Where There's a Will There's a Way

This picture is of handicapped dancers during a training session in Minsk, Belarus, a land-locked country in Eastern Europe.

When I first saw this picture, my mind went immediately to the question. “How do they dance in a wheelchair?”

Although, I’m not exactly sure how they manage this task, I understand their desire and motivation. I, myself, love to dance. The opportunity to perform professionally never rose its swan-like neck, so I have resolved to choreograph and perform my dance numbers in the privacy and obscurity of my own family room - my only viewing audience, the Lord of the Universe.

Whoa, wait a minute. Let’s back that up. I must be quite a dancer to draw such a royal following.

Life Lesson 101 – don’t become haughty just because your father is the King. ;) I just ran, face-first, into the stop sign at the end of this rabbit trail.

Actually, I do have a point in here… somewhere.

They have an incredible need to dance, or else they would not be determined to accomplish such in the obvious face of limitation.

I’ve watched old movies that begin the plot’s climatic arch with a terrible accident that leaves the protagonist without the use of her legs, which is huge since her life work is that of a dancer’s. Or, the protagonist loses use of his hands, tragic, since he is a concert pianist. And so it goes. And traditionally that individual is left to the task of inspiring or teaching others to do the thing they feel they were born to do. As noble a sentiment as that becomes, the protagonist is still left to daily deal with the inability to experience the pure joy of twirling the dance floor or running their fingers along the cool ivory producing soul-soothing melodies.

So… I commend these wheel-chair dancers for finding a way to enjoy what makes them happiest by relearning their craft. By allowing that deep desire to flow from them in an unconventional way. Using their arms instead of their legs to channel the God-given creativity they so passionately desire to express.

Sort of gives new meaning to the old adage, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way!”

May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose. Psalm 20:4

Love and Blessings, Laura K.

Gertrude and Helga!

When I sat down to start this blog today, I had no idea what to write. My mind has been so dedicated to my novel lately, I am having a particularly hard time with reality.

As many of you know, writing requires that you observe every little detail happening around you. You think about the way the trees sway in the wind, the way the sun falls on the brick sidewalk outside your office window at 3:00 pm, the conversation going on at the table next to you at Borders.

The picture to the left was taken in Belarus, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe.

What in the world could these two have to say to one another? For a little writing excercise I decided to write a little dialog.

Hmmm, I thought, attempting to be all scholarly. Of course, where there is no scholar there is no scholarly.

Well, Here goes!


 

“Hey, Gertrude, where did you get that lovely leopard-print umbrella?”

“Was given me by me kids.”

“Well, I tell you what’s the truth, if I didn’t have so many of these ol’ potatoes to get rid of, I’d of stayed at home. Fer one thing, this ol’ black umbrella was damaged in that horrible rain storm we got ourselves into the last time we tried this. Just look at the ratty old thing.”

“Oh, Helga! Don’t be so negative. Your umbrella is fine. ‘Tis keepin’ off the rain isn’t it?” Gertrude looked over her shoulder. “Don’t look now Little Miss Sunshine, but there’s a beautiful rainbow arched right over our stand.”

She didn’t want to, but tilting her black umbrella carefully to the left, she peered over her shoulder. “Humph! So, that’s why that funny lookin’ feller is standing over there taking our picture.”

Gertrude peeked from under her umbrella, and then snapped it back into place in front of her face. “Lands, Helga, you could have told me he was standin’ there.”

“I thought you knew.”

No, I didn’t know, if I’d of known, I’d snatched that ratty ol’ umbrella of yours out of your hand and replaced it with a potato!”

My feeble attempt at improv.

Love and Blessings, Laura K.