tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post1637144006469682044..comments2023-06-10T22:42:19.087+10:00Comments on Australasian Christian Writers: The things writers do—Jo-Anne BerthelsenUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-28739528965459883362016-05-19T14:56:09.175+10:002016-05-19T14:56:09.175+10:00Thanks for your lovely, honest response too, Jenny...Thanks for your lovely, honest response too, Jenny. And yes, I definitely do consider my writing and speaking a ministry and/or a calling, so, as you say, we can then just do it with all our heart and with the strength God gives us, whatever happens. Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-12113026874791772172016-05-19T11:57:23.022+10:002016-05-19T11:57:23.022+10:00Jo-Anne, thank you so much for sharing this. I am ...Jo-Anne, thank you so much for sharing this. I am encouraged that an established author like you whom I so admire has these experiences too! I could relate to this - including being treated like a celebrity (made me a bit uncomfortable yet felt so blessed at the same time) to being tucked in a corner and walked all over (the more common experience for me.) Like you, I consider my writing a ministry and do it with all my heart, working for the Lord, which takes away the sting of the disappointments. And yes, as Jenny said, one day in heaven we will see the purpose and may just be blown away by which seemingly insignificant words or actions had an impact on someone for eternity. God bless you!Jenny Glazebrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709461499025091397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-71220096340599058312016-05-19T07:45:10.771+10:002016-05-19T07:45:10.771+10:00That's so true, Carol, that there is always so...That's so true, Carol, that there is always some good aspect to even the worst of speaking engagements! And God is there with us, through all the good and bad experiences, so we can keep going!Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-84986791714143015072016-05-18T20:24:57.083+10:002016-05-18T20:24:57.083+10:00Oh, I so identify with your experiences Jo-Anne. I...Oh, I so identify with your experiences Jo-Anne. It's good to be able to chuckle about the bad ones and find the good in even the worst of them. Isn't it wonderful that there are still plenty of the lovely things that keep us going. Carol Preston https://www.blogger.com/profile/00306981583283008014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-74734957851674367312016-05-18T09:06:40.862+10:002016-05-18T09:06:40.862+10:00Oh Jeanette, I felt for you all along, as I read o...Oh Jeanette, I felt for you all along, as I read of your recent speaking experience, but so glad you were able to answer all those questions after you spoke and also received that card eventually, with a littlel recompense in it! <br /><br />But what a lovely thought for you to share, that one day in heaven, there might well be many of those moments when we discover how we encouraged others without even realising or remembering it. I'm looking forward to them!Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-75799702708916766132016-05-18T08:59:03.135+10:002016-05-18T08:59:03.135+10:00Hi Jo-Anne - glad the good events outweigh the dis...Hi Jo-Anne - glad the good events outweigh the disappointing and just plain frustrating. I had a similar experience recently when I spoke at an event, had to cover a huge topic in a few minutes, then was so busy talking and answering questions afterwards (which was fantastic) that by the time I got to the table my books were set out, everyone had gone - with no sales (and maybe one book missing) - and then, it seemed not recompensed for the time and travel though I did get to catch up for lunch with some old friends & discovered the husband loved poetry (he bought a copy of Glimpses of Light) - and then over a month later a thank-you card came in the mail with some recompense. I guess we never know what impact our efforts may have or how they are appreciated. So lovely that you found out years later how your encouraging words made a difference in someone's life. I think there just might be many of those moments in heaven :) Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-13483451355876446872016-05-18T08:49:44.407+10:002016-05-18T08:49:44.407+10:00Thanks so much, Ian. I'm so glad to hear that ...Thanks so much, Ian. I'm so glad to hear that sharing my 'writing adventures' encourages other authors out there. That's exactly what I call them when I email my little prayer team before I speak somewhere--<br />I always head my email 'My next adventure', then send a report afterwards entitled 'Report on my latest adventure'! <br /><br />And you're right--smaller groups do have their distinct advantages, as I am discovering all over again this year. I saw this even yesterday, when I spoke at a small Probus Club here in Sydney. Yes, there were fewer than twenty people there, but this gave me an opportunity, as you say, to have much more personal interaction with them and to tailor what I said to meet their needs as I went, plus I had some lovely conversations afterwards. So I am thankful for all this little groups I am speaking at this year.<br />Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-76012168180500887832016-05-18T08:15:13.923+10:002016-05-18T08:15:13.923+10:00I love reading of your speaking adventures, Jo-Ann...I love reading of your speaking adventures, Jo-Anne. Smaller groups and handfuls of people can be great opportunities to develop one's "story" while being able to have a more personal interaction. <br /><br />Your adventures are a great encouragement to the rest of us to do likewise.Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.com