Jerusha: I’m so delighted to introduce you to my friend and fellow author, Robin W. Pearson! Robin has a special knack for writing that is both humorous and deeply profound. She’s also generous, because she’s giving away one free print copy of her novel, A Long Time Comin’, to one of you. So read on and leave a comment below for your chance to win!
By Robin W. Pearson
So, I survived my first (and second) ride in an Uber. Not to anyone else’s surprise but mine.
The minute I heard about my book signing at the Public Library Association conference, I started planning to take our family’s show on the road.
The way I figured it, we’d all drive down to Nashville, and while I was meeting and greeting, Hubby and the little people would do some exploring. Then we’d all spend a few days eating barbecue, listening to country music, and fussing in the car before returning home. A homeschooler’s dream.
Well, like most dreams, those gossamer-thin plans didn’t survive the bright light of day. Schedules got complicated, and Hubby and I scaled back our family vacation, turning it into a long weekend for two. Then we smushed that weekend into an overnight jaunt.
When little things like school, tech week for theater, and work intruded, the two became one and Hubby booked me on a solo flight to Nashville. And installed an Uber app on my phone.
From a dream to my worst nightmare, in the blink of an eye.
You see, I hate flying. No—I. Hate. Flying. And I’d vowed long ago never to Uber, Lyft, or even ride behind someone on a bicycle.
To top it all off, I didn’t want to leave my peeps. Who would help me navigate security and cover my insecurities with crowds if Hubby stayed behind? Who would force TD to read Mercy Watson if I left home behind?
A family field trip to Nashville answered all those questions and met everybody’s needs, specifically mine.
Yet God grounded my plans—though not the airplane—and I was driven to use the dreaded app. But I have to tell you, studying those clouds during that bumpy, 43-minute flight gave me a heavenly perspective, in more ways than one.
I started to see that my issues weren’t really about “riding with strangers,” as I’d told Hubby over and over again, or with the tens of thousands of miles between the ground (and my family) and me.
The four-letter word I was looking for wasn’t hate; it was fear. Not of modes of transportation, but of control. A control that I didn’t have in the first place. That wasn’t mine to give, so it wasn’t mine to lose.
What I needed to give up was that crutch I use to help me walk out my faith—my “what-ifs.” Holding on to them prepared me for every possibility.
God loves and cares for me, but what if the plane lost air pressure…what if the driver lost his mind…what if nobody wanted me to sign A Long Time Comin’? If Hubby was there, he’d reach for the mask, grab the wheel, and offer the pen to reluctant librarians.
Hubby ain’t God, though he does his part obscuring my view of Him. Not on purpose, and not because he’s that tall, even at six foot three inches. It’s just that I tend to look to him for support and guidance rather than to God who sent him my way all those years ago.
In His unsearchable wisdom, the Lord changed our plans and kicked my family’s support out from under me, forcing me to lean solely on Him, not on Hubby or my what-ifs. They can’t cover every eventuality, just as a crutch can’t replace a limb without causing a noticeable limp.
Hubby could’ve carried last week’s cumbersome luggage, but he couldn’t have restrained this week’s tornadic winds in Nashville. Fear can’t replace faith.
So, in faith, I asked God to hold my thoughts and fears captive, far away from me. I snuggled in close to Him, and it gave me room to pray.
Yes, for safety and the courage to relax my grip on the armrests, but also for the skill, alertness, health, friendliness, and families of the pilot and flight attendants, my ubernavigators of the airways.
To thank Him for His marvelous gifts, for the ability to create such means of travel.
To praise Him for His great wonders that I could only imagine from my lofty position in the sky.
To ask Him about my next book and express my need for clarity and insight.
To entreat Him to touch the passengers behind me who used church to help their teens become “good people.”
To run and not grow weary, walk and not faint, and mount up with wings as eagles (Isaiah 40:31).
Here at home again, home again jiggety-jig, I’ll surely reach for that pesky crutch, for my what-ifs are closer to me than my little people. But God is even closer.
The God who told His children in Exodus 19:4, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.”
The God in Mark 4:39 who rebuked the wind and sea and commanded, “Peace, be still!”
The God who led José, my first driver, to play praise music reminding me that “the same God that never fails will not fail me now.”
That same faithful God. He carried me, not just to Nashville and back, but to Himself.
And I must say, it was a much smoother ride, for which I’m ubergrateful.
Do you struggle with travel fears? Do you lean on what-ifs instead of real faith in God? Please share!
Photos by David Beale, Dan Gold, Lance Grandahl, and Karsten Würth on Unsplash. Original graphics designed by Jerusha Agen.
