Let The People Pray

Please join me in praying for the people of Zimbabwe. Not for some nameless mass of humanity, but for my friends. My loved ones. For Washington, Alice, Keith, Bryan, Si, Kennedy, Godwin, Kuda, Peter, Dorcas, Penelope, Tendai, Emilee, Witness, Chipo, Chris, Pauline, Philip, Assan, Richard, Campion, Freddie, Joyce, and many others.

I've been closely following whatever news manages to trickle out of Zimbabwe prior to and since the presidential elections last Saturday, March 29. Mugabe, who twenty-eight years ago led a revolution and has remained in power with an ever-tightening, slowly-crushing grip, seems to have encountered an upset.

However, forbidding most foreign journalists (arresting some yesterday), delaying election results for nearly a week, and sending paramilitary to ransack opposition headquarters gives evidence to the rumors that Mugabe is once again up to his dirty tricks, trying to stay in power by whatever means he thinks will work. He's used violence and intimidation many times before.

That inflation is at 100,000 percent, unemployment is officially at 80 percent (much higher by more realistic estimates), life expectancy has dropped to 35 years, people are starving, nearly a third of the population has fled, and hope has nearly faded, he's convinced he's been good for the country. Or maybe being good for the country is the least of his goals.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,346068,00.html

Breakable

(*Song lyrics by Indie-pop artist Ingrid Michaelson)

Sometimes I’m astonished by how very fragile I am. How fragile we all are. How easily a word wounds, a look hurts, a cold shoulder upsets.

Have you ever thought about what protects our hearts?
Just a cage of rib bones and other various parts.

I’ve vowed not to be overly sensitive, and for good reason. Hyper-sensitivity is the curse of self-centeredness. But still . . . we’re each so fragile.

So it's fairly simple to cut right through the mess,
And to stop the muscle that makes us confess.

I have the power to build up and the power to tear down. And sometimes I wield that power carelessly. Thoughtlessly. Selfishly.

And we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys.

Is it any wonder Jesus tells us to love one another? To put one another’s interests above our own? To bear with each other, forgive one another, strengthen one another. To be devoted to one another, honor one another, accept one another. To be kind and compassionate to one another. Encourage one another. Love one another deeply.

Did I mention “love one another” more than once? Yes. So did He. Why? Because . . .

. . . we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys.

(To listen to “Breakable,” go to http://cdbaby.com/cd/michaelson3/from/ingridmichaelson)

A Work in Progress

A WORK IN PROGRESS is not only the name of my new writing blog, but the title of the novel I'm currently working on, and an accurate description of my writing journey.

You can find my writing blog at: http://caronguilloswriting.blogspot.com/

I hope you'll check in often for updates, excerpts, behind-the-scenes glimpses into my stories and characters, thoughts on writing, and "First line I wrote today" posts.

There's also a survey on the new blog (below the "About Me" section on the right sidebar), so let me know what you think. You can leave comments on my posts over there, too, so I'd love to hear from you whether you're an established writer, a beginner, an avid reader, one of my faithful cheerleaders, or simply a curious bystander.

Of course, I'll still be sharing my heart here at On This Journey, so don't go away!

I'm Out

Well, I didn't make the Top 10 Finalist cut in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award competition, but I'm thrilled for the ones who did and eager to see what happens next.

To see the finalist entries, go to http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=gw_cto_abna?ie=UTF8&node=332264011&pf_rd_p=369140101&pf_rd_s=left-nav-2&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=507846&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0JX82YDT4R39TR7FEZKC

I can't wait to read and review their excerpts!

By the way, you can view an extended excerpt of my entry at the independent ABNAbooks.com site.

http://abnabooks.com/page6/page11/page11.html

You can also rate and review it. No awards in the offing, but I'd love to hear what you think.

Our Privilege

Several days ago I passed one of my 117 students as I drove home from school. We both pulled to a stop light—I in my Toyota, he on his bicycle—and waited our turn to cross the busy intersection. I guessed from the dashboard clock that he’d gone to tutorials or served detention or stopped over at a friend’s house before heading home. The student didn’t realize it was me, or at least pretended not to, but I couldn’t help watching him while we waited.

This particular boy is the sort of freckle-faced kid who’s pretty good in math, but more interested in being a clown in the classroom. From time to time, I grind my teeth over him, but we get on all right for despite his efforts, he’s not a very successful comedian.

Seeing him there cast him in a different light. Daylight, actually, for I teach in a windowless, basement classroom. But more than that. I’d forgotten how small he is until I saw him in contrast to the cars rushing by, buildings and trees and lampposts dwarfing him, wide blue sky curving overhead. I thought about how hard he tries to gain attention and acceptance from his peers—not unusual in middle school—and about how often I raise one eyebrow at him.

My heart was overwhelmed by compassion for this kid trying to find himself and his way in the world. I regretted the times I’ve felt frustrated by him; felt anything less than the love of Jesus for him.

I said out loud, “He deserves to be loved. Everyone deserves to be loved.”

Just then, two men with backpacks and dirty clothes crossed the street in front of us, and as clearly as if He’d spoken out loud, God reminded me, “Everyone is.”

Now I have no way of judging whether the three people in my line of vision know the love of man or God, but tears gathered in my eyes because for a split second, I felt the crushing grief of all the people in this world who feel unloved. Had it lasted longer than a heartbeat, the pain would have been unbearable. At the same time, my heart was pierced deeply by how many men, women, and children have yet to experience the overwhelming and unconditional love of their Father.

It’s our job, you know, to tell them. To show them. To live the love of God in Christ Jesus among them. To experience it fully in our own lives.

It’s our privilege, but we forget that. We forget to see people the way Jesus sees them. Forget that our loving relationship with the Creator of heaven and earth is something most people can't fathom. That it comes with a responsibility to every living person.

But I'm glad He reminded me.

Press Release

Some of you might be interested in today's press release about the ABNA contest on Forbes.com

http://www.forbes.com/prnewswire/feeds/prnewswire/2008/02/19/prnewswire200802191514PR_NEWS_USPR_____NYTU122.html

. . . or that might be just me. :)

I MADE TOP 100!!!

Just discovered my novel "Children of Light" made the top 100 cut in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest (out of 5,000 world wide entries)! If you could possibly help me out by posting a review (or commenting on someone else's review), I'd appreciate it. You must be an Amazon customer to review or comment, but anyone can visit my profile and download an excerpt (for free) at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00124COPM

Thanks friends!

An Invitation

Hey friends,

Want to know why I wrote "Children of Light," an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award semifinalist? Go to http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00124COPM and scroll down to my latest blog post.