AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.
Dear Reader,
Today's guest author, Kathey Batey, is the creator of Divorce Support Anonymous and author of the Suddenly Single series--book, workbook and journal. Kathey is a domestic mediator, and support group leader in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Kathey has five copies of Suddenly Single to giveaway to readers. To enter the drawing, email: [email protected]
Please welcome Kathey Batey...
The Rest of the Story
I use a lifeline illustration for the support groups I lead. The lifeline is the horizontal line which shows the beginning and the end, birth to death. It shows our childhood, our marriage and then for the groups I work with, there is a big dark splotch indicating divorce. It hurts to see it, we all grimace. But it is used to illustrate that beautiful unknown in the rest of the lifeline, the rest of your story.
That empty, not yet lived space on the lifeline is as frightening as it is beautiful. What's there? What could be there? What good decisions would get me there and make it so when the end comes, I would look back and say, "I have no regrets?" There are no scars there, there are no sins, no bad decisions, regrets, remorse or pain.
There is an openness to endless possibilities, dreams and life purposes found, no matter what the past has held. The lifeline is an honest look at your life to determine what you want... the rest of your story. How do finish the story purposefully with love, relationships and laughter? You look at where you want this life story to end.
An old woman appears in the doorway, white hair, shoulders bent fragile hands. She looks oddly familiar, and you think, 'Do I know her and I just can't remember?' As she approaches, you get this sense you do know her. She lifts her hands to take your hands and she squeezes them firmly. You feel a surprising instant connection. She leads you to the couch beside her, all the while watching her slow, short steps.
She lifts her head, leans forward, and looks directly into your eyes. Suddenly you feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up. By some strange supernatural phenomenon, you are staring at yourself at the end of your life. You have indeed grown old, and understand for the first time your mortality.
She holds your hand, stroking it as she speaks, "What do you want me to feel at this point of life?" She asked looking deeply into my eyes. Then she paused, looked down and then asked me the questions that would guide me the rest of my life. "What should I be the most proud of? What are you doing now to bring peace for yourself when you get here? Whom did I truly touch in my life? Whom did I love with all my heart? Who carries my message from here? How does my life stand with God now?"
-- Kathey Batey
Email Kathey, say 'hello' and you'll be entered in her drawing for a copy of her book, Suddenly Single. As always, please include your shipping information, it makes it so much easier for our guest authors if you include it in your entry email.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
* ICE, by Anna Kavan, is this month's Penguin Classics book. Enjoy a great Classics book and enter-to-win a Penguin tote bag. Click here to start reading.
Comments