Husband Alan straightened Sangnam’s tie, then fiddled with the graduation cap. “At a certain point, they’ll tell you to flip it.” Alan pointed to Sangnam’s tassel. ”Then you’re official!”

We posed with our proud Illinois State graduate, breezed into a jubilant congratulations party for another Illinois State “alum,” and recalled our own cap-and-gown days.

With a flip of the tassel, hugs, and good-byes, it’s over.

One life chapter closed. Another opened.

Dear Lord, thank You for each precious student who watches as the rest of the story–life after the tassel flip–unfolds. May you bless them and lead them into Your perfect will. 

Remember the days when you tossed your cap in the air and left campus for the last time? Do YOU have a special 2012 graduate? Meet a few of mine!!!

Memoir

Contemporary fiction

I’m juggling three writing balls, not counting the daily time with God, family, friends, and dog Laura. 

My fifty-seven-year-old mind struggles to keep things, not just at hand, but IN hand!

How are you coping with the multi-tasking, rush-rush, and elasticity of 2012 life? What helps you hold onto things that matter and prioritize what time remains after items get ticked off the “A” list?

Tomorrow, two friends and I will tackle the Illinois Half-Marathon, all thirteen point one miles of it.

I won’t be the first to finish in my age group.

Will I be the last? 

Can I keep pace with 38-year-old, petite Sue; 54-year-old, athletic Hoss?

Probably not.

My prayer? That I will run this race as a symbol of perseverance in our Christian life. Through the cramps, the aches, the mental game that begins around the half-way point. Lord willing, I will enter into Illini stadium and hear the announcer shout, “Congratulations to Patti Lacy from Normal, Illinois. You finished the Illinois Half-Marathon.”

Lord, may I envision another finish, when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords says, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done.”

Finishing. It’s more than enough recompense.

Praise God.

Have you needed grit along your recent life journey? Do you agree that we all occasionally need a, “Well done,” from someone who knows how hard we try?

Have you run or would you run 13.1?

26.2?  

Bed-time stories. Doubting Thomas, “I’ll just check it outs.” Beth Moore studies. Daily devotionals. Desperate, “Oh, God, I need you now,” searches.

The Bible’s taken up permanent residence in my study. In my life.

Just when I think every story’s on my mind’s hard drive, something leaps from the pages.

This year, God’s blessed me and my ladies of Grace with a marvelous study, That I May See Him, co-authored by soulmate writer Cammie Quinn and her pastor. Just last week, we read the poignant story of Jonathan and David, the prototype for a best friend.

You probably remember that Jonathan was the heir of King Saul; David, a mere shepherd, the recently crowned next-to-be king. Though David posed a threat to Jonathan’s throne, perhaps his very life, Jonathan “loved David as himself” (1 Samuel 18:3).

David was his son’s best friend and the husband of his daughter, yet Saul plotted in a madman’s way to murder David. The two friends had to part. David and his ragtag band of men zigzagged the countryside, once on the other side of the mountain from a raging, pursuing Saul. During this tumultuous season, while David darted in and out of desert strongholds like some reptilian creature, “…Saul’s son Jonathan went to David…and helped him find strength in God” (1 Samuel 23:16).

Did you know that after their heartbreaking departure, when arrows were shot to give a secret sign and covenants were made, the best friends met for a final time, and Jonathan, who soon would die, encouraged David in the Lord?

Oh, that we all have a best friend who sharpens us like iron, then holds up the shield of faith so we won’t be struck by the evil one’s missiles. 

What red- or black-lettered revelation has recently rocked your world?

Never forget that “The word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). How blessed are we to have a scripture that is equally true for the ancient peoples and for you and me!

The Moral Premise is so simple, so central to a story, that it’s complex.

If you’re into If A is B kinda stuff, you’ll sail through Stan’s dissection of a story as hook, log line, conflict of values, and the biggie, moral premise.

The cool thing is I got to talk to Stan this week for nearly two hours. He gave me the homework of figuring out what I do the things that I do. That was easy. I’m hungry; I eat. I’m antsy; I exercise. My husband’s hungry; I go to the store, and then cook:)

Stan eventually pulled from me things like motivation, goal. I applied his concepts to MY life and began to see the big picture. Excerpts from The Help zipped into a Power Point.

Oh, if only I can get the thing to load and play and save and somehow explain what makes a good hook and how conflict of age-old values, like deciding whether to love or hate or be afraid or have courage, can set the framework for, not just a good story, but a story that lives on in readers’ hearts.

You never know anything until you teach it.

I learned that back in 1978, when I faced a junior high science classroom. Somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten.

When did you last teach? Was it your kids? A group of ladies or men? Colleagues? Hey, when’s the last time you taught YOURSELF something?????    

