All in Good Time ...

Do you ever feel like a late bloomer? You're in good company here.

I started college late, changed my major three times and so took longer getting through, didn't start on my first career until my late 20's, and didn't get married until my early 30's. Now, in my early 40's, I have an elementary-school-aged child and many mom friends who are anywhere from two to fourteen years younger than I.

And it's taken me an awfully long time to write a novel. Or two.

Late bloomer? Compared to others in my present peer circle, most definitely. But lately I have encouraged by this realization: It's not so much about how quickly I attain to certain milestones in life. It's about resting in the Lord through the journey.

Throughout John 15, Jesus emphasizes the importance of abiding in Him. "As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me (vs. 4)." In the Key Word Study Bible, one of the lexical definitions of 'abide' derives from 'humpeno': to remain under, be patient.

There are times when the Lord delivers, just like that. Or brings us the desire of our hearts before we have experienced great anguish in the longing. (My amazing husband and daughter are both examples of the latter.) But much of our lives is about waiting. Waiting for healing. Waiting for a beloved child to come home. Waiting for a spouse to reconcile. Waiting for a business to take root and grow. Waiting for a publishing contract. Waiting for an agent to take notice of our brilliance. (wink) Working, as we wait, to attain to said brilliance. (wink, wink)

Here's the cool thing about humpeno. I believe that as we "remain under" the Lord's hand through the waiting, we begin to realize that relationship with Him is dearer than anything we can attain. And that's when we bear fruit that lasts. We don't care anymore what we can do for Him. We just want to be with Him, where anything is possible. All in good time.

So wait on, dear ones. He'll make it all worth it.

A Shocking Lack of Words

This has been my blogging life for the last year and a half ... a shocking lack of words.

For those who may have caught the reference, I did indeed borrow the title above from Emma. Remember the last scene, when Emma and Mr. Nightly walked out of the church, under the arbor, and the ever-critical Mrs. Elton turned to the camera and remarked at the "shocking lack of satin?" Like anyone in the presence of such loveliness as Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam even noticed!

Likewise, I am quite certain I have not sent any of you through a season of withdrawal. heh heh ...

Still, I’m compelled to give a reason for my absence. Though writers are not supposed to have excuses, I've been sidelined for many months by a lingering bout of vertigo. If you've ever experienced that thoroughly consuming affliction, you know that vertigo + computer screen does not equal a happy head.

And then, in blogger-land, there's that thing about saying something useful. I admit to being the type who is finicky about the “rules.” All the advice, instruction, how-to-do-this-thing-the-right-way messages I’ve received at writing conferences has fed my inbred hypersensitivity.
Contributions to the blogosphere should be purposeful, poignant, applicable, or humorous. Preferably all of the above.

When I was in college, a friend and her boyfriend came to visit over Christmas break. Around the dinner table one night, my dear mother, perhaps because she felt she must share something, leaned toward me and said, "I bought you some underwear today." My friend just about spit her mouthful of food all over her plate!

But my mother reveals the truth of it. Sometimes, all we have to say is, "I bought you some underwear today." And after a year and a half of brain-rattling (read: vertigo), I'm okay with that. I've learned there are more important things in life than striving to be the one with the perfect words. (As if!)

Here's one more thing. Facebook friend and blogger extraordinaire Christen Nelson has put together an e-book about God's love. I contributed an article about how I have perceived His love so profoundly through my struggle with vertigo. You can download it on Valentine's Day at www.theuncontainabletruth.com. Check out her website and blog. It is indeed purposeful, poignant, applicable, and humorous ... you know, all of the above. :)