Unwritten Melody by Tessa Emily Hall

~Saturday Stories~

Typical Cassie: "My bed squeaks as I climb on top of it. Sitting against the wooden headboard, I place the typewriter in my lap and inhale its dusty scent - which is oddly comforting, like the pages within an old book. Words beg to burst forth through my fingertips as I adjust the paper. This is my therapy."

Typical James: "To put it simply, I have to pursue music. Not just for myself or for this passion, but for the people who may some day be touched through my songs. Those who might be affected by my music in a positive way."

All her life, Cassie has been sheltered. Her grandma sets a 7 p.m. curfew, doesn't let her go to birthday parties, doesn't let her drive, etc., etc., etc. And all her life Cassie has been obedient. But now she wants to do something out of the ordinary, to experience the life that she never got to have, to be a normal teenager. Will her new classmate James be the answer to any of that? Does she have the courage to step out of her small world of grandparents, a couple friends, and her song lyrics?

James was just on American Spotlight, living his dream. But now he can't seem to find the inspiration and words to even start a demo album. Coming to a town in the middle of nowhere with his mother, James wants to sort out his life and figure out what he wants to do after high school. But his past, the past he has tried so hard to forget, might haunt him even here. 

Unwritten Melody is a beautiful story, based somewhat on the sheltered life of the poet Emily Dickinson. The struggles of both Cassie and James are relatable and intricately woven into the story. Cassie learns how to be vulnerable and how to believe that her life holds meaning and purpose. James learns to learn from past mistakes, but not to let them hold him back. 

At some times during the story, I felt that it dragged. However, other times were extremely gripping. The story is not as faith-focused as it could be, but it does include a few mentions of God. More about the Bible is woven into the discussion questions after the story. 

For more on Tessa Emily Hall, visit her website, Facebook page, and blog. She has also written the book, Purple Moon. 

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Worth

~Saturday Stories~

(This is not about my actual yesterday)

It was really loud.

And I had fun. 

I really did. 

Yesterday. 

But I'm pretty sure

I annoyed 

All my friends. 

Just by being me.

And, no, they 

Would never tell me

And it might not even be true

But I feel like I'm the most 

Annoying person ever. 

And today has been 

Marked, for me, 

By the giant belief

That I am worse 

Than what everyone 

Wishes I would be. 

But see, it's probably all me. 

Or most of it. 

And, yes, I know 

I am loved by 

God, family, friends.

But sometimes it feels

Like there's a great chasm 

Between my worth 

And theirs. 

God, let me let go 

Of this fear. 

I hope you don't mind

~Saturday Stories~

I battle the urge to tell you 

Because I've been vulnerable not long ago 

And it would only be annoying if I asked 

For support again

But I can't seem to help it 

I'm really sorry if I'm bothering you

Just tell me and I'll stop

But I've thought this through 

And thought that telling you and easing my own pain

Would be worth the slight aggravation it would cause you

Especially since I would do the same for you

So that is why I'm opening up

I hope you don't mind

"Brothers and sisters, pray for us." 1 Thessalonians 5:25 (NIV)

The hurt feelings that I muffle

~Saturday Stories~

The blue I see in the sky, Lord,
They say I have that in my eyes
But when I look into them, Lord,
I just see the pain and the hurt

The hurt feelings that I muffle
The broken stories I shuffle
Around so nobody will hear them
So nobody will see me torn

The "A"s in my GPA, Lord,
They say reflect my hard work
But when I look at my resume, Lord,
I just see useless unappreciated work

The hurt feelings that I muffle
The broken stories that I shuffle
Around so nobody will hear them
So nobody will see me torn

The time on that clock, Lord,
Says I run fast and can do much
But when I see that time, Lord,
I see the time that I waste beating myself up

The hurt feelings that I muffle
The broken stories that I shuffle
Around so nobody will hear them
So nobody will see me torn

Let me open up, Lord,
You know how hard it is
Where I am, Lord,
And everyone seems to have
Bigger problems than me, Lord,
So I shut my mouth up
And don't speak out loud, Lord

Let me open up, Lord,
You didn't make this path for me
To travel all alone, Lord,
You said You'd never leave me,
So just let me open up and be healed, Lord
There are people who would listen
But I bottle myself up, Lord
I say my problems don't matter
While I fail at solving them all, Lord

Lord, just let me open up
Heal me by Your grace
Let me taste Your love
Let me feel Your peace
I can't solve my problems,
I'm the epitome of weak
But You have my hand
And You can heal

You can heal

Heart of Stone

~Monday Movies & Music~

Britt Nicole has a great song, "Heart of Stone." Here are the lyrics. 

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)

Are you completely honest with God? He loves you and wants you to give all your worries to Him. 

Just do it!

~Friday for Friends~

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV)

Sometimes lifting others up seems SO much easier than being vulnerable enough to tell someone we have fallen. We want to deal with everything on our own. We don't want to be weak. Weak is bad, right? That's what we've heard at least. And we're strong enough to handle this, right? No big deal. 

WRONG. IT'S A BIG DEAL. 

God's Word tells us that together we can be stronger. And we want to throw that away for what - a 20-sec-long feeling of I-can-handle-this before we fall head-first into another bout of depression. Wow, that's really smart. Really, Sofia, you're a genius.

Why can't we be more vulnerable with each other?   

I'm doing well?

~Saturday Stories~

I'm doing well.
What about you?
School is pretty good;
The homework load okay.
I have a couple papers due,
But it's all manageable.
Made friendships over the summer;
Continued them in the fall.
Roommates? Roommates are good.
We get along well, yes.
Just "As" and "Bs"
I probably get more sleep now
Than I did last year.
Work is manageable.
Finances look okay.
Church is supportive.
All's good, right?
Right?

If on the outside everything looks good,
That doesn't mean I feel good.
I can smile to you
And cry five minutes later.
Don't just ask me questions.
Look into my eyes,
Spend time with me,
Pour into my life.
Then feel free to ask me questions.
And pressure me for honest answers

Sharing ourselves

~Friday for Friends~

You see, sometimes we aren't honest. Not in the least. We dodge the questions; we speak half-truths. What they don't know can't hurt them, right? We hide away from sharing what we feel; lame "feeling well"s will have to do. When did it pay off to be vulnerable? We try to go away to cry; we do not want to be weak in front of others. They won't understand, will they?

What? Why? Sometimes we hide too much, and when all the emotions boil, we do not have anyone to share with us the soup of discouragement, shame, and fear. What if we actually SHARED a part of ourselves? Went all out and showed them we cared about them and opened up about our own stuff?

Scary? Oh, yeah. Worth it? Definitely

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Romans 12:15 (NIV)

What if we were real

~Monday Movies & Music~

"What If We Were Real" is a song by Mandisa. Here are the lyrics.

"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:1-2 (NIV)

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

Can you be real today?