chiara
Numbers' Donkey
Posts: 113
Favourite Verse: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world- John 16:33
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Post by chiara on Aug 10, 2015 18:35:30 GMT
ALLEGORY OF MAN.docx (70.37 KB)
This is the book I wrote that inspired me to search the Lord. It came as an inspiration and immediately after writing it, I felt this unexplainable need to get to know Jesus in a way I had never before experienced. I immediately bought several bibles (I had none prior) and have been learning more about Him and falling in love with Him more every day- from then on.
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Post by Gr8tful on Aug 11, 2015 15:04:35 GMT
Hey Chiara, Hubby is going to install what I need to be able to read this on my tablet. It's fairly new so needs a few things put on it still. I will be able to read it within a day or 2, can't wait!!
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Post by shiloh on Aug 11, 2015 16:04:51 GMT
Thanks for posting your book, Chiara. I'm going to start it later when I have no distractions.
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chiara
Numbers' Donkey
Posts: 113
Favourite Verse: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world- John 16:33
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Post by chiara on Aug 11, 2015 17:28:21 GMT
Thanks guys. How sweet of you to take the time to read it. The formatting got a bit messed up when I uploaded it so please ignore any extra spaces. For something that came out of nowhere and brought me to the lord's feet, it remains a mystery to me. It would have made more sense to me if I had been guided to create a character that was clearly The Lord- instead of all these other mystical ones. But what I do know is that the culmination brought me directly and in no uncertain terms to Him- specifically, in a way that I would have never dreamed. So however ambiguous the connection may be, it has to be good, right? Looking forward to your thoughts my friends. God bless you.
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Post by morningstar on Aug 11, 2015 23:23:33 GMT
It really sounds interesting, but sadly I wasn't able to open the link, I would have to purchase Microsoft Office to read it. Going to check to see if there's another way.
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chiara
Numbers' Donkey
Posts: 113
Favourite Verse: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world- John 16:33
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Post by chiara on Aug 12, 2015 14:23:40 GMT
Morningstar, I can upload the file as a PDF if that helps you. Lmk
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Post by Gr8tful on Aug 16, 2015 17:42:58 GMT
Chiara, i finally got the dwnld to be able to open the book. MS hubby got it from Open Office, a free way to dwnld w/o buying Office software. You may want to check for that. So now i will be able to start reading it. I can't wait! Thanks Chiara and I will let you know when I'm done!!
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Post by morningstar on Aug 16, 2015 18:30:24 GMT
Morningstar, I can upload the file as a PDF if that helps you. Lmk That would be great Chiara if it's not too much trouble. I would love to read it.
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chiara
Numbers' Donkey
Posts: 113
Favourite Verse: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world- John 16:33
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Post by chiara on Aug 17, 2015 1:58:38 GMT
MS- Attached is the book in pdf. I think the format issue should be resolved too now. I hope you like it!
ALLEGORY OF MAN.pdf (679.22 KB)
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chiara
Numbers' Donkey
Posts: 113
Favourite Verse: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world- John 16:33
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Post by chiara on Aug 17, 2015 2:07:25 GMT
I uploaded the book in pdf. If you have problems opening it, lmk. If chapter I (Another World) is too abstract or difficult to follow, you can actually start on chapter II and read chapter I at the end of the book- it will make more sense. Just like the story itself, the book becomes more clear as the main character becomes more clear in his thinking. He is lost and misguided in the beginning and the reader also may be overwhelmed and unclear as to what is going on exactly. But as the reader continues, and as the main character moves forward in the story, the confusion starts to clear and the direction starts to make more sense- it really isn't until the end that the whole thing comes together. The reader is intended to go through the journey both visually as well as emotionally, with the main character as he finds the meaning of what is important in life. And ultimately God who speaks to him, has always been there- inside him. He just never realized it. The Lord is patient with us and waits for us to seek him- which I suppose is what the book ultimately is all about. I hope you like.
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Post by Gr8tful on Aug 17, 2015 17:14:34 GMT
Hey Chiara, I started reading it last night. Only got to read the first few pages so far so I can't comment on it yet....but I will comment on your writing skills. You have some serious skills there gf!! I don't even know how you do it, but just the few pages I read I am blown away at how descriptive you are. It really does get the 'imagination' a workout! Have you always been able to write like that? I assume it's something you would need to be gifted with rather than taught it. It's almost like Avatar....as I'm reading the thoughts are like super colorful like the movie was. Does that make sense?
