A Real-Life Story of Faith and Valor

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs dedicates less than a page to the Waldensians of the Cottian Alps west of Turin, Italy. Yet, their real-life story of valor and enduring faith in the midst of persecution in Europe throughout the second millennium AD touched and encouraged my heart so much that I wanted to bring their story to life in a contemporary suspense novel that would give wings to courage and enduring faith in our time.

Theological historians dispute the exact date and origins of the Waldensians. Some have suggested that they hail from the first century church fathers and settled in the Italian Alps during a time of great persecution in the second century. Whether this is so, certainly by 1170 A.D. these men and women of faith banded together with Peter Waldo, a rich merchant of Lyon, France who had converted to Christianity and took a vow of poverty.

The Waldensians, also called the Poor Men of Lyon under Waldo, never wanted to secede from the Church of Rome. Rather, they hoped to peacefully sway the papacy to cease practices they deemed contrary to true biblical principles and return to what they believed were the pure teachings of Christ. Thus the Waldensians appealed to Rome for a Bible in the vernacular and asked the Church to forego indulgences for the forgiveness of sins. They also sought various reforms, such as allowing clergy to marry.

Unfortunately, the Roman Church of the Middle Ages saw the Waldensians as a threat to their power and wealth and called them heretics. Thus began centuries of persecution and martyrdom that helped set the stage for the Reformation in the sixteenth century and continued to hound the Waldensian faithful until their civil freedoms were granted on February 17, 1848.

Today Waldensian assemblies worldwide have aligned with Methodist and Presbyterian synods. Yet most local assemblies across the world and Italy still light bonfires in celebration of their civil freedoms on the night of February 16th each year. The largest group of Waldensians outside Italy resides in Valdese, North Carolina, USA. and conducts a festival of their heritage every summer.

(See www.visitvaldese.com)

The Waldensian story lives on today in local assemblies worldwide, a testimony of a people whose valor and enduring faith withstood the test of time. This ought to encourage and strengthen Christians everywhere as we hear and read stories about those who are persecuted and martyred around the world in this century. 

More About the History of the Waldensians:

• The History of the Waldenses by J.A Wylie
• You are My Witnesses: The Waldensians Across 800 Years by Giogio Tourn
• The Glorious Recovery by The Vaudois of their Valleys by Henri Arnaud
• Waldensian Cultural Centre, Torre Pellice, Italy  www.fondazionebaldese.org

More About Donna Wichelman and her novel Light Out of Darkness:

• Visit her website at www.donnawichelman.com.
• To buy the book, go to  http://www.amazon.com/Light-Out-Darkness-Waldensian-1/dp/0996187103/ref=la_B00VIUJ1GK
• To read her blog, visit http://donnawichelman.blogspot.com

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Why Perseverance Matters

A few days ago, I received a note from a friend that touched my heart and led me to think about perseverance. What does it means to press on or persist in spite of a struggle or trial. Does it matter if I choose to quit in the face of great odds? When is it time to admit defeat?

We’ve all heard the stories of people whose great perseverance through adverse circumstances inspire us. We admire their tenacity to keep pressing forward.

•  Ann Sullivan, herself a product of hard times, worked tenaciously for months to rear in blind and deaf Hellen Keller’s wild tantrums until she earned the child’s trust and affection, and then helped develop one of the most influential women of the twentieth century.
• Winston Churchill was an academic and political failure until the age of 62 when he became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and then led his nation to victory against Nazi Germany.
• Thomas Edison was told in his early years that he was “too stupid to learn anything,” and then conducted more than 1,000 failed attempts to create the lightbulb until one worked.

 “They were extraordinary people,” you say. Were they? I’d like to relate another story—a story of valor and tenacity, a story of perseverance. 

The Waldensian story has the makings of an epic movie. The Christian History Institute calls it “fascinating and legendary.” Known as the first evangelical reformers centuries before Martin Luther entered the picture, the Catholic Church called them heretics. Yet these ordinary men and women remained tenaciously faithful to their beliefs, pressing on in spite of persecution and martyrdom through at least nine centuries of oppression. Today, the Waldensian faithful have joined the Presbyterian Church, but their story lives on and inspires people of faith to stand firm in the face of persecution.

