The End of the World

Dec10

December 21, 2012…the world ends!

On that Friday, eleven days from today, the world will self destruct and humanity will exist no more. Except…

I suppose a remnant will remain (God always keeps a remnant, right?). If I’m blessed to be included in the remnant, then when I wake up on December 22, here’s my hope:
I hope that donuts, cake, pie, and egg nog ice cream no longer have calories;
I hope there is no more waiting in line especially at Wal-Mart or the bank;
I hope my hair is automatically self-cleaning;
I hope my acne clears up permanently;
I hope there are no more red light cameras;
In fact, I hope there’s no more traffic, period!

I’m being silly, of course. I don’t believe the world will end on December 21. I do, however, believe there will be a great spiritual shift as humanity leapfrogs to a higher level relationship with God.

Can you imagine a world where:
People are incapable of hurting (intentionally or not) one another;
Crime and injustice are no more;
All people are treated as equals regardless of… (skin color, background, national origin, etc.–you fill in the blank);
Tranquility and harmony reside at all times;
There is no lack and all people are free.

Oh, wait! Did I just paraphrase the Constitution of the United States? Oops! So maybe we do need the world to end for another chance at getting it right. What do you think?

All I Want for Christmas…

Dec2

The day after Thanksgiving, I watched my young cousins grab the sales circulars out of the newspaper and begin circling–with a Sharpie no less–the toys and games they wanted for Christmas. I couldn’t help but smile as they “shopped” and wished. Oh, but their joy and excitement was infectious.

Later, I happened to watch one of my favorite movies, Mr. Holland’s Opus. Some of you may recall the story of the music teacher who while teaching, tutoring, and helping to raise a deaf son, steals a minute here, a minute there to write his own American symphony, his opus, his gift to the world. As the years roll by, he becomes more and more frustrated that he is unable to devote unfettered time and effort to his dream. Finally, his last day of teaching arrives. On this day, we learn that it took his entire teaching career to finish his opus but more than that we learn that his true opus, his true gift to the world is the students he nurtured unselfishly during his 30-something years of teaching. Many of whom went on to become accomplished adults. As their gift to him for his love and sacrifice, his former students play the symphony he composed.

When the movie ended, I thought about these two seemingly unrelated events—the kids’ Christmas shopping and the movie—and discovered they are not unrelated.

For Christmas, I want a pair of new boots, and there’s a pair I’ve been price-watching for a few weeks now. But when I put my material wants aside and really think about what I want for Christmas it is to leave a positive legacy, to leave humanity better than when I was birthed into it.

I know this seems like such a lofty goal. At least it did to me when I first thought it, but then I rewound the movie in my head and realized it doesn’t take much to leave a positive gift to the world. Mr. Holland didn’t have millions of dollars. He wasn’t a genius nor did he have influence or access to the media. Mr. Holland simply extended himself. He did simple, ordinary things such as listen, share, give, advise, and follow his heart.

These are things I can do. I can judge writing contests and encourage young writers. I can challenge the kids’ thinking in my creative writing classes. I can donate a blanket or socks to a homeless mission. I can read to senior citizens at a nursing home. I can smile at a stranger or review a resume’ for a friend.

All of these SMALL, common things don’t require anything but my time and focus (and a little bit of money). But they are BIG at helping me get what I really want for Christmas–a positive legacy.

Yes, I am still going to get those boots but while I’m out shopping, I’ll give, share, listen, laugh, but most of all…I’ll follow my heart.

What about you? What do you want for Christmas? No, what do you really want?

In Gratitude

Nov18

During this Thanksgiving season and every day, I am grateful for…

…the time a church member talked to me like I was lower than a snake because that taught me to think about the words I use and how I talk to others.

…the time a co-worker called me stupid because that forced me to look beyond the surface of her anger to see her hurt and pain.

…the times I did wrong (whether intentional or not) because that taught me consequences and payback is real.

…the time a client refused to pay my invoice because that taught me why some people stay at the same financial level year after year after year.

…the time a relative called me crazy because that let me know I was on the right life path.

…the time Christians treated me unfairly because that showed me Christians are greatly flawed too.

…the time my boss called me an idiot because that showed me how deep my courage flows.

…the time my sexual harassment claim was laughed at because that taught me God can exact justice far better than I.

…the time a tornado funneled my way because that taught me to pray for peace in all circumstances.

…the time I lost my house and car because that taught me there’s no failure in starting over.