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chiara
Numbers' Donkey
Posts: 113
Favourite Verse: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world- John 16:33
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Post by chiara on Aug 17, 2015 19:37:46 GMT
Thank you gr8ful! I really can't take that much credit. I have always enjoyed writing and had to do a lot if that for my PhD so Im sure that didnt hurt. But The Lord blessed me with it and as you know, this book came out of the blue for me. I have always though loved the classics though- Dante, Plato, Aristotle, and poetry like Millay, Plathe, and Wilde... and I have always felt things deeply. It's almost as if I have to eat and digest everything. Im italian, what do you expect? . I will take something in (an event, idea, conversation, bible passage, whatever), break it down, and it becomes part of me. I am just really good at feeling. Is that a gift? Lol It's like a combination of being extremely sensitive and overly empathetic. Its hard to explain. But then- when I am full or ready, it comes out in some fully formed way- (in either writing, poetry, song, dance, idk). So if you were to talk to me in the moment, I can seem overwhelmed and my thoughts may seem divergent or even random but when I write (or dance), they become focused and I become much more formal. And it's like. Ahh. There we go. It's amazing to see people respond to that because they don't expect it at first and are like "woah- did you see that?" Lol Funny you mention Avatar because its exactly how I feel sometimes. You get it. Btw- the spirit is the only one who speaks in poetry (I made up the form)- I guess its the way I feel God- eternal, loving, rhythmic, creative, elegant- beautiful.
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Post by Gr8tful on Aug 17, 2015 20:05:06 GMT
That's really cool that He speaks to you in these ways. I know He speaks to us all in different ways, ways that we can 'get it' since we all learn in different forms, different ways at different times. That's what makes Him so very unique (among a gazillion other reasons!).
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chiara
Numbers' Donkey
Posts: 113
Favourite Verse: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world- John 16:33
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Post by chiara on Aug 17, 2015 20:15:28 GMT
Exactly! Praise be to God my friend!
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Post by Gr8tful on Aug 20, 2015 2:24:48 GMT
Hey just letting you know i have only had the chance to read the first 2 chapters so far. Haven't had the uninterrupted time to get any further! I should have time tomorrow tho....really looking forward to reading it, so if all goes well, I may just be able to read most of it by tomorrow evening!! I will let you know!
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chiara
Numbers' Donkey
Posts: 113
Favourite Verse: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world- John 16:33
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Post by chiara on Aug 20, 2015 16:46:28 GMT
That is awesome! I'm am so blessed to have you read it. I can't tell you how it makes me to feel to be so supported like this. Writing it was like unloading my soul- and sharing it with you. God bless you.
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Post by Gr8tful on Aug 20, 2015 17:13:25 GMT
Yes writing is sorta like unloading your soul. It's a feeling of vulnerability - like you're exposing yourself to people in an intimate way somehow becuz no matter the story a part of you is in it. Like you're walking down the street naked or something and trying to act like you're not! Don't know if that makes sense but being a very private person when I've written something and shared it, that's how it feels to me. It's a very hard step for me to take!
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chiara
Numbers' Donkey
Posts: 113
Favourite Verse: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world- John 16:33
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Post by chiara on Aug 20, 2015 19:37:28 GMT
Exactly. I would love to read your stuff too. Have you posted anything?
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Post by Gr8tful on Aug 20, 2015 20:02:02 GMT
No I haven't posted anything. Honestly I kinda put that stuff away after awhile. I had always wanted to write a book, a non-fiction book about experiences I've been through, how I got through it and how God led me through it. I love those types of books, of people's life struggles and how they got through it, overcame it. I had experienced a few pretty big things in my life that I thought wow, another chapter for my book!! Then as time went on, more life things came up and I finally realized life is truly a book full of chapters!
For some reason up until I realized that, I thought as I would go through some very tough life issues, that that was my one big event in life. Well, again as time went on, I have had more 'big events' come up to the point I had to accept that 'big events' aren't only given once or twice in a lifetime....for me I've had some real biggies. Could write a few books on different subjects on things that 'rocked my world, shook up my faith'.
It's hard to explain. Who knows, I may end up doing it some day!
