Being a writer, one should get used to rejection. And being an editor who often rejects the writing of others, you’d think I’d get to the place where I take rejections of my writing like water off a duck’s back. But to be honest, sometimes it’s still painful. The water sinks in.

 For the past month I’ve been working with a somewhat famous person on her memoir/autobiography.  This is something I’ve always wanted to do, so I’ve been over the moon about it ever since it came about.  I did quite a bit of work getting the proposal ready for my agent to send out.

Then today the person backed out. 

I had done a sample chapter as part of the proposal and had sent it to her for her approval. She liked the writing, but she hadn’t wanted it to be QUITE so autobiographical.   So, she called it off.

I told my agent I needed a little to wallow over this.  I’m still wallowing now.  I think by sometime tomorrow I’ll be able to move on. 

Naturally, both the person in question and I have prayed over this project, so I know I SHOULD recognize that for some reason God is pulling the plug on this….not the other person.  And actually, that’s how I’ll eventually get past the wallowing stage and stand up straight again.  The hardest thing is knowing how badly I wanted to do this.  

I just hope God has something else coming along for me soon now. I feel the need to write another book…..soon.

Oh, and I have two or three manuscripts that I need to reject tomorrow. You can rest assured those people will get a very gentle and sympathetic rejection from me.  I don’t want them to have to wallow too long.

God blesses me so much.  He really does. I marvel at where I am in my life now, compared to where I used to be.  I love my job, I love my church, I love my family. Life for me, right now is very, very good.

And then something comes along that makes it even better.  Another of God’s little surprises along the way. 

And these past several days have held several such surprises from God.  

It started with a conference in North Carolina. This is an annual conference I’ve gone to as a part of my job for several years now.  And this year as I sat on the plane I was thinking, why am I going this year? What can POSSIBLY await me that I’m not expecting?  And, true to form, MUCH was waiting for me.   Not only was the conference good, but I was able to talk to two potential authors about a book they might do for the company I work for.   I was also able to connect with a couple of friends from previous conferences.  That, too, was a blessing.  And I made a couple of amazing new friends whom I already treasure.

Wow.  It was just an awesome week.  On the plane ride home I was able to reflect back to God, So THAT was the reason I went!  I should have known it could only be a good experience. 

Tonight, I got the photographs back that I took on that trip and was able to relive some of the fun.  (Note to self: no more cheapie disposable cameras. The pictures turn out grainy).

During that same week I was notified that I had won a “Fiction Editor of the Year” award from AWSA (the Advanced Writers’ and Speakers’ Association).   My wife, who was able to attend in my absence, received a very beautiful award that now graces my desk at work.  (Truly, the credit for that award goes to the fiction authors I work with. How can I miss when I edit such great novelists?).

Then in the mail this week, I received some tapes from my dad. I’ve been asking him to record some of his memories of growing up and his experience at Pearl Harbor and now I have them and am anxious to hear them!

To top the week off, I got another unsolicited positive book review on Amazon for my book His Victorious Indwelling. 

And last but not least, tomorrow Bev and I will be watching as our youngest grandson (six months old) is dedicated to the Lord at the church our daughter and son-in-law attend.

What a week!

Not long ago I asked God about all the good stuff in my life right now….and I felt like I heard this answer:  “Nick, just enjoy the miracles!”  Meaning, of course, that I don’t need to question why good things happen.  He is, after all, a good God.  And even when troubled times come, He is STILL a  good God.

So now I’m hours away from leaving for another conference…..and yes, I find myself asking, why, God, am I going to this conference? What can POSSIBLY be awaiting me there that I’m not expecting?

I can’t wait to find out!  

Wow, I am surely the world’s worst blogger! Here am I with my new site with my very own blog and I just procrastinate blogging.  I procrastinate all my other writing too….oh, wait, except for my lists. I’m a compulsive list maker.  Alas, I’m not a compulsive list-DOER.  That’s strange because I love nothing more than crossing things off my list.  In fact, when I make a new list I always add something I’ve just done, so that I can cross something off right away. What a great feeling.

 Seriously as I redo my list every few days, I find there are some unfinished tasks that have been on the list for weeks…..months…and a couple that have been on the list for years. If you must know, getting established in a regular exercise routine is one of the real oldies. I can, report, however, that I’m making headway. I’ve been working out a little bit every night for a while now.  As I write this I’m a bit sweaty from the treadmill.  I feel really great too.  Too bad it’s almost bedtime. I’m rarin’ to go.

I will try really hard to keep up with this blog. I do have some things to say, even if no one reads them. And for a writer, blogging is at least one way to exercise the writing part of my brain.