06/13/2005

The Editor's Mug - June 2005

The Editor's Mug
June 2005

Seeing Heaven In Your Own "Field Of Dreams"

I was reminded recently about one of my favorite all-time movies, "Field Of Dreams'. In it, for those who don't know, an Iowan corn farmer (played by Kevin Costner) hears a voice telling him to plow under a large part of his corn crop to erect a baseball diamond. Of course, everyone thinks he's crazy (including himself at times), but eventually, we see at the end of the movie that all that was endured was for something greater than could have been imagined. We watched that movie on TV a few weeks ago, and I get teary-eyed at the end every time I watch it.

"Is this heaven?"
"No, it's Iowa."
"Iowa? I could have sworn this was heaven."
"Is there a heaven?"
"Oh yeah. It's the place where dreams come true."
"...Maybe this is heaven."

Here's a question for you: does it say anywhere that the road to that place where your dreams come true will be a smooth one? I don't think you'd be the first to say that the path to that place of dreams coming true would—or at least should—be smoother.

How do you know your dreams are coming true? Here are some thoughts about that, based on my experiences and those of others I know:

1. Your immediately family is supportive;
2. Everyone else thinks you're crazy;
3. It's viewed—at least initially—as a financial or career (or some other ways) "mistake";
4. You're not only perfectly fine with it, you're excited about where you're at.

A road lined with those points as billboards doesn't sound like a very smooth road, does it?

I still hear the comments—"he shouldn't be working from home; "he should be out there in a 'real' job", "you can't make a living as a poet", "you should put your kids in day care";—and so much more I would likely bore you to death. Four years of working from home, raising my children and growing a business simultaneously; the road has definitely not been smooth.
But where am I? I don't have to look further than the eyes of my baby or the Father's Day card made by my seven-year-old. I have a wonderful wife, a growing business, and a creative writing magazine to share. How can I be anything but deliriously happy? Smooth road or bumpy, I am in heaven.

Wherever you are at, I hope you are finding yourself (and your writing) at peace today in your own heaven.

Cheers!

=jb=

Posted by =jb= at 06/13/2005 10:28:04am
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