The Setting for a God-Experience

Good morning, ladies! I'm in Colorado Springs, meeting with my agent and my virtual assistant (who is responsible for the existence of my Facebook Fan Pages and the Scavenger Hunt that's starting next week and all those other social media things I would never be able to a. think of on my own or b. pull off!) and a new publisher (to discuss our witnessing without words book -- remember that?), and the marketing director for the Reluctant Prophet books and the lady who's writing BIble studies for those and . . . big breath . . . my assistant for the writing-for-kids conference I'm doing at Glen Eyrie in October. AND I'm enjoying being with some really close friends. It's full and rich and I love it.

But I can never be here in Colorado Springs without thinking about the characters in Tournaments, Cocoa, and One Wrong Move. This is where I set that book, with the help of a group of teen girls like you who I met at Glen Eyrie. Whenever I glimpse Pike's Peak or have a latte at Pike's Perk or just breathe that fresh mountain air, I once again feel Cassidy's confusion and anger and hurt, and then her growth and her healing and her peace. It's as if it really happened, right here.

Kinda weird, huh?

It is to people who (a) have never thought up stories or (b) don't connect God with place. Okay, yeah, God is everywhere. Hopefully God will be waiting for me in Montana when I get there tonight, as well as on the plane when I board in an hour. But in my experience, the presence of God is felt more deeply in some places than in others. Those are the places where I set my stories.

            St. Augustine, Florida

            White Sands, New Mexico

            Puget Sound, Washington

            Williamsburg, Virginia

            Oxford, England

            On the Cumberland River in Tennessee

    I've never been to Montana where I'll be spending the next week, but I've been pulled there to "find" Kirsten, the main character in my next book called "Kirsten's Voice", about a young woman who self-injures. I'm thinking that's where God's going to heal her, and I'm headed that way in the hope that those who read her story will be led to healing too, from whatever ways they damage themselves.

So here's my question as I leave Cassidy's town and head for Kirsten's. If YOU were going to write a story about the presence of God in someone's very real experience, where would you set it and why? Even if you aren't an aspiring writer, think about it and let us know what you come up with. It may show you just how close God is . . . 

 

Blessings,

Nancy Rue     

Comments

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Hey, that looks like one of Crystal's lattes! :)

I'm not sure which town/city I would pick for a story setting but the "realization moment" would definitely happen at a beach or outside on a clear night. For me there's something about just looking across the ocean, the fact that it stretches further than we can see. Same with the sky - especially at night. Just look up and you see millions of stars. The fact that God created all of that obviously proves that He has to be pretty incredible (Psalm 19:1), but it also reiterates for me how amazing it is that God loves me. I'd say that it's almost hard to believe but that's not quite right... It's like, God's so amazing and the fact that, out of all the things He created, there was only one thing for which He was willing to die to save - the human race. It's just so incredible.
Okay, I still don't think I expressed it exactly right, but I think you get my general idea. :)

Will you please pray for my shoulder? Yesterday at work it started hurting - like a stinging pain. I have no idea what I did to it... The pain is a lot less now than it was last night but it still hurts a lot if I move it too much.
Praying for all of you girls!!

[Katie]

Praying for you, Sarah Elizabeth! I hope you find out what's wrong with your shoulder and that it feels a whole lot better soon.

I really like your idea about the ocean and sky, Sarah. I think Lake Placid, New York, would be a great setting for a book. It's way up in Upstate New York, in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. I stay in the Adk's every summer and love going to L.P. for the fireworks over the lake and the great swimming holes and shopping :). Lake Placid would be a good choice because it has a bustling city feel (it's also a popular tourist destination because the Olympic games have been held there twice!) but it's also in the middle of a gorgeous mountain range. Every time I'm in the Adirondacks I just feel floored by the awesome presence of God and His power. The mountains can make me feel insignificant and even discouraged, but they also remind me of Psalm 121: "I lift my eyes to the mountains, from whence does my help come from? My help come from the Lord, who made Heaven and earth..." Some other cute small towns in the Adk's (within driving distance of downtown L.P.) are Elizabethtown and Jay.

