Jerry and I hosted a Maundy Thursday fellowship with our small group last week. We had a teaching about the Seder meal, and then we sat down to eat a delicious potluck and to visit and to laugh. Everyone knew that I was pressing toward a deadline on my revisions and expressed how much they appreciated me having them over. They knew I hoped to be done by Friday evening, but the rewrites were (and still are) proving more difficult than I expected/hoped.
On Friday evening, when Jerry was at a meeting that quite a few of our small group members also attended, all were asking if I'd finished. No. Sigh.
On Saturday evening, at the first of three Easter services held by our church (the other two were on Easter morning), we saw several of our small group members and once again, the first question was, "Are you done?" No. Sigh.
This post goes up Monday morning. You may be asking, "Are you finished yet?"
Don't ask. Sigh. All prayers appreciated!!!
In our daily devotions for Holy Week, the Pastor of Education quoted a lot from John Eldredge's book, Beautiful Outlaw: Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus. So moving, those brief excerpts. I had to order it so I can read the whole book. Have any of you read it? Here's the book blurb:
Reading the Gospels without knowing the personality of Jesus is like watching television with the sound turned off. The result is a dry, two dimensional person doing strange, undecipherable things.
In BEAUTIFUL OUTLAW, John Eldredge removes the religious varnish to help readers discover stunning new insights into the humanity of Jesus. He was accused of breaking the law, keeping bad company, heavy drinking. Of being the devil himself. He was so compelling and dangerous they had to kill him. But others loved him passionately. He had a sense of humor. His generosity was scandalous. His anger made enemies tremble. He'd say the most outrageous things. He was definitely not the Jesus of the stained glass.
In the author's winsome, narrative approach, he breaks Jesus out of the typical stereotypes, just as he set masculinity free in his book, Wild at Heart. By uncovering the real Jesus, readers are welcomed into the rich emotional life of Christ. All of the remarkable qualities of Jesus burst like fireworks with color and brilliance because of his humanity.
Eldredge goes on to show readers how they can experience this Jesus in their lives every day. This book will quicken readers' worship, and deepen their intimacy with Jesus.
I'll be back later, hopefully to report that my revisions are finished at last!
~robin
Robin,
The book by John Eldredge sounds VERY intriguing. Will write that down as one to look for after I’m through with my current reads (yes, I often read more than one book at a time. To quote you, ‘don’t ask!’ LOL).
With regards to YOUR book –there’s a quote out there, which I’m not exactly sure of, so I’ll paraphrase it: Don’t try to microwave what God desires to be slow-cooked.
Never having written a book, I can’t say I know what you’re going through, although maybe on a tiny scale when I’m struggling with a particular blog post I’m working on and it’s just not coming out the way I feel it needs to (I know, not even close, right?). But it’s GOT to be uber frustrating and exhausting. Like being in labor for hours and hours and that stubborn baby just doesn’t seem to be ready to make his or her grand entrance! I’m praying for God to continue giving you patience and clarity, extra bursts of energy at just the right time, and that He will remove all distractions/interruptions that seem to bombard you throughout your times of writing.
I’m looking forward to the finished product, all in God’s timing, Robin.
Blessings,
Pam
So my question is, do people ask anyway? Or does your answer work?
Depends upon how soon they see me again and how long the deadline drags out. <g> But if they ask and I said, "Don't ask," they at least change the subject and we go on to something else.
Pam, I love the microwave comment. Going to remember that one. In fact, going to post it to my Facebook Page right now.
Those are good friends! I’m going to write myself a proposal today just so I have a plan — then I too can say, “Don’t ask!” LOL
{{grin}}
Thank you for the book recommendation. It does sound interesting. And, good luck to you on the edits. I like Pam’s quote too! Yes, somethings just can’t be rushed, as much as we’d like too! Praying for you!