PASSIONS DREAMS AND DESIRES
image courtesy of photobucket.com
Over the years when the hunger pangs need satisfaction and time allows, I’ll park myself in the corner of the usually empty bar portion of the family restaurant and empty my ink cartridge onto my trusty yellow legal pad of paper.
“The egg white omelet – one extra egg white – coffee with cream – no bread, today?” they all ask in a close variation.
“Yes please,” I nod kindly, often peeking over the top of my readers.
I know a little bit about all of them. The one young man in around his mid to late twenties, the one with the well groomed short dark hair and goatee, is going through a divorce… His wife dropped that bomb on him.
The front man who is about six foot two, two hundred and thirty pounds, shaved head, and seats folks, looks more like a bouncer in a nightclub. His wife works there too and they moved to Arizona from Chicago to care for his dad that passed a few years back.
The gal I’ll call “M” is from Columbia. She’s worked hard so her only son could have more, even paid for his college… till he dropped out. Just goes to show kids are kids regardless of their roots. That broke “M’s” heart. You can see it in her kind root beer colored eyes.
The manager is my age and she runs that location of the restaurant chain like it was her very own. Everyone that comes through the door is treated like someone near and dear to their hearts.
Each new day brings the folks through the door that regardless of how well they get treated, they’re gonna bring the hammer down on someone’s day… and usually the ones serving them. I sometimes hear the mean customers treating the help worse than they would bread crumbs.
I recognize all of it… it’s conflict. The thing from which great stories are hatched. Along with a simple narrative from an unpublished wannabe writer.
The host that looks more like a thug from the mean streets of Chicago, despite the conflict in a day and in his life, talked me into trying the new spicy omelet that turned out to taste more like fire than food. His brown eyes twinkled in amusement, “That’ll clean out your sinuses,” he chuckled. I just nodded in agreement, wiping my watering eyes.
“You write books?” he asked me not too long ago. I uncharacteristically hesitated before answering him.
“Uh… yeah… I write books,” I answered with reservation, but quickly added, “But I’m not published. I’m workin’ on it.”
We all have a story and we all have passions dreams and desires. The tragedy isn’t in not getting what we want. The tragedy is letting the day to day conflicts that all of us have regardless of what we do, steal the God given fire in our souls to pursue the passions, dreams, and desires that He placed inside of us.
Conflict is like the bridge washed out ahead. It just takes a little more time to get to where we’re going. And there are gems to be found in the journey of a detour… and in the setting of an egg white omelet.
Sunday, August 2, 2015 @ 2:28 pm
You are right Floyd. Life is filled with ups and downs-fire and water to put it out. The sad part is when we allow the fire to burn through and we give up. Conflicts happen. Don’t quit just because of them. As for that omelet: better you than me. 🙂
Sunday, August 2, 2015 @ 5:33 pm
Well, my friend, you painted such a picture that I think my eyes are tearing from that omelet. Thanks for introducing us to one of your favorite spots and the characters of your life story. So enjoyed this.
And to me the lesson was, “The tragedy is letting the day to day conflicts that all of us have regardless of what we do, steal the God given fire in our souls to pursue the passions, dreams, and desires that He placed inside of us.”
Amen to that my brother!
Sunday, August 2, 2015 @ 5:43 pm
Leave an imprint! That is what we are called to do! I know you wrote your article with an different emphasis, but it struck me that you bothered to become familiar with those around you. God works inside community. Often we blow in and out of places on our way to our own dream and think nothing of those who serve our coffee, so to speak. You could be a positive in the lives of those whom God has put in your path via this restaurant – and you probably are by way of tip or encouragement. There was one such waitress in the Denny’s close to us. God kept telling us to go there at various times. There isn’t much I can really eat at Denny’s, but we went just the same. Each time, this particular girl would be on duty. Each time we would be able to talk with her and encourage her. She had run from abuse and had a dream to go back to school. Over the course of the year, we were able to help her realize that ambition.
Sunday, August 2, 2015 @ 5:48 pm
Well done my friend! Very well done
My best to the family!
