Almost every time I walk into the kitchen, I find my dog, Scout, sitting with his nose pressed to the door waiting, hoping somebody will let him outside. We open the door and he skitters his paws like he is on ice, and nearly throws his back out to slide through that door. Once outside he does a quick loop of the yard. If the neighbor dog isn’t out to bark at (they have a fervent contest to be crowned the loudest dog in the neighborhood) or a dastardly squirrel isn’t on the fence who needs to be put in his place, he circles back around to sit with his nose pressed up to the door waiting, hoping somebody will let him back inside. Once inside he does a loop of the kitchen to see if anyone dropped a stray crumb or preferably a whole sandwich. Then, you guessed it, back to the door.

Scout hates a shut door! He wants, nay, he needs to know what is on the other side. If you dare to shut him out of the bathroom, he will press his little spotted nose to the crack in the door and wait in quiet desperation for someone to have mercy on him and open the door with their magical door-opening-hands. But, if you take him into the bathroom with you, he will do the same thing on the reverse side of the door, boring holes with his eyes into the oh, so very opaque wood, longing to know what is happening on the other side of that door. If Scout could have a super power it would be x-ray vision. He needs with all his doggy soul to know WHAT IS HAPPENNING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT DOOR?!

I see much of myself in Scout, not only the fierce love (that reads as desperation) of food, the excitement over friends that can seem aggressive but, also, the ability to do nothing all day and still be exhausted. When I watch him, nose pressed against that door, believing with all his heart that there is something better on the other side, I see a flaw in myself. One that has me wasting time wanting something different that will not make me anymore satisfied than what I have on this side of the door.

Why is it that we long for something more and what we have is rarely enough? We want our houses bigger, our thighs smaller, our electronics faster and our lives slower. If we can just take a vacation or get that job or find a best friend or the perfect hair color we would feel happier. We try to claw our way through one door just to turn around and want back inside, because maybe that was better after all. I’m learning to look away from the “closed” door, find what I need on this side. Maybe someone did drop a whole sandwich in here and I missed it because I was too busy staring at the door leading outside.

There is actually a very small window that works for me of not being too busy, but having purpose; of not feeling uncomfortably stuffed, but having enough to eat. Do I really want more house to clean or too much time to sit on the beach alone? In reality no, I want a balance of these things. In the Bible, Philippians 4:12 says something like, learn to be content when you have too little or when you have too much. There always seem to be spiritual issues when we go through struggles, but surprisingly, at least for me, there are just as many issues when we have everything we (think) we want. Whatever side of the door you find yourself on you will have a constant when you look outside of your physical surroundings for contentment and peace.

When I’m struggling through a valley, I just want out of the valley. I want the pain to stop, I want to feel the sun, but I’m usually in deep prayer during these times, depending on God in a desperate way that makes me not totally fall on my temporal helps like family, friends, money, doctors and my comforts. I look to the Lord and build my spiritual stamina like no other time. On the other side of that door, the one full of comfort, peace and light, in my case - coffee, scones, laughter with friends and days at the beach - when all is well; that’s when I can forget that I need a Savior. I can drift from the reality that it’s not about making myself comfortable or happy and this is a dangerous place to linger too long.

There is this really interesting proverb in the Bible where the author asks some things of the Lord. He says don’t make me either rich or poor, but give me just enough for each day. This gives me pause. Apparently, there must be a sweet spot spiritually where we want to live, enough but not too much. Of course this isn’t just with finances and provisions, but with busyness and relationships and work. We seem to be thrown off balance when we have affluence and when we have need. What this prayer in Proverbs 30:7-9 is asking of the Lord is something in the middle, an ease or peace which flows into thankfulness. I’m trying to be at ease in the room I’m in and not standing with my nose pressed to the door wanting something more or different. What this looks like for me is saying this is enough right now in my season of life. Not comparing myself or striving to have everything or be everything. Not saying yes to all opportunities that cross my path. Deciding what is important to me: time spent in devotion, time with family and friends, work I love (like writing this blog) which means not making as much money or getting as many publishing credits, not being part of things that sound really cool, but would spread me too thin. Stepping away from the door!

Write about ways you feel as if you have your nose pressed to the door, wanting something different instead of focusing on where you are.

Journal about what not having too much or too little looks like in your life. Are you too busy? Are you lacking in relationships?

Sharing is good for the soul. Send me your writing, I would love to post it in Typeset

Drafts on Demitasse

I have yet to meet an espresso cup I don't love and don't even get me started on demitasse spoons. I love tiny treasures. My house is full of random pint-sized things. My windowsill is lined with espresso cups and if you happen to step on something sharp; well, if it’s not a Lego, it’s most likely a miniature chicken or perhaps an itty-bitty baby. My friend sent me a photo of a tiny cow she found in her jacket pocket the other day and I immediately shot back a text of the tiny farmer living in my coat pocket.

