Thursday, January 08, 2009

Kiss the fringes of heaven

I met Ed at my first writer's conference. His presence was a sandy beach in a sea of unfamiliar faces.

I remember sitting next to him at one of the first speaking events and watching doodles of caricatures evolve from his notebook.

"You're talented that way too?" I thought as he stood when they asked who'd been published.

For the next few days, our paths crossed here and there--in the hallways and banquet room. A nod, a comment, an encouragement.

Then I returned to Florida.

No, that's not the end of the story. That's where it began.

For almost three years, this kind gentleman writer has encouraged me through email after email. Ed convinced me to write for Chicken Soup and to our thrill, we both got into books around the same time.

Ed is one random writer I met on a random day--but his influence has not been random. God purposed that meeting just as He has the new woman who wrote me today, and the guy who commented on my other blog and the lady I met last year at the conference.

All for a reason.

I wanted to end this post with some recent encouragement I received from my writer friend, Ed.

Soar in the milky way, kiss the fringes of heaven and swoop down on this hurting planet with outstretched arms covered in the golden dust of God's eternal hope. This is my prayer for you.

Don't ever take your writer friends for granted--who wouldn't want to receive a prayer like that?

13 comments:

Kathleen said...

What a powerful word picture. It's as though the Milky Way comes immediately into view, and raining gold dust gives it such a brilliant hue. Yep ... that's a great place to begin, and end.

Ed's a keeper, that's for sure!

Oh those divine appointments.

Barb Davis said...

Wow, Terri, how beautiful!!!

Janna Leadbetter said...

What a beautiful passage! And I love Sassy Granny's term "word picture." How apt!

Renee Collins said...

That's so lovely. How wonderful for you to have such a great friend. I think that there is something special about writer friends. I have met some really fantastic people here online, who understand just what I am going through and have helped me through tough times.

Pat's Place said...

A beautiful prayer. I love the word "soar." That is what I think you might be heading for in your new adventures--soaring!

Jinksy said...

What joy to find another 'painter-with-words' - my kind of thinking!

Jenni James said...

WOW! OKAY! Can I have Ed too? How wonderful for you! I think it's amazing how many people, and paths, and lives we cross daily--many of whom are meant to change our lives. It's a miracle really. i'm glad you found Ed.

Melissa Amateis said...

Beautiful prayer. And I don't know what I'd do without my writing friends. :-)

Jennifer Taylor said...

Terri,

Thanks for sharing. That's beautiful.

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Beautiful encouragement. Keep us posted about the job! Standing with you at the crossroads...going in all the way to seek the ancient paths and the good way.

peace~elaine

BiPolar Wife said...

Awesome! Friends are God's way of making up for the family members we got stuck with! Okay, so maybe that's not nice (or eloquent) but my friends have really gotten me through some tough family drama recently and I am SO GLAD you have Ed for your friend!

Technonana said...

Beautiful Prayer, Gracious Friend!! Praise God from whom all blessing flow!!
In Him,
Sharon

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post. I have a couple writer mentors whose encouragement has probably made the difference between still writing (which I am) or quitting. You never know what impact your words can have!