Rolf Gompertz
A creative dead end can produce wonders.
That was proved to me once again in a most dramatic way. It involved the cover design of my new book, a provocative biblical novel, titled, "Abraham, The Dreamer / An Erotic and Sacred Love Story."
I had submitted my thoughts for the cover design to the publisher (iUniverse.com). I explained that the story is about a love triangle, involving Abraham, his wife Sarah, and her handmaid, Hagar, "the other woman." I suggested that the cover capture that relationship.
Of course, there's much more to the story, and I filled in the details at some length. After all, this is not a contemporary novel in a contemporary setting. We are talking about life 4000 years ago, with its many gods and goddesses, its child sacrifices and erotic Sacred Marriage Rites. Abraham's wife, Sarah, could very well have been, what I portray her to be, a high priestess serving Inanna, the great goddess of Love and War. We have Abraham, who turned against his society to follow a new and different God. What made him do that, I wondered, as I tried to recreate his life and tell his story. Furthermore, what made him transfer his love from Sarah to Hagar?
I tried to give the designer a sense of the individuals and of the story that lay hidden in the laconic biblical account.
When the cover design came back to me I knew I was in trouble. The artwork suggested a knightly romance set in England during the Middle Ages. But the story is about Sumer, Canaan and Egypt, and nomadic, biblical characters who lived some three thousand years before the Middle Ages. How could the designers have been so far off the mark? I learned, what I had not known before, that the design department was not set up to provide original artwork. The designers could only work with existing stock art and clip art. Though plentiful, this art could not produce the "look" that I was looking for.
I was now faced with two problems. First, a deadline. I had about two weeks to come up with an idea that could be made to work. Otherwise, the book would be canceled and I would have to start with it all over again as a "new" project.
Second, I didn't know if I could come up with a satisfactory, workable cover idea. I considered hiring an outside graphic artist. A quick check indicated that there would not be enough time for this and that it would be costly, if not prohibitive.
So I did what was only proper under such circumstances: I freaked out! Or, to be perfectly honest, I freaked out - some more! I was desperate. I knew I had to stop thinking about the original cover concept. I had to stop my circular thinking, or, to put it another way, I had to start thinking outside the box. In short, I had to think creatively.
The creative process itself is elusive. It works in a most mysterious way. It usually consists of stating the problem, defining it and turning it over to your mind to think about and solve. I have often found that the answer, the solution comes to me when the mind is relaxed and at rest. Invariably, I wake up at two or three in the morning. At first I'm annoyed. I wonder why I woke up. Then I lie quietly. Presently, I become conscious of some answer or solution to a "problem" floating into view.
The first thought that came this way was "lapis lazuli." I had used lapis lazuli jewelry in the book on several significant occasions. The gold-speckled, deep-blue gemstone was highly prized in those times. In the book, it is presented as a gift to Sarah, the high priestess, during the Sacred Marriage Rite. Elsewhere, I have Abraham giving Hagar a lapis lazuli necklace and matching earrings upon consummating their love. A lapis lazuli-colored scarf also figures meaningfully in the story.
"Yes," I thought to myself. "That's it! That's my cover. A lapis lazuli necklace and earrings and a lapis lazuli scarf. A perfect metaphor for the full story."
I was elated, exhilarated. I loved the simplicity of the idea, the richness of the deep-blue color, the poetic symbolism.
But there was only one problem: I could not locate images of the scarf and jewelry. I even had trouble locating an image of a lapis lazuli gemstone. Though I still had a couple of days left to find the right image, I now feared that my book would be canceled since I had nothing for the cover.
I paced nervously through the house that evening, going back and forth between bedroom and study. I paused before my nature pictures which cover the walls, photographs that I had taken of sunrises and sunsets, lakes and oceans, trees, flowers and clouds. I don't know why I turned to these images -- perhaps to relax me, to comfort me, to inspire me, which they have always done. Suddenly, my eyes fixed on a blazing red sunrise, with a white cloud spiraling into the sky, hovering over a dark lake.
Whenever I looked at that spectacular image, in the past, it always left me awed and breathless. This time, however, the sunrise addressed me in a new way - its blazing colors spoke to me of erotic passions, its cloud spiraling upwards spoke to me of the sacred and the heavenly, of dreams and dreamers, the fiery pillar emerging out of the darkness spoke to me of the immanent and transcendent God, the great Mystery, the awesome Mystery, the holy Mystery, the loving Mystery in which we move and live and have our being.
Yes, this was the cover! This was my cover! It had emerged from the wondrous mystery of the creative process. It reminded me, once more, to stay loose, remain flexible and trust that process, that Mystery, in all its creative variations.
Copyright 2002 Rolf Gompertz. All rights reserved.
Rolf Gompertz is the author of eight books, including, "Abraham, The Dreamer/An Erotic and Sacred Love Story," a biblical paperback novel about the turbulent relationship between Abraham, his wife, Sarah, and "the other woman," Hagar. It may be browsed and ordered online at www.iUniverse.com, www.amazon.com,
from any bookstore or iUniverse's toll free number 1/877/823-9235.
Author contact: mailto rolfgompertz@yahoo.com
Coumadin Users Can Avoid Unnecessary Complications By Wearing Identification.
J. Terrence McDermott
The police arrive at the accident scene promptly. A driver has run his automobile into a guardrail while exiting a highway. The driver does not seem to be injured but is somewhat incoherent and is slipping in and out of consciousness. Did he strike his head? Is he inebriated? Is he on drugs? A quick review of the driver's attire reveals a medical alert bracelet that identifies him as a Coumadin user. This is crucial information for those responding to the incident.
Coumadin (the brand name for Warfarin) is a medication that has offered protection from strokes, heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms other conditions resulting from blood clots. Coumadin is an anti-coagulant, or blood thinner, that helps to prevent the formation of blood clots. Those with certain heart conditions or who are subject to irregular blood clotting can benefit significantly from Coumadin. That's the good news. The bad news is that Coumadin is a medication that must be carefully monitored to insure the correct balance in the user's system to avoid serious complications.
Coumadin dosage is a very precise science and is determined by the specific condition being treated, certain characteristics of the person with the condition and the rate of clotting as determined by regular testing. In order to achieve the proper levels of Coumadin it may be necessary to take different doses each day. This requires that the user be very aware of the schedule and keep good records of dosage requirements and testing schedules.
Warfarin (generic Coumadin) was actually used as rat poison. Large doses of the compound caused rodents to hemorrhage internally and die. While the doses for humans are relatively miniscule, the dangers of excess bleeding are still a concern. The delicate balance of Coumadin in the system is the reason that many users will wear some form of medical alert identification. In the event of an emergency or an accident, attendants can readily identify a Coumadin user and attempt to discern whether to avoid certain other medications that may interact adversely with Coumadin. Emergency personnel can also determine if Coumadin may be the culprit.
There are many medical conditions and medications that can cause a situation or a reaction whereby a person cannot communicate. Conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, food allergies and the use of medications like Coumadin can be easily and readily identified by wearing medical alert jewelry with the proper information engraved or stored. A small problem can become a large problem if someone takes the wrong course of action, or no action, based on a lack of information. A small, attractive, fashionable piece of jewelry can help you look sharp-and save your life.
About the author: J. Terrence McDermott is administrator and webmaster for
Prevamedic.com a site featuring recommendations and resources for those seeking information about medical identification jewelry and devices. He can be reached at info@prevamedic.co.
