If writing a novel is anything like running a marathon I'm in for wall real soon.

I'll take sprinting any day over long distance running. If I'm running fast and hard I can make myself finish 200 meters. But if I know I have a mile or two or more (that's long to me), my legs feel like lead from the first stride.

Hopefully writing this novel won't end up that way.  So far I'm taking it as short sprints each day.   1600 plus words a day is feeling more like a sprint than I thought it would.  So far I'm churning out about 2000 words a day.  I lack vocabulary, but I'm not repeating "Um," or "that" as much as I was thinking I would.  We'll see.  We're only on day 2.

Blogging is sort of my re-living of the day and sharing personal meditations that touched me.  Journalling is my private release of prayers and concerns, even complaints and dreams that I can't share with just anyone and everyone.  So far, writing this novel, is sort of my public release of secret struggles.  I can hide them in a fictional setting and work through them without hurting any of the real people in my life.  I wonder if that's what fiction writers do, at least in part.

I'm seeing this novel as some form of therapy so far.  It feels relieving.

I've been working on our women's Bible study too.  We only have 4 meetings but 5 women to cover so I put Ruth and Bathsheba together in this month's study.  Doesn't seem fair really.  Ruth has an entire book in the Bible, Bathsheba isn't even mentioned by name in Matthew's genealogy.  But I'm finding they fit well together.  They're pillars of grace that support the raw-worshipping shepherd-king after God's own heart. 

Quieted,

Sheila

Shining, walking and noveling

I've been thinking about this today.

Do all things without complaining and disputing,  that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world... - Philippians 2:14-15

What if I went to work tomorrow and didn't complain, to myself or anyone else, about what I have to do or the parent who has something not-too-nice-to-say about what I do?  What if I didn't grumble about the tedious things I don't like doing as a a nurse (a.k.a documenting every little thing)?  What if I didn't argue with my husband about the things he's wrong about (smile)?  What if I didn't argue with my kids, just said what I meant and meant what I said?

Whether anything else was Christ-like in my life or not, if I simply didn't argue or complain or grumble, would I stand out as someone different?  Would I hold a magnifying glass to our good God?  Would others see some of His goodness in me?

Oh that I would do all things without complaining and disputing and shine for the One who made us all and has loved us so much.

Today I walked with friends from work at a Walk Now for Autism Speaks event in Tempe.  My boys and I walked.  It was inspiring to see so many people there.  I thought of my dear friend, a mom to a charmer of a son with autism.  I love him!  I remember when he was a baby and his mom's heartfelt concern that something more was wrong than just colic or food sensitivities.  I am so glad his mom and dad are such advocates for their children and that he got the therapies he needed to help him get to the amazing fire-cracker genius place he is now! I just love him!  Connor and Ryland were both touched by the bigness of it all.  They asked questions about autism. They asked about their friend from church with autism.  Connor asked if he had autism.  Smile.  I hope they learned something of the importance of helping others and supporting those who need your understanding, love and patience.

I finished writing out a little synopsis of my novel, which I will begin on the 1st.  Yikes!  I'm nervous.  I  had to pick a genre.  I really didn't know which one to pick.  It's fiction, isn't that genre enough?  But alas, there is literary fiction, mainstream fiction, science fiction, romance, historical fiction... you get the picture.  I think mine is a touch fantasy, but mostly mainstream fiction.  It's allegorical.  Here's a hint.  

Quieted,

Sheila