National Orchid Day

April 16th is National Orchid Day. Orchids belong to one of the largest families of flowering plants. There are actually around 28,000 species of them. Even the vanilla plant is related. Yet, despite this wide range, the orchid flower is distinct and usually easy to recognize. However, they still come in an array of colors and the blossoms can vary.

I've always liked orchids, but my appreciation of them grew when I spent a semester in the Philippines teaching missionary children. Some of the gardens I visited there had such a variety of the most beautiful orchids. The humid, sunny climate with plenty of rain showers must have been ideal for them because I've never seen such healthy looking plants.

Orchids have long been prized the world over by botanists and gardeners. Besides growing outside in some climates, they make lovely corsages or potted plants and have a sweet fragrance that makes them important in the perfume industry. They're easily obtained from florists, garden shops, or even grocery stores. Perhaps you'd like to purchase one to celebrate National Orchid Day.

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Is Impatience a Sin?

Thomas Watson (1620-1666), an early English Puritan theologian says that it is. He states, "Impatience is no small sin...." (The Art of Divine Contentment). It causes us to be discontent with the blessings God sends our way. We think we deserve much more than we are getting when, in truth, we deserve so little. This empty-glass attitude results in an unhappy life. Christ, our Savior, and what he's done for us should be enough to bring us great joy. 

Impatience shows that we don't really have a love for God in our hearts, and that's the greatest commandment of all. Love isn't selfish, and it doesn't look to find fault. As Watson writes, "Love takes everything in the best sense.... If we love God, we should have patience." And we should be willing to wait on his timing. The contented Christian believes God loves them unconditionally and only wants the best for them.

Thomas Watson

Watson goes on to say, "Finally, impatience comes from a lack of humility. The impatient man was never humbled under the burden of his sin." He is too self-centered and often prideful. His wants and desires take precedence over everything else, and because of that, he will never be satisfied. He will always be impatiently waiting for his own wants and desires to be met.

Patience can be learned. Relying on God is an important step, and the Holy Spirit will guide and help you. If we fix our focus on God and all that He's done for us and keep a thankful heart, we'll find that patience comes easier. Maintaining a close, personal relationship with the Master also helps. This brings about a deep, lasting peace that bestows contentment; and if you have peace and contentment, you won't be impatient.

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Advice to Aspiring Authors  

Recently, I did two interviews where the question of what advice I would give to those who wanted to become published authors came up. I've been a published writer for over thirty years if you count publishing magazine articles, and I could come up with tons of advice. However, a couple of things immediately popped into my mind.

First of all, persevere. Persistence does pay off. Writing and publishing is not the right pursuit for those who give up easily, because most writers find many stalls and roadblocks along the way. Even after you're published, the slow progress and ups and downs don't cease. Marketing can have its own set of problems, and success often has to be slowly built instead of sprinting toward you as you'd like. Believe in your work, be stubborn, and never give up.

Then, be determined to never stop learning. During the sometimes lengthy process to publishing and success, keep perfecting your skills as a writer. Continue even after you are published or successful. Like so many of the other important things in life, this is a journey you will continue for life, not a destination you will arrive at and be satisfied and complacent.

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National Cherish an Antique Day

April 9th is National Cherish an Antique Day, and this is right up my alley. With my love of history, I also have a special interest in antiques and probably own way too many, both family heirlooms and ones I've collected over the years because I liked them. An antique becomes cherished because of a personal attachment for whatever reason.

Antiques come in a wide range of categories from store items, medicines, implements, textiles, furniture. jewelry, books, photographs, etc. The variety goes on and on. The photos here are a few I pulled from my collections, but there's so many I couldn't begin to show them all. Many came from my family and kept over many years. Handing items down to children and grandchildren is one of the joys of collecting, and I've done a lot of that already.

Sketch of Tom Dooley

Old family Bible

1940's Tam

What about you? Do you have some cherished antiques? Maybe today would be a good day to dust, polish, or help preserve them. Or handing them down to another family member would also help celebrate the day. Perhaps you could visit a history museum or antique store. If you don't have antiques, just stick around. The things you own now will be antiques before you know it. An item is usually considered an antique if it's over 50 years old. Hey, I guess that makes many of us antiques as well.

