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Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

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Balancing Act

October 15, 2018 By Lynn Austin

I haven’t always done well in the balancing act between work and play. I’ve learned over the years that when I work too hard, my creativity shrivels up and the work I love becomes a chore. When I play too much when I should discipline myself to work, I end up at my computer bleary-eyed, late into night. Neither option is a good one. When my children were small, the words of Psalm 90 inspired me to never stop searching for that balance. It’s a prayer of Moses—who certainly had a LOT on his plate! After commenting on the brevity of life, his prayer is: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” And over the years, God has been helping me find that balance.

My newest novel, “Legacy of Mercy” launched October 2. With help from my social media assistant and good friend Christine Bierma, and a wonderful launch team (thanks everyone!) the book is off to a great start. After several speaking events and interviews, I felt a nudge that it was time for some play. So, my husband and I joined friends Becky and Tim for two days of hiking and biking in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park in northern Michigan. The leaves were changing, the salmon were swimming upstream to spawn, and the Lake Michigan scenery was breathtaking. Here are some of the highlights.



I’m home again, refreshed and renewed and eager to jump back into my work-in-progress. I’ve been reminded that “a thousand years in God’s sight are like a day that has just gone by.” And I’ll continue to pray that He will teach me to number my days aright.

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Lynn Austin

Lynn Austin, a former teacher who now writes and speaks full time. Lynn was recently inducted into the Christy Award Hall for Fame for winning eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction. One of those novels, Hidden Places, has also been made into a Hallmark Channel movie. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and make their home near Chicago, Illinois.

Latest posts by Lynn Austin (see all)

  • Can An Old Dog Learn New Tricks? - November 15, 2021
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  • Researching? - October 18, 2021
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Filed Under: Assorted & Sundry, Nature, Writing

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Comments

  1. Becky Wade says

    October 15, 2018 at 7:38 am

    Congratulations on your new release, Lynn! The pictures from your recent trip are stunning! Did you do any geocaching while there?

    • Lynn Austin says

      October 15, 2018 at 4:19 pm

      No, I wish we had. But there was no phone reception out in the boondocks.

  2. Anna says

    October 15, 2018 at 9:59 am

    Congratulations on your new book release! Can’t wait to get my hands on Legacy of Mercy. 🙂 What beautiful pictures of Lake Michigan! <3

  3. Sue Field says

    October 15, 2018 at 10:10 am

    Look forward to reading your latest book. I’m glad you enjoyed your brief trip to my home state; Michigan is so beautiful this time of year. I was born in Detroit but my husband’s job took us to Pennsylvania & California. We retired to Texas to be close to 2 of our sons & their families.

  4. Tamera Alexander says

    October 15, 2018 at 6:53 pm

    Lynn, you wrote: ‘“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” And over the years, God has been helping me find that balance.’
    Me here again, that is the current cry of my heart and you so perfectly captured the essence of that in your post today. Thanks for the words of challenge—and encouragement. And for the lovely glimpse into your days away. So pretty!Blessings as you dive back into work!

  5. Sharon Andreasen says

    October 16, 2018 at 12:04 pm

    This is especially timely for me this morning. That struggle for balance is hard for me, too. The pictures you posted refresh me as I dig back into my own work. Thank you.

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