Robin W. Pearson’s writing sprouts from her Southern roots, her faith, and the love of her sweet husband, seven children, and dog.
In her twenty-five year editorial career, she’s corrected grammar up and down the East coast, and her debut novel, A Long Time Comin’, has earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly.
Follow Robin’s adventures in faith, family, and homeschooling on her blog, Mommy, Concentrated. Connect with Robin at her website and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Robin is giving away one print copy of her Southern fiction novel, A Long Time Comin’, to one of you! Simply leave a comment below to enter the giveaway. (Giveaway ends March 16, 2020; Winner must have continental U. S. mailing address.)
A Long Time Comin’
To hear Beatrice Agnew tell it, she entered the world with her mouth tightly shut. Just because she finds out she’s dying doesn’t mean she can’t keep it that way. If any of her children have questions about their daddy and the choices she made after he abandoned them, they’d best take it up with Jesus. There’s no room in Granny B’s house for regrets or hand-holding. Or so she thinks.
Her granddaughter, Evelyn Lester, shows up on Beatrice’s doorstep anyway, burdened with her own secret baggage. Determined to help her Granny B mend fences with her far-flung brood, Evelyn turns her grandmother’s heart and home inside out.
Evelyn’s meddling uncovers a tucked-away box of old letters, forcing the two women to wrestle with their past and present pain as they confront the truth Beatrice has worked a lifetime to hide.
Comments 27
Hi Robin! I was touched by your testimony and I wanted to thank you! I don’t have travel fears, thank God, but I do have many other personal, familiar and professional fears that I struggle with. Precisely because of my humanly need of control. This need for control that I can resolve my and my loved ones problems has sparked of my anxiety, especially because I experience once and again that I can’t be in control. It has taken me a while to give up the control to God, who was the Only One who had it in the first place. And to trust that the outcome, even if it seems to be a “not very good one” or “not what I prayed for” is something that with God’s help will turn out for the best, even if I have to navigate it through pain, because he’ll always be by my side to give me the strength I need. Still, even after knowing this, I sometimes forget and get anxious again about things I can’t help to improve, either mine or others. But I love that God’s uses other people, like you and Jerusha, to remind us that we have to cast off our fears to God and let him envelope us in His Unconditional Love and show us the right path. Thank you for this post! Loved it!
Isn’t it interesting that our need to control is also based on fear? I’m glad that I could comfort you as I’ve been comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:4), and that our sufferings and struggles have a purpose. Blessings!
Thank Robin! I love that phrase from Paul: “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God”! So true! Thanks for being God’s instrument to bring me comfort!
Blessings!
Author
Congratulations, Paty! You’re the randomly selected winner of Robin W. Pearson’s A Long Time Comin’. I’ll contact you via email with more details! Thanks for joining the conversation!
I really enjoyed reading this, Robin (and Jerusha!). I hadn’t realized that eagles’ wings were mentioned way back in Exodus – that was so cool. I’m not afraid of traveling, but I have a trip planned to California in a few weeks and the coronavirus is getting me a little spooked. I’m going to keep trusting God and see what happens. ~Robyn
Yes, I love that reference! Like you, I’ve read Exodus many times, but this passage struck me this time. Isn’t it wonderful how God’s Word never changes, yet it is always new and fresh, just like His mercies?
I actually dealt with my fear of taxis this week too. I had a traumatic experience in my 20s in a taxi. I vowed never to ride in one again. Saturday night I got stranded at work and had to call one. She was playing praise music and we seem to enjoy the same local pastor. It felt great getting past the fear and also proved to me that me not riding in one again meant I wasn’t trusting God but also had not forgave the person involved in my past. When I got home I was so happy and felt so free.
It seems God knocked your crutched out from under you as well, allowing you to walk tall in your faith. He truly comes through. And with a bit of musical accompaniment, no less!
I loved the post about fear and your trip to Nashville. I needed to read that today because I just signed up for my first writing conference. I started writing a novel almost three years ago with zero experience with fiction. I love writing, but do not love getting out and making connections because the enemy has lied to me about feeling like a wallflower among all the published authors and all the young people with so much to offer. I will turn 70 before the conference but I don’t feel that old. Certainly not beyond the age of learning and using my life experiences to breathe life into my novel.
My book is awaiting review with an editor so at least I’ve gotten that far! It is pretty amazing and I know God’s in this with me. I know that if I stay in front of my computer I can’t grow as an author, so I’m going. Thanks for the encouragement.