P.S. If you’re around Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Saturday (April 21), stop Kentucky’s largest literary festival at the Carroll Knicely Conference Center. For more information, check out http://www.sokybookfest.org/About. Would LOVE to see y’all there!!!

For my recent 57th birthday, Sangnam, the Illinois State student whom we’ve adopted as a second son, gave me a most unique present.

FiveFinger Vibram running shoes!

With this new footwear, I can better trek, climb, boulder, canyoneer, run, do fitness/martial arts, yoga, pilates, sail, boat, kayak, canoe, surf, fish.

Okay, maybe we’ll stick to running.

Maybe.

To even put on my new shoes, I had to consult the manual, adopt a new procedure.

There’s a whole download file to explain the transition to a FiveFinger run!

Barefoot or sandaled Jesus asked His followers to do all kinds of new things, like sharing the Good News of the Kingdom of God. He also said that you must be born again. You must forgive those who sin against you. If you are a teacher, you must first be a servant. 

Are you willing to try new things, even if it means uncomfortable change? The discarding of old habits? Are you willing to step into Jesus’ “pair of shoes” though we are not worthy to loose the strap of His sandals?

Have you recently made a transition to a “new thing”?

The Lion of Judah, the Alpha and the Omega, the Son of God and Son of Man, the Christ, our Lord, has RISEN!!!

He has risen! Amen!

On this, the climax of the Holy Season, may you sing with the angels and truly feel peace on this earth!

Happy Easter, friends and family!!!

They waved branches. Fell prostrate onto city streets. 

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest!”

Four days later, they spit on Him. Beat Him. Eventually shouted, “Crucify Him.”

Were you there? HAVE you been there? Preached the Good News and then “spit” on Christ by defiling deeds, hateful words?

With Easter’s joy steadfastly, assuredly approaching, will you, with me, ponder the meaning of today’s Triumphal Entry? Next Friday’s darkness and despair?

May God open the terrible wonder of this season in ways that you have never before experienced.

First and foremost, you are a Christian. Then a wife. Mom. Friend. Church member. Vegan’s way down the line, girl.

Food is only one vehicle God uses to fuel the temple of the Holy Spirit. Only God provides healing and health.

“Man is supposed to eat bread, but in the Western culture, often, bread eats man.” (This quote, from Myers’ fabulous book, Walking With the Poor, speaks both to fast food gluttons AND hell-or-high-carrot-juice vegans.

The principle of Proverbs 30:7-9 provides a fabulous guide for ALL matters of sustenance, including what we put on the table and in our mouth.

“Two things Iask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die. Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

Oh. About that hospital visit. My mom’s doing great!

Cookie boxes, your chip stash, freezer-burned meat–indeed, most of your pantry and fridge contents–fill every trash bin in the garage. What next?

1. FIND THE PERFECT COOKBOOK. My soup-splotched, dog-eared favorite? Easy Vegan. http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Vegan-Simple-Recipes-Healthy/dp/1845979591/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331306756&sr=1-1i I plan to try EVERY recipe and am well on the way!

2. THINK SIMPLE. Otherwise, you may get discouraged before you get going!
For breakfast? Oatmeal, grain-based cereals (carefully check labels. If you don’t recognize an ingredient, move on), pancakes (recipes delightfully adaptable for veganism), peanut butter toast topped with fruit, intriguing grains such as quinoa, rye, barley, all topped with fruits and nuts.

Lunch? Soup or sandwiches.
With the simple addition of flavored bouillon cubes and herbs to in-season produce (THIS is the time to use lumpy, wilted, CLEARANCE stuff!) tomato, potato, zucchini, leek, cabbage, miso, minestrone, beet, sweet potato, acorn squash, butternut squash, onion become soups fit for the table of royalty!

Sandwich ideas? Grilled eggplant and hummus. ANYTHING and hummus. Peanut butter and banana. And don’t forget that kale smoothie! Learn to placate your sweet tooth with fresh fruit. Don’t forget superstars coconut and dates and exotic nuts (pistachio, macadamia) which can transform a cup of granola into what seems like a decadent dessert!

3. Speaking of dessert, CELEBRATE the fact that dark chocolate is not only permitted but ENCOURAGED!!! My hands-down, lists topper? The brilliant TAZA chocolates. NO dairy. PURE stone-ground Mexican chocolate! http://www.tazachocolate.com/

4. Avoid expensive pseudo meat and dairy products, which often disguise chemicals, chemicals, and more chemicals. Limit soy, especially those brands that are not naturally fermented as new studies suggest a link between excess soy and health issues. Try almond and rice and coconut milk, but ALWAYS study those labels. You’ll be surprised what those manufacturers try to sneak into products.

5. Grow your own, if possible. I’m talking sprouts, kombucha, herbs, PRODUCE!! You can do it; our ancestors did!

Didn’t mention dinner yet, huh? We’ll get to that…next week! In the meantime, VEGAN your heart into a healthier beat!!!