CLIVE & COFFEE
The truth is, my life is full of contradictions. I work at a coffee shop and strongly dislike coffee unless it has 3 cups of sugar and 1 to 2 cartons of cream. I dropped out of college and still find myself regularly on the campus, hanging out with friends and/or using their media center. Contradiction is defined as a lot of things, but one definition is 'feature or ideas that oppose one another'. I think it’s worth mentioning at this point, that contradictions are worth mentioning. I don’t mean to be disagreeable or encourage arguments. I mean, you have a story in your mind that this world has never heard? Maybe it is set in a place much like ours or maybe it is a world that opposes ours. Trees that grow sideways, lions that talk, words that wander- it's worth mentioning.
The other day at work I was making a customer’s drink. She is probably in her mid-30’s and although I have served her multiple times, I have never had a real conversation with her. You might be thinking, oh that’s no big deal, but when you work at a coffee shop in the South it kind of is. Customers come through and not only do you learn their name, you learn their 4 grand kids and their dog’s name. How was Christmas? Or the date last week? Few things spark conversation the way making someone tea or coffee can. I was handing the coffee to this customer out the drive thru window when I saw underneath a pile of bags, 7 glorious letters. If you know me and we have talked there is a ninety percent chance we have had a conversation about Clive Staples, more commonly known as C. S. Lewis. C.S. Lewis; 7 glorious letters. The thing is, I almost didn’t mention it. I almost handed the customer her coffee without bothering to ask what book she was reading; But I did. We talked for over 15 minutes about Clive and life. When she drove away I was amazed at the importance of the conversation we just had, how deep our discussion had gone, and to think, I almost didn’t mention it. I almost didn’t say a word.
And the truth is, I would have regretted never saying a word, even if I didn’t realize it.
The words circling around and around in your mind, are worth mentioning. The story you hold is worth mentioning. The ideas you hold beneath your fingertips- to draw, to paint, to create, are worth mentioning.
The talents you hold and the voice you have are worth mentioning.
More than anything that you hold, you have a choice. Everyone has ideas. Everyone has words to say, but those that actually do are the ones that stand out. Good intentions are good, but they’re not magic. They won’t do a thing unless you do. They won’t tell that story or draw that portrait. They won’t create a Wonderland or take us to Narnia. C. S. Lewis describes it best, 'Their free will is trembling inside of them like the needle of a compass. But this is a compass that can choose. It can point to its True North; but it need not.' If you don’t mention it, who will? Every time you are inspired or have an idea to create you have a choice to make, you don't have to make a choice at all. You don't have to do it, but you can.
Ideas that are followed by actions, journeys that begin with steps are worth mentioning. They are the ones that become something, that get somewhere. They are the difference. “...the difference between paint, which is merely laid on the surface; and a dye or stain which soaks right through.” (C. S. Lewis)
Don’t sit on the surface, sink through. Dive deep. Explore the overgrown forests. Trailblaze the unknown. Tell a story that has never been told.
I think it is worth mentioning that we are often too afraid and that we have forgotten what courage looks like. I think it is worth mentioning that the world needs what you have to say. Who knows what it will do- 15 minute conversations over coffee? Entertain someone? Or better yet- inspire them.
“We may be content to remain what we call ‘ordinary people’ but He is determined to carry out quite a different plan. To shrink back from that plan is not humility: it is laziness and cowardice . To submit to it is not conceit or megalomania; it is obedience.””
LETTER #2
To Susan Brandt whom it may concern;
When I was 18 years old I took a break from the college I was attending to focus on the art of storytelling, I wanted to write and illustrate children’s books. I had been taking art classes, but not the kind that could teach me storyboards and conclusions. There were no courses offered at the University that could teach me this, so I began teaching myself. Why? Because I believe in the power of a story. In the power a simple, children’s book holds to influence and transform generations. After all, it is usually the things we underestimate that can hold the greatest power. I didn’t have a teacher to teach me anything nor deadlines to encourage diligence. I had no car, no computer for resources, I only had my imagination and my art utensils along with my 3 day jobs. I began practicing every day in whatever way I could, stretching my imagination as well as my artistic skill. Within a few weeks of this I was hired to illustrate a preschool curriculum for a school across the country. I worked 30-40 hours a week between my 3 jobs and produced 4 illustrations per week in the time between. Once that project was completed, I began illustrating my own book. I didn’t know the standards then on children’s books, the average word count or illustrations, I only knew I had a story to tell. So I began. I began drawing, and I began writing. I quit two jobs, kept one, and kept creating. Within 9 months I finished illustrating my first children’s book. Within weeks it was picked up by an Atlanta publisher. The book is based on the poem by Loren Eiseley, ‘The Starfish Thrower’ and it tells the story of the power one person holds to make a difference. One person, one story.
Stories have molded generations for centuries. They inspire and transform us, sharpen our minds and stretch our imaginations. When I was 18, I had a story to tell. A story so powerful I believed it was worth quitting school and spending countless hours on. I will ask the same questions I asked in my former letter, Why me? I am a hard worker and anything I lack in experience I compensate with in diligence and persistence. Seuss had a unique talent for crafting stories that not only captivated but inspired wonder and deep thought. I believe in the power stories hold to make a difference, especially those written by Seuss, which I believe makes me a tailor made candidate for an internship. Why now? I am 21 years old, working on my second children’s book with ambitions to one day work in publishing. I am ready to learn about the process behind licensing and marketing books firsthand.
This is just the beginning of, why me, why now; the second letter to be exact. If I do not hear a response to this second inquiry, well, now I only have 26 more to write. Hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Alison Stephen