Capable of Becoming Good: Guest Post by Gloria Loring

When I was a little girl and TV was still in black and white, my mother was addicted to Days of Our Lives, a soap-opera, which aired on one of the network channels. As a young mother and flower child transplanted to an Air Force base on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I longed for something to help me feel at home.  One afternoon, as my two-year old slept, I flipped through the channels to find Days still going strong!  Many of the characters were still there, but I noticed this newbie, Liz Chandler, played by actress, Gloria Loring.  The first thing that grabbed me was Gloria's sparkling, impish eyes, and then she sang!  I was hooked. I watched Days off and on for many years, but Liz was always my favorite female character.

A few weeks ago, I got my Women on Writing newsletter.  As I read that they were hosting a blog tour for Gloria Loring, I wonder if this was THE Gloria Loring from Days. To my delight, I learned that indeed, this was one and the same Gloria Loring.  My delight increased when it was confirmed that I would be hosting her on my blog for the tour.

Interestingly, as I read her book, I learned that Gloria's life mirrored mine in many ways. What a coincidence that as I finish seminary and begin a new chapter in my life, one of my favorite actresses not only writes a book about coincidences, but is also a guest on my blog!  Needless to say, I am greatly honored.

So, please welcome one of my favorite actresses as well as singer/songwriter - Gloria Loring!

 Capable of Becoming Good

Years ago I read Pierre Teilhard De Chardin’s words, “Not everything is immediately good, but everything is capable of becoming good.” At first I found his idea surprising, yet time and experience have affirmed his wisdom.

My son Brennan’s diagnosis with diabetes was my heart’s greatest grief and my life’s greatest gift. My love for him led me to write books for people with diabetes, raise $1 million for research, and form my own record label. If not for Brennan’s diagnosis, I would never have become an author, fundraiser, and entrepreneur.

When I was on Days, I recorded “Friends and Lovers “ with Carl Anderson. Because of Days’ ten million fans, I was certain the song would find a record label. Every major company turned it down. During the time we worked to find a home for it, I sang the song on Days repeatedly and it became a fan favorite. When it was finally released a year later, it went straight to the top of the charts. What seemed like a bad thing (the long wait) became a good thing.

Now I look at my life through the lens of Chardin’s words. When an event challenges me, I turn my attention as quickly as possible to the idea that good may come of it. I detail how to do this in my new book, noting that when a coincidence (a coinciding of meaningful events) comes our way, you can:

• Determine if it has a message for you. Does it peak your interest, nag at you?

• Discover if there are additional clues. Is there a pattern? Have several people or events brought this to your attention?

• Define the message. What is it asking of you? More patience, forgiveness, kindness, love? What is it guiding you toward? Is there something it is asking you to do? If so...

• Do it!! See what happens, and watch for the good that may come. 

I have learned that everything can serve a beneficial purpose... that everything is capable of becoming good.

 

 *******

 

The former “Liz Chandler” on Days of Our Lives, Gloria Loring is a singer, songwriter, actress and author. Her new book, Coincidence Is God’s Way of Remaining Anonymous, offers evidence that coincidence can be used for our good. 
Gloria can be found at: www.glorialoring.com, wwwfacebook.com/GloriaLoring, www.twitter.com/GloriaLoring

Thank you, Gloria for sharing yourself with us today.  Namaste!

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