Practical Reasons for Perseverance

• In January 2013, Science Daily reported a two-decade study in the neuroscience journal Neuro, showing that the pleasure response we get from accomplishing a goal drives up the body’s production of dopamine. The more dopamine we produce, the more the desire to experience the pleasure of accomplishing a goal and the more we develop a habit of perseverance.
• Pressing on is half the battle to achieving our dreams.
• Persevering in the short-term often leads to long-term satisfaction.

o   Deferring immediate gratification on a diet can lead to a healthier body; 

o   Sacrificing short-term pleasures to study for college exams can lead to a college degree and long-term employment; 

o   Working through the struggles in marriage can lead to an inspirational love story

Corporate Reasons for Perseverance

•  Persevering in the face of a seemingly impossible task can inspire others to do extraordinary things.
• Remaining tenacious against a strong and seemingly unbeatable adversary can save the world from falling into the hands of an evil regime.
•  Stubbornly pressing on to find the scientific solution to a revolutionary invention can literally light up our world. 

Spiritual Reasons for Perseverance

I don’t know about you, but my journey through life is riddled with trials. Brief moments of peace settle around me, but then something else bubbles to the surface, and I feel overwhelmed. But Scripture seems to indicate that it matters to God how we approach our trials.

“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:3 – 5, NASB).

If we view trials as opportunities, they produce in us a wealth of insight and wisdom we otherwise might not have received. With insight comes hope that encourages us to persevere through the darkest times and enables us to discover the great love God has for us.

When troubles come, we want to run the other way. But God says no, lean in. “I will teach you all that you need to get through this life and become a person of character and strength. When trials come, rejoice. It’s your opportunity to grow. Don’t worry, I will be in it with you, and you will know my love poured out for you.”

There will always be another trial to overcome. But Jesus said, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Lean in, press on, persevere until he tells you to move on. Why should it matter? It matters to who you become and to those you inspire along the way. 

Donna's Musings: Reflections for an Indie Panel Discussion

Donna's Musings: Reflections for an Indie Panel Discussion: Tomorrow, May 15th, I will sit on a Panel of Indie Authors at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference (CCWC). Over the weeks, I’ve though...

Reflections for an Indie Panel Discussion

Tomorrow, May 15th, I will sit on a Panel of Indie Authors at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference (CCWC). Over the weeks, I’ve thought about what I have of value to share. What I have to say may astonish some of my colleagues and peers.

Two years ago, I hit my first sink hole to publication when I lost a contract on my suspense novel, Light Out of Darkness (then titled Casting Down Shrines). Later, after I discovered that my agent had pushed my project to the bottom of her pile because she had not found a publisher, I allowed these events to derail my determination to see this book through to publication. That is, until last fall. 

A voice inside my head kept saying that I wasn’t done with the book yet. I decided to use a yearly event called NANOWRIMO (national novel writing month) to make one more edit on the book. I added a chapter that I now consider a pivotal chapter in the book, shored up some language, changed the title, and then sent Light Out of Darkness to a professional editorial consultant for review.

Though the editor had a few corrections, he also said the book was definitely publish-worthy. He believed I could find a traditional publisher. The impetus was there, yet I had traveled the traditional route before—even had an agent. What should I do? After much discussion with my husband and a lot of prayer, I decided to take the leap of faith into self-publishing.

At this point, it would be easy to mislead the reader and talk about the glowing successes of self-publishing. But I believe it would be a disservice to the audience if I wasn’t candid about the process—the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I can hear many of my indie friends as well as traditionally published authors groan. “You can’t! It’s a death knell to your sales!” I hope not. I have to trust that God controls the future of my book.

In the last ten years, traditional publishing has demanded that an author take on increasing responsibility to develop her platform and market her own books. Therefore, it only makes sense to explore the world of self-publishing, since the expectations and lines of success are blurring more and more.

