As a writer, I savor ideas and creativity. Whether meeting with old and dear friends, or making new ones, as occurred last evening at the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra’s 14th Season reveal party last night, my antenna is always seeking things to ponder and write about. (Yes, I ended a sentence with a preposition.)
My writing focus, a quote from Flannery O’Connor: “I write to discover what I know,” pretty much summarizes my approach to idea discovery. I’m currently writing a short story for the Space Coast Writers’ Guild anthology called “Hope.” I’m doing a memoir-writing class in this story which brings together a diverse group of wayfarers on this journey of life, and I’m ejoying bringing them to life. There’s a story there, I’m thinking, so as I sent a draft of the first half of the piece (whether all or only part or none of it will make the final cut) to my writer-critique group for their first read. We meet once a month by zoom and critique each other’s offering for the month. I pick up lots of ideas there.
Then, the news, disconcerting as it is, is a source of topics or ideas. I’m a staunch conservative, so of course anything the liberals are doing these days is fodder for thought, and usually outrage. As a wordsmith, I look at the “loaded” language, the innuendo, and try to figure out the “what’s behind the story” intrigue. Things are rarely as they seem in the headlines. As a high schooler, taking my first journalism course, I so wanted to be an international journalist, to travel the world and write exciting stories few others were covering. Then, my journalism teacher let me have the bad news: “Betty, ” she said, dashing the hopes of this idealistic sixteen-year-old, well before the time of equal rights for women and non-discrimination codes, “as a woman, you have two basic choices: nursing or teaching. Very few women can make it as journalists.” In 1955, she was right, and I succumbed, never dreaming I could have been the next Pulitzer Prize journalist.
God had other plans for me, and working with probably 5,000 or so student writers during my language arts teaching career, I have boatloads of ideas for stories, poems, and thoughts. I can see in my mind’s eye the handwriting of several students who expressed their ideas. I’ve learned as much from my students as I ever could have taught them, even with all the creativity I thought I possessed.
As a praying Christian, God brings me ideas in the middle of the night sometimes. Or I meet someone in my daily walk and it becomes a Godincidence. I don’t believe in coincidence, but in God’s constant direction. He never ceases to amaze me. Or, in subtle ways, He brings scripture to mind. I just opened a book I’m reading for my library book club this month, Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams. The bookmark started my reading on page 79. Here’s what the bookmark says: (another serendipitous source of ideas–the one for this blog, by the way). Proverbs 16:3 says “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” Yes, indeed, he will.
Then, on that page 78, I read and quote: ” (I) flip through the morning papers, because nothing distracts you from your woes like the woes of other people.” What a profound thought. We vicariously want to know what others’ day journeys are like. They may influence ours. See? Ideas just keep popping up from the wierdest places.
A friend is having her seventieth birthday celebration next week. (Been there, done that over a decade ago) That got me thinking about all that’s occurred in the last twelve years since I marked that milestone. Now there’s fertile ground for ideas leading to stories. Actually, I was still teaching at Stone Middle School. It was before I retired for the third time and started writing my twenty-eight books and hundreds of shorter pieces. The Hallmark card my husband bought yesterday for Sherry’s big day says: “You have a lot to be proud of. You’ve created a life of depth and richness, filled with people who care about you. It’s a life well0lived. It’s an amazing life, and it’s yours.” Yes, I plagiarized, but wouldn’t that be a great beginning of someone’s memoir? May another pass at my own?
God’s creation is ripe for metaphors, those wonderful comparisons of the life-death cycle, the Soloman’s glory verse that says nothing is so beautifully arrayed as a lily. God’s sovereignty and provision amazes me each day, and as long as I live I will never cease to wonder at where those ideas transport my mind and heart.
So, as I begin this day before Mothers’ Day, when an ever-so-obvious tribute or two may come, and surely I will be blessed by my son conducting the Youth Symphony and my darling granddaughters will play with all the concentration they can muster, they will return the favor and bring me flowers and cards and gifts. But the best gift ever is knowing that my legacy of loving well has already begun. And that’s a great idea, isn’t it?
Blessings, dear readers, as your experiences create ideas, memories, and opportunities to accumulate more ideas than possessions in this life. Surely you’ll have ideas to share beyond your wildest imagination.
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