I Believe in the Magic of Many

I got an email from Macy's the other day about their contest... write a story or a video about why you believe in the magic of the season. Interesting challenge, I thought. As a writer, I can accept that challenge. So, I waited a few days to see what type of entries were being published...

Don't get me wrong, I adore programs like the Make-a-Wish foundation, but how do we think much larger? How do we address the problems of the many instead of the wish of one? The top vote-getters are all the entries by and for children that are suffering from ailments. Sad truths, for sure, but why should we stop there?

Can we do more?

The winning entries (top story and top video) each get a trip for four to the 2010 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. So, I thought, let's not make it about the parade, let's make it about the opportunity to gather four individuals with a promise to think outside of the box about problems that are submitted by individuals: local, national, global. Let's just see what happens.

Here is my entry (max 1000 characters):

Magic of Many

I believe,
With all of my heart.
With all of my soul.
Every fiber in my body.
From my knees, I believe.
That we can still grow up
To be what we want to be.
When it seems there’s no longer hope,
That is when we change the world.
Especially our own world.
We all know struggles.
Problems that seem impossible.
Cease the talk, retract our waiting hands
Not to pockets, but to solutions.
Together for a better world, I believe.
In fact, I believe in you,
The life of you and the love in you.
Giving self-less unto others,
Despite how they are unto you.
Without reason or return.
Gather me a Saint, an Artist, a Lover, and a Dreamer.
Me, plus three, for the magic of the season.
And, I promise, we will give thanks
By putting our heads together.
For solutions to great problems, I believe.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

In fact, I'd love to have your vote!

Blank: Evil in a Human Box

BLANK. MUST. DIE.

I don't want to be a part of him, but the more that I read, the more I can feel him honing in on me. I'm not sure if he can tell the light from the dark yet. And, I write... I write about the dark, which means that I have to step into it periodically. Well, often, actually.

When he finds me, which side of me will he see?

Will he want to suck the shadow I cast from the face of the planet; suck the mist of me into his nasal passage when he pushes blade past flesh, forces it through sternum and morbidly orgasms when steel meets heart? Or, will he see that I am a Warrior of the Light, one learning about the dark, just like Blank, training for battles against it tilting the scales toward the good... simply by means of my pen?

My pen. His knife. Love-Love. Let the game begin before the rain comes to chase the spectators from their seats.

This week's Blank Digest put me on his radar, for I am the anonymous quote below:

"So. One of Blank’s people made the following comment in a tweet this week: 'Man, that Blank dude is gonna be full-a all kindsa nastiness. I think I will rename him, Pandora.' First. Love the line. It is an interesting take on what has happened to Blank so far. Pandora opened a storage jar (modernized into a box) and let out the evils of mankind leaving only hope inside. I might refer to Blank less as Pandora and more as Pandora’s Box, for in one sense, Blank is a vessel for evils and in his world, hope may be outside of his jar."

Yessss, that's what I meant, because Blank is the box and I want to see what comes out when he opens himself up. Patience, grasshopper.

But for the rest of you, my fair readers, it's time to open up Blank the Graphic Novel so that you, too, can be there when hope and evil fill up the Tank of Blank.

[Besides, the writers are good friends of mine... check 'em out. Good stuff, Maynard.]