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Surviving in Deadline Land
by Sandy Layne

Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
Psalm 147:5 (NIV)

Am I Done Yet?

Reader, I am living in Deadline Land. This came as something of a surprise to me, just a moment ago, as I was working on critiques for the Writers' Roundtable group I am involved with.

As I was doing this, I was also visiting online with a friend of mine who lives in Michigan who is also living in Deadline Land because of an upcoming trip. There I was, feeling complacent because I was making progress on the critiques I was doing. Aren't I wonderful?

Not!

Where Does the Time Go?

My friend, now called LM for brevity, wanted to read the previous column and we were discussing me as a MOMsoon - making a joke from Kids-n-Keys #8. It was silly. But. The typversation served a purpose. It reminded me of my deadline! LM is great at deadlines and keeps them faithfully. I'm not so organized.

Where did the time go? I was feeling so incredibly pleased with myself, to be honest. I have finally finished the novel I've been working on since February. Taking a breather before rewriting is a good idea when you're not under a deadline.

But I am! I know where the time went, though. It went to…

Visiting Relatives

My mother and sister were visiting with me over a long weekend. It was lovely to see them. It's been months since I've seen either of them! It's hard living across the country from my family.

We went shopping, played games, talked, went swimming, and of course worshiped together. It was a time full of blessings. Really, it was. And you would not believe but my desk was actually visible! The clutter vaporized! Just in time for their visit.

I regret nothing of our time together. It was splendid. [And Mom, if you're reading, I know you know I'm sincere!]

But! I completely forgot about my deadlines!

Deadline Land

So here I sit, at my desk which is, sadly, already re-cluttering itself. A root beer can. My cell phone. The camera I kept handy when Mom and my sister were out. Lotion I used for a foot rub. Commentaries on the book of Revelation for my Sunday School class.

And my keyboard. It's staring at me now, accusingly, wondering why I'm not being productive.

Sometimes, though, it's hard to be productive when there's family about! Scooter is up on two legs, now, and has decided that my keyboard is infinitely preferable to his. It's annoying at best and destructive at worst when he types fifty zzzz's in the middle of a page I'm working on.

I have two deadlines, actually, in my professional life. I have this column, first of all. Problem is, my brain is kind of stalled, to be honest. (Yes, of course you've figured this out already!) My mind is still in the middle of the story between Noah and Glenna. Yes, it's done, but I can see the stack of critiques that need to be waded through to polish it up. Wow!

My second deadline is this evening, when I have critiques of my own to deliver!

My Help in Time of Stress

When I get stressed, even a little, I need to seek help. I have a support system in friends such as LM and Cordelia. I have my wonderful family, near and far. I don't know what I'd do without them!!

But in Deadline Land, there is only One who can truly ease my mind, heart, and stomach. He makes me remember Whose I am, Whom I belong to, and why I'm writing in the first place.

So, I want to give thanks to God Almighty, for helping me make deadline. He is truly great and powerful, as the Psalmist says. He understands me and my scattered neurons and his understanding has no limit. Isn't that awesome?

I still have one more deadline: I have to pick up Cyclone from school in about twenty minutes. That's the kind of deadline that doesn't stress me out!

Copyright 2002 Sandy Layne


Look for Sandy's regular Kids-n-Keys column at:
http://www.writetoinspire.com
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