Motorless Dreams

I’ve told you before that I’m afraid of airplanes. I’ve had this awful phobia as long as I can remember (and before, actually, since my mom remembers me as a toddler running into the house crying when a plane would go over.) This fear extends to airports and the inside (and outside) of airplanes. But look at me here. I put this picture on Facebook and titled it: Here’s Me. In an airplane. And not the least bit scared. And it’s true.

Now for the big secret behind that peaceful happy smile. This plane has no motor. No wheels. No go-power at all. It’s really just a restaurant now. And what’s scary about a restaurant? Nothing at all scary about the Parachute Inn at the airport in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, that’s for sure, unless you have an all-you-can-eat delicious fish and seafood phobia.

But when I was glancing through my photo album tonight and saw that picture, it hit me suddenly that the same thing is true with our dreams. We can have a big dream as long as it has no motor. That’s not frightening at all. You hear people all the time who talk of backpacking across Europe, becoming the next American Idol, or writing a best-selling novel. Usually these are motor-less dreams that are safe to sit around in, with no danger of them taking off.

I used to dream of being a writer. But then something happened. I started actually working toward it. One step at a time. It almost seemed like one day I woke up and realized someone had slipped around and put a motor in that dream. Then it got downright scary. Suddenly I was responsible for finishing manuscripts, juggling deadlines, and striving to get better with each story. I remember, back in 2001 when, I sold my first novella, how my legs trembled at the thought of standing on my own as a writer. Seven years later, they’re still a little wobbly sometimes.

Do you have a dream that has been idle for a long time? Why not get it out and examine it, decide if it’s worthy of a motor, and if you have the energy and faith to give it one? People will doubt you and discourage you. And some of what they say is true. There is so much more pain and fear involved when a dream takes flight. But no matter how bumpy the liftoff is, once you’re in the air, it’s an amazing view!

Christine Lynxwiler considers herself richly blessed to be living the crazy writer life with her husband and two daughters in the beautiful Ozarks of Arkansas. She sold her first Christian fiction story to Barbour Publishing in 2001. A four time winner of the ACRW/ACFW Book of the Year Award, she now has 12 books in print, including Arkansas, Promise Me Always, Forever Christmas, Death on a Deadline and her newest release, Along Came a Cowboy. She has two more on the way and recently signed a contract for a brand new six book series. Christine loves to laugh and when asked to choose a movie, almost always picks a comedy. A romantic comedy, of course. Or as her husband calls it, a chick flick.

Comments

[Denise]

Hi, Christine!
Hear! Hear!
Hugs

[Sue Simmons]

Christina it was great to met you at McCrory Saturday. I have almost finished the first book in the mystery series. So before Christmas when my sister gives me the ones she bought me for Crhistmas I will be ready for them. If you are ever in the Jacksonville Area please let me know. Thanks Sue

[Sue Simmons]

Christina it was great to met you at McCrory Saturday. I have almost finished the first book in the mystery series. So before Christmas when my sister gives me the ones she bought me for Crhistmas I will be ready for them. If you are ever in the Jacksonville Area please let me know. Thanks Sue