- Joined
- Feb 9, 2004
- Messages
- 17,078
Line Judge
- July 01, 2005
I think most of us writers are relatively insecure people. I get a little concerned before every book signing, for instance. I always wonder if it's going to be one of those author nightmares where a book store plans a big event, then I sit quietly and forlornly at a table in front of a big stack of books, doing my nails. Frightening. No really, this is the stuff horror films are made of. Except the part where I could leave the store with nicer nails than when I came in.
I've thought about hiring family and friends to come and stand in line at the book store events. You know, so there'll BE a line. You can judge a lot by the size of a line. If I paid them enough, maybe I could get them to say to each other, "Wow, it's Rhonda Rhea!" Not only could that keep the bystanders from asking, "Who in tarnation is she?" but it also might encourage eavesdroppers to think that there might actually be someone important at the other end of the line. So far I haven't been able to pay any family member or friend enough to make it happen. But don't my nails look nice?
I don't really have to worry about lines, fame and other ulcer-inducing nonsense. I don't even have to worry about placing someone important at the other end of that line. Jesus makes me important. He knows my name. And He considered me important enough to die for me. The perfect Son of God, dying for me!
That pretty much takes care of any significant insecurity issues for me. My faith in Christ isn't connected in any way to a line at the book store. Hebrews 11:1 says, "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see." (NLT) Confident assurance is the opposite of insecurity. We can confidently, assuredly trust our Savior. And, boy, will that make a better movie; I love happy endings!
Rhonda Rhea writes for dozens of Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. You can find her newest books, "Soup for the Soul-Tastes Just Like Chicken", and "Amusing Grace", at your local Christian bookstore. "Who Put the Cat in the Fridge-Serving Up Hope and Hilarity Family Style", will be available in March. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is a pastor in Troy, Missouri. You can reach them through her Web site.
- July 01, 2005
I think most of us writers are relatively insecure people. I get a little concerned before every book signing, for instance. I always wonder if it's going to be one of those author nightmares where a book store plans a big event, then I sit quietly and forlornly at a table in front of a big stack of books, doing my nails. Frightening. No really, this is the stuff horror films are made of. Except the part where I could leave the store with nicer nails than when I came in.
I've thought about hiring family and friends to come and stand in line at the book store events. You know, so there'll BE a line. You can judge a lot by the size of a line. If I paid them enough, maybe I could get them to say to each other, "Wow, it's Rhonda Rhea!" Not only could that keep the bystanders from asking, "Who in tarnation is she?" but it also might encourage eavesdroppers to think that there might actually be someone important at the other end of the line. So far I haven't been able to pay any family member or friend enough to make it happen. But don't my nails look nice?
I don't really have to worry about lines, fame and other ulcer-inducing nonsense. I don't even have to worry about placing someone important at the other end of that line. Jesus makes me important. He knows my name. And He considered me important enough to die for me. The perfect Son of God, dying for me!
That pretty much takes care of any significant insecurity issues for me. My faith in Christ isn't connected in any way to a line at the book store. Hebrews 11:1 says, "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see." (NLT) Confident assurance is the opposite of insecurity. We can confidently, assuredly trust our Savior. And, boy, will that make a better movie; I love happy endings!
Rhonda Rhea writes for dozens of Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. You can find her newest books, "Soup for the Soul-Tastes Just Like Chicken", and "Amusing Grace", at your local Christian bookstore. "Who Put the Cat in the Fridge-Serving Up Hope and Hilarity Family Style", will be available in March. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is a pastor in Troy, Missouri. You can reach them through her Web site.
