Non-Radioactive Glow (guest post by author Beth Pensinger)

Today’s post is by author Beth Pensinger.  It’s no surprise her book released on April Fools’ Day, as you’ll find when you read it. Beth’s fun and funny personality is reflected in her writing, as is her honesty, her love, and her desire to help save your fingernails (you’ll understand when you read her back cover below).

I met Beth through a mutual writer friend. We hit it off and so did our blogs.

Beth, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to write a guest post for Well-Written Days. We’re thrilled to have you.

Here is Beth’s post – 

My book, Let Me Fall, was released for sale a little over a week ago. But I feel like I’ve been talking about it for eons. Same story over and over. Beth Pensinger … blah, blah, blah. How I’m falling in love with God … blah, blah, blah. Our publishing company … blah, blah, blah. I know it’s what I must do if I have any hope of selling copies. And after three years without a paycheck, it would be nice to earn an income again.

I’m just afraid of becoming full of myself. (Don’t worry. I know I’m not all-that.) It’s bad enough I deal with my selfishness on a normal basis. But, make talking about my story a full-time job, and I’m worried I’ll have an ego-maniac on my hands. How can I expect anything less when I basically have to sell myself?

My answer: Always seek after a non-radioactive glow.

A few years ago I went on a work trip with my friend to Beaufort, SC. While she did her thing during the day, I camped out on the porch of a local coffee shop and wrote. When we went to dinner that night, we struck up a conversation with two friendly locals. Out of the blue, one of the ladies said to me, “Your eyes are glowing. You must be doing something right.”

Since I hadn’t been near any nuclear reactions, I could only assume one thing. It was the presence of God reflected. I’d spent the entire day with Him and the two of us had a blast together. I felt like Moses after his forty days and nights with God on Mount Sinai. When he came down from the mountain, “he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.” (Exodus 34:29, NIV)

My only hope is to keep my eyes glowing because of God’s presence. At least then, I’ll know I’m doing something right.

From the back cover of Let Me Fall: 

Anyone who’s struggled with an addiction of some sort would agree that finding lasting contentment from the actual addiction is much like a dog chasing its tail—only a lot less adorable.

Let Me Fall is the love story between God and His dimwitted daughter. I’m the dimwit in case you were wondering.

As a grown woman, it pains me to admit that the catalyst for this story was my obsession with Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga, and the despair immediately following my reading it. If my despair were merely of the lighthearted, “oh darn I chipped a nail” variety, you wouldn’t be reading this book description. But it wasn’t, and you are. As in most tales of woe, I hit rock-bottom, which meant all my nails got chipped. Fearing the savage state of my cuticles as well as my heart, I finally called out to Father God for help. Spoiler Alert: He showed up with a spiritual defibrillator.

Let Me Fall is where my literal world figuratively collides with God as He shows me more of who I am and who He is. My story isn’t a formula for falling in love with God. But I would be thrilled if it is a catalyst for others to do the same.

 

BETH PENSINGER is an awkward, semi-colon abusing nobody who smiles too much. She is the author of four—make that four and a half—journals and untold scores of napkin-notes. She lives near Myrtle Beach, SC with her husband, dog, and human-hating chameleon. Visit with her at www.bethpensinger.com, where she blogs about dirty microwaves, infertility, and the fine qualities of Faramir of Gondor.