Kathleen J. Shields's Blog, page 10

Oh… to be someone.

I was reading a post by another fellow author who was upset about a local “big-chain” bookstore that was not willing to host local authors for book signings.  Without much of an excuse, except they don’t do that, we are all left to wonder, why?  Is it because we are not important enough yet?  Is it because we aren’t making enough sales yet?  Yes – to both.

We are currently nobodies.  We are trying to push a book, WE believe in, but they haven’t read.  Not that they would read it.  They expect the sales to tell them if it is a good book or not.  If you haven’t gotten thousands of sales, they have their answer.

But how do you get thousands of sales?

Well, you market it.  You publicize it.  You push it every chance you can get.  And if you are lucky enough to have gotten the sales, there is another catch… but it took you two years to do it.  You need to have a million sales in 3 months – at least the traditional publishing houses expect that or they drop you (for the most part).

So how do you do it?  Well you could be a famous actor/actress, musician or public figure that everyone already knows.  Your name connected to anything you do no matter how good it is, will get the sales.  Or you could be an already established author that already claims a household name and every book you write is a best seller, whether it deserves it or not.

Between you and me; I’ve read a few books by “best sellers” and thought, really? They published that? And it’s a best seller? Why?Because they already ARE someone.

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What would YOU do to sell a Book?

Now, I do have to add that many successful authors worked hard.  A traditional publishing house took a chance on them.  They are living the dream and have worked hard for it and I am very happy for them…

However, primarily, and what I am focusing on today, is the fact that once you have that name – it is so much easier.

So there is the catch – you have to be someone to make the sales and you have to make the sales to become someone.

Oh if only I were born into the world of stars. If only I were some important actress BEFORE I decided to write.  Then the news organizations would be clamoring to talk to me and put me on the air where I could banter for 3 minutes about absolutely nothing and then say, “Oh yeah, there’s this book I wrote…” and everyone in the nation goes out and buys it.

But alas, I am not royalty, to quote a popular song, so I will make my own roads to travel down and take the no’s with a grain of salt and continue; because that is what we do.

We persist until we prevail, no matter how long it takes.

To all self-published authors who truly believe in their books and are continuing to push – keep up the good work. WE WILL MAKE IT! No matter how long it takes.

The post Oh… to be someone. appeared first on Kathleen J. Shields.

Help me make a Sad Day into a Glad Day!

Help me make a Sad Day into a Glad Day – Let me tell you how…

Pre-Order your very own copy of “The First Unibear” today through September 28th!

Pre-Order Unibear on Amazon to help make a Dream Come True! Shop here: https://www.amazon.com/First-Unibear-Kathleen-Shields/dp/1956581006

Why September 28th you ask?

Good question! Three years ago on that date my father passed away suddenly. It was one of the few days of my life that have caught me completely off guard. It ripped another huge chunk out of my already tattered heart. After hearing the news, twice – the first time with complete disbelief, I fell to my knees screaming. My father was my last living direct relative. I had already lost everyone else; my mother, my grandmother, my aunt, my grandfather… I was an only child with a very small family… He was the last.

I thought I would at least have my father for a decade or two longer to grow old with. I thought we still had plenty of time to make memories, to make up for the past. I thought, with his retirement pending, just a few months away, that I’d get to see him more, to spend more time with him. I thought a lot of things that suddenly was never going to happen – and I cried harder and longer than the loss of anyone else that was so close to me. I regretted lost time not spent together and I was angry.

That day hurt me in a way, that even as an author, I cannot fully explain…

So when “Unibear” started happening – that story that I wrote when I was ten years old…. The story that my father kept pressing me to do something with, over and over again, for more than thirty years… A dream my father had for me and that book, that he felt so strongly about… An idea came to me from on high. Why not make that sad day a glad day?

At first I was nervous about choosing that day as the release date. I was worried about my step-mom, would she be okay with it? Would others think I was being insensitive? Was it a tactless move, trying to capitalize on negative circumstances? But then I was told it was a great idea.

In fact, it is exactly what my father would have wanted:

Don’t be sad that our time is coming to a close. Enjoy every memory we made this weekend. Take the scenic route down Snake Road… and always find ways to make a profit.

~ That was my Dad.

Make that
SAD Day
a
GLAD Day!

