by Michelle Sass Aleckson, @MchelleAleckson
Words are important for writers, don’t you think? I mean, it’s hard to tell a story without them. But lately there’s been a word drought in my head. Sometimes, the difficulty is in making the time to put the words on the page with our busy family life. But lately when I have the time, I find myself staring at the blank screen or scrolling social media instead of writing. Come to find out I don’t need anyone else to distract me. I’m really good at it.
Why am I wasting good writing time with distractions? Because writing comes from a deeply personal place. It taps into more than just logic, order, and reason. It’s also emotional. And I don’t know about you, but with everything going on in our world, nation, in my own community and family that emotional well is completely dry right now.
Empty.
I have no words.
And believe me, I’m trying to fill it up. I have a very supportive and loving family. I spend time in prayer and reading the Bible. I have great friends I can share with. But I’m still struggling to put words on the page. I cannot pour out of an empty cup.
As we celebrated communion on Sunday that image of an empty cup needing to be filled struck me. The communion cup is a symbol of Christ pouring out His life for us. We couldn’t fill it ourselves. He fills it for us. He does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. All we can do is receive.
So, if my well is empty of words how can I fill it? (Because believe me, I’ve been desperately trying to fill it. I have a deadline to meet!) But there’s one thing I haven’t been doing.
Listening.
Receiving.
I’ve been talking, praying, thinking. My own way of processing is chatting with myself and that chatter has rarely been quiet. But I have not done much listening. I’ve kidded myself, thinking I was filling myself up with different things, but really it’s all been noisy distraction. White noise.
I need to be still and listen.
Listen to what’s really going on inside that I’m covering up with busyness. Listen to what God might be trying to speak into my life. Listen to promises and truth and hope that can restore my soul.
I might not have much to give right now. But I have plenty of room to receive. And that’s not such a bad place to be.
As writers we are used to being the ones to pour out words. But we also need seasons of listening. What are you hearing today?
The problem with being related to everyone in town is that there is no one left to date…until now…but will this outsider survive his family?
Former soldier Veronica “Ronnie” Morales isn’t going to let her kid brother, Tiago, get pulled into the gangs of Minneapolis, so, seeking safety and a fresh start, she heads to sleepy Deep Haven on the north shore of Minnesota. She’s hoping to put down roots as the paramedic for the new Crisis Response Team, but it’s not easy to be the town outsider.
Fire Chief Peter Dahlquist is a peacemaker—he has to be. After he’s related to both of the Deep Haven dynasties – the Zimmermans and the Dahlquists, Deep Haven’s version of the Hatfields and the McCoys. Worse, Peter is the holdout vote for a landmark project, which also makes him the loneliest guy in town when both sides demand that he pick sides. The only one who seems to understand his plight is the newcomer in town…his pretty, street-tough paramedic.
When Tiago finds himself caught up in small town shenanigans and the town blames Ronnie for tragedy, Peter is forced to pick sides. But will his choice cost him the home—and the woman—he loves?
Up for PREORDER now! Releases May 25, 2021
After growing up on both the east and west coasts, Michelle now loves living the country life in central Minnesota with her own hero and four children. She rocks out to 80’s music on a Saturday night, enjoys playing board games, and is a hopeless romantic. And if you’re wondering, yes, Sass is her maiden name.