(Oh, I don’t have a website and that’s another thing…)
Caroline, from one wallflower to another, I encourage you to trust God has a perfect plan for you. You’re no late bloomer. “For such a time as this…” (Exodus 4:14)
Yes, Robin. Yesterday, I had the most amazing day making progress on my website and connecting as a new member of an ACFW Facebook genre group. Taking steps brings results! Thank you for your comment.
So glad to hear it! I heard this saying at the conference: “Making progress every day.” This is true of you as well. Blessings!
From one wallflower to another, I encourage you to trust God has a perfect plan for you. You’re no late bloomer. “For such a time as this…” (Exodus 4:14)
Hi, Robin. I suffer from anxiety when I travel due to PTSD and like you I tend to lean on my hubby in those situations. I know my real strength comes from the Lord. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.
Our hubbies are definitely a blessing, and I know God put us together for a purpose. My hubby can tell if my scream means “I saw a spider!” or “I found $5!” But only God knows the whispers of my heart. Blessings to you!
I was there!! I hate I missed you, but wasn’t it a wonderful time! And now I’m out of !!. 🙂 I’m so glad you overcame your fear and learned something about God last week.
Yes, indeed it was a wonderful time! God certainly poured out an abundance of goodness and mercy on that trip, and I’m glad you were there to enjoy your own overflowing cup. And I brought home a bag of books to boot!
Sounds like a great read! I enjoy traveling, especially driving on long road trips.
Thanks, Susanne! This would make an uber-read (or listen) on the road. (Smile)
Robin,
I totally understand your fear of flying! Though I’ve flown many times, I’m still a “white-knuckle flyer” & have to be very distracted to not get very worked up during my flight. I have to say the only time I’ve felt real peace in flying was many years ago when I was in a small commuter plane while on my way to a conference in Ridgecrest, NC. There were maybe 20 of us on the plane & at the time I was young, on a mission for the Lord & trying NOT to hyperventilate. I do have the ability to look like a duck – cool & serene on top of the water while paddling furiously underneath! I’m pretty sure I was the youngest person on the plane by at least 40 years. I was born an observer and I quickly OBSERVED I was in the plane carrying the MISSIONARIES that were going to be the speakers at the conference I was attending! I can hardly describe the sense of peace that overwhelmed me knowing that I was traveling with all of those precious ones who had dedicated their ALL to God! I knew that plane was in HIS HANDS in a special way. If that wasn’t enough, the intercom came on & told us about our Captain, etc. & ended with asking us to wish our Captain a Happy 28th Birthday. Again, I had another sense of peace pass over me because I felt sure as young as he was, he would be an excellent pilot because he wanted to have a long career ahead of him.
Now I know the above sounds a little crazy, but it really meant something to me. As for your comments on leaning on “crutches” –
“Never trust a (wo)man without a limp.” I read that quote in the last couple of years & truer words have never been written. You wrote of a “limp” where you needed your husband to be your crutch. I’ve had both the physical “limp” (5 knee surgeries over 40 years) & other “limps”. Other “limps” people may be living with may be chronic pain (🙋🏻♀️), loneliness, all manner of fears, broken heart, spiritual warfare, marital issues, dysfunctional families, work issues, relationship issues, etc.) BEWARE of people who don’t have a LIMP. They don’t have many real life experiences, they have probably never loved anyone very deeply and they have never hurt (physically or emotionally).
Ronin, A LONG TIME ‘COMIN sounds like a fantastic book! I have it on my TBR List!
Thanks Robin & Jerusa for this opportunity!
Lisa, I have looked, paddled, and quacked like a duck quite often in my life, in the air on the ground. Thanks for reminding me of the beauty and purpose of a “limp”: an opportunity for God to heal, support, and work, the mark of a spiritual warrior. Happy reading!
YAY! Robin! You are a beautiful example of what brave looks like!
So, sweet, Caryl. I’m just taking one baby step at a time, holding tightly to my Father’s hand.
Giving up a crutch is hard and trusting God can be harder although the smart thing to do.
Very interesting and so glad you finally overcame your fear. Your testimony is inspiring and makes me want to work more on getting rid of my crutches.
I would love to read and review this book in paperback format.
I enjoy reading, writing for fun, Blogging and helping my parents. Trusting God can be a challenge at times but looking at the alternative well trusting God is the best and right thing to do.
Hope I win.
Crystal
It sounds like we share many of the same interests–reading, writing, blogging, and helping our parents. And we also recognize that trusting and obeying God is a work of faith. But when we do, we win! Blessings!
Hi Robin Thank you for this wonderful post Blessings to you!
Hi, Sarah!
It’s wonderful how God goes before us, preparing the way. I hope you are leaning on Him right now. Blessings to you and yours!