So I am officially doing a Pre-Order for this book “The First Unibear”!
It’s release date is the 3 year anniversary of one of the saddest days of my life.
My prayer is that it’s official release will become a Glad Day for me!

How can a pre-order to a release date become a Glad Day?

Good question! Fellow authors (and potential buyers), listen up. For the next twenty five days, anyone who goes to Amazon and pre-orders the book: adds to cart, pays for and awaits the big day, will be doing something very special for me (and yourself).

FOR ME: Each order gets saved by Amazon. Your card won’t be run until the day the book is officially released. At the moment of it’s release, the e-book and the Hardback picture book, every order placed over the past 25 days will be processed at the same time. Any order placed ON that day will be processed – and IF – note that, if, my book(s) get more orders than most of the other millions upon millions of books that Amazon sells on THAT day, then MY book COULD become a BEST SELLER! Albeit, possibly just for a day, but for that one fleeting moment that would truly make it a GLAD DAY! Could that be a difficult task to accomplish? Maybe… probably… but it’s worth a try, right?

FOR YOU: So how does this turn into a good thing for you? Simply put: You will be one of the first people who will get to read one of the best rhyming children’s stories I’ve ever written! One of the most stunningly illustrated children’s stories I’ve seen in a long time. One of the sweetest, most caring, adorable messages you can help spread and impart upon the children of our world. Your benefits would be HUGE!

“Only the pure with good in their souls, have the magic and power to see me as whole.”
~ The Unicorn

Thirty five years in the making… Thirty five years after I wrote an inspirational tale about a young bear helping a horse, saving his life, and receiving a magical gift that could be paid forward to everyone else down the line, this book will finally come to life. A story, dotted with scripture from the King James Version that specifically mentions Unicorns. A story that inspires everyone reading it to ‘do something’ to see a need and fill it, to help your fellow man, squirrel, dog or cat. To help spread the magic so everyone can be a star! And that all it takes is a pure heart and a good soul.

YOU are going to LOVE this book!

Two-Page spread out of the book “The First Unibear” by author Kathleen J. Shields So go ahead and place your Pre-Order for UNIBEAR Today!

Yes, Amazon shows the hardback book as “Temporarily out of stock” instead of a pre-order like the e-book, that is technically true, nothing is available yet – not until September 28th. But don’t let that deter you. On September 28th, when your order is processed, that book will be printed and shipped to you within a couple days of your order.

ATTENTION LOCALS:

You want an autographed copy directly from the author? No problem! Buy from Amazon and let me know when it arrives. I’ll arrange a time to autograph it for you. I’ll even throw in (if you ask) a FREE paperback Hamilton Troll book for your troubles as a THANK YOU for helping to make this DAY a DREAM COME TRUE!

CHOOSE YOUR PRE-ORDER FORMAT FOR UNIBEAR HERE:HARDBACK BOOK KINDLE E-BOOK Hardback Book on Amazon Kindle E-Book on Amazon

I want to thank you for reading this blog post. I want to personally thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued friendship in following me through my writing journey. I want to especially thank you for your pre-order, I know you will be over the moon with your purchase and I want to encourage you to read “The memories behind the book” a previous post that details more about my father, the story and how this book came to be. Thank you!

The post Help me make a Sad Day into a Glad Day! appeared first on Kathleen J. Shields.

Pre-Order “Unibear” Today! Release Date: Sept. 28

Pre-Order your very own copy of “The First Unibear” today through September 28th!

Pre-Order Unibear on Amazon to help make a Dream Come True! Shop here: https://www.amazon.com/First-Unibear-Kathleen-Shields/dp/1956581006

Why September 28th you ask?

Good question! Three years ago on that date my father passed away suddenly. It was one of the few days of my life that have caught me completely off guard. It ripped another huge chunk out of my already tattered heart. After hearing the news, twice – the first time with complete disbelief, I fell to my knees screaming. My father was my last living direct relative. I had already lost everyone else; my mother, my grandmother, my aunt, my grandfather… I was an only child with a very small family… He was the last.

I thought I would at least have my father for a decade or two longer to grow old with. I thought we still had plenty of time to make memories, to make up for the past. I thought, with his retirement pending, just a few months away, that I’d get to see him more, to spend more time with him. I thought a lot of things that suddenly was never going to happen – and I cried harder and longer than the loss of anyone else that was so close to me. I regretted lost time not spent together and I was angry.

