Reading Is My Super Power

Back in School

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you helped his people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)

While all my boys are back to school this week, I'm not talking about them. And no, I didn't go back to school, either, as a student or a teacher. However, this week brought a flood of school memories, and not all of them are pleasant in the recall. Some lessons are harder than others to learn or even to address, and we all need refresher courses occasionally. It's good to think, with a grateful heart, about the lessons we've learned and the people who have helped us along the way.

I belong to a large Christian writers online group that has some of the biggest names in Christian publishing. Editors, agents, authors of books and articles--just a "Who's Who" of the industry. We have strict protocols of what we discuss, as everyone has time constraints. Each week a panelist on Monday, and a panelist on Thursday present us with a question pertaining to professional writing. Then, the members of the email loop answer the question, giving us all kinds of perspectives on a topic. It's a great "school."

This week our panelist, Ellie Kay,"America's Family Financial Expert" (R) asked us four questions and they were so thought-provoking, and written in an unique way that I asked her if I could share them on my blog. I think all of us now and then need to take stock of where we have come from and who we need to thank in helping us along the way. So, for the next few days, I'd like to share some of my answers to these questions and invite you think about your own answers.

First of all, I want to tell you a little about Ellie, who really is a specialist in family finances with a family of five kids. She speaks at events around the country, as well as on such programs as CNBC's Power Lunch(a regular,) The Today Show and Nickelodean. Married to a former F-117 Stealth fighter pilot and now test pilot for a military contractor, Ellie has also been an advocate for military spouses and their needs. Plus, she is the author of nine books with the latest being
A Mom’s Guide to Family Finances (Revell, August 2006).

First and foremost, Ellie is a Christian, and so, even with all of this success and public persona, she puts God first in all that she does. That is the perspective from which she addressed a list full of celebrities,movers and shakers in the publishing industry. Publishing and writing is a tough, competitive business. People rise and fall with the market, and even editors move around often. It would be easy to get too focused on your own "numbers"--either the success, or the failure. But, if a person has the proper perspective, the focus turns to God, the Author and Perfector of our faith, instead of whatever emotion we're experiencing at the time tied to our profession.

With that background here are our questions posed to us by Ellie. I'd like for you to think about them, too. Feel free to share an answer in the comments area or by email. I'm going to be writing a little from my own perspective right here--as after all, this is my blog. I don't think you have to be in publishing to answer these questions--they pertain to any walk of life. My favorite one is number four because of the way she framed it. Had to smile about that one.

1. Who is your best teacher and what is the number one lesson he/she's taught you?


2. Who is your favorite cheerleader and how does he/she cheer you on?

(Remember, they don't even have to understand the game)


3. Who is your most inspiring coach and what's the hardest lesson

he/she's taught you on the field?


4. Who packs your lunch? Meaning, what kind of personality (no names,

please) bullies you and how do you overcome their taunts?


Please look for my answers over the next week. And think about how you would answer Ellie's questions.