Susie Finkbeiner's Blog, page 6

Open your eyes. You’re home.

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When I was a kid we went on several road trips. Most of them took us to Ludington where we visited family, ran up and over sand dunes, and let the waves of Lake Michigan push us here and there and everywhere.

The drive there was full of anticipation. I couldn’t hardly wait to play with my cousins, to see my uncle and aunt, to smell the Big Lake and hear its roaring.

The drive home, though? It seemed to take forever. We’d drive well into the night some times, having stayed later than we’d intended because the visit was just that good, the weather just that beautiful. By the time we pulled into the driveway, I was full of longing.

It was a different kind of yearning from the trip to Ludington. That was full of expectation of the less familiar, the not-everyday. But the longing I felt for home was unlike anything else.

It was the desire to be where I belonged.

Now I’m older, home is in a different place and is full of different people. Still, after spending time away, I can’t wait to get back to where I belong.

In A Trail of Crumbs Pearl is lost in a storm. Millard (the mayor of Red River, Oklahoma) helps her find her way back. When they get to her porch he says, “Open your eyes. You’re home.”

When I wrote those five words in the novel I had an overwhelming memory of being carried inside my childhood home at the end of a long drive. I pretended to be asleep because it felt nice to be carried inside and put right into my bed.

As my dad carried me, he whispered in my ear, “Susie, we’re home.”

I’m sure he knew I was faking because I couldn’t help but smile.

I was where I belonged.

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Preorder A Trail of Crumbs today! Available from Baker Book House, Barnes and Noble, Amazon. 

Truth Still Matters

We have a winner of Amelia Rhodes‘ amazing new book Pray A to Z! Congratulations, Amy Nemececk! I’ll be emailing for your address and I’ll get your book in the mail soon!

A week ago I read an article that the Oxford Dictionary had decided on their word of 2016. As a bit of a logophile (someone in love with words), I am intrigued with the language trends of each year.

I mean, 2015 was the year of emoji. And 2013 it was selfie. Fascinating.

This year, though, I’m not so happy snappy about the word of the year. It holds no whimsey for me, no fun. This year’s word makes me sad.

2016’s Oxford word? Post-truth.

Here’s the cringe-worthy definition.

Post-truth: Relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.

So, essentially, how you feel matters more than truth. How you believe, even in the face of insurmountable evidence to the contrary, is more relevant than truth.

In other words, truth is slimmed down. Anemic. Impotent. Unimportant.

To that I roll my eyes and sigh deeply.

Friends, truth still matters. Always has, always will. Lies are destructive. Always have been, always will be.

Our words matter. The words that come from our mouth or fingers or thumbs. Every single one holds power for good or harm.

Choose truth.

Truth still matters.

 

But how do I teach my children that truth still matters when what’s swirling around our culture is a whole bunch of post-truth mumbo jumbo? How do I teach them that their integrity is valuable when we see so many leaders and soon-to-be leaders lying at every turn? How do I instill in them that honesty is important when even some who claim to be church leaders excuse this post-truth notion as being all right?

You know how I’m going to try it?

By being the best example I can be. By holding truth as a virtue – a God honoring virtue – in our home. By doing my very best to help them discern truth from lies. And by calling post-truth out for what it is.

Post-truth is empty and dark. It’s a hole that will suck us in if we let it. It’s a vacuous, dangerous, soul-diminishing trap.

But we don’t have to even approach that hole. We’d do best not to even tip toe along the edge. Our best bet is to listen to what Jesus had to say about truth.

That when we hold to His teachings and follow Him we will know the truth. And that truth will liberate us. It will set us free.

Friends, cling to what’s true with all you’ve got.

Truth still matters.

 

When We Pray

When I was in first grade my friend Stephanie was diagnosed with a rare disease. Now, I don’t remember what it was called, but I know that at the time I didn’t realize how serious it was. I remember, though, that she had to undergo bone marrow transplants and that she had more than a few close calls.

She’d missed a lot of school in first grade. If memory serves, we sent her handmade cards to cheer her up and prayed for her during class (I attended a Christian school). I missed her, though. Stephanie was always pure sunshine. She always had a beautiful smile on her face and her dark eyes were kind.

Our teacher told us one day that Stephanie would come for a visit. A brief one, but still, she was coming. We planned a bit of a party. We all looked forward to seeing her.

But as the day neared, we learned that Stephanie might not come after all. That she wasn’t well, not strong enough for the visit. I was so disappointed. I sat at my spot at the work table and asked God to please let Stephanie come. I prayed every day that she’d be all right. And I prayed that she’d be able to be at our party.

That is the first concrete answer to prayer that I remember.

