Beauty Marks

            Six years ago, we turned our rarely-used tiny living and dining rooms into one big den. My dad and I worked together to make a built-in cabinet and bookshelves. We measured the room into oblivion and went to a lumberyard to pick out the boards. My dad wanted me to pick clear wood, free of knots and “scars” as he called them. I couldn’t. I liked the interesting striations and imperfections. He reluctantly agreed to let a few slip into the mix, figuring we could work around them.

            As we got busy ripping the boards, we disagreed about which boards should compose the top and most visible parts of the cabinet. I wanted imperfections. They added interest and color and life to the piece. He saw them as blemishes, ugly warts that would take away from the beauty. It occurred to me that I could rename them and perhaps persuade him from shunning the boards I preferred. I began to call the imperfections “beauty marks”.

            By the time we were finished, he learned that arguing the superiority of clear wood was lost on me. I only saw beauty, and he wasn’t about to convince me otherwise. He admitted, once the piece was finished and installed, that it was particularly beautiful, blemishes and all.  I made the above sign to hang in his shop as a reminder.

            Perfection is nowhere to be found in this world. We strive for it, we think we find it occasionally, but it’s doesn’t exist. We won’t see it until we get to heaven. Clear wood may be stronger, more desirable, and easier to work with, but imperfection is beautiful, interesting and unique. We all have blemishes—visible and invisible scars from the wounds of living life. It’s time we see them as beauty marks—the evidence of lessons learned and trials endured. 
            Evidence of the faithfulness of God.

My Greatest Source of Inspiration is...(drumroll please)

Aren't they FUN!?!!?

I recently revealed a few of the places I find inspiration.
It wasn't a complete list and I left out a biggie...(on purpose)
Vintage Photos.
I love them so much.
Snapshots are my favorite although sometimes you can find a very funny portrait.

This guy is thinking about the wedding night...

Photo booth photos hold a special place in my heart.
They are usually taken in fun...or while drunk.
Oh, the stories hiding in those tiny gems.
Which is why I love photos so much, they hint at a story.
Sometimes they inspire a character.

Isn't this lady just the SWEETEST?

They help me to think outside the box.
What's going on in this photo?
How did that boy get a shiner?
What is that woman doing in that tree?
Why are those people so close to that bear?

Nothing inspires a story like a three-year old having a tea party on the roof.

So many questions that only my imagination can answer because I have no idea what the real story is.

Is Great Aunt Helga evil or is little Suzy a tyrant? 

I've spent the past several days (weeks, actually) cleaning out my studio.
My collection of vintage photos must have the ability to reproduce because I certainly didn't buy all of those photos! (or maybe I did)

These might be full of photos...maybe...

Sometimes I buy photos individually,
But often I'll buy boxes of them.
When I get home, I set aside the ones I really, really like for myself.

This is where I keep my very favorites...

I like funny, curious, "what the heck is going on here" types of photos.
I have quite an interesting collection.
A HUGE COLLECTION. (translate: thousands of photos)
Many scenes in my novel are inspired by vintage photographs.
The expressions, the scenery, the simplicity of a time gone by...so much inspiration.

In my messy studio are thousands of stories just waiting to be written.
I'd better get busy!

First Father's Day...

It’s the first father’s day without my dad.
I'll admit that I've dreaded it.

I miss him.

The grief comes in waves.

And others are grieving too, but…

It’s personal.

It’s lonely.

It’s work we must do on our own.

Except…

I’m not alone.

So often since my dad died…

I’ve said to God, “Could you tell dad…”

And then I give God a message to relay.
(Usually something about his grandkids...he was so proud of them.)

Then I continue…

"I really wish he were here, Lord."

And I always hear Him whisper, “I’m your Father and I’m right here.”

Oh, yeah.

So I tell him the message again, only I direct it to God, my Father.

And I feel better somehow.

My Father heard me.

So on this father’s day, this first one…

I’m thankful that in my earthly father’s absence,

My Heavenly Father leans his ear toward me

And listens. (As He always has.)

And I’m thankful that I’ve learned to listen a little closer.

Because I didn’t lose my father,

Not really.

I’ll see him again.

But my Heavenly Father,

Has been here all along,

Advising,

Loving,

Caring,

Helping,

Teaching,

Soothing,

Encouraging,

Listening.
And He will never leave me nor forsake me.

Where I Find Inspiration...

I'm still revising my novel while I drag my feet in the search for an agent.

And in the midst of rewriting a few scenes, I thought I'd share where I find my inspiration.