Sorry that's so long...I love love LOVE the mountains :)

[Therese]

I would set my book in Sunrise Park in Suffield Connecticut. For me, the presents of God is so strong there. Its like I can feel Him as I look over the lake from the mountain. The wind in the trees and the colorful leaves in the Fall are breathtaking. Nature always reminds me of God, especially in the Fall, my favorite season. My grandmother calls it God's country and she's right. With all that beauty there is no other explanation. :)

Just prayed for you Sarah Elizabeth! Hope your shoulder feels better soon!
Have a good trip Mrs. Rue.

[~~~LAURAJANE~~~ P.S. I love my horse!!!]

Hey that is so cool! I am just finishing up reading Tournaments, Cocoa, and One Wrong Move! I love it! I almost cried last night and I never cry when i read books! So that is saying a lot, Mrs. Rue!

If I was going to write a real life story, I would probably set it in New York City. This rich girl who never paid attention to the homeless on the street finally realizes that she should help them. When i went there, I was really touched by the poop people and wanted to do something. :)

ilylwsbwa
laura

[Alisha]

I think i would write about the hospital. it's such a broken place, and it's forever scarred by tears and broken dreams and bad news. i also find it's in these desolate, lonely places that God speaks to my heart. it's when i am the most vulnerable and the most broken down that God tends to speak to me.
So jealous, I wish i could be traveling with you right now. To colorado and montana and beyond!

[Miriam]

I think I'd set my story in a European city, but one with a fairly high atheistic population, and general atmosphere. I think it would create a bigger contrast between the character's realization of God and the culture they've been brought up in. I am myself from a European country with very few Christians, although the it is considered the biggest religion there, and I can see the difference between those I know who are Christians and those who are not. In addition to this, I think they can be places that not many people talk about (and I don't know much about cities in America, never having been there).

[Kate S]

That's a really hard question because there are so many lovely places out there!
I would put it in a place I've been, a place that I really loved.
Like London, England and the surrounding places! It's such an amazing city with so much beauty and culture. I adore it.
Or maybe Durango, CO. Wow, I love it there. It's one of my favorite places on earth. It's perfect- a small mountain/college town with perfect shops and cafes. We went there so often when we lived in New Mexico, that everyone called us honorary locals!
But Cedarburg, Wisconsin is an amazing little town too. I lived there for four years a while ago and just loved it- it's my second favorite place I've lived. I just love it soooo much!
I would choose a small town, if I didn't choose England!

[*Rachel*]

Hey girlies! Just an update before I get rolling on this comment (which I am so excited for!). I went to the doctor about my knee earlier this week, and she gave me the okay to get back on the field!! I was so excited, but the blessings didn't end there. I was a little nervous about getting back to my team, especially after having been out for a while. But from the first moment I got to practice, I knew there was nothing to worry about - all the girls were soooo happy to see me, and super friendly. And to top things off, I have been playing better than I ever have! I really really appreciate the prayers you girls said for me. I've been struggling to see God working in my life recently, but I could feel His presence on the field today :)
Okay, and now for the fun part! I would for sure set my story in this tiny little town called Lake Ann. One of my best friends has a cottage there, and in the summer I head up there to spend a weekend with her. Lake Ann is really more like a village - the whole town is located within like 2 blocks, and almost all the houses are clustered around the little lake it's named after. It is always just so peaceful and beautiful there. We leave our phones and computers up in our little attic bedroom and spend all day kayaking in the little wooded streams that wind out from the lake, kicking a ball together on our walk to the mom-and-pop shop for a bag of cherries and a movie, or climbing onto the roof to sunbathe. Having that time with a best friend, away from the worries and urgency of everyday life, in such a beautiful setting - it's impossible not to hear the quiet, gentle whispers that God loves to give us.
I absolutely cannot wait to read more comments on this... I love it! Praying praying for travels and shoulders and everything in between, and love you all!

