Transformations - 2

In continuing our look at how the journey changes us, I'd like to look at the example of the diamond.

Think about a hunk of black carbon. Bury it about 100 miles underground where it encounters intense heat from the Earth's mantle. And intense pressure from that much rock sitting on top of it! Under those conditions, the carbon can melt and the atoms can line up in a cubic formation. Now you have a diamond.

But the journey for the diamond is not over. It gets pushed to the surface through 100 miles of rock by deep volcanic eruptions. It might lay buried for years before being discovered, picked up, and washed off.

Even then, the diamond needs the right person to find it. To see the potential it holds. To analyze, cut, and polish.

Some diamonds are used to reflect light and are mounted as gemstones in pieces of jewelry.

Some diamonds are used as tools to cut other objects with precision due to their innate strength.

All have been transformed along the way into something of value.

Do you see yourself as a diamond in the rough? If so, what stage are you in?

Football Friday - Time Out

Around our house, football reigns.

You see, my husband is a high school head football coach. After teaching all day and running the team practice, he comes home to watch scouting films and scribble X's and O's on the nearest available pieces of paper. He relaxes on weekends by, what else, watching college and professional football games. Add free online fantasy leagues and a 6th grader who is playing on his middle school team . . .

So, what's a girl to do when surrounded by so much football? Watch and learn.

(Learning about the game might help with dinner conversations and earn relationship points, but I'm talking about life in general. There are lessons to be learned and we'll be looking at several of them over the next several weeks.)

Today's lesson from football? The Time Out

The game of football is full of pushing and shoving along the line of scrimmage, bursts of action, crushing hits, and running back to the huddle to do it again. And again. A physical battle is waged over ball possession, field position, and points. Emotions run high, and sweat pours from athletes giving everything they have play after play after play.

Until the whistle blows.

"Time out called by the home team."

The teams head for a sideline huddle. Managers rush over with water bottles. Coaches make crucial decisions and issue new instructions. Players catch their breath. When the brief but necessary time is up, they head back into battle.

What about us? Do you ever feel like you're in a shoving match or being tackled to the ground by life's circumstances? Like you're in a battle of brief skirmishes or sustained drives? Like your energy is being drained even as you devote yourself to the task at hand?

Call a time out.

Catch your breath and regain your perspective on priorities. Rehydrate yourself with activities that fill you up. Weigh your options and make well-informed decisions. Get advice, correction, or encouragement from your coaches or teammates.

Then get back in the game.

Oh, and should I mention that football also has scheduled times of rest (aka half-time)? You don't see players strutting around like rest is for weaklings or begging to stay out on the field because they have too much to do. If even muscular trained athletes need a break, how much more does this frazzled mom need to call a time out?

Do you call time-outs? Do you find them beneficial? What is your favorite form of rehydration? And, what's your biggest excuse for not resting?

Rest for your Soul

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest ... You will find rest for your souls." ~Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

If you're anything like me, there are days you feel very weary. And very burdened.

It's like taking a hike with a backpack that gains weight as you continue to drag one foot in front of the other. I'm hot and tired and thirsty. I scan the trail ahead for a large rock to sit on. Preferably in the shade. I want to slip the straps of the pack off my shoulders. Ideally, I can forget about the distance still to cover while I get a drink of water and let a breeze ruffle my hair. The sweat beading, er glistening, on my forehead evaporates.

Ah, the relief of a shady rock and a time to rest.

Jesus offers the same promise to those weary travelers who come to him. Not "I might" - but "I will" give rest.

What a relief.

Are you weary? Do you need rest for your soul?

Transformations

A journey is more than movement toward a goal. It's a life-changing experience. We arrive at the destination different than when we started.

How have we changed? How does this transformation happen?

On Mondays, for the next several weeks, I'd like to take a closer look at examples of things that have changed due to their circumstances.

Years ago, a story made it's way through the Internet about a young woman complaining to her mother about how tough her life was. (I'll paraphrase for the sake of time.) Her mother boiled three pots of water and added eggs, carrots or ground coffee beans to each pot. After a period of time, she took out the eggs and carrots and poured the coffee into a cup.

Object lesson time.

The egg had gone into the boiling water as a fragile shell around a wishy-washy inside. It came out looking the same from the outside but with a hard interior.

The carrot had gone in firm and crisp. It came out limp and weak.

The coffee had changed the water and filled the room with its rich aroma.

All three faced the same adversity - boiling water. The point of that story - and mine - is that we can choose to be changed by our circumstances. Or to change them.

Which have you been most like when facing hardship?

Back To School - Part 3

Today's our last look at going back to school - by getting our own fresh start.

Our focus today is on new routines.

Our family is wrapping up our first week of school. My kindergartner is still overwhelmed with the classroom procedures. My 6th grader is roughly navigating his way through changing rooms each period, getting his locker open, football practice after school, and finishing homework before he falls asleep at his desk. My special needs 7th grader still tries to go to science class first period like she did last year.

