Last Day

I enjoyed the final morning of the conference, especially my devotional writing class (again) and the keynote speaker. He used an illustration about Theodore Roosevelt I'd never heard. Teddy lost his wife and mother on the same Valentine's Day. In his journal, rather than writing the details of the events and circumstances, he simply put an "X" on the page and wrote, "The light has gone out of my life."

He left his house and went on an extended hunting trip to grieve and cope with his loss. But while on that trip, he found a renewed calling and purpose in his own existence, recognizing that if he allowed himself to hide in obscurity and "nothingness" he would have no purpose or pleasure ever again. He resolved to actively pursue life and all things that mattered to him. You know the rest of the story.

Our keynote speaker's encouragement to us was to "step up to the plate." Regardless of the setbacks, discouragements and failures, try. Something. As he said, "No home-runs have ever been hit from the dugout." Even if I never publish a single word on printed paper, because of rejection or even quality, at least I was in the game.

Good words, huh?