Sunday, August 2, 2015 @ 10:14 pm
Your post spoke to me how good it is to learn that those who serve us are amazing people who need respect and encouragement. Finding out trouble spots gives you an automatic prayer request (usually performed in private), but as God leads. They are also truly interested in you as a person.
My husband loves to add Tabasco sauce to his meals, even on sandwiches. I can tolerate spicy food better than many years ago, and I agree it can open up your sinus. Thank you for your openness to share this true to life story with us.
Monday, August 3, 2015 @ 11:00 am
You capture people and settings so wonderfully, Floyd. It’s one of the things that I love most about your writing – the feeling that I am right there with you. (Maybe I’m Carla???)
You’re so right. We all have stories. And the wise person is always open to the telling. Sometimes people are just waiting for the opportunity to share. And, when we are blessed with their opened hearts, God can love them and speak to them through us. We just need to be ready, and yielded, to the way the Spirit moves.
“…there are gems to be found in the journey of a detour.”
Amen to that!!
GOD BLESS!
Monday, August 3, 2015 @ 11:10 am
Great Writers are observers of everyday life. They see humanity just as they are and point out things that should be obvious. Great Writers are observers of everyday life. They see humanity just as they are and point out things that should be obvious. But they aren’t to most of us. We just walk on by
Keep watching. Keep observing. Keep seeing the things we’ve missed along the way
Monday, August 3, 2015 @ 2:50 pm
Love this post! You have such a wonderful way with words…it is just a matter of time until you CAN say you are published. The only thing holding you back is that the right editor/publisher hasn’t yet read your work. Keep believing, keep hoping, and keep knowing that God’s got it, and He will give you the desires of your heart, as you continue to delight yourself in Him. After all, He placed those desires…and the talent to fulfill them there in the first place!
Monday, August 3, 2015 @ 6:51 pm
Oh yes, and thanks for sharing at Tell me a Story!
Monday, August 3, 2015 @ 9:30 pm
Yes to this. It’s cliche but life’s like that. I think it’s part of the package.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015 @ 11:23 am
This really spoke to me, Floyd. As well as being entertaining, it reminded me of what is important and inspired me to keep on, despite the current conflict of the day. Those of us with a God-given desire to write need to remember Who directs our steps. Even when those steps go out of the way, around the washed-out bridges of conflict, sometimes on a daily basis. There is one thing I have to disagree with you about, though.
“wannabe writer”
No.
You, my friend, are a writer.
Published or unpublished, doesn’t change that simple fact.
Have an inspired week, Floyd! and thanks for inspiring mine!
Tuesday, August 4, 2015 @ 4:58 pm
As usual, you shared very strongly and very importantly and very truly. Thank you so much. I understood very clearly some of it that I had seen around and about quite a number of years ago. I rarely go anywhere like that now. Again, Bro, bless you and thank you.
Thursday, August 6, 2015 @ 10:59 am
It was a fun glimpse into your writing corner, Floyd. Thanks. I have a few coffee shops I frequent often too for my writing sessions. It helps to get out, doesn’t it?
What are some fun books you have been reading on the side to help hone the writing craft? I’ve been gobbling them up on the side too. Blessings! Keep writing.
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Thursday, August 6, 2015 @ 1:51 pm
Writing is so much more than our scribbling on a yellow legal pad. A major part of the gift is interaction, I think. A published author moved two doors down from me last year. He never waves back or acknowledges me in any way. He is the example of the kind of writer I never want to be. Forget the achievements. Let me use my words to cheer up those around me whether they be said or written for words are my tools and I have a love for them and for the One who gave them to me.
I shutter to think what our society would be without the Normans. They’re the reliable ones, the stable guys we like. Enjoy being this way while you can, guy friend. Because one of these days, those beautiful daughters of yours will present you with grandchildren. Everything changes. And then, you will be as silly and goofy as the rest of us with grandkids. Oh, I can imagine the fun blog posts!
Bless you!
Mary
Saturday, August 8, 2015 @ 8:36 pm
Good job Floyd…I bet those folks love to see you come into their place.