Me? I've had to create my own schedule and re-establish routines. Like bedtimes and morning wake-up calls. Where to put backpacks when you get home. Homework expectations and location. When to pack lunches. Schedule carpools. Put the laundry into the washer before I wake up the boys and move it to the dryer before I leave to take them to school. Put dinner in the oven on time-bake before I take my daughter to Special Olympics bowling practice.

My biggest change this year is the block of time every morning while my kindergartner is at school. I need to maximize my most-creative time of the day - and the quiet - by upping the word count on my latest manuscript. My email, exercise, blog reading, cleaning, cooking, and part-time job can happen later in the day. If only I can ignore them that long.

I'm the type of person who likes to have everything planned out. When will I get what done? Are there really enough hours in the day? Make a list and cross off each item.

I read a recent newspaper comic strip. Garfield said, "I believe in planning ahead. Becaaauuuuse. If you spend enough time planning, you never actually have to do anything." Ouch.

Do you have any routines that work? How do you move past the planning into the doing? (Please share. I need all the help I can get.)

Back to School - Part 2

This week we're celebrating going back to school by looking at how we can get a fresh start too.

Monday, we looked at old and new friends. Today, let's focus on those new classes.

My kids are taking the following classes: reading, spelling, writing, math, history, science, music, art, computers, library, physical education, and study hall. Now, whether they'll actually learn something during the class is another matter.

Here's my list of things I'd like to learn about this year. (Notice the word "like" to learn about. The key here is finding subjects that interest me.)

• How to write a breakout (or break-in novel)


• Plotting strategies to set up a satisfying ending


• How to add those sensory details I tend to overlook


• How to write a solid book proposal


• How to become a woman of prayer


• Strategies to handle my daughter's autistic-like behaviors


• Strategies to manage and explain puberty to a child with developmental disabilities


• Ballroom dancing or a theatre class (Um, I've got this character and I need to research)

So, where and when am I going to enroll? After all, if I'm going to learn anything this school year, I need to move past the "want to" into actual doing. Sign up for the class. Get the textbook. Open it and read. Do the homework exercises.

• ACFW Conference workshops, publisher and agent chats, speakers, etc.


• ACFW Conference - Early Bird session called "Writing the Breakout Novel" with Donald Maass


• Blogs by other writers, editors and agents


• Writer's Digest magazine


• Monthly online writing courses through ACFW


• CdLS Online Support Group


• CdLS Foundation resources including "Ask a Doctor"


• Bible studies at my church


• Google "autism" and sift through the hundreds, if not thousands, of websites and forums

What classes are you planning to take this school year?

Back To School - Part I

It's that time of year again.

My kids and my husband are all headed off to school. One as a teacher and football coach (I won't see much of him until November.) Two in middle school and one starting kindergarten.

As they eagerly prepare . . . Scratch that. As I eagerly prepare for them to return, I'm reminded of all the newness of going back to school. New boxes of crayons. Unsharpened pencils. Pristine notebooks.

It's like getting a fresh start in the middle of the year.

But, what about me? Don't I get something new, too?

This week, I want to look closer at three aspects of going back to school. Starting with friends.

My kindergartner took time at the open house to introduce himself to other kneecap-clinging children. My 6th and 7th graders couldn't wait to see their friends from last year.

So, in my new school year, what am I doing to connect with old friends? And, am I interested in making new friends?

Earlier this month, I drove over an hour to attend a CdLS Family picnic. I spent several hours catching up with families I first met after my daughter's diagnosis. I also got the chance to meet new families and listen to their stories.

In less than a month, I'll be leading one of several women's Bible studies at our church. I'm sure there will be familiar faces as well as nervous newcomers.

In about a month, I'll be one of the nervous newcomers at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference. While I know a few attendees from my local writers group, I know others from blogs and Facebook. But, most I'll be meeting for the very first time.

It's back to school. How are you doing in the friend department?

Road Signs Part 3 - Options

This week, we've been looking at a few road signs and how they relate to our journeys in life. Road construction means delays. Road closed means we have to find another route.


What about this sign?

Have you ever felt there were too many options?

I remember going off to college. Should I go into accounting, nursing, or teaching? I liked so many things but which major should I choose? I narrowed it to teaching. But, which subject? (Honestly, I couldn't decide. I majored in Elementary Education so I could teach all of them.)

Then, there was the whole dating scene. Well, some people had this problem. I went to a college where the girls outnumbered the guys at least four to one. But, in my dreams, I debated between dark or light hair. Brainiac or athlete. Musician, pastor, or businessman.

And writing? I'm getting ready for the ACFW Conference in September. Which workshops should I attend? Which editors or agents should I meet with? What should I wear to the awards banquet?

Too many options can freeze us into indecision. But, how do you choose?

1. Pray for wisdom.
2. Do your research.
3. Imagine the results if I chose that option.
4. Narrow the choices.
5. Pray some more.

