Three Pistachio Promises

I'm sitting here eating pistachio nuts. Next to cashews, they're a favorite. So, who cares, right?

It occurred to me that pistachios make us a promise. I had this bag sitting around for a couple of weeks before deciding to open it.

Promise 1:  Until you open the bag, we won't get to taste their delicious flavor. As writers, we won't discover the amazing joys of a story until we open that document and begin the process.

Eating pistachios requires a certain amount of work. While some pop out of the shell with no problem, others require strong teeth or a nutcracker to pry them open.

Promise 2:   There are days when ideas flow and writing is almost effortless. The other days - let's say they're enough to make an author quit ten times over.

While pulling a shell from the bag, I discovered it was empty. Remember the old, "Where's the Beef," commercial? Yeah, this was, "Where's the pistachio?" Here I'm looking forward to another yummy morsel only to be disappointed. (I wonder if that's how Jesus felt when the tree had no figs.)

Promise 3:  A new story or article idea can set our imaginations on fire. We open a blank page and...nothing. Nada. Zilch. We're left with an empty promise.

A bag of pistachios promise a party for your taste buds, but you've got to open the bag, get them out of the shell, and sometimes you come up empty. It's a whole lot like writing and life in general.

Writers:  The strangest things can trigger an idea for a story or blog post. What was the most unusual experience/visual that inspired you?

Readers:  What lessons have you learned from day-to-day happenings in your life?

Photo Credit: Pawel Zawistowski

Looking For Inspiration

My 10-year-old eyes stared at the array of precious stones displayed at the museum. The diamonds, amethysts, rubies, emeralds all sparkled with the story of God's creativity.

Today, I'm equally dazzled by God's creativity when He flashes an idea or series of ideas into my heart. Oh, how I want to share those gems with everyone. How do I capture their essence in word form?

While many writers argue you can't wait for inspiration, you have to come up with something when you're on deadline, I know I cannot bring forth something living with mere letters or words. God knows all about editors and agents. He knows when we need that great plot, that unforgettable character. So, I go to the source of all creativity and ask Him: "What do you want me to write? What's on Your heart?"

Now, this all seems very spiritual and in the clouds, but God is super practical. For instance, I'm praying about what to bring to the upcoming conference. I'm also cleaning out my office. Well, the other day I emptied a shelf, and there were some old journals. I set them off to the side. When I finished my task, I opened one, and there was a devotional thought I'd written down in 2006...five years ago! One devotional, one answered prayer, and excitement as I re-live the moment they were penned.

Do you get all frustrated and decide you need to "help" God? Do you ever have God ideas that you personally don't like and don't want to follow but can't shake it? Let's talk.