October Writing Contest Winner: Amie Heath

gold

I used to think gold was a simple word. One that described the color of some kind of piece of jewelry that I would have wanted in high school. In looking at the definition it confirms those thoughts, but provides so much more insight:

gold /g?ld/

Noun

A yellow precious metal, the chemical element of atomic number 79, valued esp. for use in jewelry and decoration, and to guarantee the value of currencies

An alloy of this (ex. 9-carat gold)

A deep lustrous yellow or yellow-brown color

Coins or articles made of gold

Money in large sums; wealth

A thing that is precious, beautiful, or brilliant

I like this last definition of gold - a thing that is precious, beautiful or brilliant. It changes my perspective of the word. It challenges the value of the word in my head - makes me wonder what exactly is gold in my life?

It isn't just the necklace my parents gave me so many years ago for my 16th birthday, the color of the leaves in the fall as they shift from deep greens to reds and yellows, burning bright in the soft sunlight. There is something deeper to this.

Gold is a thing that is precious, beautiful or brilliant. The title of the poem Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost seems to untrue. God calls me precious. His beauty surrounds me and the verse describing the very streets in heaven jumps to the front of my mind.

The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. - Revelation 21:21

Have we reached a wrong conclusion?

Put things to a narrow definition.

There's a need to broaden our perspective,

change the angle in which we view.

Ask ourselves the question,

Is it possible that gold can stay?

Amie (aka 'bigredhead) has been married for almost 15 years to the Jolly German, who has patience to put up with starter problems on a day-to-day basis. They don't have any of their own children, but have impacted the lives of 100's as she ministers at the North Charleston Dream Center.

 

Meet Amie

Hello Voices, meet Amie the lovely winner of our October Writing Contest! We wanted to let you get to know her a little better and then share her winning work later this month. Here is the lovely Amie.

Tell us a little about your self.

I love out loud. That’s the best description of myself as I walk day-to-day, learning and asking for an extra portion of grace each day. I’m 39 years old, grew up in North Carolina and originally from Ohio. I married a German and have traveled around the world – literally. I don’t have any kids of my own, but God has given me an extra portion through the work I do at the North Charleston Dream Center and the e3 mentoring program.

When did you start writing.

My heart for writing started when I entered a beauty pageant in high school and needed a talent. I knew that singing or dancing wouldn’t be a very good option, so I chose poetry and spoken word. I guess back then it wasn’t called spoken word, but I did get first place in the talent portion – so I gave up on the life of beauty pageants and stuck with the writing. 
 

What is your favorite thing about writing.

I love the opportunity to share my thoughts, dreams and opinions and writing provides you with a way to do just that. I can dream all kinds of crazy things and use the creative portion of my brain that doesn’t always get used in my day-to-day life. I am a communicator and writing is a great way to communicate!
 

Where do you want to go in your writing.

I didn’t start writing again with any specific goal in mind. I just knew I wanted to go back and do what I love. I guess I always have the dreams of writing a book – I come up with titles, chapters, ideas and thoughts all the time.
 

What is your favorite source of inspiration?

I loved Edgar Allen Poe when I was a young – strange writing with so many turns and twists to a story. These days I like to see how much power is in one single word. To take that and express it on my blog – sharing the day-to-day of life, hoping to inspire and encourage someone else along in their journey.

Thanks Amie for sharing with us!
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