How do you decide when all the options seem like good ones?

Road Signs Part 2 - Road Closed Ahead

On Monday, we looked at road construction. But, what if you see this sign instead?

Closed? What do you mean closed? I wanted to go further down this road. I can see my destination from here. What do you mean I can't go forward?

Disappointment.

But the guy who gave me directions told me to go this way. My map shows this road. I don't know how else to get there.

Confusion.

The voices from the backseat chime in. "Are we there yet?" "How much longer?"

Frustrations mount.

Now what? Do I pretend the sign isn't there and push forward anyway? Do I hope the road might reopen eventually and sit here waiting for the road block to disappear? Or do I find another path to take?

What road blocks have you faced in your journey? How did you handle them?

Road Signs Part 1 - Construction Ahead

The road south of our house is under construction.

Still.

Every time I see the sign, I know that I need to slow down. The road will get a little bumpy. There might be delays. And my car will probably get a little dusty as it bounces over the rough patches.

They dug up the old road and laid a new section of piping. Replaced the dirt and packed it down. A layer of gravel. New concrete curbs and sidewalk poured. Asphalt spread and rolled flat. The whole process involves many, many time-consuming steps. Why else would the estimated completion date still loom weeks away?

Yet, when the workers are done, the finished road will be so much nicer than it was when they started working. Smooth. Clean. Fresh paint.

It's the same with my writing journey. I have a novel under construction.

Still.

I thought I was almost done but all I'd really done was lay the foundation. Now, I'm adding layers to plotlines, outlining character motivations, and painting the whole thing with sensory details. The process takes time and there are a few rough spots left. More delays as I brainstorm solutions. And, like the road crew, I'm working toward a self-imposed deadline.

But, when I'm finished? Ooo-la-la. Clean prose and smooth reading.

What is under construction in your life? Are you being patient with the process?

One Step At a Time

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
(quotation from Lao Tzu)

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
(quotation from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)

No matter which path you are on or what the goal is at the end of the road, every journey is a series of steps taken one after the other after the other.

All you have to know is the next step in the journey.
All you have to do is take that step.

Sounds easy enough. Why is it so hard?

For me, I can get overwhelmed by the length of the journey or the enormity of the task. It's too big. It's too long. I'll never be able to travel that far or do that much. If I stare at the big picture, I can get frozen by fear. Instead, I have to break it down into manageable pieces. I try to keep my focus on the next leg of the journey and the small steps I need to take.

But then, I have to actually take that first step. What holds me back? My fear of where the road might lead. My comfort with the status quo. Instead, it takes courage to step out and risk failure. When I'm having trouble taking those steps, I've found that accountability helps. I also attach rewards to reaching my goals and deadlines. (Chocolate and time with a good book always work for me.) What about you?

What's the next step in your journey? Are you taking it?

The Flight of the Bumblebee

Ever watch a bumblebee fly? Tiny wings carry their relatively large bodies from flower to flower.


According to folklore, bumblebees aren't supposed to be able to fly. Someone somewhere did a few simple calculations and determined that it is impossible for a bumblebee to remain airborne according to the laws of aerodynamics.


Tell that to the bumblebee.


Nowadays, more sophisticated analysis shows that bumblebees can fly because their wings operate more like helicopter blades. Plus, their muscles vibrate rather than expand and contract. This allows them to beat their wings 10 to 20 times faster than if they relied on nerve firing impulses alone.


So, you're asking, what does a bug have to do with my journey?


Has anyone ever told you that it is "impossible" to achieve your dream? Have you looked at the available facts, added up the pros and cons, and determined your goal is out of reach? Yet, is there something hidden within you - something others can't see - that will propel you into the future?

Hurry Up and Wait

If a journey implies forward progress, why do I spend so much time waiting for something to happen?

I wish I could travel at a steady pace. Instead, my journey is a series of starts and stops I call "hurry up and wait." (Although sometimes it feels more like "wait, wait, wait, hurry up.")

As a parent, I spent hours upon hours enticing my daughter to let go of the table (or box or toy shopping cart) and walk. For almost a year, she cruised around the house. Until, one day, she let go and starting walking. Within two weeks she was running. We spent well over a year agonizing over potty training. Countless hours working on the alphabet and the sounds each letter makes.

Periods of waiting make achieving the goal that much sweeter.

As a writer, times of frantic preparation are followed by months of silence. Write the manuscript, then let it rest before revising and editing. Send out a query letter, then wait for a response. Send out the proposal and sample chapters, then wait again. Submit the full manuscript for consideration, then wait for the various publishing committees to meet. After signing a contract, make the requested edits, then wait for the book to be put in print. Only to start marketing activities.

Periods of waiting don't have to be idle times. Do I spend the waiting times twiddling my thumbs , pacing the floor, or sitting by the phone? Or, do I continue to prepare myself for the next step in the journey?

When I get the green light, I want to be ready to go.

What about you?