That day hurt me in a way, that even as an author, I cannot fully explain…

So when “Unibear” started happening – that story that I wrote when I was ten years old…. The story that my father kept pressing me to do something with, over and over again, for more than thirty years… A dream my father had for me and that book, that he felt so strongly about… An idea came to me from on high. Why not make that sad day a glad day?

At first I was nervous about choosing that day as the release date. I was worried about my step-mom, would she be okay with it? Would others think I was being insensitive? Was it a tactless move, trying to capitalize on negative circumstances? But then I was told it was a great idea.

In fact, it is exactly what my father would have wanted:

Don’t be sad that our time is coming to a close. Enjoy every memory we made this weekend. Take the scenic route down Snake Road… and always find ways to make a profit.

~ That was my Dad.

Make that
SAD Day
a
GLAD Day!

So I am officially doing a Pre-Order for this book “The First Unibear”!
It’s release date is the 3 year anniversary of one of the saddest days of my life.
My prayer is that it’s official release will become a Glad Day for me!

How can a pre-order to a release date become a Glad Day?

Good question! Fellow authors (and potential buyers), listen up. For the next twenty five days, anyone who goes to Amazon and pre-orders the book: adds to cart, pays for and awaits the big day, will be doing something very special for me (and yourself).

FOR ME: Each order gets saved by Amazon. Your card won’t be run until the day the book is officially released. At the moment of it’s release, the e-book and the Hardback picture book, every order placed over the past 25 days will be processed at the same time. Any order placed ON that day will be processed – and IF – note that, if, my book(s) get more orders than most of the other millions upon millions of books that Amazon sells on THAT day, then MY book COULD become a BEST SELLER! Albeit, possibly just for a day, but for that one fleeting moment that would truly make it a GLAD DAY! Could that be a difficult task to accomplish? Maybe… probably… but it’s worth a try, right?

FOR YOU: So how does this turn into a good thing for you? Simply put: You will be one of the first people who will get to read one of the best rhyming children’s stories I’ve ever written! One of the most stunningly illustrated children’s stories I’ve seen in a long time. One of the sweetest, most caring, adorable messages you can help spread and impart upon the children of our world. Your benefits would be HUGE!

“Only the pure with good in their souls, have the magic and power to see me as whole.”
~ The Unicorn

Thirty five years in the making… Thirty five years after I wrote an inspirational tale about a young bear helping a horse, saving his life, and receiving a magical gift that could be paid forward to everyone else down the line, this book will finally come to life. A story, dotted with scripture from the King James Version that specifically mentions Unicorns. A story that inspires everyone reading it to ‘do something’ to see a need and fill it, to help your fellow man, squirrel, dog or cat. To help spread the magic so everyone can be a star! And that all it takes is a pure heart and a good soul.

YOU are going to LOVE this book!

Two-Page spread out of the book “The First Unibear” by author Kathleen J. Shields So go ahead and place your Pre-Order for UNIBEAR Today!

Yes, Amazon shows the hardback book as “Temporarily out of stock” instead of a pre-order like the e-book, that is technically true, nothing is available yet – not until September 28th. But don’t let that deter you. On September 28th, when your order is processed, that book will be printed and shipped to you within a couple days of your order.

ATTENTION LOCALS:

You want an autographed copy directly from the author? No problem! Buy from Amazon and let me know when it arrives. I’ll arrange a time to autograph it for you. I’ll even throw in (if you ask) a FREE paperback Hamilton Troll book for your troubles as a THANK YOU for helping to make this DAY a DREAM COME TRUE!

CHOOSE YOUR PRE-ORDER FORMAT FOR UNIBEAR HERE:HARDBACK BOOK KINDLE E-BOOK Hardback Book on Amazon Kindle E-Book on Amazon

I want to thank you for reading this blog post. I want to personally thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued friendship in following me through my writing journey. I want to especially thank you for your pre-order, I know you will be over the moon with your purchase and I want to encourage you to read “The memories behind the book” a previous post that details more about my father, the story and how this book came to be. Thank you!

The post Pre-Order “Unibear” Today! Release Date: Sept. 28 appeared first on Kathleen's Blog.

Family and Memories…

[image error] The love in our family flows strong and deep, leaving us memories to treasure and keep.

I saw this in a shop the other day and really liked it. Not because it was applicable, trust me, I like many of you have had my issues with family. I liked it because it meant something else to me. Let me explain.
My family is small, quite small, especially giving that so many of them are gone. I am an only child. The family line will not continue through me. So what’s up with the sign?