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Post by Gr8tful on Aug 25, 2015 1:01:27 GMT
Hey Chiara, I finished your book!!! I am going to do my best to comment in ways that makes sense! Sometimes that's hard to do! First off, again, I just can't get over your abilities as a writer, you are soooo gifted!! I have never understood how people can write like that, such as CS Lewis. Brilliant minds and such a grasp of words!!! I am sooo beyond impressed, it really is fascinating to me to be honest. With that, typically it is a book i would not have read as it is more mystical, fantasy. Like inviting/being open to other spirits, that motivate ones thoughts, mind, emotions, etc. I assume you know what I mean, as I would imagine you've had others say something along those lines, or thought that yourself. I feel there's a fine line there. As an example, I read The Shack...which at the time didn't know what to expect but after reading it, I would not recommend to anyone. To me it went past that fine line. Yet, CS Lewis did great work with out going over that line. (I am mentioning this so you know where I am coming from.) I enjoyed your book! Were you a Christian before this writing? You said you hungered to know Him after writing this, so am wondering if you were a Christian, religious in any way, a church goer or did this bring a hunger to know Christ for the first time? I can see all through out it your searching. Little did you know then that's what you were doing, huh?! Every topic you covered, whether emotions, pain, death, impossible and so on, you can see how deep you were searching for the meaning of it!! It's cool like that, like reading someone's thoughts as they try to grasp and make sense of life issues, mulling it around, and forming it into a concept and such. I don't know your thoughts on this, but have you considered adding to it? As a Christian reading it I felt that as Man was conversing and having things explained to him, or as they were discussing things how his eyes were opened even more so, deeper still with the realization of when Christ is brought into it. Say as an example, re: the mirror. And how maybe the mirror wasn't just for vanity, but as you turned it into a deeper concept, maybe that it was being looked at the wrong way and that the mirror that was being discussed wasn't a reflective piece of glass or whatever, but maybe it was more like taking a mirror into your soul and seeing who is really there. So, in that part of the story can go even one step deeper by applying the truth of by being in the reflection of Christ. Like I said, don't know if you thought about it, and if not and prefer to keep it the way it is, it's great piece of writing as is!! I just think, if you could figure out how you can go deeper w/the truth of God now the foundation of all things, it would be an even deeper book! Oh i hope this makes sense!
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chiara
Numbers' Donkey
Posts: 113
Favourite Verse: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world- John 16:33
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Post by chiara on Aug 28, 2015 22:43:02 GMT
Yes! What you say makes perfect sense to me.
I think I was a sleeping Christian or something before writing the book- I had grown up Catholic and never really believed in the pope or anything like that- I believed in God the Father and Jesus (although I had not understood why he was so important. To me he was God's son, but other than that, I just didn't understand Him or the his sacrifice, why it had to happen, redemption...any of it. I had not owned/read a bible, was very rarely going to church and had never felt a need to do so. Before writing it, I just kind of felt that God and I are good. He's there. I'm here. We're good. But there was no fellowship. No searching. No intimacy. Then I got this incredible urge to write- in the morning, during breaks, at night...it kept me up. I knew I wouldn't be at peace until I just got it out. And this book happened. I felt it was important (at least to me) and once I it was completed, I realized that what I had been really searching for was Christ. I didn't know that I was missing Him, or even searching for Him- only after I had found Him did I realize how deeply I had missed Him.
I think that is why he was missing in that way in the book- it wasn't until the very end that he was revealed in the poem of the spirit which really is the Holy Spirit. I think that is what was meant when I wrote:
"Deep inside you is a seed, when watered grows a spirit tree, the only thing that makes us free whose voice only you hear. To water it though is your choice, it grows to speak your inner voice, a whisper when there's lots of noise, Its God within you, my friend." (which is when I had finally understood that it was the Holy Spirit that was guiding me all along)
I completed it in tears: "Forget me not for it is I, the light inside your curious eye, the wings that make imaginations fly, that will take you home again."
