Today I'm excited to host author Laura L. Padgett as she shares where she finds her stories. Stick with her, because she's offering a free autographed print book (US only) to one lucky winner.

“How do you find your stories?”

I get this question a lot while attending book signings. This is especially true regarding my short story anthology, “Jesus in Shorts: Twenty-five Short Stories of Life-Changing Jesus Moments.”

I frequently reply with something like, “I don’t find stories. They find me.”

That response requires further explanation, and I don’t mind telling people that I keep my mind and heart open to the events happening around me. I don’t believe I’m more observant than others. But I do think my keen sense of curiosity about everything helps pave the way for unearthing writing material. I also have developed (over many years), a fondness for sitting in God’s presence and asking Him to show me what I need to see and share for His glory.

This was not always the case. There was a time when I put my trust for producing good content in skill, education and life experiences. This changed one morning while in an anxious state fueled by an encroaching deadline and reading one of my favorite Bible stories. This story proved to not only be an enjoyable read, but spoke a message addressing the dilemma I found myself wading through.

The story is found in John 21:1-19 where we find some of Jesus’s disciples fishing all night and catching nothing. Despite their best efforts, they ended up with little more than empty nets showing their nocturnal exploits.

When Jesus showed up, He directed them to put their nets in one more time. The result? More fish than they ever dreamed were available to them – to the point that their nets were strained.

As I read and reread this story, I realized God was saying to me, “Don’t rely upon your efforts or other factors you believe are responsible to complete the work I have given you to do. Invite me into your journey and let me work the miracles. Release the outcome to me and I will help you create beyond your wildest dreams not only for me, but with me.”

This lesson was one I carried with me in the summer of 2021 when, on my 70^th birthday, I launched a podcast designed to encourage listeners to live their best lives no matter circumstances at every age and every stage. After almost forty episodes, God continues to bring great guests and provide topics He shapes for living our lives fully for and with Him.

Because I’m an artist, and a human, I occasionally still slip into the erroneous posture of “It’s up to me and me alone.” When that happens, I remember the story of the fishless disciples. I admit that I’m not focusing on the Lord and ask Him to help me be willing to reframe my projects through the lens that shows Him as the provider of everything. Then I relax in the truth that all I have to do is show up, get in the boat with Him and drop my net.

Giveaway: a copy of either Dolores like the River or Jesus in Shorts  (winner's choice) in paperback, US address only, please. Leave a comment, and we will draw randomly for one lucky winner.

About Laura:

Laura Padgett holds an MA from Regis University in storytelling. She has authored two nonfiction books “Dolores, Like the River” and the award-winning “Jesus in Shorts: Twenty-five Short Stories of Life-Changing Jesus Moments.” She writes a monthly blog called, “Livin’ What You’re Given” and has a twice monthly podcast by the same name. These are found on her website lauralpadgett.com. She lives in Montrose, CO with her husband, Keith. You can find her at: https://lauralpadgett.com/