Delighting in the Day

By Linda Grupp Boutin

I find myself blooming into spring with thoughts of writing and speaking and traveling crowding my thoughts. When did winter fly away, I wonder while I watch a hummingbird quarreling with another? Here in SoCal, it feels like winter never stopped by. Last week temperatures hit 90 degrees and I searched my shorts drawer for cooler clothes to don. Sun drenched on our back patio, my two dogs are shedding warmer winter fur and putting on bright new coats for summer.

Cleaning closets and sorting books on the shelves gives me time and freedom to think while I work. I know I've kept these clothes too long, out of style and no longer fitting properly. They remind me of younger days when I dressed in layers for the vagaries of San Diego weather. Books, oh yes books, they have taken me places all my life. My fingers run over the dusty copies of Hemingway and Fitzgerald, Austin and Ingalls. Here is one by Bill Moyers, this one explores the Vietnam War. Old clothes, old books, way too much dust, suddenly I sneeze.

Last night in the Aspiring Writers' Forum we discussed writer's block learning about how to overcome the yawning abyss of a blank white page. Stark and empty, this author advised us to write a letter to our mother. After all, you can pour out your heart to your mom and in the process tell her all about your troubles writing, how you don't fit your chosen career, frustrations and traumas; she will doubtless make it all better. And by the way, share with her the details of what you must write about and in the process share your story. Then delete the Dear Mom, the whining and doubts, and in the end you will discover what you were trying to write.

My coleader Coleene (left) and myself at the Aspiring Writers' Forum

I didn't do that, but in rummaging through my past, I discovered that I finally am content in my today. Though I no longer spend days on end reading books, still I love everything about story. Now I find my delight in one of my fellow writers reaching a goal. This week it was a friend finally launching a blog. I beam when one of the speakers I have worked with stands before our church's women and shares the story of her life and walk with the Lord. It gives me purpose to encourage and cajole, plead and prod, nurture and demand. I feel like I have been preparing for a lifetime to be just right where I am right now.

So tonight I am simply thankful. Grateful for a sunshiny day, for the love I feel, for the provision allowing me to pursue my passions. That contentment in the day is something I have pursued a lifetime and to finally find it brings pleasure that is hard to express. My life is not perfect, but now I spend my life immersed in story and loving being just where I am. Thank you Lord for this very day!

Celebrating "Laryngitis"

By Linda Grupp Boutin

My friend and writing partner asked me if I had posted anything on my blogs recently. I explained that I had had a case of writing "laryngitis." She sounded confused about such an odd description. I have always had a tendency to lose my voice...both literally and figuratively. Some alchemy between my early experience in a large, confusing family and the trials of adulthood require that I sometimes sit back, observe, and search out order in my world. When life becomes a bit too crowded, my tendency is to find a small hiding place and wait to see.

And so my waiting continued for a month and more. Knowing that I needed to post something new, but just not able to find the words to fill the page. And I continued waiting and wondering why the wait needed to be so long. I have learned long and hard techniques for developing patience and rather than getting upset over the "laryngitis" I kept the faith that my voice would return when the time was right.

Then it happened! My voice re-emerged in the excitement of sharing the good news from a friend that her submission had been accepted for publication! Wow, I had a voice enough to carry on a conversation with her for hours. We both stood amazed that so much time had passed by getting to know one another just that much better.

In a way, I had been nurturing my voice, treating it with honor like lemon and honey soothes a sore throat. And by Wednesday I found myself typing up a personal essay. Almost 2000 words, it just sort of flowed out naturally and no evidence of my malady remained. I had found my voice and was just so grateful for its return. 

Another friend asked me how my week had gone and I said it was busy but fun! And it has been. Sunday we celebrated 3 friends birthdays together just for food and conversation with our spouses. Monday night I walked with one of my speakers through her CoffeeBreak presentation. Talk about a faithful woman who followed God's lead every step of the way. She sounded so comfortable speaking in front of 175 women or so sharing how the Lord has worked in her life. After she spoke her son came up on stage and joined her. He sang a song he'd sung to her while she battled cancer and the love for his mother overflowed into tears. We in the audience sat in amazement at the family solidarity worked in this Mom's favor to overcome a very serious disease.

Wednesday night I spent coleading the Aspiring Writers' Forum with more discussion of stories submitted for publication. One of our members had not heard either way about the anthology she had submitted a story for consideration. I advised her that maybe she should e-mail the editor just to check because our other writer who was accepted hadn't heard from her either. 

