Sometimes a picture can be so much more beautiful than the words seeking to describe it!

I do love the blooms, of late, that color my daily river walks. Their resilience and beauty offer a great amount of encouragement to me, during a rather difficult time. I suppose this is why folks often send flowers to people when they become ill or lose a loved one. Flowers just provide gentle comfort, somehow.

Without divulging more personal information than is necessary, I’ll simply say that I’ve had to switch into survival mode, of late. Don’t let that worry you, as we’ve been doing this long enough that I’ve become rather good at it!

If I can give any advice to one that is in the heart of the maelstrom, it would be to stay in the Bible, and don’t stop reading the words, even when you don’t feel like it does any good. Trust me when I say that it does! Reading scripture and staying in constant prayer have been my sustenance!

I know you may have noticed my lack of content lately, and I’m grateful that you’ve remained close by, regardless. If you are wondering if my writing has dropped off or fallen away, take heart my friends, it is going strong. Point in fact, it is going forward at full speed!

I discovered that if I divert all my attentions toward this novel, it allows me to not look at that which is all around me at the moment, all that is out of my control. If I fully trust God, taking him at his word, there is nothing to fear except fear itself! With that in my mind, I’m able to let faith answer the door each time fear comes knocking!

So, with all this extra fearless time available, I put it toward finishing what I started, a story that has come to life within my dreams. It grows more colorful and vibrant, with each chapter added. I found a station of music on Pandora Radio, of spa music that relaxes my brain, allowing me to get into character a great deal easier than I thought it would. I’ve just completed a massive portion of pivotal storyline that will now allow me to bring the story home to completion. Then I will go back and add in all the side conversations, give more in depth backgrounds, and link them all together for the books fullness.

I’ve been hiding behind excuses for not finishing this story, not bringing it home! I spent far too long waiting for the perfect environment needed for deep writing; quiet, calm and with no interruptions. Isolated in a beachside cottage would have been lovely, with leisurely walks along the sand. I’m sure you’ve heard me mention this before now.

Then it occurred to me, perhaps the beauty and passion that are found within the story, arises from the heat I’m experiencing in the furnace of my existence! Only God knows that part, for sure!

What I have come to know, to understand and hold onto, is that I care more about pleasing God with this story, than I do about it ever reaching the store shelf! It says in scripture that God has given me everything I will ever need to get through this world. Whatever is asked of me, He will empower me to get it done!

In no way am I saying that this novel is a tool for God’s purposes, as I’m not privy to that sort of information. Things that occur along my journey, blocking or slowing my progress forward, are not always about ME! What I do while I wait for God’s call of obedience, in any part of his purposes, is just as important as the actual SERVING part of my existence. I consider this part of my waiting as a time to focus on what is good, honorable, hopeful and what edifies others.

This book that I write may seem like just a story, but it is the best fruit that I, on my own, can offer!

I am Wiwohka, I am like roaring, raging, or rushing water! I do not simply ride upon the storm, rather, I am the storm… I AM the Maelstrom!