Yesterday morning, I smiled when I received an email from Shannon Gross, owner of Studio One44. She was working on the final changes to my workbook, Soaring into Your Greatness: How to Live an Unstoppable, Unforgettable, Unbelievable Life. We’re meeting Wednesday for one more review before ordering another proof copy from Amazon for four friends and myself who are helping with the final proofing.  

My thought was, Oh, God, this is what I’m to do next? You’re so funny!  

Because lately, a lot of seemingly unrelated things have been showing up in my life. I spoke at the Lions district convention in March. We celebrated the Englewood Lions’ 100th anniversary in May. I went to Abilene, Texas, to speak in July. This week, Don McGowan from Pennies for Puppies and The Seeing Eye spoke at the Malley Center. I recently learned about the Perkins Bloom, an affordable new manual Braille writer designed to make Braille more accessible worldwide. And now, maybe publish my workbook?  

Hmm, hmm, hmm.  

This morning, I listened to a 90-minute webinar produced over Zoom by The Braillists Foundation, More Braille: More Empowerment—Launching the Global Braille Survey. Naturally, Australia and England had speakers, as well as speakers from the USA and Spain. Very cool to hear people asking questions from Asia, Arabic countries, Africa, and so on. Everyone wanted to assist in getting a survey out to blind adults, teachers, parents, and Braille teachers. They want all perspectives.  

Who is or isn’t learning Braille?  

How has Braille shaped one’s life?  

What is the place of technology?  

When did you learn—or not learn—Braille?  

So on and so forth.  

I’m glad to take the survey and to pass the survey along to all I think can benefit from it. In this way, we can help shape the future of Braille and how Braille provides more than a tool for reading. Braille opens doors for education, employment, leisure, and independence. Just as Seeing Eye dogs promote dignity and independence, Braille does the same.  

Hmm, hmm, hmm.  

This, coupled with learning about the Perkins Bloom, going to Abilene, and having the representative from The Seeing Eye here, is interesting timing. And on Monday, I’m listening to a webinar, Aging and Vision Loss: What You Need to Know and How You Can Help.  

I’m wondering about the synchronicity of all these events.  

I feel a little bit like a piece of clay that John Denver wrote about in his song “Potter’s Wheel”:  

“Take a little clay put it on a wheel,  

Get a little hint how God must feel;  

Give a little turn listen to it spin,  

Make it into the shape you want it in.”  

Wondering how God is shaping this little piece of clay?  

People say I’ve done a lot of things in my life. I’ve sung leading roles in two operas, earned BA, MM, and MA degrees, written a memoir, became fourth runner-up in the National Ms. Senior America Pageant, built my Habitat for Humanity home, and climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Not to mention speaking for No Barriers in Lake Tahoe, the Florida School for the Blind, Colorado Department of Human Services Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services, TEDx Breckenridge, Janus Henderson, NFB Colorado State Convention, Meetings Industry Council of Colorado Education Conference and Trade Show, and most recently, Disability in Action in Abilene, Texas.  

Yes, these are phenomenal, and I do feel blessed. And yet, I did all these things because why not?  

I wasn’t doing anything else. So, to fill my time, I figured this next thing—whatever it was—is the thing I’m supposed to be doing.  

Sing an opera? Okay.  

Build a house? I’ll do that.  

Write a book? No reason why not.  

Be Ms. Senior Colorado? Might as well be me. I can inspire just like the rest of them.  

Go to Abilene? Hmm, that’s what I’m supposed to do? Okay.  

Publish a workbook? Nothing else on my calendar, so might as well do that.  

Maybe that has been the shaping all along.  

From the Daily Word for August 6: “Unity cofounder Myrtle Fillmore lived her faith with remarkable clarity and steadfastness. Her trust in the healing, prospering power of God never wavered.” One of Myrtle’s favorite poems, “The Prayer of Faith,” written by Hannah More Kohaus, contains these words:  

“All things I am, can do, and be, through Christ the Truth, that is in me.”  

Nice!  

Maybe faith doesn’t always mean knowing where the wheel is turning. Maybe it means trusting the Potter enough to keep spinning. To keep saying yes. To keep wondering, Okay, God, what are we doing now?  

And maybe that’s what I’ve been doing all along. The wheel is still turning. The clay is still being shaped. What will this little piece of clay become next?  

I don’t know. And maybe I don’t need to know. Go to Abilene? Okay. Publish the workbook? Why not? All is in divine order. And maybe that’s what being shaped is all about. When we’re willing to change the way we see, we just might change the way we live.