WAITING FOR NEWS FROM A DISTANT LAND
(and it was BIG)
This week’s homework for the class I teach was: Write about a time you won BIG!!! I told the participants that it could be about anything. I had a story in mind and got busy writing it.
Here’s my contribution:
I’d always dreamed of hitting it big in writing. When I started putting pen to paper—my favorite joke was that I’d have an article in Guideposts Magazine someday. “Yeah, right, Janetta. You write poems. That’ll happen when pigs fly.”
Yes, I talked to myself, but when we moved to the Houston area, I decided to pursue writing. And boy did I land in a goldmine. First, I found a writing group at Barnes and Noble on Monday night. And through them, I found a Christian writing group that met on Thursdays.
Each week I’d go to these meetings and read my stories. Some weeks the critiques curled my hair, but I learned valuable lessons from their questions about my story. I used their suggestions to polish my work in progress.
During this time, I also joined Toastmasters. One speech I wrote had to do with Ray and me owning an auto repair shop. It talked about our ups and downs as a couple, working together. I fine-tuned it and, on a whim, sent it to Guideposts.
From this point forward, I’ll have you read the speech I wrote about the experience:
WAITING FOR NEWS FROM A DISTANT LAND
I pressed the SEND button. Now I’d wait to hear whether they accepted or rejected the short story I sent.
Madame Toastmaster, Fellow Toastmasters, and Honored Guests – I waited but knew the news from a distant land (New York) could take weeks before I heard anything.
After dinner that night, Ray and I went into my office. Since we were in there, I told him to check my emails. I spied one from the place I'd sent to earlier in the day. Sure didn’t take them long to reject my story. I thought.
I asked Ray to open it, and the words astounded me. “Thanks for sending your story. It’s not right as it is, but maybe there’s a story here about spouses working together. We’ll have one of our editors call and pick your brain.”
Sincerely,
Rick Hamlin
I danced around my desk, stopping only to reread the note. “Someone to pick my brain. Ray, I can’t believe this.” He congratulated me, and I got right to work on my new-and-improved story. In a few days, with it polished to perfection, I sent it back to them.
Then I waited and waited and waited. Not a single word from Guideposts came. I all but gave up and decided to make a trip to see my folks.
A week into my trip, Ray called and sounded a little too cheery. He told me to call home and get messages. Before I could say anything—he hung up.
Toastmasters, I tried five different times, but I couldn’t remember how to check messages. Finally, I called Ray back and said, “Just tell me.”
“Guideposts called, and they are going to publish your story. Congratulations, honey.”
I hung up and turned to my folks, asking if they minded if I screamed. My 82-year-old mom and 90-year-old dad nodded. They had no clue the reason for my exuberance.
I’m certain I yelled, but not as loud as if I’d been in my own house, but I did express my profound happiness.
The following week I returned home and received the phone call in which the editor “picked my brain.” I shared countless stories of our time at Baseline Auto Service--certain not to forget the part where Ray fired me. This must have shocked him because I heard nothing on the other end of the line. Thought he might have hung up on me.
He finally spoke and said he couldn’t believe Ray had fired me. I assured him it happened and, even with the tiny hiccup, remained happily married.
After we hung up, I again waited. And trust me—when they did call, we weren’t ready for what they proposed. Guideposts informed us they were sending out a photographer to take pictures of us. I reminded them we didn’t own the shop anymore. The woman on the other end of the line suggested we do something together – like plant something.
The photographer arrived, and she took pictures of us planting bushes. One shot, she had me put my arm around Ray while he patted the ground. It took every part of my being not to laugh because I couldn’t remember the last time we’d gotten romantic while digging in the dirt.
Then we moved inside – and changed clothes. The woman had us play peek-a-book with our chenille throw. Do you know how hard it is to frolic around when someone is pointing a camera at you? Relief flooded over me when she announced she was finished.
Now I waited, but this time, in the end, I’d hold the actual magazine in my hand. And once I held the publication in my hand, it was worth the wait. The Lord knew the perfect time.
Toastmasters, “Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.” (Prov. 25:25)
PS: My winning BIG at the beginning of my writing career (in 2005) changed my life. And it spurred me on to write novels, which I never thought I even wanted to do. Thank you to my readers for your encouragement (and loyalty). It’s invaluable!!! Love ya!!!
Until next time...
Blessings!
Janetta Fudge Messmer - Author of Christian Comedy/Romance
“Turning Life Into Comedy”
E-mail: janettafudgemessmer@gmail.com
Website and sign up for the newsletter: http://janettafudgemessmer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetta.fudge.messmer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nettiefudge
