As a writer, I often wonder if my words connect with my audience. Am I making a point, eliciting an emotion or provoking a response, that changes one’s paradigm, even momentarily?
As a follower of Christ, this question becomes even more pronounced… because in the art of losing myself to glorify Christ, I write to tell His stories, but then secretly wonder if anyone listens???
Often when I write I feel as if I am inspired by the Spirit. Words flow like water. My fingers tingle, I am in my element because I am operating within the giftedness I was created for. Other times, I am at an impasse, relying on my own cleverness, or lack thereof, trying to find words when there are none.
Some might call it a writer’s block and try to push through it. I tend to file these articles away for another day when my eye is fresh.
Ralph Waldo Emerson put it this way, “The torpid artist seeks inspiration at any cost, by virtue or by vice, by friend or by fiend, by prayer or by wine.”
While wine sounds attractive, prayer must be my muse, or I am tempted to think of my art, writing in this case, as a gift in and of itself, versus an offering to the Giver of all good gifts.
If humility is recognizing who we are in light of God, neither overestimating or undermining our worth, then writing with humility allows us to release our work and give credit where credit is due. We can let go of the insecurity of penning a masterpiece that may or may not be universally well received.
If our pen has been moved by the Spirit of God, and we write for an audience of one, have we not in all reality hit the mark?
But if we are merely trying to stroke our ego or gain a following to prove our prowess with the pen, then our words are vain folly.
In all honesty, much of my writing attempts are like hurling darts into Jello. I aim, I throw, and then comes the distinctive sound of jello– blu..blu…blump.
Maybe no one cares or takes interest in something I thought was riveting. Other times, I aim and hit dead center. I am praised and feel loveable for my contribution.
Once again, the achievement ladder has stealthy crept into my sincere desire to create.
I…we… must constantly surrender to the Spirit–allowing God to take both the triumphs and the catastrophes, freeing me up to simply use the gifts and talents he has given me for His glory, and hopefully, someone else’s benefit.
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