I’ve prayed for Stephanie many, many times since then. God has blessed her life by letting her beat all the odds. She’s doing well, sharing her pure sunshine and beautiful smile with everyone around her.

Stephanie was my first answer to prayer.

I could list for you hundreds and hundreds of answered prayers I’ve experienced since then.

My brother-in-law and his family raising enough money for him to receive a radical treatment for his M.S.

Winning the heart of the man who would become my most excellent husband. 

The gentle passing of someone I loved.

When I think over the times when God has answered my prayers and the prayers of others, I am reminded of one very important truth:

God listens.

And even when those answers are vastly different than I would have expected, I still have reason to be grateful. Because God is el roi. The God who sees me. Who knows me. Who hears and acts in my life and in the lives of others.

God listens.

Prayer matters.

My good friend Amelia recently released a book called Pray A to Z: A Practical Guide to Pray for your Community. As I read through the Scripture verses and the prayer prompts, I was reminded of all the times God has honored my prayers and I was moved to joy and thanksgiving.

I would LOVE to share that joy with one of you. I’m giving away one copy of Pray A to Z. All you have to do to enter this give away is comment below. I’d love for you to share a time when you saw prayer answered in your life. Let’s use this to encourage and lift up one another!

I’ll draw a winner next Monday (12/5/16).

*Please note: This giveaway is only for those living in the continental United States.

If you can be anything be a peacemaker

I spent the weekend deep in fever and soaked in herbal tea. What resulted was a small thought about making peace. After several attempts at writing them down, the best I could do was this feeble effort at a poem. Still, it’s a look into my heart for this uneven and heated election season. This is a sort of love poem for those who claim Jesus. I hope you feel my love and hope in these small thoughts.

If you can be anything

Be a peacemaker.

Make peace

The way your great-aunt

Made chocolate pies.

Light and sweet.

Make peace

The way your grandpa

Made rocking horses.

Strong and sturdy.

Make peace

The way your child

Makes birthday cards.

Shiny and pure.

Make peace

The way your God

Makes each day.

New and lovely.

If you can be anything

Be a peacemaker.

And you will be called

Children of God.

A Rare Gift

A few weeks ago my husband took me to the symphony. The man knows how music feeds my soul. He’s good to me.

That night we were to hear a whole lot from Mozart, a French horn concerto by Rosetti, and a cello concerto by Boccherini.

They had me at cello (get it? See what I did there?).

I love Mozart. I do. And these pieces were bouncy, delightful. I couldn’t help but smile all through his pieces. The Rossetti piece was also lovely, the French horns were flawless, soulful.

But it was the Boccherini concerto for cello. That was the winner of the night.

The cello soloist (Daniel Hass) stepped onto the stage carrying his cello like it was just another part of him. He wasn’t awkward in carrying it like I would be. It was as if lugging around an instrument that was half his height and double his width was the most natural thing in all the world.

He was young. Like, half-my-age young. The age of my nephew young.

He played to perfection. He held back nothing, putting in all his power and emotion and energy. He played as if his whole life were leading to him playing that music for that audience on that night.

He gave us a gift.

I wanted to jump up on that stage and grab his 19 year old face into my hands. I wanted to look him in the eye and say, “You are a rare gift to the world. Don’t squander this.”

But I didn’t want to be 1. creepy, or 2. kicked out of the symphony.

Thank goodness for having learned restraint.

Since that night I’ve been thinking a whole lot about rare gifts. Among us are painters and teachers and writers and accountants. There be gardeners and cooks and housekeepers and singers. Those who are natural hosts and encouragers and jokesters.

We are a varied bunch, humans.

And I think of what we offer as if our whole lives were leading up to this moment, this day, this happening.

We give each other gifts when we smile or help out or write a poem.

I want to take your hands in mine and look you right in the eye and tell you, “You are a rare gift to the world. Don’t squander this”.

You are a gift. Give freely and with much love.

You are a gift.

 

Reluctant voters, less than sparkly candidates, and the Kingdom of God

Let’s have a bit of a sit down. Is that all right with you?

These are wild times, wouldn’t you agree? We’ve got a nation of reluctant voters trying to decide between two candidates that aren’t so sparkly. On the daily I read article titles and status updates that smack of the-sky-is-falling.

It’s enough to get my anxious little heart all fluttery with worry over tomorrow, the next four years, the next thirty years.

Hm.

Shoot.

Jesus definitely has something to say about worrying about the future, right? Don’t worry about tomorrow…today’s got enough trouble of its own. 

Friends, can we leave off staking our lives on this election? It’s not good for us. It’s junk food for the soul. It’s a distraction from what we’re to be about.