She went home from the meeting and searched out the editor's e-mail address. Within minutes she had her answer too. Yes, her "fun" family story had been accepted! Long and short of it, both of their stories had been accepted but because the stories needed no editing, the editor hadn't contacted them about their acceptances!

So although I have had a touch of writer's laryngitis, the seeds I have sown over the last 5 years for storytelling in CoffeeBreak and for writing in the Forum have sprouted and borne fruit. I am so thankful that the Lord allowed me to overcome my illness in 2006 & 2007 because now I feel like I have finally found the correct path He wants me to follow. I spend my days immersed in story, thinking about how to best portray my friends' stories and watching while they reach out and touch others with their poignancy. I have found my niche and enjoy the passion I feel for what I am doing. PTL!

Celebrating All the Summer Days

By Linda Grupp Boutin

Summer, nothing better in life to celebrate than those long, warm days playing in the sun, catching up with friends, allowing time and space for God's Word to manifest itself in my heart. This season I've experienced a special sense of catching up and celebrating all the Lord has given me. I waited with breath held for the final meeting of the Aspiring Writers' Forum in mid-May. Once past, I let the long days wash over me, sleeping late, trying to heal some wounds, taking each moment one at a time. When we slow life down a bit, it allows time to reset our priorities. 

My co-leader Coleene VanTilburg and myself

Two clocks measure my time these days. I am committed to working with writers in the Aspiring Writers' Forum (AWF). From September through May, every Wednesday evening devoted to encouragement, discussing writing, reading and sharing what we have written. While in these meetings, time revs up seeming to disappear before we can complete all we want to do. This is the first summer in 4 years that I have taken a complete break from meeting with this group. By allowing time to recharge, I have renewed energy and enthusiasm to get back to work. And for the next few weeks my partner Coleene and I will be signing up those who want to embrace Christian writing through next May. So AWF will take up a major portion of my thought, time and energy starting again in September.

The second clock measuring my days revolves around a special women's ministry at our church called Coffee Break. One Monday evening each month we gather together to share coffee, tea and desserts, games and worship songs, and listen to one woman from our congregation share her story. I work with the speakers ahead of their speaking date, preparing them for the experience. I have never been involved in anything so satisfying in my life. I hear about miracles of faith from the past and witness growth in the speakers' lives as they prepare. When women accept this assignment to speak, they cannot anticipate how this single act of obedience can change their lives.

Signing up writers for Aspiring Writers' Forum

The next meeting will be in October and I have been working with the speaker since April so she can practice and polish her presentation. In so doing, we have developed techniques to help inexperienced speakers feel relatively confident when they tell their story to an audience ranging from 100-150 women. After 3 years and 21 speakers, we listen every month about how unique each woman's story is and what each one uses to cope with the challenges she encounters in her life. Many of my summer days are spent in reading and advice in writing these stories out.

A process has developed and most of us think this sounds far easier than the actual doing turns out to be. Today our pastor defined sanctification versus justification in the Christian life. The sermon spoke directly to my heart as I have witnessed the growth in my life and others who have spoken for this ministry. 

So I have celebrated this summer by immersing myself in "story," time well spent reading, writing, encouraging and recharging. Our lives bring different seasons during which we are afforded the opportunity to learn a lesson or two. My take away from this season is to listen carefully, both to those around you and to the Holy Spirit in your life.

"Thank You" Notes: How to Hear the Song in Your Heart

By Linda Grupp Boutin

     I walked to the mailbox today, slipped in the key, opened the door expecting the usual bills, flyers, postcards selling me something. Instead, on top, I found an envelope from a friend. Like so many accustomed to our digital age, most communications come to me in the form of e-mails, instant messages, Facebook, even telephone. It is a rare day to find a decorated envelope festooned with flowers and a big circle it the top left corner with an "L" centered within. I found it difficult to shepherd the dogs, peek at the letter and get myself back into the front door without ripping it open to see what was contained inside.
    As soon as the dogs ran in the front door, my attention switched to the mail. I found a brown-tone photo on the front of the card with an assembly of crucifixes on a wooden deck surrounded by leaves. Each brass cross looks unique, but each symbolizes the sacrifice of our Savior. I opened the card and savored the words contained within. "Dear Linda, Thank you so much..."