Love and Blessings,
*Rachel*

P.S. Laura Jane, I'm in the middle of reading this book right now! Haha, how funny is that?

[Abby:)]

A starry night sounds like the ideal place for a "realization moment" - everything is so peaceful and absolutely gorgeous (btw I totally get what you're saying about God's love for us, Sarah Elizabeth - I sometimes feel the same way my dance teachers. ;) They're both very well known directors/choreographers/performers in the broadway community and even are close personal friends with people such as Bebe Neuwirth, Idina Menzel, and Elton John, yet they still choose to love me like I'm their daughter.). I think another great location for a story like this would be downtown New York City - I like the idea of hearing God's voice in the midst of all the commotion.

This is a fun topic Mrs. Rue :)

[Miriam]

I was wondering if you could please pray for me, as I'm having some difficulties with my faith.

[Bethan]

Ooh, I can't decide.. :) Part of me wants to choose a lake on a crisp, starry night, with a smallish wooden pier.. I don't know why, I hardly ever go to lakes and I've never had any momentous occasion on a pier haha, but when I imagine meeting Jesus somewhere it's usually here.. but then again I also like the idea of setting a novel like that in a funky, artsy, noisy, chaotic, dodgy part of a huge city too.. like Abby said, the idea of hearing God in the middle of everything's pretty cool ;)

Miriam, I'm on it right now. I feel what you mean as my relationship with God has been going through some bizarre issues lately.. prayers back? :)

[*Rachel*]

Miriam and Bethan... I'll triple with you girls on the faith prayers :)

[Miriam]

I'll pray for you Bethan. Thank you :)

[Melody]

I just got back from my Freshman orientation at my college, Belhaven University. It was so much fun, I met so many great people, and everyone seems really nice. Plus, I'm signed up for all my classes, I'll be taking over 20 hours of dance a week! Anyway, thank you so much everyone for all your kind words about my senior board :) You've all meant so much to me over the years.

The place I always feel closest to God is in the mountains. I've gone to Crossroads Camp every year since I was in 4th grade and I always feel so close to God during it. Two other places I would set a story about somebody's God-encounter would be in a dark ballet studio with worship music blaring, surrounded by people but feeling as if it's just you and God and also pretty much anywhere outside (especially a beach) anytime during or after sundown.

I have a big prayer request. My church is having our VBS this week. I'm the director this year and it's been sooooo much harder than I thought it would be. I really wanted to be in charge and me and a friend were finally able to convince everyone 2 teenagers could be the director. However my friend has done hardly anything and it's pretty much been just me. Anyway, I've been like permanently stressed out over the past couple weeks and now that it's time for VBS I'm worried that if it goes horribly wrong it'll be all my fault. So prayers would be greatly appreciated :) Praying for you all.

Oh, last thing, does the blog look weird to anyone else?

[Alisha]

Yes Melody, the blog is looking a bit wierd to me too. I wondered if maybe it was just my computer, as my own laptop is in the shop so i'm using our family computer. but apparently i'm not the only one!
I have a prayer request: tomorrow i am going to be speaking in our church (I don't know if i already told you this or not! some of you have probably already read it on my blog) anyway, i am really nervous, and i'm awful at public speaking. so just please pray that it goes well, and that i won't be too nervous.
Also, there's been some drama going on within my friend group. with growing up and moving away and with all of our different situations going on we're falling apart, so we're trying to deal with that right now, so if you could just please pray for all of us and that we would figure out what to do, and how to maintain our friendship.

[~~~LAURAJANE~~~ P.S. I love my horse!!!]

Everyone tell happy father's day to their dads from me!

Praying for everyone!

And yes, Melody and Alisha, the blog looks weird to me, too! I like it, though!

[Caitlin]

Here right after a hurricane. Even though everything seems destroyed it always gets as beautiful as it was before.