Welcome to Takeover Tuesday!
Carla is here to share a bit about her latest release, The Solid Grounds Coffee Company. Her publisher has offered to give away a print copy of the book (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends February 25, 2020 If you are the randomly chosen winner, I’ll contact you.)
5 Points of Caution for the Type A Christian
by Carla Laureano
It’s become almost a cliché to talk about type A and type B personalities—this is such a commonly understood element of personality types that it’s ceased to hold our attention. It’s much more fun to talk about our Myers-Briggs or our Enneagram, with their numbers and letters and wings and many, many adorable graphics on Pinterest.
But before there was Jungian psychology or Franciscan personality typing, there was the story of Martha and Mary in Luke chapter 10:
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42, NIV).
I don’t think it takes any guessing to know which is the type A sister in this situation, does it? But if you fall more on the “A” side of the spectrum, you’ve also gotten tired of all the books and articles that portray Martha as the villain. After all, if it weren’t for Martha, there would not have been anything to eat, clean water for washing feet, or anyplace uncluttered for Jesus to sit! Those of us who are the doers often see our actions as service and don’t appreciate criticism from those we see as “sitters.”
That’s probably why type A characters are my very favorite types to write—I relate to them deeply, and I see such potential for growth (both for me and my characters). Analyn Sanchez in The Solid Grounds Coffee Company is a type A poster child—successful, efficient, and dynamic; but also stressed, depleted, and in desperate need of rest. If ever I’ve written a character who was a type A “Martha,” it would be Ana.
With Luke 10 in mind, I offer five points of caution for the type A Christians—those of us who relate far more to Martha—or Ana—than Mary in any situation.
- Don’t give up the best in favor of the merely good.
Most of us have far too many things on our to-do lists, and for those of us who pride ourselves on our efficiency and our accomplishments, empty checkboxes feel like failure. All those tasks that we set for ourselves are good—after all, people need dinner and clean laundry, and bills have to be paid. But when we become so consumed with doing good things, we can allow ourselves to lose out on the best things: time with our Lord and Savior, time with family, the rest that our souls need.
- Don’t lose sight of the bigger picture.
In the illustration in Luke 10 above, Martha was simply doing what was expected of her to show hospitality to a guest. However, in focusing on the minutiae, she allowed her frustration and stress to distract her from the first requirement of hospitality—paying attention to her guest! Not only that, but she tried to drag Jesus into settling a family dispute. Often we start doing things from the best reasons—love and respect for those around us—yet the stress of accomplishing those tasks makes us act unloving and disrespectful to those very people! The task becomes the goal, when in reality it should only have been the means.
- Don’t let your worry and your emotions separate you from your Savior.
This is an ongoing struggle for me, as I tend to be pretty performance-oriented and high-strung. It was Martha’s worry and distraction that kept her from the feet of Jesus. How often do we find ourselves rushing from the time we get out of bed to the time we climb back in and then say, “I never even had time to open my Bible”? (Um, guilty.) And then, instead of taking that time to refocus and pray, we allow the pressures of the day and the looming requirements of tomorrow to fill our thoughts. Jesus wants to give us rest from those distractions; we j
- Don’t mistake your performance for your worthiness.
Luke doesn’t tell us exactly what was going on in Martha’s head, but I can guarantee that she wanted to make a good impression on Jesus. Hospitality in the ancient Middle East was a serious thing, and any slip or imperfection would reflect badly on Martha and her household. But Jesus says, “Few things are needed—or indeed only one.” He was letting her off the hook. He wasn’t telling her that if the meal was good enough, then she could come sit at his feet and listen. The only thing required to be accepted by Him was her willingness to come.
- Don’t think you’re too far gone to change.
We may be wired to be high-achievers and worriers, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have the ability to slow down. Luke doesn’t tell us what happens after Jesus’ last statement, but I’d like to believe that Martha felt like there was a weight lifted from her shoulders and immediately sat with Jesus and her sister—even knowing that there would be work to make up for later. I don’t see Jesus’ words as a rebuke, but rather as a gentle invitation, similar to the one stated in Matthew:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV).
It’s never too late to reevaluate our priorities and slow down. It won’t change the essence of us—the doers that keep the world, or maybe just our households, spinning—but it might give us a moment to take a deep breath and refocus on what’s truly important to us.
By the end of The Solid Grounds Coffee Company, Ana has to come to terms with what she believes about herself and what she’s trying to conceal with her constant nonstop efficiency. She’s still herself—intelligent, accomplished, and efficient—but she’s able to refocus her attention on the things that truly make her life worth living. And if Ana—and, I’d like to believe, Martha—can do it, there’s hope for the rest of us.
Click here to read the first chapter.
