The Write Way

When I was a little girl I loved to write stories. I would make-up stories about everything, write them down on lined sheets of paper, add some rough illustrations and staple them together. Sometimes my friend Colleen and I would write stories together. I remember one in particular about a little girl who really wanted new shoes. But her mom wouldn't buy her any new shoes because the shoes she had were 'just fine'. One day the little girl passed a shoe store and saw a sign in the window that advertised a contest. It was the "Worst Shoes Ever" contest. A week from then, judges would be judging all the contestant's shoes. The worst pair (dirtiest, smelliest, ugliest) would win a FREE pair of shoes from the store! So this little girl went to work over the course of the next week trying to destroy her current pair of shoes as much as possible so that she could win the contest. She did all sorts of creative horrible things to her shoes, all the while trying to hide them from her mother. The day before the contest, her mother found her shoes and the little girl got in HUGE trouble. Despite being grounded, she snuck out to the contest the next day. She figured if she could win the contest it would make it up to her mom. Sure enough, she DID win the contest and got back in good standings with her mom.

A cheesy kids story, but one I loved (and got an A for in my fourth grade English class too!). Anyway, all that to say, I love writing. Most of you know that by know. Most of you know that I've been working on a book for...ahem...two years. Yep, two years and it really isn't even started. I have the character development done, the plot outline done, and have just started doing some research (which my mom graciously offered to help me with...thanks Mom!). Then I'll embark on the actual writing...which I think will just flow once I get started.

I recently joined a writing club at Barnes and Noble near our house. It is a small group of aspiring writers (of all sorts) meeting twice a month. Some are just hoping to chronicle their own family stories for their own use, others are freelance journalism writers, children's writers or novel writers. We even have a brilliant 14 year old boy who has just finished his 8th fantasy/sci-fi novel (the 8th in a series of 8). None published yet, but if he keeps it up he may just be the next J.K Rowling (male version of course).

I have every intention and desire to ramp up my writing - both to get this book in the works completed, but also to branch out with my writing. I am looking forward to an upcoming conversation I will be having with the director of a locally based women's ministry that uses all sorts of media to reach out to women (ie - radio, print, etc.) to determine how I may be able to use my interest in writing in a way that ministers to others.

I got a fortune cookie fortune a little while ago that I taped to my computer monitor. Not that I believe fortune cookie slips hold our destiny, but sometimes the sayings are good motivators or reminders. This one says 'You will be fortunate in the opportunities presented to you." That reminds me that while sometimes opportunities do just fall into our laps, more often than not we have to seek out those opportunities and pursue them. Like with writing...stay tuned! :o)

Philosophical

Today I am face to face with my humanity. My human nature, the nature I am born with separate from God. The human nature that we all have. It’s our human nature, along with the absence of God (an absence which we impose, not Him) and the attacks of Satan which fuel our sin, our selfish-ness, our strongholds, addictions and wayward emotions. God, and our faith in Him, is the complete opposite of our human nature. However, being a believer does not remove our human nature. On the contrary, it probably makes our human nature so much more in our face.

Have you ever done something, be it large or small, that was solely an act of your human nature? Something even out of character for your character and personality? Something that surprised you? Upon coming face to face with the reality of that ‘something’ was your spirit grieved for what you had done?

I remember during my teenage and young adult years I would often hear powerful testimonies from people who had come to faith in Christ through a powerful conversion, having had a real ‘Damascus Road’ kind of turning their back on sin and turning wholly to God. So many testimonies of someone who were living lives of crime, drugs, prostitution, gang involvement, total abandon of God. But then, through a person, or an event, or even a whacked out drug trip, they came face to face with the one true God and their life was never the same. When I heard those testimonies (and believe me, am I ever grateful for such testimonies), it was clear to me how real Jesus was to the people who were speaking. How intensely they had felt the burden of their sin, and how equally intensely they had felt the joy of salvation and forgiveness. At times I would have a twinge of jealousy. Not jealousy at their former life, or even their testimony story. But at their ability to fully know intellectually, emotionally and spiritually the impact of their salvation and the free gift of God’s forgiveness. Having grown up in a strong Christian home (thank you mom and dad!) and becoming a believer as a child, the depth of my sin and thus the height of my joy of salvation seemed to pale in comparison.

While I haven’t suddenly joined the ranks of the criminals, drug abusers, killers, gang-bangers, or prostitutes out there (are you all breathing a sigh of relief?), the ‘something’ I did recently was so contrary to who I am and who God calls me to be that it hit me like a ton of bricks. What initially seemed fairly innocous (the sweet murmurings of Satan), hit me square in the face this morning and my spirit was intensely grieved. The burden and pain of sin that suddenly sat on my shoulders and heart was so heavy it physically felt like something sitting on me. My humanity was so real, and so tenuous and my anger with myself so intense. I brooded much of the morning about the sense of failure and disappointment with myself that had invaded my soul.

But then, there was a conversation with the one I had offended. It was a simple conversation, but one that whispered of the beginnings of reconciliation. Shortly after that I walked outside and warm rays of sunshine hit my face, birds singing in the trees, bright flowers coloring the landscape…all indications of life and life abundantly. Then I got on my car and the radio jumped to life automatically, blaring these very words…

“Because I’m forgiven,
Because I am free
Because of your mercy
And you believe in me.
Because you are my Saviour
Because you are my friend
Your love lifts me higher than
I’ve ever been”

The truth of God’s forgiveness, when we are so undeserving hit me in a way it never had before. In the midst of my heavy heart and contemplation of my human sinful nature I was absolutely dumped on by God’s forgiveness and love. Arms raised to the sky my, my eyes wet with tears of shame commingled with tears of joy I could only get creative enough to say ‘Thank You, Thank You, Thank You’ to the Saviour who brings hope to my world and the world of all who come to know Him.