The Writer's World

“Have the confidence to never stop writing”

Mrs. Doreen Levin

Every third Saturday of every month, I attend a writer’s workshop as I love writing and I need to meet others like me for inspiration, feedback and motivation. I look forward to this time every month but this month’s meeting has stayed with me ever since. 

We had the honour and blessing in meeting, Mrs. Doreen Levin, a retired journalist. Mrs Levin is 85 years young and sits with attentive ears and a sharing smile. I watched and listened as I heard a story about a young lady who didn’t know she could write and had no training in journalism. However, she loved her husband and supported his writing and job by sitting at the typewriter, dancing her fingers across the keys while he dictated his next big article.

Before Mrs. Levin knew it, she was encouraged to give writing a go and discovered that she was (and still is!) very talented and had the instinct to “show not tell” a story. She shared a few of her favourite stories she remembers that made her laugh, cry and creeped her out.

Tears welled in my eyes as I was looking at a woman who lives my dreams, my passions and had so many interesting journeys. I met a woman who lost early in life like me yet still embraces life to the fullest and sees every day as a new adventure, a new sunrise and a fulfilling sunset. 

  

After silent writing for about an hour, we each share what we have written and we all sat in rapture as we listened to Mrs. Levin describe the house we meet in every month. Her description created soft emotions in me, as I could see, feel, hear, touch and taste her senses as we walked in her shoes. A writer who writes with raw passion is wonderful to listen to. 

God brings new people into our life to teach us, to share with us and remind us that time spent doing what He has blessed us with is never time wasted. I might have discovered this a bit late in life but I am so glad I discovered it because life is so dull when you are doing what you thought you should be doing and not what God gifted you with. 

God wants us to love each other by sharing with others. He wants us to be open to knowledge, open to help and open to love and be loved as He sends other people to bless us and do His will. We don't meet people by mistake. We meet people by God's moving hands. And never forget that a blessed encounter is a merciful memory for life. 

I sit with tears gathering in my eyes again as I think of Mrs. Levin. I just want to embrace her with love and hugs and just sit in her presence. Mrs. Levin might not be a “front page” celebrity or a “billboard” beauty but like many of God’s people, she is famous in the background and I am blessed to have met one of His famous, background beauties of our day.