And it was then I had realized it was Him. It was like a stream of consciousness when I was writing it so it was a surprise to me as well. Part of me is hesitant to change it since the whole book just came to me just like that. It kind of documented my awakening while it was being written. So hard to explain. But I definitely would consider recreating a children's series or play or something modified from the original with maybe some kind of study notes or questions, reflections or something- that connect to Christ, his love, and the bible. I think I would need to study and meditate on it to see what the Lord was guiding me to say. In some ways, I feel like the book was really for me- personally, to connect with Christ. So if I wanted to change the audience and make it one for others, for growing Christians or young children or whatever, I would probably have to change some things in it. Who knows, maybe the Lord will guide me to create something altogether totally different. I really have no idea.
Is there any character you felt most connected to? Least connected to? Was it hard to follow?
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chiara
Numbers' Donkey
Posts: 113
Favourite Verse: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world- John 16:33
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Post by chiara on Aug 28, 2015 22:44:13 GMT
Yes! What you say makes perfect sense to me.
I think I was a sleeping Christian or something before writing the book- I had grown up Catholic and never really believed in the pope or anything like that- I believed in God the Father and Jesus (although I had not understood why he was so important. To me he was God's son, but other than that, I just didn't understand Him or the his sacrifice, why it had to happen, redemption...any of it. I had not owned/read a bible, was very rarely going to church and had never felt a need to do so. Before writing it, I just kind of felt that God and I are good. He's there. I'm here. We're good. But there was no fellowship. No searching. No intimacy. Then I got this incredible urge to write- in the morning, during breaks, at night...it kept me up. I knew I wouldn't be at peace until I just got it out. And this book happened. I felt it was important (at least to me) and once I it was completed, I realized that what I had been really searching for was Christ. I didn't know that I was missing Him, or even searching for Him- only after I had found Him did I realize how deeply I had missed Him.
I think that is why he was missing in that way in the book- it wasn't until the very end that he was revealed in the poem of the spirit which really is the Holy Spirit. I think that is what was meant when I wrote:
"Deep inside you is a seed, when watered grows a spirit tree, the only thing that makes us free whose voice only you hear. To water it though is your choice, it grows to speak your inner voice, a whisper when there's lots of noise, Its God within you, my friend." (which is when I had finally understood that it was the Holy Spirit that was guiding me all along)
I completed it in tears: "Forget me not for it is I, the light inside your curious eye, the wings that make imaginations fly, that will take you home again."
And it was then I had realized it was Him. It was like a stream of consciousness when I was writing it so it was a surprise to me as well. Part of me is hesitant to change it since the whole book just came to me just like that. It kind of documented my awakening while it was being written. So hard to explain. But I definitely would consider recreating a children's series or play or something modified from the original with maybe some kind of study notes or questions, reflections or something- that connect to Christ, his love, and the bible. I think I would need to study and meditate on it to see what the Lord was guiding me to say. In some ways, I feel like the book was really for me- personally, to connect with Christ. So if I wanted to change the audience and make it one for others, for growing Christians or young children or whatever, I would probably have to change some things in it. Who knows, maybe the Lord will guide me to create something altogether totally different. I really have no idea.
Is there any character you felt most connected to? Least connected to? Was it hard to follow?
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Post by Gr8tful on Aug 29, 2015 0:55:04 GMT
Hmmm good question! Let me think about that and get back to you on it. There's a few of them I liked. At times it was hard to follow because of the way it is written i wasn't sure what you meant. But that's just me, since it's not the type of style I typically read, so I would reread parts to make sure I was getting it. Which is also a good thing when a book makes you think. You know, maybe instead of rewriting it maybe take what you already have as like a Part 1 or however you would want to do it. Since it's around 70 pages, you certainly could add a Part 2 to it. I thought the same re: the end and the poem being the Holy Spirit. A good place to end and then pick back up in Part 2?? Just some thoughts. But I will get back to you on the question becuz it's an interesting question and I'd like to know myself! Leave it in the Lord's hands. Since He chose you to right in the way He did, He will compel you once again for the next step. I truly believe that.
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Post by peaceinthestorm on Sept 16, 2015 2:58:54 GMT
I was on vacation last week and so I read your book. Like you said, the first chapter was a bit hard to follow. But after that I really enjoyed it. It taught some very good lessons about what is really important and I liked the ending. I liked that it gave me a lot to think about. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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chiara
Numbers' Donkey
Posts: 113
Favourite Verse: In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world- John 16:33
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Post by chiara on Sept 29, 2015 0:59:05 GMT
Thanks peace! Just saw this. It means a lot to me that you read it and liked it.
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