Power Outage

So, I intended to post the second part of the Fear of Success post today, but our power just came back on. We've been off since 5am this morning in our entire neighborhood. We're back on now, but I don't have the time to type up the long post now, so it will have to wait until tomorrow.

For the moment though, think about this quote:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel unsure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. As we let our own Light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

--Marianne Williamson

Fear of Success, Part I: Background

My Personal Soundtrack: Humble Me by Norah Jones (via Pandora)

[Contest: I received no entried for the contest. Probably because my blog traffic was severely reduced by my long silence. I'll post a review and try again when I start getting regular visitors again.]

I travel with the Christopher Hopper Band (I'm the barefoot one sitting in the front). Christopher (in addition to being a youth pastor, prolific songwriter, anointed worship leader, and great friend) is an author.

His first book, The Rise of the Dibor (Tsaba House, June 2006, ISBN:0972548602), releases this week. We're considering driving upstate for the launch party on Friday because, honestly, how often do you get to celebrate a friend's first book? (Well, considering that I have a lot of writer friends that chance comes along a little more often for me.) But, anyways, back to the point.

Earlier this year, Chris asked me about Hush Little Baby and asked me to send him the first chapter. So I did. And he passed it up to his editor, who e-mailed me asking to see more.

And I was really excited, but also really freaked out because HLB wasn't done.

And the more I thought about it, the more I freaked out. And, so I dropped off the face of the Internet, and away from the people who could keep me accountable about it. A bunch of stuff happened in Chris's life and I managed to avoid him for a couple of months too.

I convinced myself that I wasn't walking around in complete bondage and fear. Finally, I faced up to what was happening to me, and, with God's help, broke free of it.

Memorial Day weekend, we had a gig with Chris. Of course, HLB and Tsaba House were the first things he asked me about. I took a deep breath and confessed what had happened, unsure of what his reaction would be.

Chris surprised me.

He put himself on the line for me, called his editor, and advocated for me. I thought my chance with Tsaba House was gone. But there is grace. She still wants to see HLB, is still excited about what she's read so far and she's willing to read it even though it's not done.

So, that's the background story. And the issue I want to discuss this week is this fear that had me locked up.

It's not the rejection I'm scared of, really it's not. I'm scared of success.

The Secret Life of Becky Miller Contest

Today I'm participating in a blog tour of Sharon Hinck's The Secret Life of Becky Miller (Bethany House, June 2006, ISBN: 0764201298).

Sharon was kind enough to send me a review copy of her novel which arrived last week. Unfortunately, I haven't finished it yet, but I'm throughly enjoying the story so far. Read the first chapter here.

Sharon is an incredibly cool person who loves to find adventure in her everyday life. She's rapelled down the outside of a five-story building and has been almost arrested for gang violence while rehearsing for an outdoor production of West Side Story.

So, in honor of Sharon's new book, I'm proposing a contest. Leave a comment relating an adventure from your everyday life and you'll be entered to win a copy of The Secret Life of Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck (Of course, you can leave a comment and not enter too.). Contest open to everyone on the planet (make sure you leave an e-mail address or blog url or some way I can touch base with you if you when or just make sure to come back next Saturday). I'll draw the winner's name from the comments on Saturday, June 10, 2006.

More about the book:

Faster Than a Speeding Minivan, Able to Leap Piles of Laundry in a Single Bound...It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Supermom!

Becky Miller is a young mom who wants to do Big Things for God. Her vivid daydreams help her cope with the pressure to be a Wonderful Wife and Marvelous Mother. Yet the tape going through her mind continues to play:

Your mission: support your husband when he loses his job, nurture an eccentric circle of friends, raise perfect Christian children, cook delicious meals in a spotless kitchen, lead the women's ministry at church, and live a life filled with Meaning and Purpose.

How does this supermom react when her grand plans start to fall apart? What will it take for her to turn off the tape and listen to God's voice instead?

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Remember to post a comment and enter the contest! :-)