by Karen Jordan, Miss April 2016

“Imagination? It is the one thing beside honesty that a good writer must have. The more he learns from experience the more he can imagine” (Earnest Hemingway). 

Imagine your fondest dreams coming true. What do you see? 

Years ago, a dream was birthed in my heart. Then, I buried it.

That’s impossible, I thought. How could I ever consider publishing a book? I’ve never even written for publication!

Fast forward a couple of decades, and a renewed vision of my dream unfolded. I had returned to college to take a “few” writing classes one semester—which turned into five years and two degrees. One of my favorite writing instructors at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), Dr. Sally Crisp, shared the names of several writers who had published after the age of 50. 

Author Frank McCourt’s story caught my attention since we were reading one of his books, and I was in my 40s at the time. McCourt, an Irish-American teacher, who grew up in poverty, did not become a published author until the age of 66. Angela’s Ashes, his autobiographical book, became a best seller and won the Pulitzer Prize. 

I never imagined that my dream would be fulfilled this year as I join the ranks of the 60-plus first time authors. My first book, Words That Change Everything: Speaking Truth to Your Soul, will be released this coming June. 

Discouraged? Thinking your dreams will never be fulfilled?

Take heart! If God has birthed this hope in your heart, His Word offers you this promise:

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. (Eph. 3:19 The Message)

How do you hold on to your dreams?