Should we be informed? Heck yes! Obsessed? NO WAY! And it’s getting far too easy to be fixated on what he/she said or what emails were released or how he said this or that horrible thing.

And can we pretty please stop breaking relationships over it? I’m tired of reading status updates which invite people who disagree to “unfriend” them. The other day I read a status that read, “I will never, ever be friends with anyone who votes for Hillary”.

And that was from a Christian woman.

Have we completely forgotten who we are?

Before we bear the title of American, we have so many other names.

Beloved of God. Child of the Most High. Follower of Christ. Dearly adored. Image bearer.

And before our citizenship was in this nation (or any other if you’re visiting this blog from outside the U.S. … by the way, HI!) we have a home first in the Kingdom of God.

Ahead of president or governor or mayor or senator, we are under the reign of The Creator. He is our King, our Lord, our Savior.

Our only savior.

Sunday morning as I drove to church in the wee, pre-sunrise for worship band practice I felt cynicism creeping its way into my heart. I shook my head and prayed that it would go away. It’s not natural for me, cynicism isn’t. It aches, drags me down, makes me despair.

“I don’t want that for my heart,” I prayed.

I went inside the church building, rehearsed for the morning services and caught my breath. Sometimes it’s just nice to refocus the heart.

But then during the service, I caught the words of a few of the songs.

“One name is higher, One name is stronger than any than any grave, than any throne, Christ exalted over all…”

“Jesus, You have rescued us…”

“The only king who reigns forever, who is like our God?”

And then this stanza from a hymn I have dearly loved since I was a little girl:

“This is my Father’s world, oh let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong God is the Ruler yet.”

Peace. Comfort. Relief.

We are God’s dearly loved. His glory is found in red-orange-yellow leafed trees and in the smiling face of someone we love. He is mighty to save, to transform, to forgive. His mercy is new every single day. He has but to speak and His creative work is made. He breathes life into us and comforts us in our suffering.

He knows who will win this election. He knows what will happen in reaction to it. And, know this, He is making all things work together for our good and for His glory. 

Don’t worry about tomorrow. He holds the moon and stars and our hearts in His hand.

They’re gentle, His hands, and full of healing for His kids.

We are His.

And we are loved so much that our hearts could burst.

Let’s love each other.

 

 

 

It’s Just Words

If you watched the presidential debates last night you may have witnessed a few odd things.

First, how awkward it is that they’re allowed to roam around the stage. As my grandma always said when I paced, SIT DOWN! You’re making me nervous!

Second, what was with the disposable cameras? I mean, it’s going to cost a hundred dollars to develop the film from just one of them. What is this? 1999?

Ahem.

Anyway, you might have also noticed the words, words, words, words of the debate. So many words. Threats and insults and accusations. They bopped from one to another.

All the words.

After a certain amount of time was spent on the 11 year old words of a certain candidate, said candidate asserted that “It’s just words”.

Hm. Interesting.

I pondered his comment, letting it settle into my mind.

It’s just words.

What’s the harm in words?

They don’t mean anything, these words.

They have no power.

It’s just words.

Now, not only is that the world’s worst poem, it’s also false. To say that words are impotent is to err. Words hold power, meaning, depth. They have the ability to speak life and death.

And the words on that tape? They’re ugly, terrifying, bad. And, just to be fair, words from the other candidate have been damaging as well. The words each has used have divided, manipulated, deceived.

What each have said in their lives have put a strangle hold on this country and even through the world.

It’s just words.

And words can and have changed the world. For good and bad.

This past weekend I was at Breathe, a Christian writer’s conference in Grand Rapids (I’m on the planning committee and love it deeply). If there’s one thing all those at the conference could agree upon it’s that words matter.

All weekend I tuned my ear to eavesdrop on the conversations around me. This is a sampling of what I heard:

“I think your writing is important, don’t quit.”

“I am SO GLAD I met you.”

“You’re doing a great job.”

“God is doing amazing things in your life.”

And on and on.

It’s just words.

But those words built up, inspired, encouraged. Those words served as a liturgy to weary writers who may have been discouraged and afraid. Those words worked as a balm to their souls.

It’s just words.

But those words weigh much more than we often recognize.

It’s just words.

So choose them well.

It’s just words.

Yeah, but words spoke the world into being. Raised the dead to life. Spoke forgiveness and grace and love.

It’s just words.

 

Mr. Fuzzington — Inspired by Robyn Orme

So, I’m sorry I’ve not blogged in a long time. I’ve been busy getting things ready for the Breathe Christian Writers Conference this weekend. Ironically, I’ll be presenting on blogging. Ahem.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this story that I wrote 5 years ago during a short story challenge I did. If you’re looking for a heartwarming story, this ain’t it. But if you need a little giggle to get you through this crazy day, this might do the trick.

