Some have asked me why I chose to write In
Search of the Painted Bunting. The answer to that question lies in what I heard
the Georgia writer, Terry Kay, say more than once.
“You don’t write to tell a story,” Terry
said. “You write to discover a story.”
That is absolutely true in this case.
I had known for years that I would write a
book entitled, In Search of the Painted Bunting. I researched Painted
Buntings and did my own search for Painted Buntings whenever I was in a geographic
location to do so. But in many years, I never hit on the right idea. And I
never saw a Painted Bunting.
Until one day when I found myself on a 22,000-acre
property in the low country of South Carolina with my husband Jerry, son Aaron,
and others. Jerry happened to mention that I wanted to see the bird, and a
friend who had suffered much in the previous days losing a beloved family member
said, “I know where they are.”
We loaded into a four-wheel drive vehicle and
headed down a dirt road rambling through the pines. When we arrived at the
location he’d aimed for, we got out and I looked, but nothing. Our friend
handed me binoculars and pointed, “There,” he said.
And sure enough, my first Painted Bunting
sightings and to this day my only ones.
As I stood there with the binocs in my
hand, I was so aware that the joy of this dream of mine being realized was due
to the kindness of someone whose heart was heavy with grief.
I knew that when I finally sat down to
write the story, it would involve someone who was greatly suffering. And that
someone who was suffering would bring joy to another.
Joy and pain. Joy and pain. They so often
find themselves in close proximity. In fact, Ann Voskamp has said, “Joy and
pain, they are but two arteries of the one heart that pumps through all those
who don’t numb themselves to really living.”
In Search of the Painted Bunting is the story I
discovered when all of this came together.
So, in many ways seeing the bird not only helped me realize a dream but was the spark for this book—all
because this generous friend stepped out of the circle of his own pain.
The thing he needed most; he gave away.
In Luke 6:38, Jesus said these words, “Give
and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and
running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it
will be measured to you.” I can never repay our friend for what he did, but I
do pray the Lord has returned to him many fold the joy he gave me.
So, in this case, that is what Paul Harvey
used to call “the rest of the story.”
And if you haven’t had an opportunity to
check out In Search of the Painted Bunting, please slide over to that big
book site and do so. It will be much appreciated.
"NicoleLisa Schrader’s lovely story Darwin Finds Freedom
about a fearful mouse, Darwin, shows what courage looks like in the face of
fear. Darwin dares to do what he never thought he could in searching for the
free mice—with the help of a few feathery and furry
friends along the way and most importantly the King of all Creatures. Written
in a style that children will embrace, H.C. Ward’s illustrations are exquisite
and are sure to spark imaginations.
The included discussion questions will provide opportunities for further discussion and the animal facts in the back are something children this age will love."
So click over to that big book site and find out more. Meanwhile you might want to register for a giveway HERE which will also subscribe you to the author's newsletter.