Glen Eyrie Writer's Summit

I just returned from Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs where I joined fifty or so other writers. We were there to learn from great mentors: Angie Hunt, Nancy Rue, Al Gansky, and Kathy Mackel.
We learned how to write. Or at least how to go on from where we are. How to write better.

But it was about so much more than writing.

People from across the country and beyond joined together to laugh, sing, cry, and laugh some more.
People shared their deepest pain, their fears, frustrations, joys, dreams, and doubts.
People listened. People prayed. Love was there. Love for a shared passion, love for our Father, love for one another.

Wells were filled. Spirits were encouraged.

God was there. I was blessed.

friday fill-ins

1. I grew up thinking _painful things that happened to me were the only painful things that really mattered__.

2. _Facebook__ was the last website I was at before coming here.

3. Why don't you _bake me a peach cobbler, with real butter, please, not nasty shortening__?

4. _A hot tub__ helps me relax.

5. Thanks for the _memories. No, really, I mean it!__

6. _People who are always on their cell phones are___ very off-putting.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _doing some birthday shopping___, tomorrow my plans include _birthday presents for the boy, picking up my friend at the airport, and yarn shopping___ and Sunday, I want to _go to my old church and begin the fun of Glen Eyrie Writer's Summit____!

post about nothing

I'm at a loss what to talk about. But I want you all to know I'm still here.

We have been having tremendous weather here. Since Sunday there has been a tornado warning every day somewhere in the Denver area. Today the warning was right over our house.
Not a tornado, just a warning.

Saturday my friend Accidental Poet will be here and then Sunday we are driving to Glen Eyrie for a Writer's Summit. It will be great if it's anything like the past two years.

Also next week you will find my book in bookstores. Okay, so it's not my book, but I'm in it. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Time, Tough People will be released next week. My story, "Lifeline of Hope" is on page 247.

more thoughts on Buzz

In my previous post I talked about Buzz Lightyear, dreams, and limitations.

I've been pondering.

I pondered American Idol, (I haven't watched in years) where the dreams are big, but so are the limitations in many cases. If you can't sing, you can't be the next AI. You can take lessons, but if the underlying talent isn't there, perhaps another dream is in order.

I pondered my lack of ability in athletics. No matter how hard I may train, I will never be a track star or a gymnast. Definitely not the dream for me.

Then I thought again of Buzz. You know, at the end, he did fly. When the rocket shot him and Woody into the sky, they got loose and Woody said, "Buzz! You're flying!"

Buzz knew his limitations and said, "This isn't flying, it's falling--with style."
Yet, flying or falling, he sailed through the sky with grace and control.

So, as MoneyHoney said in the comments, God may not tell us we can't fly, but He may tell us not to take certain flights. I think we need to know whether we can sing, whether we can do a perfect cartwheel, or run a mile in less than an hour. Be sure we're dreaming the right dream.

But how do we know if we're dreaming the right dream?

God gives us our dreams, knowing our limitations. All of us have something, placed in us at our creation, that we are to aim for, dream about, pursue. Then, when we know what that is, I think we have to light that rocket and soar.

But how do we know what that is?

Buzz had it in his heart to fly, and he did. He had it in his heart to be a hero, and he was (Toy Story 2). So I could say that the dream that is deep in our hearts is the dream we should pursue, but what about all those American Idol people?

thinking about buzz

When my son was very young his first hero was Buzz Lightyear. We loved Buzz for a long time. I still, in fact, love Buzz.
Toy Story is one of my favorite movies of all time.
We can all relate to Woody. The pain of feeling your position has been usurped. Jealousy. We get that.

But today I was thinking about Buzz. Buzz was a dreamer. He had big goals."To Infinity and Beyond!" was his motto. Infinity was in his grasp and was not enough for him. No-siree.

We are all told to dream big, aim high, shoot for the stars.

But then there is the scene I love for it's heartbreak. Buzz sees an advertisement for a Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Action Figure and hears the words that change his life: "This is not a flying toy."

Randy Newman sings a melancholy song as Buzz absorbs this news. Buzz decides to disbelieve what he heard. He climbs the banister, "If I believe I can fly..... I can flyyyyy." He jumps, soars, dives. He crashes to the floor, his arm falls off and Randy finishes with, "Clearly I will go sailing no more."

Heartbreaking. The dreamer crashed.

How do we reconcile dreams and limits? We are all finite. We all have inabilities. I can't fly, no matter how hard I believe it, I can't. I will crash.

Dream big. But how do we avoid the crash? Or do we just go for it and reconstruct ourselves the best we can after we fall apart?

Buzz made it. He had to go through some soul searching and depression, but he was a better toy in the end for it.

What to you think? Leap and risk falling? Or do we believe it when we hear "This is not a flying toy" and alter our dreams to fit within the realm of infinity?

Perhaps it has to do with who's voice is telling us our limitations. There are plenty of people who want to hamper dreams. Lot's of wet blankets. But what if the voice comes from the company that manufactured us? Perhaps that's when we need to consider heeding the warning.

Dream big. Reach for the stars. But heed the voice of your maker.

What do you think?

living like Jesus

When I was at Liberty University my New Testament professor was Dr. Ed Dobson. I loved his class. Loved when he would preach in chapel. He was a Dean and a favorite amongst my friends.
After he left LU, he pastored a huge church in Michigan.
In 2001 he was diagnosed with ALS. He continued to pastor, but eventually retired.
He decided to spend a year living just like Jesus. And then he wrote a book about it, soon to be released by Zondervan.
You can read an article in USA Today and watch an interview on ABC.
I know that I could not do it. But I'd like to try. Not the beard, or eating Kosher, but I'd like to be more aware of obeying His teaching. I'd like to really love my neighbor and forgive and bless and give.
I'd like to live like Jesus. I'm interested to read his book and see just what that looks like.

saturday 9

I found a new meme that looks like it will make Saturday postings easier. It's Saturday 9. Here's mine.

1. Do you mind people to show up uninvited? Only because my house is usually a mess. If it were clean all the time, I would love unexpected company.

2. Last person you talked to on the phone? My mom, last night.

3. Last person on your missed call list? Robbie

4. Who calls you the most? Denise, maybe. I really don't get called much. I like phone calls, though.

5. What is your favorite song about breaking up? At This Moment by Billy Vera

6. If someone sent you an unexpected gift, what would you like it to be? Sparkly things.

7. Your classic rock station plays the top songs of all time. What is number one? I guess this means in my opinion? But what if my number one isn't classic rock? Or do they want me to research the actual number 1 song on the local classic rock station? Do they mean the genre "classic rock"? Because that's what it sounds like. Or do they mean a rock song that is a classic? Oh my, what if I get this wrong. (Ok, there, I just gave you a little glimpse of how I think, all. the. time. It's painful.) Ok, I'm just going to throw out a favorite "classic rock" song: Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

8. Do you live for today or tomorrow? Tomorrow, and I'd like that to change, I think.

9. What movie villain scared you as a kid? Oh man! The child-catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. *shudder*