The truth is that self-publishing is exciting! It’s like building a new house. You do the research (do your homework), design the plan (marketing strategy, social media, website design, etc), decide on a builder (who will distribute your book—a company like Bookbaby or youself), and all this with the anticipation of finally seeing your book launched into the world. It’s an adrenaline rush.

But the process can be overwhelming and intimidating. It’s a lot of hard work and many laborious hours. It can take the focus off what you love to do—write—and on what you must do—build. And you can make a lot of costly mistakes along the way. I did—big ones that almost caused me to throw in the towel and call it a day. Thankfully, I have been able to recover and am in the process of rebounding back. 

  

A recent blog post from Marlene Bagnull, director of the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, reminded me of God’s faithfulness even when we don’t feel him nearby during the challenging times. She quoted from 2 Corinthians 4:8, which says, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit” (TLB).  

Why don’t we quit? Because while the journey may not always be smooth, we who claim faith in Christ have been called to tell a story that shines light into the dark places of the world and bring a message of hope to those who would otherwise have no hope.

This journey of writing has never been about me but “For the joy set before Him… (Hebrews 12:2). My job is to press on, even when times are tough and the road seems daunting, because I’ve been called to remain faithful to the call to write even as my God remains faithful to me. It’s what I must do. In the end, it’s what I love to do. 

Discover the Adventure

Two days ago, I sat in the café/bookstore of a megachurch in Orange County, California, praying for inspiration to write this blog, when I discovered that I had “stumbled” upon their weekly corporate staff meeting. My heart fell. “Oh no, Lord!” I prayed. “You know I came here to gather my thoughts and come up with a brilliant blog idea. What are you doing?” I groaned as people poured into the room, creating a cacophony of voices surrounding and invading my space.

Moments later, one of the pastors stood at the mic and began to tell his story relating to a staff retreat they had experienced the previous week. One by one staff members came up to the mic with their particular point of view of what had taken place over the week. Most of their stories began something like this: “I wasn't sure what to expect, but here is how God worked a story in my life and the people God brought into my life this week.”

As the men and women came forward, I became fascinated with, what I learned later, was how this church had dubbed this time “Story Time.” It’s a weekly opportunity for staff to express the exciting things that are happening in their micro-cosmic worlds within the corporate whole. On this day, I heard a number of stories—one rife with tragedy, a couple of them causing snickers across the room, one or two filled with wide-eyed wonder —but each of them with a plot line where God had burdened the person in some way along the road and yet surprised and amazed them through it all.

Then I realized; any of those stories had the makings of an exciting novel whose end depended on how the characters viewed their individual milieu and allowed it to grow them and change them in miraculous ways. I wondered: how many of us view our lives as a story, an amazing tale of adventure that God’s weaving along the road of our lives?

Over the last several months as I have moved toward launching Light Out of Darkness, the concepts of story and journey have surfaced over and again. Each one of these ideas, as it relates to novel writing, deserves to be unpacked on its own and could fill an entire book. Together they provide the basis for every narrative that has ever been told—oral or written, fact or fiction, parable or literal, on screen or off screen, between friends and family or as a corporate experience.

Early on when I was focusing on fine-tuning the axiom I wanted to emblazon on my website, I brainstormed catch phrases to gain insight about what I wanted readers to experience when they invested their lives in my books. Ideas came to mind, such as, “Exploring the Heart, Inspiring the Soul” and “Digging Deep, Excavating the Heart.” I immediately scratched out the last one; it sounded too much like a horror film. The first one worked, but it seemed too cliché.

Finally I hit on the phrase, “Discover the Adventure.” It seemed to embody the idea of story and journey, a character—I’ll call her a sojourner—placed in a world at a moment somewhere along the continuum of time and events where circumstances set the tone for the course of the story. This course is most often referred to in fiction as plot.

In the real-life stories of our own lives we are placed in circumstances that are often out of our control. But like in any book, a rewarding and impactful journey is not just about how the characters end up, because we all know that not every character in every story has a happy ending. Some do have a happily-ever after (Cinderella). Some must die to save their countrymen in battle (Lord of the Rings).