I chose a new family. My church family. Actually, they chose me.

They were there for me in my darkest hours. They helped me, prayed for me, they introduced me to God. And while so many of them have continued with their lives having not realized how important they were to me, instrumental in my spiritual change, I can take those memories with me, to treasure and keep, forever.

No matter what happens. If they move away, pass away or fade away, the memories of their caring for me will never fade. I can say the same for my family, for my mother. I have kept the better parts of her, the better memories with me. That is what I take away from this message.

No matter how messed up it got at the end. No matter how much hate and bitterness was released, I can hold tight to the loving memories I have and they strengthen me, deep within my soul.

The post Family and Memories… appeared first on Kathleen J. Shields.

Life… something to ponder.

I saw a sign the other day that I liked and I wanted to share, but then after sharing I thought I’d leave you with a bit to ponder as well…The Essence of Life is to Care.
The Adventure of Life is to Learn.
The Secret of Life is to Dare.
The Challenge of Life is to Change.
The Joy of life is to Love.

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What if we changed this message around a bit, would it mean any more to you?

The Essence of Life is to Change.

Can you imagine changing yourself for the betterment of God?

The Adventure of Life is to Dare.

Dare to dream, dare to be better, dare to follow God’s plan.

The Secret of Life is to Learn.

Learn everything you can about God and keep learning until you meet him.

The Challenge of Life is to Love.

Love yourself, your neighbor and God. He loves you.

The Joy of life is to Care.

Care about what happens to your soul, besides God, you’re the only other one that does.

The post Life… something to ponder. appeared first on Kathleen J. Shields.

Salty Saints – Not to be confused with a snack food

[image error] This Sunday our associate pastor gave the sermon. It was on Matthew 5:13-16 – Salt and Light. “You are the salt of the Earth” “You are the light of the world.” While Jesus is the Light is done so often, he decided to focus his sermon on being the salt; a unique way to go in my opinion and something he was able to do very well.

He said that back then salt was considered a currency, a precious commodity. Then he brought it to now where salt makes food taste better. I know that he had a couple dozen pages of notes so he probably touched on a lot of this in those that he just didn’t have time for, so I was thinking I’d like to add to his sermon a bit.

Salt symbolizes life itself, basic physiological functions depend on a balance between salt and liquids in the body, when the balance is upset, disease may occur. Same can be said if you don’t have enough Christ in your life.

So I began thinking what else salt is good for. Being winter time I, of course, came up with ice on the sidewalk to keep it from freezing. Anti-slip surface – like don’t slip too far away from God.

Then I thought about how it used to be used as a preservative, extending the life of meat, keeping it from rotting…. Of course there is the side effect of turning tough and leathery, but maybe that just strengthens you for the evils out there.

Finally I came up with the fact that it used to be used as a disinfectant for wounds, dating back to the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks… These days they say sarcastically “Oh you’re just rubbing salt in the wound” like it’s a bad thing, painful, but back then it saved lives. It kept wounds from becoming infected.  In fact it could be said that salt can heal you.

The associate pastor then finalized his sermon with “Spread the salt of life. Become salty saints.” One of my friends said she kept thinking it sounded like a great name for a snack food, guess she was hungry. I decided instead to make it into bumper stickers! Here are a few thoughts:

Preserving Meat
Salty Saints – We’ll keep your soul from rotting.[image error]

Peeling Eggs (eggs boiled in salt water peel easier)
Salty Saints – Peeling off the hard exterior.

Removing Wine Stains
Salty Saints – Removing the stains of your life.

Settling Soap Suds
Salty Saints – Overflowing suds can’t stand a chance.

Gargling for Sore Throats
Salty Saints – Reducing the soreness of life.

Soothing a Bee Sting
Salty Saints – Helping relieve the pain.

Keeps Cut Flowers Fresh
Salty Saints – Extending your life after death.

Deicing Sidewalks
Salty Saints – To keep you from slipping.

Deodorizing Shoes
Salty Saints – Removing the odors in your soul. (not sole ~ get it?)

And finally….

Disinfecting Minor Cuts & Abrasions
Salty Saints – We can cure you!

The post Salty Saints – Not to be confused with a snack food appeared first on Kathleen J. Shields.

