Smoldering Embers

 by Teresa Dickhoner

For me writing is seldom the burning desire I hear other writers talk about. Most of the time it’s more like a smoldering ember. But, if God stirs the coals I know it will produce warmth powerful enough to encourage both myself and others in His own perfect time.

How I became a writer, and why I write?

I don’t remember a strong urge to write when I was younger, though some noticed a small spark and encouraged me. There was the "Why I Love America" essay in fifth grade when I received first place in my small grade school. The poem I wrote during junior high that was printed in an equally small church paper. But I wasn’t officially published until my early thirties and didn’t start putting a lot of concentrated time into my writing until my late forties.

Gradually over the course of many years God stirred a growing desire in me to write the story He was lovingly writing on my heart all along. At first blank books became a companion for my thoughts as a young mother. Later I began forming some of those thoughts into short poems. Little by little, God taught me to see the world around me with different eyes.

Through the lens of grace, a bed of neglected daffodils hidden amongst a wild grove of trees radiated God’s faithfulness. Daffodils became the backdrop for my first submitted piece of writing, published in a small, monthly devotional booklet.

A forgotten apple tree begged onlookers to humbly accept God’s pruning. In 2005 my old gnarled apple tree found its way into a writing challenge for a small online magazine. Not only was it published, but the editor also invited me to participate in a writing class. The class disintegrated ahead of schedule, but I was able to learn several important skills and make friends with other writers. As a result of those contacts, I also became a member of the 4Him2U writing team at its infancy.

One afternoon God demonstrated the weight of bitterness through an evergreen tree in our front yard weighted down under a heavy blanket of snow. In 2008 this word picture inspired me to write a devotional for The Upper Room, published in January 2009.

How I’ve grown through my writing?

A few years ago I started collecting interesting quotes in a small blank book I purchased at a local bookstore. Two of the quotes in my little book sum up well what I want to say.

"We learn how to do things by doing

the things we are learning to do."

(Aristotle)

"I know not how the light is shed,

Nor understand this lens.

I only know that there are eyes

In pencils and in pens."

(John Piper)

Sixteen years of home schooling taught me teachers learn more than their students. The same is true for writers. Authors learn more from their writing than their readers. The most important thing I write about is my faith, so the most important things I learn through my writing concern my personal daily walk with Christ.

As my husband and I enter a new stage of our lives, the idea of an empty nest is weighing heavy on my heart. The gentle urging God keeps putting on my heart is for me to become more serious about my writing and I am trusting Him to lead. 

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Beginnings and Choices.

by Kathlyn Fauchon, Australia

The stillness of the house, the lack of life and voices crushed in on me. Even the cat preferred to be alfresco stretched out in the sun. I felt so alone.

I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Sucked dry by the tentacles of empty nest syndrome, I lay in a fog of inactivity.

Before I could wallow in my loneliness and self pity, an inner voice commanded me to get up and write. “Write about your cat.” The fog evaporated. I sprang up and obeyed the “inner voice”.

So began my years as a writer. To this day I believe the voice belonged to God. Indeed I believe He called me to write. The cat book focused on families, cat and human and genetics. My studies in science and the undeniable fact “life comes from life” not the “goo to you via the zoo” fairytale, directed my approach to the work. The book is not published. It is filed away as a cherished memory of connection between me, my family and my writing career.

Through interactions with writers, several writing courses and practice, practice, practice I have grown in my ability to write. I’ve grown in my attitude to rejections though I still have a long way to go, if God permits. In a recent competition I received a commendation for a short story. Cheer, cheer! I must press on for the goal of first prize.

A memory springs to mind. In my youth my dad would say “That’s good but now… ” I always felt deflated, as if I had not done my best. There must be a better way to say “don’t rest on your laurels”. We must always seek to do better, even as God continues to work His changes in our lives. 

With fellow writers I studied When the Glass Slipper Doesn’t Fit by Claire Cloninger and Karla Worley. This study forced me to look at childish attitudes. I hope the lessons have helped me mature both as a person and as a Christian. I take my hat off to the God- given brilliance He has produced in these writers.

As a writer of devotionals, God prepared me for His call to be a Chaplain in Kairos Ministries. This organization reaches out to prisoners on the one hand (inside) and to those who support someone incarcerated on the other hand (outside). I felt so humbled to be called to this ministry and I still do.

Teachers acknowledge how they learn from their pupils. It is no different in the role of a Chaplain who serves those with family in jail. Their courage and their love is extraordinary. How hard it must be to have to say to a drug addict son or daughter they must find elsewhere to live? Not all cases are drug related, I’ve singled out these because of the deep emotional issues for parents and the lessons of strength I learned from them.

I’ve reached a point in my journey where I have new decisions to make. With all my heart I want to give up everything else to concentrate on my work as a writer. I want to write for children, to tell them Jesus is the best friend they can have. I’ve learned this through books given me as a child as well as through other influences in my life.

Could I relinquish my God given task to teach the Bible to children, who might not otherwise hear about Jesus? God called me into this work within days of the commitment of my whole life to Him. Is this His will for me now? Does He really want me to write for children? There are plenty of people out there who write for children, but there are only a handful of people teaching the Bible to children in state run schools.

As I declare my trust in the One who knows all there is to know, as I trust in His omniscience, I often face a barrage of opposition. Once it brought me to the point where I faltered. I laid it before my maker and He gave me Psalm 32:8 as a promise. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (NIV) God has never failed to guide me. I wait for His answer.

What a wonderful thing it is to step off and begin a New Year sheltered in the shadow of the Almighty, the Creator of the universe, the Omnipotent.

Shalom

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 Kathlyn Fauchon grew up in country Australia. Fond memories of open spaces in the paddocks and on the river bank will remain with her always. At the little country school she wrote her first piece of inspirational work. The headmaster commended her on one particular achievement.

Kathlyn is married to Ian. They have four children and ten grandchildren of whom they are very proud.

Kathlyn’s accomplishments are in the form of three children’s books and many, many short stories, articles and devotionals. These publications range from anthologies, hard copy and online magazines. She holds a commendation in a literary contest.