Late but not absent!
I forgot what day it was yesterday.
Good day to you, my friend!
Can you tell I was watching a Jane Austen fan fic recently? Seriously, sometimes I just need a classic lit TV adaptation to curl up on the couch with and get all the feels. I am pretty sure not everyone understands that particular brand of comfort food. Yes, I called it food, but mostly just for lack of a better word. Help me out. What’s that called when you are worn out and feeling a little stressed, so you look for something familiar that is comforting?
We all have different ways of dealing with stress or depression, and I definitely like falling into the fictional worlds of authors like Austen, Dickens, and Gaskell on DVD to unwind and, not so much escape, but set aside the silly worries that I let consume me. Am I talented enough? Am I dedicated enough? Does anybody even care what I do? I’ll never compare. I’m not doing what I should. I… I… I… When I am self-centered in my thinking, it’s pretty depressing!
What I appreciate about these particular stories is the glimpse into cultural and moral questions that look to exemplify kindness, goodness, charity, and hope. Persuasion, Little Dorrit, Nicholas Nickleby, North & South, and so many more have different levels and ways of seeing these aspects of our human existence. When I would like just a smidge of a story that soothes my selfish heart away and reminds me to do what God wants me to do—what I want to do out of love for Him—these stories satisfy.
They don’t replace my time in mediating on God’s Word, but they do comfort my mind and remind me how very loved I am, even in the midst of unknowns and difficult circumstances.
It’s strange to me how stories can do that. I’m so thankful that God made some of us storytellers who can bring fictional people to life in such a way that we can see parts of ourselves and our own struggles in a different perspective.
And at the same time, we need to be careful with the stories we consume, to not be led astray into bad thinking that destroys us from the inside out. With everything we read or watch, we need to discern it’s worth to our lives, even and especially the fictional.
So, today I’m feeling a little more hopeful, a little less me-centric, and a whole lot of thankful. All those questions that plague my mind are lies meant to excuse my stumbling, bumbling self who is imperfect from stepping forward in faith. It’s nobody’s else problem or responsibility to fulfill whatever I think I should be or do.
There is a saying attributed to a lot of different people, but I think it’s a good one to consider: Do the next right thing.
Elisabeth Elliot, a missionary and writer, has said many times: “Do the next thing.” It’s implied to do the right thing, but I came across this great blog post about a poem that inspired her in focusing on this simple true statement: Do the Next Thing: Elisabeth Elliot by Bob Roane. I encourage you to go read it, if you have time!
I’m exhorted by thinking on these things to do as scripture encourages:
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. NIV
Giveaway Reminder:
2/29/2024, that’s tomorrow, is the last day to enter the giveaway for the beautiful hardback copy of Morgan Wylie’s Silent Orchids, book one of The Age of Alandria series!
GIVEAWAY: https://books2read.com/u/bw9A6y
I’d appreciate if you shared about it with your friends who you think would enjoy this YA portal fantasy series! All the details and rules of the giveaway are at the above link.
I’ll send out a special newsletter email on Friday announcing the winner.
Celebrate the Re-release of this series with me!
Today is the re-release day of the brand new covers and updates to the first two books in The Age of Alandria series.
You can find them wherever books are sold!
Just Thinking
I keep coming back to doing the next thing, doing what’s right. I know it’s not always clear what the next thing is, but I’m praying today as you read this letter that you’ll discern what is right and do it to the glory of God.
Have a wonderful week! And if you feel like it, reply and tell me how it’s going! How can I pray for you and encourage you?
~ Rachael