Have you ever met and had your picture taken with a famous author? If so, who?
I attended Ted Dekker’s Outlaw Tour last night in Washington D.C. It kinda reminded me of a church service – a church service where you have a guest speaker giving the sermon. He talked about growing up in Indonesia among cannibals when he was a child. He also talked about the violent games he played with other children. He then mentioned going to boarding school, being separated from the rest of his family. He then mentioned how your physical appearance is not the real you. Our bodies are nothing more than costumes and we’re all spiritual beings and Christ lives in all of us. It’s something that we seem to forget because we’re blinded by…stuff.
We seem to measure our worth by how much money we make, what others think about our clothes, how many pounds we lose/how much we weigh, etc. Nothing wrong with doing this, but, we need to remember that Christ is a part of all of us.
He quoted some scriptures, one was John 17:20-26
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
As he gave the message, he showed a few videos.
Afterwards, he signed books and you could take pictures with Ted. His assistant, Kevin Kaiser, took the pictures. I hesitated about taking the pic – I’m not much of a picture taker. But, minutes before my turn, I decided to have my pic taken with him and I had my copy of Outlaw signed.
I saw others chatting with Ted when they got their books signed, but, I honestly didn’t have anything to say. I was hungry, ready to leave and get my dinner and go home. The line was kinda long so I had to wait some time to get my book signed. When I came forward, I handed Ted my book to sign, he said. “Cecelia.” Pause. I guess since I remained silent, he said, “Is this the first book of mine that you’ve gotten?”
I said with a smile, “No, I’ve read several of your books.”
He signed it, and then his assistant said, “Let’s take the picture. Get real close.” We posed, I got my picture taken, and that was it! 🙂
So, have you ever met and had your picture taken with a famous author? If so, who?
I’ve met a few at the ACFW Conference, but only got a picture with one of my favorites. I pulled out a seat at a dinner table only to look and find Jenny B. Jones next to me. Turns out we were both gluten free so we chatted about that. Later that night my crit partner, who’d been across the table from us, emailed me a photo she’d taken of me at the dinner. There I was, next to one of my favorite authors. So glad. I would never have had the guts to ask for a picture.
I’ve noticed at conferences, people are always taking pictures. I seldom do that since I don’t like the way I look in candid shots. Great that you connected with Jenny and could chat about your gluten-free lives.
I’m usually taking pics of other people Cecelia. I don’t really look at it that way. Every person, including Ted Dekker is a child of God. A precious child. Like you are. Like I am. Period. I love talking to people. I didn’t get to have a picture taken with our ACFW big draw author but I chatted with Frank on the elevator. And even with no pic–I know I’ll get to see him in heaven. Which is where we all have a home some day.
Carrie, that’s so true! Thanks for reminding us about that!
Hi Cecelia, I love this blog post. Thank you for the reminder of what is truly important in life; and then your honest thought at the end of being hungry and wanting to go home. This is real life and your post is one of substance! Thank you.
PS: I’m glad we are new FB friends. I look forward to more of your writings.
Lyn, thanks so much for leaving a comment. I probably should’ve eaten before I went, but, I was in a rush to get there on time. I didn’t want to be rude and eat the granola bar in my purse while Ted was speaking. My granola bar was crunchy, and I thought the wrapper and the crunch would be a disturbance during the show! 🙂