At 6:30 a.m. this morning, I was jogging and trying to catch up with my walking friends. After a few minutes, I decided that I didn’t want to catch up. I needed to sort some things out in my mind and also think what I wanted to do today.

    It wasn’t light yet, there were stars out and one stood out more than all the others.  It was the brightest start. 

   Through this beautiful shining star, I had a moment of clarity and truth.  The truth was subtle and yet sharp and precise. I could be my own shining star.  I had to be my own shining start.  I had to be my own cheerleader, my own best friend.

     If I wanted to progress in this writing path that I have chosen, I need to quit making excuses and just do it.  I need to quit waiting for someone to “discover” me or hold my hand. I need to send my Christian Novella manuscript to publishers and not be afraid of rejection.

         After all, T.S. Elliot, a British Poet and critic (1888-1965) said, “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go”

      Today I vow to get out my finished manuscript and stop being afraid of rejection.  If it is never accepted, I will know that I have tried.

      I probably should take a formal writing class. I should write every single day. Kindling is what keeps the fire burning.  (Kindling will stay burning long enough to get the larger fuel ignited; therefore if I keep writing, perhaps a larger inspiration or idea will come.)

      I think it is the same for everything one wants from life.  The answers are all inside of us. God has made us that way. 

      Sometimes, when it seems we are progressing too slowly towards our goal, we need to think about the following fable – The Crow And The Pitcher:

     A Crow, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher which had once been full of water; but when the Crow put its beak into the mouth of the Pitcher he found that only very little water was left in it, and that he could not reach far enough down to get at it. He tried, and he tried, but at last had to give up in despair. Then a thought came to him, and he took a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher. At last, at last, he saw the water mount up near him, and after casting in a few more pebbles he was able to quench his thirst and save his life.

Little by little does the trick.