Yet, it’s the spirit of the story, the way in which the characters respond to the ever-increasing stakes that grow and transform them, so that in the end we are moved and, perhaps, in a small way, find ourselves changed (Les Miserable). At times the events make us erupt with compulsive laughter. At other times, we weep for what is lost. Yet nothing is really lost if we are always looking forward in hope for what is still up ahead.

The call to “Discover the Adventure” gives meaning and purpose to the events that transpire, not only in the fictional tales we weave, but along the course plotted for our own real-life stories. It bolsters our faith—the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). And it reminds us that sometimes even the intrusion of a multitude of people on our private intellectual space can lead to inspiring ideas. 

Legacy, Branding and Story

Recently, a friend of mine sent me the program from a memorial service of a man who’d lived a long and full life. The program touched my spirit as unique and extraordinary. On the front, it said, “Today We Celebrate the Legacy of … .” On the inside, several bullets outlined the tone of the eulogy as family and friends would speak on different ways this man had enriched their lives.

What do you want to be known for?

I received the memorial program at a time when I was considering taking a leap of faith with my book and beginning a new chapter of my life. What would that look like? I spent a week in California with my husband on a business trip. During the week, I spent my time walking the beach, reading, praying, writing in my journal and researching how a writer distinguishes his or herself from the myriad of other highly skilled and creative writers in the world.

One resource I used to do my research was the Self-Publishing Boot Camp Guide for Authors produced by FW Media. In her chapter on “Your Publishing Business,” Carla King addresses “branding.” She says that while brand is “subjective and elusive,” it is recognized and communicated in everything about you and your business—from the stationary you use, to your website, to your writing style and personality. It “creates the feeling people have about you—the thing that you are known for.”

Interestingly enough, at the same time (I think this shows God’s sense of humor), I was reading A Grace Revealed by Jerry Sittser during my morning quiet times and came to his chapter on Character of Characters. While Sittser eschews our current culture’s propensity to seek notoriety for its own sake, he makes the case that the human spirit yearns for something more. Some of us may seek celebrity for its own sake, but in reality, we are not satisfied by the legacy it leaves behind. We want our lives to mean something, to leave something of accomplishment that speaks well of us when we are gone. His thoughts brought me back to the question, “What are you known for?”  

In an email dialogue, a member of my writers’ critique group challenged me to explain the notion of branding and why it was important. I offered up two examples of my favorite authors, one from the secular market and one from the Christian market.

Louise Penny writes the Gamache Detective Series set in a delightful fictional town outside of Montreal. Penny is a secular author who has won five Agatha Christie awards. On her website she says, “My books are about terror. That brooding terror curled deep down inside us. But more than that, more than murder, more than all the rancid emotions and actions, my books are about goodness. And kindness. About choices. About friendship and belonging. And love. Enduring love. If you take only one thing away from any of my books I'd like it to be this: Goodness exists.”

I devour Penny’s books, because her characters are rich and colorful. I’m always effected in some way by how they touch the human spirit. Penny doesn’t shy away from difficult language, but neither does she hesitate to talk about God. Gamache reads his Bible. A person can debate her philosophical views about life and God, but the characters leave the reader with something of lasting impression.

One of my favorite Christian authors is Davis Bunn. He has won several Christy awards for his suspense and historical fiction novels. Several people on his website have attributed to him the qualities of “Wise teacher,” “Gentleman Adventurer,” “Consummate Writer,” “Renaissance Man.” Like Penny, his characters are rich and full of life. His books explore the depravity of the human condition, yet the protagonist or the supporting characters always bring us back around to something still redeeming in a world that can be so dark.

Readers know who Bunn and Penny are and the legacy they want their stories to leave behind. As a writer, I look to these examples of how I want to bring to the spirit of my stories something that will touch the hearts and enrich the lives of my readers.

My job, then, is to create a vivid world in which story and character come together somewhere along the continuum of time and events, where the characters are challenged to look beyond themselves and circumstances toward something more. For me, that something more is grounded in the truth and attributes God. If I have done my job well, regardless of the outcome of the story, tragic or happy, I will have created characters whose lives and legacy leave behind a maxim of lasting and eternal value.