Part of the attraction of petite things is that they feel less committal, a mini cup of coffee, a small spoonful of tiramisu. If I drink and eat sample-sized amounts I can try more. Small plates are a revelation. I want a bite of everything - à la carte. So much of life is choosing one thing and sticking to it, that when it comes to food and writing and fashion, I want to sample a little of everything.

We choose a spouse, we become a parent, we pick a career path and the majority of our life is settled. This is what settling down looks like, you have made your big choices and now your everyday path is carved out. And while there is a peace in this, a belonging and a comfort, our minds do wonder at times. What if I had stayed with my music lessons or taken that job abroad? I find it safe to keep my mind close to home, to feel the path under my feet—its sturdiness, its native flowers and its predictable weather patterns. I mostly like my choices as in the bond of family, the pull of the lake and my voice in written words. There are things I would never change, they have grown right into me like tree roots, wrapping, winding and holding me together. Yet, the shifts in seasons, from winter's starkness to summer's bloom is all available whilst staying grounded. This is why I love so many different styles from the saturated colors of a Moroccan market to washed-out variations of white. Demitasse allows me an endless array of options without becoming too full.

With writing, I like to try my hand in all the genres. I have published short stories, poems, articles and radio dramas. I enjoy writing in little shots, different flavors, colors and styles.

Have you ever dreamed of seeing your words in print? Becoming a published author? Now maybe you just love to write for yourself and that is just great, but if a byline is on your wish list (or maybe just something you would like to secretly try for) this next section is for you. I’m going to start touching on basic publishing ideas. I have taught several writing classes on this topic and will start pouring it out in demitasse-sized cups.

Notes on Publishing

Friends are often asking me if I can talk to their sister or neighbor or friends (if they are super lucky this is the same person) about writing. Typically this person loves to write, perhaps took a creative writing class and would like to know how I went about getting published. I love having this conversation, especially if we are meeting over coffee. This next section is for sister/neighbor/friend who would like to take their love of writing to the next step.

Warning: I am about to ask a lot of questions

What you know, what you love and what you are good at are all great places to start when trying to get some publishing credits to your name. Jot down a list of things you are an “expert” in or at least know more than the average person. Do you work with kids? Are you good at finances? Perhaps you are a gifted organizer or know everything there is to know about essential oils. What are your hobbies? Do you knit or make your own skin care, have a knack for decorating? Unsure? What do family members call you about? That's usually a tip off. Do they call you for parenting advice or for natural remedies or maybe thay ask you to go shopping because you have a good eye for style? Do friends want you to look at their resume or their new business plan? Spend some time thinking about this and make a running list that you can go back to when you need an idea for submitting your work for publishing. I have had many pieces published in writing magazines, tea publications and faith-based periodicals, to name a few, all based on my upbringing, life experiences and what I know and love today. I, also, have penned several stories about farm life including some children’s fiction, based on my 4H years and life on a farm.

Life experience is a great place to mine for those pen to paper ideas. Write about what you have learned from surviving a hardship, for example, or how becoming a mother wasn’t quite what you expected. Maybe a rough patch in your marriage or a time you failed at something, but it lead you to some great insight. The first article I ever published was about a time when an intimidating stranger in a coffeeshop asked me about my faith; and I have since written many pieces on the topic of faith. And even though I’m no expert, I have published articles about parenting and marriage because these are areas I’m familiar with; I have gone through things that have taught me lessons I could share through my writing. Actually though, much of my body of work is for teen girls because, well, I was once a teenage girl and I believe I have some helpful advice to give younger women.

When dreams Come Down to Earth (its about to get earthy)

One of the Catch-22’s of publishing is that you usually have to be published to get published - so the best places to start are with free publications - those which are looking for content. If your initial goal is to make money, I suggest going to law school. I’m sure you will not be surprised to hear that working in the arts is not particularly lucrative; but, it is amazing to get a check in the mail for that first piece of paid writing. I made $250 for “Coffeehouse Witness,” which felt like a lot because at the time I would have done it for free—just so see my story in print.

Just get a few pieces published, so you can put that on your resume. I will talk about rejection in an upcoming post (it demands its own post!) but for now just figure that into the equation. You will be rejected; it’s just part of the game. Don’t let it pull you down, push back and send out more queries. Query: now there is a good publishing word. We will also talk about that later, just work on that list for now and start a piece with the thought of getting published.

If you are already publishing, try writing a piece in a new genre, perhaps a short story or a how-to-article. I just sent off a submission to a greeting card company.

Try sipping from a demitasse cup. Write little smatterings of life. Make lists. Put pen to paper.

Please share some of your ideas of where to draw writing inspirations in the comments below and post some of your drafts in TYPEset