I hope you enjoy it!

Susie Finkbeiner

Today’s story is inspired by Robyn Orme. Robyn works at Great Lakes Christian College. Here’s her story idea…

9 year old dog. Modern American home. The child he has loved and cared for is leaving for college in another state.

Mr. Fuzzington

Okay, first of all, I hate my name. When this lame brain family adopted me my name was Marco. Mysterious, handsome, exotic Marco. But no.

“I can’t call this cute little puppy Marco,” the mother of the family said. “That name’s just too grown up for him.”

Uh. Hello. She didn’t think I was going to grow up? Now I’m the butt of all the canine jokes in the neighborhood. I can barely go outside to do my “business” without hearing the neighbors bark “Mr. Fuzzington, you sure are Fuzzy.”

Now, I know, it’s a pretty dumb rip. But you try pooping when someone’s calling you Fuzzy. You…

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The Work of Your Hands

It doesn’t get old, cutting the strip of tape on the box and pulling up the flaps, scrunching up the layer of packing paper off the top to reveal stacks of your book.

Your book.

The one you cried over, stressed over, almost gave up on but didn’t. Careful as can be, you wrap your fingers around the spine of one and lift it up. The cover is even more beautiful than it looked in the email the publisher sent, the texture is more pleasing. Without thinking, you hold the book against your heart, embracing the story that came from such a depth in you.

There’s nothing like it, holding your story. The work of your hands.

My friend and fellow author Jennifer Lamont Leo recently opened the box containing her first published novel.

 You’re the Cream in My Coffee (which released on Thursday) is a purely delightful book. I should know, I had the pleasure and honor of endorsing it. I do believe that you, dear friend, would very much enjoy it.

When I saw this picture of Jennifer on Facebook, I got all misty eyed, thinking of how she must be feeling. The absolute and dizzying joy, the relief, the excitement. I mean, look at her face! Can’t you feel her delight?

I know I can. And it makes me so very happy for her.

I don’t know what your “thing” is. Maybe it’s running marathons or knitting baby blankets. Perhaps you’re a musician or an accountant or a web designer or a poet. Whatever it is  you do, I hope there are moments of joy in the doing.

Sure, there are moments which find you with head on desk and a heart full of doubts. There are times when you feel the exact opposite of joy. You probably feel worn down to the core some days.

But I hope there are other days when you look at the work of your hands and marvel. Not so much at what you have created. More at what a pleasure it is to have that work to do. Because it was work given to you by the One who crafted you in His hand.

And when you sit in awe, holding the work of your hands, remember this:

When the Creator, the Father God formed you, I have no doubt that He held you and felt the joy of having you as His own.

He delighted in the work of His hands.

Jennifer has very generously provided a give-away of her debut novel You’re the Cream in My Coffee! Just complete the action steps in the Rafflecopter link to get more entries into the drawing. I’ll announce the winner next week! Feel free to share this post so your friends can enter, too! 

NOTE: This giveaway is only for those living in United States. If you happen to live outside the US of A, the ebook version is just $1.99. Thanks for understanding.

Click here to enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Remember This

 

We went for one last swim in the river the night before school started. The kids ran into the water at top speed, tripping over their own feet and falling into clumsy dives, splashing for all they were worth.

They did underwater headstands and skipped stones (which ended up being more like plunking them out into the middle of the river). They did swimming races and built wonders out of wet sand.

I stood, waist deep, watching all they were doing. I felt like Mary, pondering and collecting in my heart that which these children of mine do.

“Mom! Watch this!”

“Did you see that?”

“Look what I found!”

I watched, I saw, I looked. And I told myself over and over, “Remember this, remember this, remember this”.

Remember the hike through the woods where we found the baby snakes and the bright green frog. And even remember the bee stings and the hugs and kisses that followed.

Remember the trip to Wisconsin where we ate lunch overlooking the polar bears and the way your girl’s eyes grew round at the opportunity. Remember the museums and the walks and the gardens. And remember how the boys still hold your hand because they want to be near.

Remember the books read together. New ones and classics. Remember the talks you had after reading, the lessons you all learned together about what it means to be human and family and friends.

Remember this. Remember this. Remember this.

And don’t forget the sweetness of being told you’re loved by a sincere eight year old. Remember the way you marvel at your (nearly) ten year old’s courage. Soak into your memory the way your children speak of Jesus with such assurance and confidence.

And commit to memory how really, really good life can be even in the noise of our culture and the tugging at our attention. Even in tragedy and pain, an edge of beauty often contrasts with the darkness. Sometimes that lovely edge is made of the memories of  long sunggles and shared giggles.

Remember this.