in the feelings that come.
  • Believe – in hope for tomorrow until our journey through this life is done.

There are reasons to live
There are reasons to die
But the end’s not the end
While you’re still alive

~The lyrics above are from the song ‘There Was a Life’ from the album Night Castle by Trans Siberian Orchestra. Tomorrow is coming, so with faith and hope go…

Grief, Life, Stories, Writing

Memoir Update – Signed Publishing Agreement!

Mark Wayne

It’s official!

*Note: Working title and not actual cover.

Exciting news!!! I have signed a publishing and distribution agreement with Christian Faith Publishing for my memoir. I submitted my manuscript to their review board, they accepted the draft and want to publish my book. Woo-hoo! 😁

Signing the agreement with my daughter!
  • It has been a long journey for sure to get to this point, never stop chasing your dreams!
  • Expected publication date is still to be determined, sometime in early 2021.
  • Lots to be done before then – editing, proofing, typesetting, cover design etc.

I have been busy drafting my author bio and the book blurb. That is harder than writing the actual book. Who knew? 😳

Book teaser >

When did we come to believe the best thing you can do with death is ride off from it? In Cowboys Are Not Supposed To Cry, Mark Wayne tells his story of living a life with grief beginning in his mid-twenties. #Memoir #AmWriting #UpcomingBook #WritersLife

I hope to post some excerpts from the forthcoming book as I go through the editing process as well as other updates here on the blog. So be sure to hit the follow button and sign up for email notifications to get the latest.

*Note: Working title and not actual cover.

I would love to hear your initial impressions or thoughts. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will help guide efforts as I move forward in publishing and marketing.

#LiveYourDreams

Life, Photograph, Poetry

3 Steps to Get From Here to There

Mark Wayne 
I hold a vision from here to there
Where I can see things of memory
The path lays before me shining crystal clear
As shadows dance silently on the fringe
Overcome by desires that scamper quickly away
While standing still falls a single rolling tear
One small drop that holds all my fears
A haunting serenade redemptive love infringes
Beckons a safe passage to another world
Where angels play beyond the undiscovered
Grace reaches softly no heart left untouched
The broken places cracks desperately patched
This is where the light shines into the pain
A question wells up within as deep calls to deep
How do I ever get from here to there?

3 Tips

  1. Keep your vision in front of you
  2. Seek healing and restoration for others and yourself
  3. Believe that you have something to do or say that someone needs

#LiveYourDreams #JustBelieve #HopeLives #GraceChangesPeople

What dream or vision are you seeking? What first step can you take? #LiveYourDreams #SaturdayMotivation #YouGotThis

This post is a further exploration of an earlier post for “Monday Motivation“ offering I hope some practical tips to help us all get “From Here to There.”

I have used these tips as touchstones on my own journey to get from here to there. Stay tuned for some exciting news coming next Saturday! Be sure to check out that blog post!

3 Tips > 1- Keep your vision in front of you. 2- Seek healing and restoration for others and yourself. 3- Believe that you have something to do or say that someone needs. #LiveYourDreams #SaturdayMotivation #YouGotThis #FromHereToThere

Adventure, Life, Photograph, Writing

From Here to There – Motivation Monday

Mark Wayne
“From here to there”

They say each journey begins with that first step, followed by another until we are on our way. To paraphrase Bilbo Baggins (J.R.R. Tolkien) it is a dangerous business going out your front door for there is no telling where you might be swept off to.

Doesn’t the true adventure lie in the unknown? In not knowing what might lie just up ahead, as our nervousness rises our yearning for adventure drives us forward!

Doesn’t the true adventure lie in not knowing what comes next?

My friends, what is stopping you from taking that first step on your own great adventure? #LiveYourDreams #MotivationMonday #MondayBlogs

#LiveYourDreams

Life, Photograph, Poetry

Live Your Dreams – Motivation Monday

Mark Wayne
“Live Your Dreams”

The struggle is reckoning who we are, who we wish to be, and who we were created to be. #JustBelieve #YouMatter #LiveYourDreams #MotivationMonday #MondayBlogs

#JustBelieve #YouMatter #LiveYourDreams

The struggle is real, as we all are acutely aware. However, so are the rewards if we have the purpose and passion to pursue our dreams with discipline and courage. Go forth my friends and live your dreams, starting today.

Life, Poetry, Writing

Echoing the Backdrop

Mark Wayne

#JustBelieve #HopeLives #LoveChangesPeople

The rain has definitely arrived here in the Pacific Northwest and just in time some might say. Looks like another wet and green Christmas but that’s okay.

I love laying in bed listening to the raindrops hitting our metal porch roof right outside the bedroom window. Which we keep open all year long.

The sound of the rain mixes with the soft melody of the wind chimes that gently lull me to sleep. Dreams and memories travel through my mind as I rest in the moments of tranquility.

These restful moments spur ideas for my writings. What moments, sounds or experiences bring you peace and inspire your creativity?