Free Children’s Christian Story for Review

It has been brought to my attention that there are limited avenues for marketing Christian Children’s books. There aren’t many contest category options for said stories either.  A fellow author whom just recently read “Dandy Lion” was so inspired by the message and simplicity of the piece; decided to write a letter to a rather large church in hopes of building momentum towards creating a Christian Book Club for Children. Here is an excerpt of her letter:

I just recently read a great Christian children’s book that made me think…

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A Christian Children’s Story

“Oprah has a book club for adults but I like children’s literature. Why doesn’t ___________ Ministries start a book club that is geared towards Christian children?”

It is becoming exceedingly difficult finding quality Christian-based reading, especially for children. The Ministry could appoint a committee to chose new children’s books every month or so and post reviews somewhere on the website. It would certainly be a valuable tool for parents, Christian schools and home-schoolers.

The book I read is entitled, “Dandy Lion” and it is a chapter book that defines the Christian Path more clearly, in a way that children and adults can understand. The story was in a word… inspiring. It was written in simple vocabulary of the lower grade levels yet still elegantly got the point across. If you would like to read a free copy for review purposes I have queried the promo code below from the publishing house. Find it below:

www.smashwords.com/books/view/320960C... Code: LF84A

The letter goes on but the message is clear; let’s make the world put more emphasis on teaching children Christian values through fun stories and books.  To anyone reading, I encourage you to download a free copy of this book (for a limited time only) and if you are so inclined, I would love to know what you think of it.

Reviews are always welcome!

The post Free Children’s Christian Story for Review appeared first on Kathleen J. Shields.

The First Unibear – My memories behind the upcoming children’s book.

When I was about 10 years old I wrote a fun children’s story called “The World’s First Unibear”. I combined my love of unicorns, Rainbow Bright, Care Bears and my active imagination, into developing my own character in a hand-drawn rhyming story. While I will never be an illustrator and my crayon work will never be seen in an art gallery, my father believed in THAT story so much that he kept it in a safe place and brought it up in conversation quite often.

Throughout my youth my father would mention “Unibear” and it always made me smile.

This was one of many stories I wrote over the years, but it is the one that stuck with him the strongest.

When I received my first computer (running Windows 95 to give you an idea of the date) I typed up “Unibear” and added clipart to it. I formatted it in two columns on letter size paper, printed it out, folded it in half and tied a piece of ribbon around the fold to keep it together. It was my first “printed and bound” book.

I gave that book to my father.

After my first official book was truly published in the year 2000, he mentioned I should do something with “Unibear” again. But time never allowed.

In 2012 I started working on the “Hamilton Troll” series, because I had found an amazing illustrator. When the success of that series took off, he mentioned “Unibear” again, but my illustrator was way too busy to take on another project, so I waited. 

In 2014 my father pulled out his “Unibear” 1995, to help light a fire under me – and it did. Reading the story for the first time in almost 20 years, I realized it needed some ‘minor’ editing. 

(Okay, minor was a massive understatement.)

“Unibear” is about doing good deeds and the magic behind those wonderful acts of kindness.

As I read through the story of “Unibear”, I cringed at some of the end lines I came up with at ten years old. I cringed – but in reality they were pretty darn awesome for a ten year old! If I do say so myself.

One of the things that blew me away back then, and still today, is the fact that I didn’t feel the need to touch the ending at all. I’ve updated quite a bit of the story, yes, but the last three stanzas are exactly what I wrote in 1987. Think about that when you read the book!

I started working on formatting the newly revised story in 2015 because I wanted to surprise my dad, but my illustrator for “Hamilton Troll” was still way too busy for a new project. So, I sought other alternatives; friends, neighbors, art students but none of their drawings really “spoke” to me. Honestly, I didn’t know where else to look for illustrators, at the time, so it went the way of the Dodo bird and was put aside, again, and forgotten.

The last three stanzas are exactly what I wrote in 1987!

Nearly three years ago I lost my father.…

With over 30 books published over the course of my life so far, it will always weigh heavily on me that the one book my father believed in the most, the book that he had the greatest love for, was never published in his lifetime. I will regret not working harder to finish it… for him… for the rest of my life.

Last year during Covid, my publishing company started working more prominently with children’s book authors. People had time on their hands, children to educate, and stories to tell. All of those stories needed illustrations, and so I scoured the world for illustrators. I’ve found some of the best (in my opinion). Digital illustrators, hand sketchers, watercolor painters, action designers, endearing character creators, and I am constantly adding to my repertoire.