We were on a little trip on the Oregon coast when I saw this sign. I LOVE the name. I made my husband turn around so I could take this photo (I wasn't even writing a novel at that time). 

Stuff and Things is the name of a thrift shop in my novel...borrowed from this little boarded-up shop.

I find inspiration all around me and when I know it's gold, I snap a photo. But I have to pay attention--constantly scanning my surroundings for a nugget of inspiration.

People are endless sources of inspiration.

• My best friend is in my novel - although I changed her name to protect her identity...as my main character's best friend. 
• A woman I met at a church we visited several years ago is in my novel. She was a busybody in the nicest, funniest way. I wrote a scene where my character is accosted by her charm in the exact same way I was accosted when we visited that church.
• An older "church lady" from my youth is in my novel. I'm pretty sure she's not living any more...plus I changed her name. Everyone knows one of those ladies, though.
• The setting for my novel is a combination of two small towns, Goldendale, Washington and Glenville, Georgia. I loved small town life. 
• YOU might be in my novel in some way. I'm a people watcher. Quirks and idiosyncrasies are so interesting and attractive. I love subtle mannerisms and outright insecurities and bold personalities. People are a treasure trove of writing inspiration.

Life experience is also a source of inspiration. The death of a loved one, a misunderstanding with a friend, a big move or an empty nest. Feeling judged, being disappointed or left out--all things relational or having to do with the passage of time. Life is inspiration.

God's faithfulness is inspiring to me. How He gently cares for me and provides all that I need. The surprising joy and the peace that can only be from Him. The kindness of God. And grace...the grace of God is always an inspiration. How can I show that grace in story form? It's a challenge I accept every time I sit down with my laptop. I want to write God's grace in every letter I type.

What inspires you? 

Leave a comment and let me know! 

Identity

When I was in high school we were given the assignment to write down all of our identities—daughter, sister, friend, student, etc. After some thought, I was amazed by the number of titles by which I identified.

The difference between my identities back then and the identities people take on today, is that all of my identities were positive. I didn’t identify with negative characteristics or temporary conditions. If I was bummed about a break-up with my boyfriend, I didn’t add ‘depressed’ to the list. I also didn’t add ‘ex-girlfriend’. That wasn’t me—it was something that happened to me. Sure, I was down sometimes, and I felt alone and confused a lot of the time. But I embraced the knowledge that I was a teenager and that all of the shyness and awkwardness and moodiness was temporary.
Later in my life, when the days were long and the frustration of raising three kids weighed on me, I didn’t identify as lonely, depressed and anxious. I knew it was a time to pass through. My kids would not be little forever. I didn’t place labels on myself because I’ve always been in transition…everyone is.

Today, people are quick to identify with conditions, sexual preferences, and life changes. “I’m an ex-con” or “I’m gay” or “I’m a divorcee” or “I’m an addict” or “I’m autistic.” Even if a person is any one of those things, is that the sum of who they are? Why is it so important to advertise to the world our struggles or conditions or our past? Even real conditions are but a piece of the whole. You may be anxious, but you’re also funny and organized. You may be autistic, but you’re intelligent and kind too. You may be divorced but you’re also creative and patient. I realize that for some, labels are broadcast for attention. But the temporary coddling by others will eventually subside and, like a label on a bottle, you’ll be left with a negative residue on your life.

As believers, God does not call us by our conditions, our past or our life choices. He calls us beloved, accepted, adopted sons and daughters, heirs of God, royalty, valuable, created in His image. None of those things jive with any of the world’s identifiers.

The enemy of our souls would have us identify by the things of the world—by the temporary or the negative—to take on labels that cause disappointment, guilt and shame. The world’s labels lead to our dissatisfaction with God’s beloved creation—you and me. 

Romans 8:1 says: For there is no condemnation in Christ, for those who are in Christ Jesus. A rough translation: If I am in Christ, the world's labels do not define me.

I noticed something after the last school shooting (I'm so tired of school shootings). As the names of the victims were revealed, they were described as "compassionate, a friend to everyone, funny, loving, generous" and on and on. Is that how they identified when they were alive? Did they identify as compassionate when they left for school that morning or did another label supersede the positive one? Have you told someone today, how generous or loving or funny they are? 

No matter what we’re going through or how we see ourselves at this moment, time is passing. Circumstances are changing. Our lives are in motion. We may be broken today but tomorrow we will be mended. We may be weak in one area but we’re strong in others.

Consider the labels you attach to yourself. Choose a new identity. Claim the one that God has given to you—beloved.

Have a blessed day my precious reader.