Sharpening your Saw: Body, Mind, Heart, and Soul
Diary as Literature Through the Lens of Multiculturalism available at https://vernonpress.com/book/656.
Since the beginning of my graduate studies, I’ve been presenting papers at various conferences. These conferences large and small have helped sharpen my presentation skills, enhanced my teaching pedagogy, and broaden my diary writing scholarship. Although I’ve met several people my network did not start to blossom until this year with an unexpected gift from God titled Diary as Literature Through the Lens of Multiculturalism in America, my first curated and edited anthology.
I’m excited about this collection because it began as a college course I taught using my diary scholarship. While on an interview, the dean looked at my CV and asked if I could teach the multiculturalism course through the lens of the diary. I did.
Later that year, I wanted to sharpen my conference skills by curating and moderating a panel. I’d already presented panel papers and roundtable discussions; it was time for something new. So, it only seemed natural to pitch Diary as Literature Through the Lens of Multiculturalism in America for the 2019 NeMLA Conference as a roundtable discussion. And it was accepted. The initial call for presenters drew about thirteen participants.
Diary as Literature NeMLA 2019 Roundtable panelist. Five out of eight panelists are included in the anthology.
Then a publisher contacted me and asked if I was interested in curating a collection based on the name of the conference panel. I was quite surprised. I thought that was a joke, so I contacted NeMLA and asked if this was doable. “Yes.” What an unexpected gift to serve as an editor of an anthology and to meet other people who used diaries as part of their scholarship. As James writes, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,” (James 1:17a NKJV).
For a brief moment, I almost poo-pooed my unexpected gift remembering criticism from a former professor. Whenever I mentioned something about publishing or writing, she’d say, in a condensing manner, “You’re a junior scholar and if I can’t do that, I’m sure you can’t.”
Junior scholars have to start somewhere.
But here’s the moment in my faith walk that I remember whose I am. In the second half of the scripture James1:17b, the writer reminds me that God is not two-faced, fickle or deceitful. If I trust God with my life: body, mind, heart, and spirit, then I have to trust that this unexpected gift is a good thing. And junior scholars have to start somewhere.
Therefore, I thanked Him for my gift and created a call for chapters to expand my borders because not all panelists would submit to the anthology. I put on my editor’s hat, a hat I’d worn as newspaper and newsletter editor in my earlier career as a writer. I made a schedule. And I trusted that I had the ability to select and edit the essays for this anthology. I was terrified. I doubted my ability. But I constantly reminded myself that God gave me the talent and opportunity to sharpen my skills. I had to honor him by using those skills and putting doubt out of my mind.
After all Proverbs 3:5-8, says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”
And when I trusted God to order my steps through this anthology, I stopped doubting myself and my capabilities. I just leaned in and rejoiced with my unexpected gift.
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Until next time,
Always praying for you!