Show Up in Your Own Story, Debut Author Says
Beth Fisher learned the hard way how to show up in her story, to be who she was created to be. Now she shares her journey and offers encouragement in her debut book, "Remorseless: Learning to Lose Labels, Expectations, and Assumptions Without Losing Yourself.""I had to fight my whole life to be who I knew God created me to be, to not succumb to assumptions," said Fisher, who lives in Ada. "I spent so much time defending who I was. Turns out God knew all along who I was."
One of her dreams was to write. The desire was always there, but the timing was not. It took her daughter Olivia encouraging her to do what she always wanted for Fisher to take a sabbatical from her high-powered sales job. Fisher thought the request to spend time with her during Olivia's post-college gap year was facetious.
"When I asked her why, Olivia said that this was probably the last time we'd live together as a family so maybe I could stay home and write my book," said Fisher, which she did. It released last month.
"Remorseless" records Fisher's bumpy road from doing what she thought she should, to being who she truly is. Bumps include a right-out-of-college marriage that shortly ended in divorce, a bout with leukemia that nearly killed her, single parenthood, a second marriage and divorce, and a move to West Michigan when she married again.
"When I got out of the hospital after 35 days, people would say, 'I'll bet you're so close to God now.' I was simultaneously mad at God and had survivor's guilt," said Fisher. "I didn't know how I was supposed to feel, but felt a ton of pressure to be in a relationship with God that I didn't know I needed."
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"I didn't know there was more to me than being robotic, mechanical," said Fisher, who was raised Catholic but ended up at a United Brethren church where the pastor opened the Bible and preached. "I thought Scripture was a rule book and if I broke a rule I'd go straight to hell."
Fisher ended up getting two master's degrees in theology on her journey to wholeness. She also volunteers for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, left her sales job, and now is VP of Advancement for Mel Trotter Ministries.
"I want 'Remorseless' to encourage, inspire, and remind readers to show up in their own story and be who they were created to be," said Fisher. "I had to fight my whole life to be who I knew God created me to be, and spent too much time defending who I was."
She also wants readers to know that they are loved unconditionally. "There is nothing we can do to make God love us any less. We don't have that much power," she said. "All we have to do is show up and be authentic. Just be exactly who you are and be OK with that."
"Remorseless" is available for order wherever books are sold. Fisher will be at Baker Book House on Tuesday, March 3, at 7 pm to speak and sign copies of her book, which will available for purchase.
Author Event
Who: Beth Fisher, author of "Remorseless"
When: 7 pm Tuesday, March 3
Where: Baker Book House, 2768 East Paris Ave SE
Details: Books will be available for purchase; sign up via www.bakerbookhouse.com for free tickets