…the time a stranger changed my flat tire because that taught me the law of reciprocity.

…the times I have been late for appointments because that taught me God’s timing is perfect.

…the times my plans did not work because that taught me I wasn’t dreaming big enough.

…the times I had zero money in my purse and bank accounts because that showed me God’s creativity in meeting my needs.

…the times I gave financially even when I didn’t want to because that reminded me “it is better to give than to receive.”

…the times I’ve been cursed, threatened, talked about, ignored and abused because that forced me to mature emotionally.

…the time I gave up a steady paycheck and benefits because that taught me the price of freedom.

…the times a person exited my life because that forced me to seek out the lesson they left for me.

…the time I had a major health scare because that made me more conscious about what I put in my body and how I treat my body.

From pain and hurt grow beautiful life lessons. What are yours?

You Can Dude It!

Nov8

One night at dinner, I sat beside my nephew, who was two-years old at the time, and thought I’d help him eat his spaghetti. I picked up his fork but when I began twirling it in the mound of pasta, he very aggressively took the fork from me, looked me straight in the eyes and said, “I can dude it.” Even with his two-year-old speech in development, I and the rest of the family clearly understood that he aimed to feed himself, which he did.

Okay, now hold that story in your head… I promise it has a place here.

Recently, I launched this site and heard from many family members, friends and associates who shared so many kind words with me. And while I appreciate all the beautiful remarks and sentiments, one comment in particular made me pause.

In short, the comment credited me with “being courageous, using my talents and never giving up on my dream,” and ended with the notion that not everyone can achieve. After considering the comment I was surprised to feel a burning in my chest which signaled anger. But, why was I mad? I thought about that all day and discovered my anger boiled down to us, humans. Why do we sometimes feel that accomplishments are bestowed only on the “talented tenth?”

Because that is so not true.

I am not one of the talented tenth. I am not above any other. I do not have extra brain cells. Nor do I have a stronger link to God than anyone else. The only reason I’ve been able to “use my talents” and showcase my stories to the world is because I am operating in my life purpose.

When I started this life-purpose journey, the first thing I did was fast and pray with the intent of hearing from God the designs He had for my life. After a week of seeking God, He answered very clearly, “Your ministry is writing.” To this day, I have not forgotten that writing is my life’s purpose. Writing is what I am here to do. To do anything else would be equivalent to slapping God and me in the face, and yet that is what I did for many years before I finally convinced myself, “I can dude it!” Soon after embracing that belief, I grabbed my fork (the equivalent of belief in my life purpose) and jabbed it in the plate of spaghetti (the equivalent of giving up the security of a bi-weekly paycheck) with the intent of feeding my purpose (writing and all that goes with it, including launching this site).

And guess what? If “I can dude it,” you can too! You can do that thing that God designed you to do. Don’t know what that thing is? Ask Him; He knows. He is after all the One who created you, and He is so eager to share His plans for your life.

Don’t forfeit another day of your life’s purpose. Seek God. Learn your life purpose, and firmly plant it in your heart and soul. Then, dude it.

It is not my intent with this post to put anyone on blast, but I truly feel these words need to be shared. If you’re offended, my apologies. Charge it to my desire for everyone to live a purposeful life.

Turning the Page!

Sep9

Welcome!

In 1995, my first book After Hours was published. Since then, my writing career has been as unpredictable as the weather. I thought I would continue in the romance genre forever, but four romance novels and one novella later (all written under my pen name of Anna Larence) I found myself wanting to stretch as a writer.

I turned down a publishing contract so I could focus on learning the mechanics of prose fiction, script and non-fiction writing. I took so many classes at community colleges, universities and through writers groups that if I added all the class hours I would have another degree.

To apply my new knowledge, I switched my professional career from telecommunications to corporate communications, taking on such roles as staff writer, associate editor, public relations specialist and marketing manager. While I enjoyed these positions, something was still missing, and I realized that if I wanted to be authentic and truly happy, I needed to be a full-time fiction writer. So I quit, walked away from corporate (a second time) to write the stories that were simmering in my heart and mind.

Regardless of whether I am crafting a short story, novel, article, novella, essay or script, I am happy and fulfilled. And because I know firsthand from my work in communications the influence and power the written word has in effecting people, I take time and care with my words more so than in the past.

Lovers of words, word crafters, and fans of great storytelling…you’re all invited to join me in this world that I love—the world of books, words, reading and writing.