Sign up to receive Susan's latest post & your free Benefits for the Home School Parent E-book
S. A. J. Lyttek, a multiple award-winning writer, always loved writing, but didn’t arrive at the profession in the typical manner. After college and graduate school, she plunged into government consulting. In this environment, she discovered a knack for writing tests, interviews and other measurements. That soon became the focus of her career—reigniting her love for the written word. Thus captivated, she spent evenings freelancing “fun” writing including short stories, poems, articles and cards. When her eldest was a toddler, she quit full-time work to stay home and write. Eager to spend more time with her children, homeschooling intrigued her. From preschool through high school, she homeschooled both sons while continuing to freelance. While an integral part of the homeschooling community, she developed and taught writing classes to a generation of homeschoolers. Married to her childhood sweetheart, Gary, Mrs. Lyttek loves to share her commitment to learners of all ages and her fascination with the written word.
Sometimes, life throws things at us good and bad faster than we can deal. The event or the situation may have completely finished, but the brain is stuck in the loading phase.
September, for me, has been like that.
I accepted a new position at work, I taught an online writers’ workshop for a group of people I’d never met, fulfilled some writing and church obligations, (one more to come this weekend…) and attended an online writers conference last weekend. Part of that conference was a writing contest, for which I was notified in July that I was a finalist. The top prize was publication of the entry.
Winning the top prize would’ve made the answer to the question, “What do I do with this quirky fairy tale novel that I wrote that I love?” much easier.
But then, I also have friends and family suffering various trials and pains that makes my heart shout “why” and cloud my vision of the present.
Add the topping of my own random pain. I’m going to physical therapy for it, but you go down the google and AI rabbit trail and some of the symptoms and treatments and it looks like it might never go away unless I invest in some costly treatments.
A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way? (Proverbs 20:24, ESV)
For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear. (Ecc. 5:7, ESV)
Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. (Proverbs 4:26)
One of the problems of being human is our linear nature. I can only perceive the moment I breathe in. But sometimes, that moment doesn’t seem to make sense. I’m trying to be obedient to God and walk in His ways. But my omniscient quota is zero. I have no idea what lies ahead and if the steps I’ve taken lead to good or evil. Because even someone who tries to do everything right (I wish I was better at that), can wander into evil because of the fallen world.
When the future ahead looks foggy, and the past confuses me, what do I do?
Oswald Chambers said, “Trust God, and do the next thing.”
Sometimes the next thing is obvious. Other times, it could be any number of options that all seem good and godly. Still, other times, there’s no direction you can sense for the next movement. Maybe it’s because you need to rest in God for a bit. Or maybe, like me, you’re processing the abundance of life.
Perhaps processing means resting in God. But I feel awfully busy and tired for someone who’s resting! And my brain keeps spinning trying to make sense of it all. I can almost see the word “Loading” on my forehead.
Part of my issue, and I know it, is I try to seize the future before it’s here and plan how I will handle this or that. To an extent, that’s good. It keeps me motivated and thinking. But it also fills my brain with extra clutter.
Maybe my very cluttered mind is part of why I’m obsessed about getting rid of things in the house. Perhaps if the home was simpler, my thoughts would be as well. But in the meantime, that’s another tangent that delays mental processing.
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. (James 3:2, ESV)
Regarding that contest I mentioned earlier, I both won and didn’t. I won best fantasy, but didn’t win the publishing contract. Another ‘where do I go from here’ question.
As of now, October has less on its schedule. Perhaps, I can use some of that downtime to let my mind catch up.
But until then, I will, as Mr. Chambers recommended, just keep doing the next good thing.