FOR ERN
The fire within burns for a reason.
Your purpose within will rise for a reason.
And my writing purpose arose the day I met Ern.
Years ago, as I embarked on my journey to become a writer, I enrolled in my first writing class. Despite loving to write, it had been quite a while since I’d written anything substantial. I mean of course, I’d written the odd shopping list, absenteeism notes, an invitation here and there, and my daily diary entry. But the days of short stories, poems, or the like had long since been forgotten. So, the day I submitted my first writing assignment was a reminder of why I had left this journey for so long. My palms were sweating, and my anxiety swarmed madly like a disturbed wasp nest beneath my chest as I awaited the results.
The days slowly passed by, and doubt bubbled within my soul with each one of them. Seriously, who did I think I was? Why was I doing this to myself? I asked repeatedly. So, three long and painful days later, I caved. I picked up my phone and dialed the number provided to us students upon our enrolment. My hand shook and my voice quivered as a man answered in a deep, serious voice.
“Good afternoon, Ernest Nash speaking,” he said.
That phone call would mark the beginning of an amazing friendship; with the student going on to write for the teacher in his monthly journal.
Ernest Nash, or Ern as I called him, was more than a teacher, a mentor, or a friend to me. Ern was my biggest cheerleader and fan. His encouragement and guidance are something that should be admired because without him there would be no writing me. He supported me through my first novel release which ended up on the television news, radio programs, and in newspapers. To my knowledge, it is still referred to today while helping teenagers with drug addiction.
Ern’s teachings gave me the courage to write about and support subjects I am passionate about. He told me to always write from my heart and I could never go wrong. His firm, yet gentle teachings taught me to dig deep into the story. He said to elaborate on it and even roll it in honey, if necessary when writing fiction. However, nonfiction / the truth is a totally different story altogether. Ern insisted that the truth, no matter how you may want to twist it or cook it, is exactly that: the truth.
Over the years I’ve stuck firm to those principles and been lucky enough to produce some awesome letters home, magazine articles, blogs, and even a novel with some of my deepest secrets hidden firmly between the pages. But the gift I am truly thankful for is my ability to write for and to give a voice to the survivors I write for every single day, in many different ways, including on our Facebook page, Survivor Revival.
Thank you, Ern for yesterday, today, and all the tomorrows. You are a hero!
Jennifer.B ©2022