Q&A with Carla…
Q: What inspired you to write The Solid Grounds Coffee Company?
A: When you’re writing a foodie trilogy that centers around a supper club and you’ve
already done both your sweet and savory angles, what do you write about? Coffee, of
course. I spent a lot of time writing the first two books in my favorite independent
coffeehouses, all of which roast their own beans, so I thought it would be fun to give
readers a peek into the small-batch artisan coffee movement in Denver.
Q: . How do you expect the novel to resonate with your audience? What are you most
excited for your readers to experience through reading this story?
A: As women, we are under so much pressure every day to have it all together and not
drop any balls: we should have a perfectly curated wardrobe, home, and career. As
Christian women, you would think that we would give ourselves and each other some
grace, but instead we just add more things to the checklist: keeping on top of an
Instagram-worthy quiet time (complete with cute prayer journal, scented candle, and cup
of coffee), fulfilling our families’ expectations, and always being a ready friend. Before
we know it, our blessings have become burdens and the things we want to do out of love
for other people have secretly become what we have to do to be worthy of love. I think
every woman will be able to relate in some way or another to Ana’s journey from
perfectionism to grace, and I hope it will begin conversations about the expectations we
put on ourselves and other people.
Q: You’ve said that Ana is the character you relate to most. Why is that?
A: I am a type A planner to the core. I have plans on top of plans on top of contingency
plans. I’m the one my friends come to for advice, but that’s also a lot of pressure. Over
time, I’ve had to learn to hold things a little less tightly and give up control . . . a lesson
that Ana has to learn in this book as well.
Q: Ana and Bryan had their little flirtations in previous books in the series, but both
of them had reasons for holding back. Why do you think they make a perfect
couple?
A: A woman who has to have everything be perfect matched up with a man who is
decidedly not perfect and doesn’t even try to be? It’s classic “opposites attract.” Add in
the concerns about ruining their tight-knit little circle à la the TV show Friends, and it’s
pretty much a drama gold mine. It’s no secret I like a little angst with my romance, and I
think their concerns about how their romance affects their existing relationships and vice
versa feel really authentic and true to life.
Q: In this book, we learn more about Ana’s past and how that influences her life
today. What do you hope readers learn from this part of Ana’s story?
A: Without giving anything away, Ana is keeping a pretty big secret from everyone,
including her best friends. I hope that readers understand that the people who love them
most give that love unconditionally. We don’t need to hide from or edit ourselves for the
people who truly deserve our trust.
About Carla…
Carla Laureano is the two-time RITA Award–winning author of Five Days in
Skye, London Tides, and the Saturday Night Supper Club series. She is also
the author of the Celtic fantasy series The Song of Seare (as C. E.
Laureano). A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked as a sales and
marketing executive for nearly a decade before leaving corporate life behind
to write fiction full-time. She currently lives in Denver with her husband and
two sons.
Where you can find Carla online…
Rules for giveaway can be found here.
I would consider myself halfway between.
Carly, that sounds like a nice balance.
Good luck. Thanks for visiting my blog.
Yes, unfortunately ?I would have to label myself as Type A – I like order & neatness!!
I’m right there with you, Sharon!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Good luck!
I am in the middle somewhere between type A and type B.
That sounds like a nice mix, Roxanne.
Good luck, and thanks for visiting my blog.
I am so like Ana at the beginning of this book–I am a Type A. I make a to-do list every night before I go to bed (this helps me be less stressed, knowing I won’t forget a “priority”). I started reading Jesus Always (short, daily devotions with scripture verses for each) on Jan 1 (I guess this is my New Year’s resolution) and am learning more and more about how to be less Type A. Now I’m trying to bring Jesus with me everywhere and pray continually.
I love devotional books (and I’m working on my own devotional book at the moment). I haven’t read “Jesus Always” yet. I’ll have to add it to my list to check out.
I’m a Type A, as well, and I love my to-do lists. I need to work on becoming less Type A, too.
Thanks for visiting my blog. Good luck!
Don’t know if I’m interpreting it correctly, but I seem to be a type A. Maybe. I desperately want to have everything in order, but the harder I try, the less it is. I do keep trying.
Irene, I’m a Type A as well, so I understand what you meant about wanting things in order.
Good luck! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
I certainly lean towards Type A. I think I’ve grown a lot in flexibility and being okay with things not looking a certain way AND still being good.
I do, as well, Alison. I’m definitely a work in progress when it comes to being flexible and going with the flow.
Good luck, and thanks for visiting my blog!
I’m not really a Type A Christian (or anything else) by nature, but sometimes I have to force myself to be that way in order to accomplish anything.
I understand what you mean, Dianna. I am that way at times, too.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Good luck!