Well last month I was helping to develop a story and prepare it for illustration, for a fellow author. I had a strong picture in my head of what I wanted it to look like. Unfortunately, none of the illustrators I had worked with up to that point were able to give me the “look” I was seeking.

Until now. 

After widening my net for talented illustrators I found Mr. Aashay Utkarsh. Upon seeing his talented work, my eyes nearly popped out of my head. I LOVED IT! In fact, I loved it so much, that Dodo bird of a book that I had forgotten about for the umpteenth time in my life ran to the forefront of my mind and started bouncing up and down, frantically waving to gain my attention.

THIS illustrator was going to illustrate “Unibear” for me!Meet Tiny Bear. He’s cute, right?Tiny Bear finds a Turtle… Is that a Perfect picture for me, or what?

So while he was working on creating the illustrations for one of my authors’ books, I started working on revising the “Unibear,” story again.

It’s amazing how much you ‘grow’ as the years progress…

When I rewrote the story in 2014 I was super happy with it. When I opened it up in 2021, I shuddered. It almost terrifies me to think about how much better some of my older works could be, but alas, I digress. Maybe in retirement… when free time is abundant.  (Yes I hear my retired fans laughing at my naiveté – those who are busier in retirement than ever before…)

We’ll see.

So I have the book rewritten. I am weeks away from finalizing the vibrantly colored illustrations. I’ve decided to do a large 8×10″ hardback full color picture book AND a coloring book so I can get the story out to all walks of life (no matter their financial status).

Show season is starting up again soon and I just have a really good feeling about this. I am excited about bringing “Unibear” to the world. I am looking forward to sharing my vision of a better place with my fans. I am eager to tell everyone I meet, about my father – who always believed in this story, even when I didn’t.  . . . . . . . . . .

And I pray my father will be looking down upon me and smiling –
knowing he was right about “Unibear” all along.Page 16 and 17 from the book “The First Unibear” by Kathleen J. Shields. Illustrations by Aashay Utkarsh Contact Me if You want to Pre-Order Your Own Copy of Unibear! Shop My Other Books Here

The post The First Unibear – My memories behind the upcoming children’s book. appeared first on Kathleen's Blog.

What did we ever do without GPS?

The other day I came across a comic…A single image of a tight rope walker, focusing on his handheld GPS, walking a 90 degree angle off of his tightrope, with the GPS saying “Recalculating…”

See below…

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It took me a second to realize the funny, but when I did, I laughed out loud.

I don’t normally laugh out loud but how true is that picture? How many of us depend whole-heartedly in that GPS directing us, telling us where to go and how to get there.  Since I got my GPS I find myself looking at it more than my speedometer (it tells my digital speed in the corner). Most especially as I slow on a street watching that little car icon take on that purple line as it gets closer and closer to that black and white checkered flag. Instead of looking out along the side of the road and taking in numbers of houses or looking at what the house looks like, or the cars in the driveway, I verify I am there because I arrive, coasting up to that checkered flag.

It made me wonder… am I the only one? Am I too much of a novice for this technological advancement of life… but more so, it made me wonder what life would be like if we focused on God that intently.What would our lives be like if we listened to every step by step direction God gave us?

Not the simple messages like turn right then you will be home. Of course I know how to get home… I even know how to get out of my neighborhood, I really don’t need help with that. I mean the big things. Like don’t go to that party. Don’t speed down that street and don’t ignore my warnings.

What if we listened when he said, I am here.

What if we heard his message when he says, this is my plan for you. What if we hung on his every word as closely as we hang onto the words of our GPS?

There is part of me that wonders how much better we as Christians would be if we listened to our God Positioning Systems. But then again… if God were telling us where to go and how to get there and we stray off the path, he wouldn’t say “Recalculating.” He might say “Make a U-Turn here” but even when my GPS says that, after a while of not listening I expect to hear her say, “Hey you! Listen to me or don’t leave me on to give you directions you have no intention of listening to. Don’t waste my time.”

Maybe, that is what I’d expect to here from God instead.

Your thoughts?

The post What did we ever do without GPS? appeared first on Kathleen's Blog.

