I’m a writer. Three years ago I wasn’t a writer. Something happened, in fact a whole bunch of things happened and my little bud of a dream to be published is now a reality. I’ve been published and have learned how to get writing assignments for devotionals and short articles. I met my original goal of seeing my name in print and now I’m sorting through all the things I could choose to do in the writing world. I could be satisfied with what I’ve done and just keep doing it. Or I could become all networky and high-powered and build a platform that reaches to the sky–but I don’t think I’ll do either of those two things. I think I’ll just keep my eyes and ears and heart open and take one step at a time.

I’ve noticed over the past three years that if I keep my eyes and heart open to God that I get just the right bit of information or the perfect connection, or meet just the right person to guide me in my next step as a writer. Now maybe it’s just that my ears are attuned to what I need and I’m highly motivated, which is true, but I think it’s something more. I believe that I’m supposed to write. I believe that God in His grace has gifted me to write and has given me time to do it now that I’m retired from teaching. As in any task we take up in service to others I have to do my part. So I’m diligent to meet deadlines, I’m reading and learning all the time and I’m doing my best to learn the skills that writers learn over a lifetime. I don’t have a whole lifetime, I have now and so I’m crashing my way through a ton of information and guess what? I’ts working. I may never win awards or write that great American novel, but I’m a writer and I’m growing day by day. That is more satisfying to me than I can say. So it’s India and writing. Writing and India. Those are the two big presents I’ve been given in my retirement years. I’m very grateful.