Friday, March 7, 2014

Imagination! by Ruth Trippy


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