Belinda Pollard

An Australian Gracewriter, Eliza, has allowed us to reproduce her thoughtful and beautiful poem on the blog this week – her thoughts that have sprung from the coronavirus isolation. Thank you, Eliza! The Source The gullible gulls have ceased searching in vainfor tossed chips beside the Tweed River. And resigned to flap squall to the sea's edge to forage for fish. The butcher birds are bold and sit inlow banksia branches on the foreshore,sharp eyes observing all. The … [Read more...] about Gracewriting: Creativity that nourishes

A thoughtful guest post by author, blogger and photographer, Donita Bundy. After spending time last week with God in isolation­ – curled into the foetal position from debilitating chronic pain – the intimacy evaporated as soon as I stepped back into the slipstream of life. Last week’s connection has been replaced with busyness and clutter. I still read my Bible and pray, but … helping my children learn from home, trying to catch up on word count targets, a new photography project, and … [Read more...] about When we can’t seem to stay close to God…

While I was preparing this topic for Gracewriters this week, my computer suddenly went dark and quiet and smelled like burnt toast. Stuff happens, but it’s interesting timing. Other Christian writers are facing heightened challenges at this time, from practical difficulties to flare-ups of chronic illnesses to conflict at home. It’s important not to over-spiritualise all the difficulties we have in this world. But we also do need to remember that as Gracewriters we have gone into battle … [Read more...] about When Christian writing is a battlefield

This week, Gracewriters welcomes guest contributor Donita Bundy, with inspiration and encouragement to point us toward Jesus during this very strange Easter 2020. Last Sunday was Palm Sunday, the day we remember and celebrate Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, an animal symbolising humility, peace and Davidic royalty. The streets of Jerusalem would have been packed, and charged with an excitement so electric you could’ve tasted it. The hordes of cheering … [Read more...] about Easter, behind closed doors

Some Christian writers feel guilty that they can’t get on with their writing, because their minds are scrambled by pandemic stress. Many don’t want to use the word “fear” because they are afraid it sounds unspiritual or maybe even a sin. But I am willing to tell you straight out: I have experienced fear outbursts a number of times in recent weeks, and stress has been grumbling away at a persistent background level. It has sometimes disrupted my ability to think clearly and creatively and … [Read more...] about Christian writers: Heal your stress, find your purpose

For weeks, my head has been buzzing like a swarm of bees, while the world as we know it crumbles. Anxiety, disrupted sleep, trouble concentrating on work, reading too much news, scroll-scroll-scrolling through social media, trying to buy groceries from empty shelves (did I just hear a cough?!), worry, worry, worry. Maybe you’ve been doing better than me and keeping calm and focused. We’re all different. But a lot of imaginative people do suffer various forms of anxiety even in “normal” … [Read more...] about Being a Christian writer during the COVID-19 pandemic