I Hope...

Why do you get up in the morning? Why do you eat breakfast? Why do you go to work?

One word:

Faith

Image courtesy of ladyrlawyn

And I'm not talking about a religion. I'm talking about belief, but belief that is so powerful it motivates us to act. In Serenity (one of the best movies of all time), Shepherd Book urges Mal to believe in something, to believe so fully he's ready to put everything on the line, to commit to a course of action based on his conviction.

You get up in the morning because you have confidence the sun will rise and start a new day. You eat breakfast with the belief your body will receive the nourishment it needs. You go to work with the trust you will receive payment for the hours of labor invested.

You have faith. Faith is action based on a belief. It doesn't necessarily have to be a strong belief. In fact, it may be a weak one that strengthens as you act--such as a child first putting a pencil to paper. He has seen others create pictures this same way, but does he believe he can actually create one? Kids naturally possess unlimited optimism. They press forward with hope. That hope guides them to action. That action builds confidence, and in time, certainty.

Faith comes with time and practice.

I feel like the child picking up a pencil when it comes to publishing. I've seen what I'm supposed to do. I've studied other's actions, but my hand doesn't appear as steady as my exemplars. I have hope, but what I'm working on now is faith--acting without knowing for sure things will work out.

I believe they will. (Hard enough I'm going forward like a steam train.) I have confidence the reviews coming in will be good. I believe there are readers who will identify with my messages. I trust this will be the beginning of a long and fulfilling career.

That's why my book is releasing next week. That's why there will be an amazing blog tour. That's why I keep writing.

What is it you're trying to build faith in right now? 

Mystery Guest

He/she's coming. We're still working out the fine print, but I'm most anxious to introduce you to my future mystery blogging guest. This individual will be making regular appearances to share his/her profound knowledge with the rest of us earthlings--just as soon as I get can him/her to sign on the dotted line...

And in other news, it's official. The perpetual chicken has finally taken the leap. That's right, I actually sent out my manuscript and several queries. I feel like that bird who's just jumped out of the nest, begging her flexed wings to catch the wind and fighting to ignore the rushing pavement below.

It's a matter of faith. Faith=confidence in something or someone else. For the bird, it's faith in those flimsy wings--because she's seen her mother take flight a hundred times and believes she too can accomplish something great. From the safety of these leafy branches I've watched several friends, several of you, take flight, and it's miraculous. But the real reason I've taken the leap is because of the many wonderful and supportive people who have literally kicked me out of the nest. (You know who you are.) I've received encouragement, ultimatums, even received threats! (For which I will profoundly thank you, as soon as I stop plummeting to my proverbial death.) To those who have pushed and aided me forward, you rock.

And back to the mystery guest... I promise a free cheese wheel of your choice to anyone who can guess the identity of my future cohort.

Off Topic: Curious, what blog posts in the last 6 months have been the most meaningful/memorable for you? What were they about? Why did they stand out?