Rocket Man Rocketed Me - Lora Lovin Osburn

Earlier this month, I saw the movie Rocketman about the English singer/songwriter/creative musical genius Elton John, and the movie seemed to strike a match and light the fire that had become embers under my creative soul. I left the theater feeling that I’d hibernated long past winter and was waking up and stretching to the stirrings of a new season of creativity and coming out of the cave that I had been asleep in for far too long.

This post is my attempt to share how Rocketman, the movie, has rocketed me in the area of creativity.

We all have defining moments in our lives. You know, those moments that change the trajectory of where we are going. I have had several defining moments in my life, and to me, Rocketman and the ensuing process of thoughts that have become this blog post have become one of those defining moments for me. Not that I haven’t creatively written here before, because I have; but after seeing Elton John and hearing how he could hear a whole tune for the song lyrics before him in his head and he just “had to get it out”, I started thinking of the words and poems that I have scratched on various and sundry pieces of paper at any and all times of the day and night. The words that come to me – I just hear them in my head, and like Elton, “I just have to write them down”. I don’t sit and think them up; but I hear them in my head and scratch them down in a lined journal, or on a notepad, or in a small notebook I’ve learned to carry with me because before the notebook I’ve written on programs, napkins, scraps of paper, and even tissues.

Rocketman got my thoughts all fueled up regarding my own poetry and words that seem to creatively stir in me. I had the thought that the creativity in me needed to come out of the hole it’s been buried in for far too long. Then I couldn’t help but think of the Biblical parable of the talents, and I saw myself holding this gift of poetry in my hands. Yes, I have sporadically shared poetry here. I have shared with friends while seated at their kitchen tables, I’ve written what I’ve heard for family members, and one of them had it written on her daughter’s wall and had me sign it. I’ve given poetry as gifts to friends and have been blessed to hear a preacher pray it over friends at their wedding. I’ve shared at churches and even been a Poet Laureate for a small event.

But Rocketman got me to asking myself all sorts of “What if” questions:

What if this poetry that I hear in my head and feel that I have to write down is my gift, not only to me but to others?

What if I have hidden my God-given talent in a field,
And ignored the eternal yield?
What if the stacks of paper and scraps of notes held together by ribbons that are stored on shelves, in filing cabinets, and stuffed in desk drawers are part of my eternal purpose?

What if I were to creatively pursue my gift of poetry and writing?

What if the words GOD has given me are my buried treasure?
My abundant life, my Heavenly Father’s full measure.

What if I need to invest these words, these poems, into others?

What if my solitary life is a gift waiting to be given,
The words, the rhymes I hear are my creative living?

What if?

I feel the gift of poetry that has been given to me can no longer wait,
So no longer will my poetry gifts hibernate.

I am going to pursue my giftings of writing, speaking, and sharing my words and poetry. I am also writing a book! Yes, the cat is out of the bag! I started in January of this year, and it is really in the works!!! It is not a poetry book, but a personal story that I am writing. I have poems already written that will go in poetry books, and some of the poems will become songs. I will not be singing the songs, but I can think of several poems that I have written down that are songs and someone will be singing them!

So while June is my birthday month, after seeing Rocketman I say:

Happy birth day to my creativity!
The month my gifts unfurl their wings and take flight.
The timing is now, and it is right.
Today creativity comes out of the hibernation cave,
And decides to be brave.

GOD can use anything HE wants to speak to us. HE used the movie Rocketman to light a creative rocket under me.

Rocketman was inspiring from so many aspects: the music, the retro clothing, the mid-century modern decor, the fact that Elton John could write music from just hearing it in his mind was incredible. His personal story was heart-wrenchingly sad and his lifestyle was (at times) so debauched, I just literally could not watch the screen. I’m still thinking about the overall impact of the movie, but I came home from the theater and felt the compunction to write. So these next words, these poems, these overflowings of my heart are my gift. To GOD. To you. It is the what, the why, and the therefore of what I am to do. I offer them humbly, to you:

I see beyond their faces and names

I taste the salt from the tears when they fall

I hear the silent echo when on others you call

I sweep the fine particles of dust

The hurt and responding mistrust

I take on the strain

The heartache, the pain

I reach for the fragments and crumbs

The emotions spent and undone

The magnitude of your latitude

Where the ingrates seem to lie in wait

To overcome, spoil all fun

I recognize the tear stained eyes

Once bright, now drained of the prize

I acknowledge the silence

And all that needs recompense

The gnawing, the nagging, cohorts bragging

I give audience to the hurt and the painful groan

You, beloved, are not alone

I reach towards the layer of dust

The stench of decay and corrosion of rust

The stain that won’t come out

I hear the silence, the voice of the violent

The feelings pushed down that want to shout

And just when you think you are undone

I come

Hallelujah

Let My promises wash over you

Revealing

Healing

Making all things new

I know your name

You are strength and beauty

Though you feel mired by chores and duty

Though your life may not be the script you wished or picked

I AM with you through the thin and the thick.

Creative photo taken by accident; but it makes makes me think of the thrust of a rocket that moves it beyond the pull of earth’s gravity.