Sunday Morning Serenity

About a week ago I had a phone meeting with my gift-from-above agent, Leslie Stoker, to talk about my fourth book. (Yes, book three isn’t out yet, but book four is due in the fall, so we must charge ahead.) Basically, what I said to Leslie was, “I know what I want to do—I just don’t know if I’m smart enough.”

She has talked me down from that precarious perch many times. So has my friend Nancy. (Thank you for counseling over quiche at Klingler’s, sister Nancy.)

There are several threads in the new book—how would I weave them together? It’s set in Louisiana, fertile ground for interesting characters—how would I pick and choose? How would I keep them authentic? I worried about it. I prayed about it. I stared at a blank screen on my computer till I could dream up something I just had to look up online and then followed the internet bunny trail, wasting time.

Finally, when I just stopped and let myself be still enough to receive direction instead of flailing about for it, the answer came: You don’t have to figure it all out at one time. Write one thread and then another. Break it down.

I need to follow that advice in so many areas—from telling stories to doing something about the disaster that is my guest room turned junk room. I have the best intentions, but every weekend I walk in there, take one look, shudder, and walk away.

Sometimes the whole of a thing is just way too much. And if we try to take it on in its entirety, we’ll feel defeated before we even start.

Years ago, I was shopping for a dress for something important coming up at work—can’t remember what. But I had gone to Parisian—the best department store ever, which I miss to this day. I tried dress after dress after dress, aided by one of Parisian's top-notch, knowledgeable sales representatives. But no luck. Nothing fit exactly right. Finally, she said to me, “Dear, there’s no shame in alterations.”

Good advice when you’re dress shopping. Good advice when you’re working through a seemingly overwhelming situation. There’s no shame in alterations. No shame in acknowledging that your first approach wasn’t the right one and you need to change course.

This week’s advice to myself: Break it down. One thread at a time. No shame in alterations.

P.S. to self: Prayer isn’t all about talking. It’s about being still and listening too.