What does it mean to live on tilt?
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit blew through Jerusalem in the form of a mighty wind, and it is still blowing with power in the lives of people everywhere. Growing in faith is like tuning the rig of a sailboat, appropriating more and more of the power of the Spirit and moving ever more speedily along the course directed by the Helmsman. That is why I say that I am Living on Tilt!
I live on a sailboat, and I love that moment when a brilliant white sail catches a stiff breeze. The sailboat tilts, and the boat, the sail and the wind settle into a powerful relationship that pulls the boat forward.The life of faith is not devoted solely to faith practices. God created us in his own image, which is expressed in part by our own urge to create. God declared creation to be good, and he is honored when we discover and confirm the quality of his creation in our own adventures.. Whether I write about Christian faith practices or cooking, Christian heroes or sailing, or about exploration in other realms, all these adventures are part of the single quest of my life -- discovering and becoming what God created me to be.
Join me in the great adventure that is the life of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ
Katherine Harms, Writer
One spring, as the season of Lent approached, I asked myself, what can I do as my Lenten project this year? It happened that I was reading in the Old Testament, and I discovered the prayer of Hannah in I Samuel, the prayer she wrote at the time she presented Samuel to Eli to be brought up in the service of the Lord. I was overwhelmed with the beauty of this poem and the faith it expressed.
I began to wonder how Hannah became the woman who could pray like this when she was giving up her long-prayed-for son. I decided to write my study notes as if I were Hannah, journaling my faith experiences. Even though I tried to think as Hannah, when I wrote the resulting manuscript became my compilation of my own faith journey.
My experience studying the Bible and studying Hannah made me want to learn how to be a writer. God acted in amazing and wonderful ways to lead me in my studies and in my search for fulfillment. In January of 2004, I submitted my book, Hannah’s Journal to the Christian Writers Guild First Novel Contest. I placed third in a field of 270, but after I recovered from my disappointment, I realized that no matter who won this contest, I won, because God confirmed my work and fulfilled my faith. He gave me Hannah’s story for His purposes, and I knew that He would bring to pass the results He had in mind when I started writing.
In the years since that contest, I have had the opportunity to grow in faith and to discover that God’s gift to me as a writer flows through my whole life. The research and study associated with writing anything is a constant adventure like searching for buried treasure. Whether I am writing about my faith, or about sailing, or cooking or complete nonsense, I am always growing. Writing truly shapes my life in often surprising ways.
Below is a partial list of material, both published and unpublished, which will give you some idea of the universe in which I live and write. As you travel through my website, I hope you will find something to touch your life, inspire a new thought, or give you a good laugh.
Sailing articles
Multiple free-lance articles on sailing published in “The Omaha
River Rat,” a magazine for Missouri River boaters
“Turkey in the Cockpit” story about our first attempt to cook a turkey in the galley range of a sailboat. Published in Living Aboard magazine, Oct/Nov 2004
“Foggett,” the experience of fog off the coast of Maine in August, 2003. Published in Cruising World magazine, June, 2008.
Meditations
Monthly meditations in the pastor’s e-mail newsletter for Christ
Lutheran Church, Baltimore, MD. The letter is posted monthly to the church
web site.
Meditations on texts for July25-31, 2004, and for September 18-30, 2005, in The Word in Season, published by Augsburg Fortress
Monthly prayer starters for labyrinth walkers at Christ Lutheran Church, Baltimore, MD
Labyrinth prayer guides for labyrinth walkers at Christ Lutheran Church, Baltimore, MD
Books of Meditations
Oceans of Love, 31 meditations on texts
that reference the ocean, unpublished.
With Me on the Way, meditations on aspects of Christian growth. This book is in progress.
Pray the Catechism, Walk the Labyrinth, meditative prayer guides for use in walking a labyrinth, currently submitted for publication.
Novels
Hannah’s Journal, a study of the life of Hannah, the mother of
Samuel, written as if it were a journal of her spiritual growth from
childhood to death. This novel won third place in a field of 270 entries
in the First Novel Contest sponsored by the Christian Writers Guild in
2004. Currently in edit.
Daniel in Andros, a telling of Daniel’s story in a science fiction genre which focuses on the conflict of faith and secularism. This novel is in progress.
Short Stories
“Already, Not Yet,” the story of Mary Magdalene set from the night
before Pentecost to the end of that day, exploring her relationship to
Jesus and her struggle with faith and hope during the days between the
ascension and the promised gift of the Holy Spirit
“The Conversation,” the story of the conversation between Abram and Sarai as they entered Egypt, working through the issues that led them to participate in the deception that Sarai was simply Abram’s sister.
“To Die For,” a short story which explores how a young woman discovers the empty promises of the doctrine of “A woman’s right to choose.” She chooses abortion, and fleeing open conflict with her family, she is befriended by a woman who lovingly rears her own child with disabilities. Jenna learns to value and honor God’s gift of biological life and eternal life.
Scripts
“On Sinai,” the conversation between Moses and Aaron after Moses
found the people worshipping a golden calf.
Religious articles
“My Mother’s Daughter,” the story of my personal struggle
with my relationship to my mother at the time of my father’s death
and how a prayer changed my point of view. Sold to The Lutheran magazine.
Scheduled for future publication.
Book Review
Review of The Art of Storytelling by John Walsh in “The Biblical
Storyteller”, July/August 2004, Volume 22, No. 4. Newsletter of
the Network of Biblical Storytellers
Workshops
Journaling as a Tool for Spiritual Growth, a workshop in 4 sessions presented
in March, 2004, at Christ Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD
Varieties of Prayer, a workshop in 3 sessions presented in February, 2005, at Christ Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD.
Behavior Matters, a class study of Matthew 25, presented in April, 2006, at Christ Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD.
Biblical
Storytelling Scripts (Oral Tradition)
Moses at the Burning Bush (Exodus 3-4)
The Creation Story (Oldest version Genesis 1:1 – 2:4)
Feeding the Five Thousand (A Midrash of Mark 6 told as character in the
crowd)
Miscellaneous
Vigil of Blessings, a 3-hour prayer vigil punctuated by readings and
music. Personal prayer guided by prayer texts and collected prayers
all focused on the grateful thanksgiving which we all owe to God for
the abundance in our lives.
Numerous prayer meditations written for meetings of the Christ Lutheran Church Prayer Chain, an intercessory prayer group.
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