Old salve jar

Mercurochrome bottle

  

Luzianne coffee with chickory can

Old ear drops

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Withering or Producing?

So Jonah was exceedingly glad of the gourd." but "when the morning rose the next day...the gourd it withered (Jonah 4:6b-7).

Jonah didn't learn his lesson when he ran from God and had a harrowing experience in the belly of a "great fish." He reluctantly went to Ninevah, but then he got mad when the people there repented and God showed them mercy. Angry and sulking, he stomped out of the city, sat down, and prayed for God to take his life. God questioned why he was acting like a spoiled child, yet He sent a gourd vine to shade and protect Jonah. Jonah appreciated the vine, but the next day a worm gnawed at its stalk, and it withered and died. How like Jonah are we? Determined to have our own way and refusing loving kindness to those we deem undeserving. Like Jonah, we are often blind to our own need for mercy.

But he went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers (1 Kings 19:4).

Elijah had his moment, too. He'd been strong for God when he faced off with Ahab, through the famine, and when confronting the Baal prophets on Mount Carmel. However, when Jezebel threatened his life for destroying her pagan prophets, he ran into the wilderness. Finally, exhausted and depressed, he rested under a juniper tree and prayed that God would take his life. Elijah was not only still worried about what Jezebel might do, but he recognized his only failings when he said, "I am not better than my fathers. "However, God wasn't through with him yet. He sent an angel to minister to Elijah and eventually led him back into service.

A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit therein, and found none, Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also till I dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down (Luke 13:6-9).

If we don't get God's lesson from Jonah or Elijah, Jesus tells us the parable of the fig tree. As the incidents from Jonah's and Elijah's lives show us, God's people are to bear fruit by their obedience. If we love God and others, if we have a strong relationship with our Lord, then we will bear fruit. If we aren't bearing fruit for Him, our priorities are misplaced. 

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Are Passive Verbs Always a No-No?

At a recent writers' conference, another author and I exchanged books and agreed to leave each other a review. She emailed me right after finishing my novel and said she'd started out by looking for passive verbs, as she'd learned in one of her sessions, but soon got so involved in the story she gave it up. This got me to thinking.

I agree that the use of passive verbs usually means there's too much just telling. Readers are drawn into the story and live it with the characters through active verbs and deep point of view. However, there are times when passive verbs might be okay. My readers like it when they get inside the main characters' heads and are privy to their thoughts. If the character is thinking back and analyzing things, some passive verbs may be necessary as they reflect. Just don't overdo it. If you can say it with an active verb, do.

I did see my new friend's comment of getting too involved in the book to pay attention to how many passive or active verbs I used as a compliment. That's what I strive for. I want my readers to get so immersed in the story, they forget everything else and live it with the hero and heroine. That's what the readers want and deserve, too.

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Ponce de Leon

On April 2, 1513, explorer Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain. He was the first named European to reach the Florida peninsula. Legend has it that he was looking for the rumored Fountain of Youth at the time. However, many historians believe the search for gold and desire of adding lands to the Spanish Empire may have more to do with it. He named the land Florida and first thought that it was a large island.

The conquistador sailed from Puerto Rico in March and sighted land on April 2nd. When Ponce de Leon returned from exploring some of Florida, he found the Carib Indians reeking havoc on the inhabitants of Puerto Rico. In fact, his own home had been burned, and his family had barely escaped. He eventually decided to return to Spain in order to report his findings to the king. King Ferdinand gave him a warm welcome and knighted him for his service.

Ponce de Leon returned to Puerto Rico in 1515, where he launched campaigns against the Caribs. However, these came to stop in 1516 when King Ferdinand died, and he needed to return to Spain to defend his titles and possessions. In 1521, he attempted to settle Florida for the last time. With around 200 men, livestock, and farming tools, they arrived in Florida to fight skirmishes against the natives, and Ponce de Leon was wounded by what was likely a poisoned arrow. The settlement expedition was abandoned, his men took him to  Cuba where he died, and he was buried in Puerto Rico at San Jose Church. Florida would remain in Spanish hands for more than 250 years.

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