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| Ruth Trippy |
God sometimes surprises us. We may think we know the path
we’re to take, but he may shake us up and turn things around when we least
expect it. Such was the case in Ruth
Trippy’s journey to publication. I love her story—and I think you will too!
Enjoy! ~ Dawn
Imagination!
by Ruth
Trippy
“You don’t have enough imagination to write,” my husband
said. This was his song and dance my first two years of writing. That didn’t
surprise me, because I had never dreamed of being a writer in the first place.
For me talking was easier. In fact, I taught a high school
speech class.
But I married an unexpected man. When we dated, my three
teacher roommates sat me down and questioned my choice of a steady boyfriend.
They said to marry this man would be like me buying a purple car. Totally
unsuited. For starters, even though this man was handsome, he slicked back his
hair like a punk, had considerably less education, and was almost nine years my
senior.
He wouldn’t quit on me, however. Before I left as a
short-term missionary to France, he proposed twice. I told him he was only a
good friend. However, the Lord had other plans. In France I became sick and
spent those early days in bed, looking up at the ceiling—and up to the Lord.
What did He say? This is the One, Ruth.
I felt a two by four had hit me.
Instead of full-time missionary work, I knew I was called to
marry this man. After we said, “I do,” a lot of challenges surfaced, and years
later I became so discouraged, worn down by our extreme differences, that I was
desperately looking for encouragement. The Lord sent me help in the form of a
19th century romance novel: St. Elmo
by Augusta Evans. Through this author’s depiction of a harsh, embittered hero
that God changed, hope sprang up in me. I fell in love with my husband and life
all over again. God used this book to put a fire under me: I wanted to
encourage others in their marriages—for few of us miss its challenges and
difficulties.
And I needed fire, a big one, because it was many years
before I was published. I needed time to learn the craft of writing as well as
the life-lessons God had in mind. He was “fitting” me to be a writer.
And the man who said I didn’t have enough imagination to
write? He was wrong. I had imagination, but later I discovered that God had
given my husband an imagination that was “off the charts.” Currently, my
husband helps me fine-tune my stories—the same man who was “unsuitable.” God
works in mysterious ways.
So, what has God taken you through? I believe it leads to
some specific purpose He has in mind. He desires your writing to illumine some
aspect of His truth.
And He will be right there helping you:
“…take courage”
declares the LORD, “and work; for I
am with you…” Haggai 2:4
“…It is I who answer and look after you. I am like a
luxuriant cypress; from Me comes your fruit.” Hosea 14:8
Tweetables:
Ruth Trippy
never dreamed of becoming a writer, but God had other plans. Click to tweet.
Need a fire lit
under you? Encouragement offered today on Seriously Write. Click to tweet.
Do you believe God
desires your writing to illumine some aspect of His truth? Click to tweet.
“And
the soul of the rose went into my blood….” This line from a Tennyson poem
captivates young Celia Thatcher, who supposes every woman’s heart hopes to be
that rose that enchants a man.
Celia
is searching for her own sense of hope after the tragic death of her closest
friend. She starts life afresh in 1876 by taking a job in a Massachusetts
bookstore. There she catches the eye of not one but two men: the elite but
unkempt Edward Lyons and the charming law student Charles Harrod. One is hiding
from his past and from God. The other promotes a religious belief Celia had
never before considered. Both leave Celia wondering if either is right for her.
When one of her suitors is accused of murder—the one she is coming to
love—Celia is challenged with a choice: should she follow her heart or her
faith?
Ruth Trippy was
born in western Michigan to a Dutch family with values similar to the Victorian
era she loves. Leaving home to teach high school language arts, she explored
her love of apologetics. She also worked as Public Service Director for a radio
station in Ft. Lauderdale. Ruth and her husband have two grown children and
live near Atlanta, Georgia.
To learn more and connect with Ruth, please visit www.ruthtrippy.com
