Hope in the Debris

A clock stopped at 8:45 p.m. A CD hidden under piles of brush showed no signs that a brutal tornado had sent it soaring like a flying saucer to worlds unknown. An artificial Christmas tree branch camouflaged itself under pine tree branches that had broken from the mountain pines. The house that stood on a concrete slab seconds before had only debris as proof a house ever existed there. Family members were injured. Some didn’t make it.

The recent storms in the southeast were like nothing ever seen or felt. One thing was for certain—our lives were changed forever.

But this is not about the tragedy or devastation of it all. One need only to click on any of the media outlets for visual proof.

This is about the debris.

This is about the hope found in the debris.

Examples:

A man was interviewed that had his house burned down in the fall. He had life-threatening heart surgery in the winter. The “new” house he lived in before the storm was reduced to nothing more than a "dirt" spot with no grass growing as evidence that something had actually been there. The interviewer asked him how he felt. He replied that he had his coveralls covering his body, a hat on his head, shoes on his feet and food in his belly. He then smiled and with sincerity said that he was a blessed man.

Then there’s the man who lost almost everything who said that he was able to get up in the morning and give his loved ones a hug. He then asked the reporter to ask him what more could he ask for?

Many cling to the pictures and memories wishing that time would rewind. Then there are those that walk amid the rubble and find hope.

Finding hope speeds the recovery and rebuilding process. We are eternal optimists and eternal-home dwellers. We have discovered that some of the things destroyed were just things and that the important things dwell within us. We have discovered that we are victims only as long as we allow ourselves to be and for as long as we look for only the destruction in the rubble. We have discovered that the most precious ones we love can be taken at a blink of an eye before we even have a chance to crawl in the bathtub and use our bodies as a shield to protect them. We have discovered that angels come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and abilities. But they all have big hearts.

And we realize that many years ago when the Son of God hung on a cross, that God could have sent a tornado to destroy the world, and the world would have been gone—just that quick. But then there would not have been any hope in the debris for mankind.

5 Reasons You Should Attend a Writer's Conference

The lobby is like a jigsaw puzzle with 300 people trying to figure out where to go next. Books go from one hand to another and tables piled with printed material decorate the area. You stand there and it occurs to you, "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all."

Many conferences take place each year for writers of different genres. A good writer's conference offers a nourishment to the writer--the kind that feeds the soul and brings new life to the fingers that perform the special magic on the keyboard.

So why should one spend the money on a conference?

I have been going to conferences for several years and have come up with five reasons why every writer should consider going to a conference.

You learn something. If you have written the next best seller and want to know as much as you can about the craft of writing, a conference is the place to be.

You network. Always take business cards with email information with you. Distribute them to everyone who will take one.

You market your work. Memorize a one or two sentence pitch that tells about your book and be enthusiastic when others ask about it which they do at a writer's conference. Market yourselfr. That markets your work. Participate in the workshops by commenting or contributing to discussions. Be personable and friendly. Editors and agents want authors that peiople will like and that will connect to the readers.

You meet with specific editors and agents that might have an interest in publishing your manuscript. If you do not have one ready now, set a goal to have a manuscript finished by the conference. Take advantage of the opportunity.

You get to hang around with those that are like-minded. There is a comradery. You find a place to belong with people who have something in common with you.

Conferences are where we can learn from the best, take our best with us, be our best and show and tell to others about our best.

If you haven't ever considered attending a writer's conference, research one in your particular genre and consider making the investment. Conferences help to feed the writer inside of you.

Maybe I will see you there.

Paula