Have you ever heard the saying, "One step forward and three steps back"? It seems like it happens all the time. Things will be moving along well, everything is falling into place and then suddenly--wham! We hit that proverbial 'brick wall' and come to a standstill. Sometimes we simply stand there for a while and stare at the wall with a "Now what?" sort of attitude. Other times we begin to climb and maybe we make it over the first time, or maybe we slide down once or twice before we finally reach the top, throw our leg over and drop on the other side. More often than not, however, most of us choose the most logical answer to the dilemma; we take a few steps back, assess the situation, and then simply go around the wall.
Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? Well, we all know that it's not always as easy as it may seem. We may go around one wall only to find that there is another one or two waiting for us on the other side. So then what? We keep going around them until finally the path is clear again. And even if it takes a while sometimes, eventually the path DOES become clear.
Though I'm not always the most optimistic person in the world(just ask those who know me well!) I have learned over the years that this game we call life is full of brick walls. There is nothing you can do about them but accept them and keep moving forward. It does no good to dwell on the fact that this unpleasant or unfortunate event is occurring. It does no good to sit around playing pity party and wishing it had never happened. And it definitely does no good not to try to overcome. Sure, we may feel like we have no strength, but that is precisely when we need to draw our strength from the One who does.
Since the beginning of my writing journey, I have hit one brick wall after another. Just recently a few more were thrown in my path, but they were put there for a reason. Maybe to humble me into realizing that getting my second book out isn't the most important thing in my life. Maybe to give me the determination to persevere no matter what the circumstances. Maybe to teach me patience--to wait upon God and know that it will happen in His time, not mine. Maybe all three. I don't know. But what I do know is, if I want to get to where I want to go, I must continue to move forward. And that's what I plan to do.
Isn't it funny how much difference one day will make--in our attitudes, our health, our finances--just about anything in our lives? Whenever something goes wrong in our lives, our first inclination as human beings is often, unfortunately, to feel helpless and/or hopeless. We sit back and feel sorry for ourselves--the 'why me?' syndrome. Why didn't I get the promotion, why didn't I get the part in the play, why did I have to get sick now? It seems like there is always something dragging us down.
But there is always hope--the bright promise that God gives us every day and that is simply a tomorrow. No matter how bleak things might look today, we can look forward to the new day which will give us another chance to start fresh. We may not have gotten the promotion yesterday, but today we can begin to work toward the next one. We may not have gotten the desired part yesterday, but today we can audition for another one. Maybe yesterday we were feeling under the weather, but today we can begin to heal. We can almost look at each tomorrow as another opportunity God is giving us to get it right, or receive a blessing even greater than we were hoping for. Isn't it wonderful to know that He is so patient, understanding, and loving to do this for us? Wouldn't it be terrible if one shot was all we got?
In writing my second book(oddly enough, the title is the same as this entry!), I have faced several obstacles--financial issues, health issues, the dreaded writers' block--and yes, I have almost thrown in the towel many times. But then I take a deep breath, say a little prayer, and tell myself that tomorrow is another day. Maybe things aren't quite up to par right now, but I will have another chance.
In the book, you will see the struggles Mitch and Dana face as a result of past mistakes. In a moment of hopeless desperation, Mitch clings to his faith and is given that hope that tomorrow will be a better day. It is then that he realizes sometimes waiting for tomorrow is all you can do.
And I have found that it's usually worth the wait.
I have a confession to make--I am not a writer. Yes, I have written a book, and yes, I am writing another one. But in the official sense of the word, I don't qualify.
I didn't grow up thinking that someday I would be a writer. I didn't rush off to college and take classes in journalism or creative writing. I didn't pour myself into the 'classics' to see how others do it or study 'how to' books on style, grammar, or proper sentence structure. I've only attended two official writers' conferences, and that was only because I was one of the featured guests.
So, you see, I'm really not a writer. Or, am I?
Just what does it take to be a writer, or an author, or whatever title you want to give it? I was told by a few very wise people(both of whom are accomplished authors themselves) that all you really need to know how to do is tell a good story. I have encountered countless individuals over the past two years who have expressed to me their interest in writing. But the one thing I hear from these people more than anything is, "I don't know how to get started." The idea is in their head, but getting it down on paper seems to cause every nerve in their body to tense up. The connection between the brain and the fingertips just doesn't seem to be there.
So, what's the solution? It's really very simple. Just tell the story. Just pick up the pen or sit down at the keyboard and let the story come out. No doubt you have put the words together in your mind already, so just put them down on the paper or on the screen in exactly the same way. Don't worry if you have misspelled words, if the grammar isn't perfect, or you forget every punctuation rule you ever learned. When the story is finished, you can go back and take care of all the details.(or better yet, find a good editor to help you)
In writing A Forever Kind of Love, that's exactly the way I did it. I sat down at my computer and just let the words in my brain flow into my fingertips. I didn't know--and at the time, didn't care--if I was doing it the 'right' way. I only wanted to tell the story, and I did. Everything else came after I had the manuscript completed. Because I took the initiative, I have not only been given the gift of a successful book, but I have built a fan base, made wonderful new friends, and am continually learning how to improve upon my newfound love. You will undoubtedly see the differences in Waiting for Tomorrow. I have definitely grown.
And you know what? I told my story, and still have more to tell. Maybe I am a writer after all.
