Thursday, June 28, 2012

Death of Dreams


My sweet hubby, Jim, returned from the garden with sad news. Bugs had eaten the squash he had planted the day before—his dreams of fried squash and squash casseroles gracing our summer table were dying along with the pitiful leaf-stripped plants. Only two of five plants survived the bugs’ destruction.


The death of Jim’s garden dreams!

I recently attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and enjoyed wonderful classes, excellent teaching and sweet Christian fellowship. Amid the joviality, I also watched some fellow attendees come from their appointments with acquisition editors and agents with tears in their eyes. Their novels, Bible studies, and other Christian projects had been rejected. The death of their writing expectations too had come to pass.

What did Jim do after discovering the dead plants? He replanted!

Jim bought organic sprays to keep the bugs at bay. Once again dreams of bountiful squash creations filled his head.

What do the conference attendees that watched their dreams die on the vine need to do? First, I believe they need to pray about their rejected projects and remember it was that single work that was rejected, not themselves. If God still tugs on their hearts, telling them their work is worthy and is from Him, they may want to do a rewrite or ask another writer, or group, for a critique of their work. A fresh set of eyes can catch mistakes or give a different perspective. In other words, like Jim, they may need to replant. The rejected projects may be reborn in another form; I have seen devotions become Bible studies and novellas grow into novels.

The replanted squash look grand today. I spent the afternoon looking for new recipes, finding myself dreaming of fresh summer squash becoming the centerpiece of a dinner on our back deck.

Dreams reborn!


I also looked at the works I pitched at the conference. I found new ways to improve each one. I felt inspired to write a new poem and my spirit soared as my writing dreams received a soft sweet spray from the Holy Spirit.

I’ll keep you informed about Jim’s lovely little garden and my garden of  works for the kingdom.”

My sweet blog readers, have a beautiful start of summer and, you that are writers, plant new works in progress. Writing friends remember we are writing about a place where moths and vermin cannot destroy (Matthew 6:19-21).

All this writing has made me hungry. I think I will mosey down to the newly opened vegetable stand and find something for supper. Yep, I live in the South and we have supper.

Come go home with me,
Dee Dee


SQUASH CASSEROLE

Ingredients:

4 cups cooked squash

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 can cream of chicken soup

½ cup milk

¼ cup melted butter or margarine

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 egg

2 cups crushed cheese crackers

salt and pepper to taste


Preparation:

In a large mixing bowl, mix together all ingredients except for crackers. Spread into a greased baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle cheese crackers over the top. Return to oven for another 15 minutes.

3 comments:

  1. Hi DeeDee! It's so good to see you posting :)
    Hope your time at BRMCWC was fruitful. I hope to go next year. And I hope the squash take root and the bugs take leave!! I love squash :)
    Hugs from VA,
    Susan

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  2. I agree with Susan -- so nice to be reading your most recent post! Replanting - re-purposing - never giving up - is key to this writing journey, and life in general.

    Your post reminded me of my grandmother's yummy stewed squash. I don't have beautiful plants like Jim's, but I do have a Publix nearby. ha! I'm envious.

    Thank you for the encouraging post, Dee Dee. Love you!

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  3. DeeDee! The garden is a constant teacher. I, too, have just planted little squash and cucumbers and daily watch to scout for trouble. So far, so good. I will send you my favorite squash casserole with high hopes of a great harvest. Much love and great to see you writing!!

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Blessings, Dee Dee