     The words came from a speaker I had helped prepare for our CoffeeBreak ministry at my church, Chino Valley Community Church. This is a monthly event usually held on the first Monday of the month. We start the night with door prizes, play games, listen to household tips, sing worship songs and wrap up the evening with the story of one woman from our church who shares her testimony of how the Lord has worked in her life. We've been doing this for three years from October through May and I have loved every minute of it. I have had the privilege of helping our speakers get ready, practice, learn how to share their stories in a way that will move the audience.
      I am a storyteller by nature. Just ask my family who have listened to me spin many a story around the dinner table. My youngest brother says I make it all up, but for me it's like watching a movie. The words I say create images in my mind that I try to express to my audience. I would have fit just fine in the "pre-electronics" days. Sitting around a campfire recounting story is my idea of a fine way to spend an evening. I remember reading Alex Haley's book "Roots" with fascination about how the oral memory of the tribe could recall the day when Haley's ancestor Kunta Kinte was lost to their tribe, whisked away from them but never forgotten.
     This was the second Thank You note I've received this week. The other one came from a member of the Aspiring Writers' Forum that I have co-led with my friend, Coleene VanTilburg, for the last four years. A small gift bag accompanied this note and contained a yellow ceramic cross with the word "Smile" across the front. This note began, "Dear Linda, It all started with a smile..." Coleene received a similar card and cross, but hers is blue with a butterfly in place of my flowers. She wrote on her blog this week about the important role that Swallowtail butterflies play in her life. You can read her blog "Considerable Thoughts" at: http://blogforeternity.blogspot.com/. 
     I must say that Thank You notes bring a smile to my face. Better yet, when I find that my encouragement in another person's life helps them in some small way, this makes my heart sing. It is so easy to get bogged down in the negative news surrounding us every day. It cleanses us of all that negativity when we let one another know how important we are in each others lives.
     Tonight as I scrolled through the channels, I found a special on CNN recapping the events in Boston last month. Recovering survivors spoke about how strangers stepped into danger not knowing when the next explosion might occur to help them survive their wounds and get to the hospital. Photojournalists spoke of the photos they took of  first the massacre, then followed by the photos of the best of the humanity reaching out to help one another. Pictures showed two men causing death and destruction followed by hundreds reaching out to help those in need.
     We can choose to focus on the "glass half empty" in this world. We can frown about all the trouble in our lives and complain about those who don't comply with our agenda. Or we can decide that the "glass is half full." We can be grateful for the blessings that come in our lives, we can acknowledge the "One Thousand Gifts" we each receive every day that we draw breath. We can see the good in one another and forgive the human frailties we each must overcome. It all depends upon the perspective we choose to adopt. Try on the "Thank You note" and see how it fits. It may just give you a whole new lease in life. BTW: special thanks to the two special ladies who brightened my week with notes that make my heart sing.
    

A Roadblock

By Linda Grupp Boutin

The week started on such a high note with one of my closest friends sharing her story at CoffeeBreak, our church's special ministry for women. Every month this is a fun night of desserts, games, camaraderie, tips, worship, and finally one of our congregation sharing her story. I had worked with this friend for several months helping her to prepare her presentation. This month was movie night with a short clip from "The Wizard of Oz" and comfy pajamas and slippers for our attire.

This special ministry that I call the CoffeeBreak Prep Team has become a wonderful way for me to share special times with our speakers. Inevitably the process of writing out their story raises many issues and painful times. By the end of the half hour speaking, our speakers have turned the story around and talk about how the Lord provided the things they needed to confront and overcome whatever trials they have lived through. I have been doing this for 3 years now and I look forward to what the stories will bring next year.

What are you writing about?

But to get back to this week, by Tuesday I realized a cold had settled into my chest. Still trying to ignore it, I went to the Aspiring Writers' Forum Wednesday night. My voice croaked and cracked and generally wasn't anything like my normal tone. Coleene said to one of the members, "Bet she can't help but talk tonight." And of course, her prediction came true. Then Thursday I met with my co-leader Traci, and our next two speakers to help them tune up their stories for presentation. Three hours later I finally admitted to myself that this was more than a cold, now my temperature showed this had grown into the flu and now I was losing my voice altogether.

And this was not the worst this flu had to dish out, sleepless nights led to listless days, no voice at all to speak with much less celebrate. But the spirit springs within. Friends rallied and understood my absences. Some mornings I awoke thinking, "Aha, I've shaken this." Only to have the chest rattling spasms wrack my body again. It's amazing how the body keeps striving for wellness, trying to find that happy equilibrium that we call health.

So though I may not be dancing in celebration, within my gratitude overflows for a life filled with friends, fellowship and fulfillment provided with plentiful sprinklings of blessings from above. Happy St. Patrick's Day to one and all. Be sure to count your blessings along with any coins dropping from the pot of gold above.