Our Labyrinth

[image error]

Our church has a labyrinth.  It was built by our members to provide a place to find the loving spirit of the lord.  And this blog message is about my journey on the labyrinth the other day. I know it’s long but I felt I had to share it with you.

Our labyrinth is located at the top of a hill so there are steps you have to take to get up to it. It’s like the steps you need to take in order to find God.  You have to open your heart to him, invite him in, listen when he speaks to you…[image error]

I always stop at the entrance to read the message inscribed on the wood plaque before I begin.  It helps to take from my head the items I need to release in order to fully hear what God has to say. And then the miracle begins. The very moment I step into the labyrinth the wind blows. Ever so slightly; just enough to feel like God is saying welcome. We are, of course, at the top of the hill, you will feel wind… but I didn’t remember feeling any wind on my way up the steps or while reading…

As you begin to walk the labyrinth you see new growth from a nearby tree stretching over the lines of the rock. As you walk by it (staying in the lines) it brushes against your shoulder and it feels like Gods hand (to me) touching me.

As you make your way around the first turn you realize you need to look down, to stay focused on the lines because if you don’t, you will get lost.  You will fall astray. You don’t want to stray from your path. You don’t want to miss everything God has in store for you.

[image error]So you continue making your way around, turning, walking, enjoying, but then you come up to an obstacle. A low tree limb is blocking the path. Not enough that you have to stray from the path, but enough that you have to duck, to avoid the obstacles in your way, avoiding the obstacles between you and God. (Dear Church – don’t cut that limb down.  It’s an important metaphor.)

Then you find your next turn takes you to the other side of the labyrinth, maybe the other side of life.  It is clearer. It is getting you closer to the center. Each step you takes gets you closer to the bench in the middle where you can rest. Where you can finally look back at the past, before you began, and recollect the good moments and smile. But alas, as you continue down the path it turns again and the next thing you know you are walking away from the bench. Your rest has not arrived.

As you continue; wondering when it will end, wondering where the path is leading you; you see that low tree branch.  That obstacle in life coming back towards you. You thought you were passed it. You thought it was behind you. Yet it seems life is repeating itself.  Your heart quickens for just a moment, worried. Yet when you arrive, you duck below it and move on because you know you can do it. You’ve been there before. You’ve faced that challenge and learned from it. 

[image error]And like every good miracle, it seems once you are past the obstacle, once you learned you are stronger, better from those challenges, your very next turn leads you to rest.

The path is long.  Much longer that you anticipated.  It didn’t seem long when you got started.  But like life, it is full of twists and turns.  You have to persist. To work towards getting there. You have to find the will within yourself to not turn back or give up or take short cuts. Yes, it would be easy to step over the lines and cheat, but look at what you would have missed, what you would have not learned. The precious life lessons God wants us to learn – no matter how difficult or hard they seem to be. They make us better people, better Christians.

Then you get to rest.

As you sit on the bench you look at the beautiful day. You look at what you accomplished and smile.  A butterfly flies by (one even landed on my lap) touching me like God would to say, Good for you. I am proud of you.

You look out and appreciate what you have. What this life has given you. What the world has to offer. The simple things. And after you have cherished these moments. Before you are ready to leave, you look out at the labyrinth around you and realize –  you are only half way there. 

Everything you did to get you here, is only the mid-way point. Now that you have clarity, now that you have learned your lessons, now that you are ready to return back to your life and feel good about yourself, you realize you have to go back through. There is no straight line out of here. There is no easy exit.

[image error]Yes, you could step over the lines, ignore them, cheat – but you already learned you shouldn’t. You already learned you would be missing out on something. But you went through it already. What could have changed in ten minutes? You start to talk yourself out of it, you start to rationalize why you don’t need to do it, but the wind sweeps by again and it’s like God saying, Come on, do it for me.

So you take a deep breath. You lift yourself to your feet. You turn on your heels towards the open path and you take your first step.  It is the unwind. You realize as you walk back through that you had been leaning into the curves.  You had bent your torso one way to get through it, and on your way out, you needed to bend the other way – to straighten back up. You couldn’t do it half way, because God wants ALL of you, a whole you – not just half.

It was an eye opening moment – that I wanted to share with you. To encourage you to find a labyrinth and experience for yourself. Maybe this was just my moment of clarity. Maybe you will experience something different, and that is fine – because God made us ALL different. And He gave us the ability to communicate, through words, song, actions, so we can share what He has to offer with others who may not know yet.

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